The Lunar Chronicles Books in Order with Summaries
The Lunar Chronicles is a YA fairy-tale retelling/sci-fi series that I read and loved. With its popularity came a prequel novella, a short story, and two graphic novels. I wanted to make a list of the Lunar Chronicles books in order to help you with how to read the series.
I first read the Lunar Chronicles after they had all been published. I bought the entire series at a used book store and then proceeded to devour it all in less than a week. This is a perfect YA fantasy series because it has a little bit of everything
As crazy as it sounds, I did not know the order of the Cinder series. After the first book, I was not sure which came next. I actually have this issue with book series that were completed before I started reading them. I hope you find this list helpful.
The Lunar Chronicles Books in Order
- Cinder (2012)
- Scarlet (2013)
- Cress (2014)
- Fairest (prequel novella) (2015)
- Winter (2015)
- Stars Above (Short Story) (2016)
- Wires and Nerve Vol. 1- Graphic Novel (2017)
- Wires and Nerv Vol. 2: Gone Rogue Graphic Novel (2018)
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Cinder Series in Order with Summaries
Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year: 2012
Genre: Dystopian Fantasy/ Sci-Fi/ Fairy Tale Retelling
More info: Lunar Chronicles Book 1 of 4
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 10+
Plot
This four-book series is set in the future in a time of disease and war. This series is part twisted fairy tale, part dystopia, and part sci-fi fantasy.
Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel are re-imagined as you have never seen them before. All of them are smart and strong women far from the helpless damsels in distress we know them to be.
The first in this series of classic book retellings introduces us to Cinder. She is a cyborg (part human, part machine) who lives with her……..you guessed it….. two step-sisters and stepmother.
Why Jackie loves it
I read the first book and immediately read the rest of the books in the series. Even though this is a series that is over a decade old, it is still one of the best YA fantasy book series I have read and still recommend it all the time to teens and adults alike
Find this book in: YA Dystopian Books / YA Romance Fantasy Books / Best YA Romance Books / Best Books for 10-year-olds / Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time
Find more books like this in: Books Like Cinder
Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year: 2013
Genre: Sci-Fi/ Fairy-Tale Retelling
More info: Lunar Chronicles #2 of 4
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 10+
Plot
In this second book in the Lunar Chronicles series, we meet Scarlet Benoit, whose grandmother has gone missing. She has to trust a street fighter named Wolf if she wants answers. And of course, they meet Cinder, who has been trying to break out of prison.
Why Jackie loves it
I love this take on Little Red Riding Hood. In this story, Scarlet is smart and charismatic, rather than helpless like in the original.
Find this book in: The Lunar Chronicles Books in Order
Cress
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year: 2014
Genre: Sci-Fi/ Fairy-Tale Retelling
More info: Lunar Chronicles 3 of 4
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 10+
Plot
Cinder is on the run in this third book in the series. Along with Captain Thorne, Scarlet, and Wolf, Cinder is trying to prevent the Queen from invading Earth.
We meet Cress, who has been kept alone and is forced to work for the Queen. Fortunately, she has become the best hacker and can try to orchestrate her rescue while Cinder tries to stop the marriage between Queen Levana and Emperor Kai.
Why Jackie loves it
This book is non-stop action. I love that with each new book in the series, we add characters, but still have all the old favorite characters.
Find this book in: The Lunar Chronicles Books in Order
Winter
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year: 2015
Genre: Sci-Fi/ Fairy-Tale Retelling
More info: Lunar Chronicles 4 of 4
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 10+
Plot
This is the fourth book in the amazing Lunar Chronicles series. We meet Winter, whose stepmother is Queen Levana. Never underestimate the will of a stepdaughter to undermine her evil stepmother. Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter are all looking for their happy endings.
Why Jackie loves it
I could not ask for a better completion of the series. Four books are the perfect length for a series, and if you are so inclined, there is a prequel and a novella that are technically part of the series. If you are reading the Cinder series in order, I actually think these can be read after the four main books in the series.
Find this book in: The Lunar Chronicles Books in Order
More Books in the Lunar Chronicles Series
Fairest
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year: 2015
Genre: Sci-Fi/ Fairy-Tale Retelling
More info: Novella, part of the Lunar Chronicles Series
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 11+
Plot
This book is the story of Queen Levana. We know that she uses glamour to make herself look beautiful and gain power, but this is her story before she met Cinder, Scarlett, and Cress.
Why Jackie loves it
Levana is the queen that we love to hate. I enjoyed getting to see her before she met Cinder. It is the perfect addition to the Lunar Chronicles series.
Find this book in: Lunar Chronicles Books in Order
Stars Above
Author: Marissa Meyer
Year: 2016
Genre: Sci-Fi/ Fairy-Tale Retelling
More info: Short Stories, part of the Lunar Chronicles Series
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 11+
Plot
This is a prequel to the Lunar Chronicles series with 9 stories that give us more information about our favorite characters from the Lunar Chronicles.
Why Jackie loves it
I read this after I read the complete Cinder series. If you are reading the Lunar Chronicles series, I think this book fits in anywhere. I love getting a little bit more information on the characters that I came to love!
Find this book in: The Lunar Chronicles Books in Order
Expert Tip
The Lunar Chronicles is a fantastic series that fits into many genres, which may be one of the reasons it is so popular. It is part sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, and fairy-tale retelling. It is appropriate for ages 10 and up. So what is the right order to read this series?
- Fairest (prequel novella) (2015)*
- Cinder (2012)
- Scarlet (2013)
- Cress (2014)
- Winter (2015)
- Stars Above (Short Story) (2016)
*This can be read as a prequel or as #5 or #6
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Lunar Chronicles have spice?
No. The Lunar Chronicles series does not have spice. There is a relationship that develops between two characters, but the romance is the equivalent of the kiss at the end of Snow White.
What is the Lunar Chronicles reading order?
The Lunar Chronicles reading order is:
1. Cinder
2. Scarlet
3. Cress
4. Winter
Stars Above is a prequel to the Cinder series, but since it was written after, you can read it at any time. Fairest is a novella that takes place after the completed series and should be read as the 5th or 6th book.
Do you need to read the Cinder series in order?
Yes. The Cinder series should be read in order. The stories develop, and characters carry over from book to book. While you may understand a later book, major plot points of the story will be missed.
Related Content
Epilogue:
Did you read the Cinder Series in Order? What was your favorite book? Do you have another series like it that you would recommend?
