Books On Board
series Reading Order

Cemetery of Forgotten Books in Order

6 Books
2001 – 2021 Published
Jump to reading order
Affiliate links: We may earn a commission on purchases made at no extra cost to you.
Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order: Publication Order

While author Carlos Ruiz Zafón famously designed the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series to function as a literary labyrinth with four different entry points—allowing readers to start with any of the four main novels—we strongly recommend reading them in publication order. This sequence offers the most rewarding narrative experience, as secrets, character backstories, and the overarching mystery of the Sempere family business unfold organically.

  • The Shadow of the Wind (2001) - The core entry point, introducing young Daniel Sempere, the book dealer Fermín Romero de Torres, and the tragic mystery of author Julián Carax.
  • The Angel's Game (2008) - A darker, Faustian prequel set in the 1920s focusing on the writer David Martín.
  • The Prisoner of Heaven (2011) - A bridge novel set in 1957 that links the events of the first two books and reveals Fermín's history.
  • The Labyrinth of the Spirits (2016) - The grand finale that introduces investigator Alicia Gris and ties all the threads of the saga together.

The Chronological Path (and Why to Avoid It)

If you want to read the events in the order they occur in the timeline, the chronological sequence looks very different. However, starting here is not recommended for first-time readers because it spoils key revelations in the main mystery and features a highly psychological, polarizing prequel as the starting book.

  1. Rose of Fire (2012) - A short story set during the 15th-century Inquisition, detailing the origins of the Cemetery itself.
  2. The Angel's Game (1920s/1930s setting)
  3. The Shadow of the Wind (1945 start, primary story set in the 1950s)
  4. The Prisoner of Heaven (1957 setting, with flashbacks to the 1930s and 1940s)
  5. The Labyrinth of the Spirits (late 1950s and 1960s setting)

Where do the Short Stories and Spin-offs Fit?

Rose of Fire (Novella)

Originally released in 2012 as a promotional standalone piece, Rose of Fire is a prequel story that explores the construction of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books labyrinth in the 15th century. It is a lore-heavy expansion rather than a vital starting point.

The City of Mist (2021)

Published posthumously, The City of Mist is a collection of short stories. Several of these stories serve as companion pieces to the main tetralogy, revisiting familiar characters, ancestral histories (such as the Sempere lineage), and the dark streets of Zafón's Barcelona. It contains the text of Rose of Fire along with ten other stories, making it the best way to read the shorter fiction after finishing the main quartet.

Frequently Asked

QCan you read the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series in any order?

Yes, Carlos Ruiz Zafón designed the series so that a reader can enter the story through any of the four main novels. However, most fans and critics recommend starting with The Shadow of the Wind to best appreciate the narrative connections.

QWhich book should I start with?

You should start with The Shadow of the Wind. It serves as the perfect introduction to the atmosphere, characters, and central mystery of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.

QIs The Angel's Game a prequel or a sequel?

The Angel's Game is a prequel set in the 1920s and 1930s, decades before the main events of The Shadow of the Wind. However, it is best read second as it relies on themes and mysteries established in the first book.

QWhere can I read the short story Rose of Fire?

Rose of Fire is included in the posthumous short story collection The City of Mist, published in 2021.

QIs the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series completed?

Yes, the main tetralogy concluded with The Labyrinth of the Spirits in 2016. The posthumous collection The City of Mist (2021) serves as the final companion piece following Zafón's passing in 2020.