The Recommended Reading Order
Because Django Wexler's The Forbidden Library is a tightly serialized, chronological story following the growth of Alice Creighton, there is only one correct way to read it. Prequels, side novels, and spin-offs do not exist for this universe, making the reading order straightforward. You should read the series in its original publication order:
- The Forbidden Library (2014)
- The Mad Apprentice (2015)
- The Palace of Glass (2016)
- The Fall of the Readers (2017)
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the shifting corridors of Geryon's manor, here are a few key details to keep in mind about the series:
- The Premise: The story follows twelve-year-old Alice Creighton. Following the mysterious disappearance and presumed death of her father, Alice is sent to live with her eccentric, distant uncle Geryon in a massive, ancient manor.
- The Magic System: Alice discovers she is a "Reader"—one of a select group of magicians who can physically enter books. Inside these written worlds, Readers must battle and bind the magical creatures they encounter. Once bound, these creatures can be summoned in the real world to do the Reader's bidding.
- The Tone: While marketed as middle-grade fantasy (suitable for ages 10 and up), the series features a slightly darker, more gothic atmosphere than standard fairytales. It draws comparisons to Coraline and Inkheart due to its sense of danger, isolation, and atmospheric world-building.
- Historical Flavor: The series features a vaguely 1920s-inspired setting, using gas lamps, early automobiles, and sprawling, isolated estates that heighten the gothic atmosphere.
Detailed Book-by-Book Breakdown
1. The Forbidden Library (2014)
The series opens with Alice's arrival at her uncle's manor. Driven by curiosity and a determination to discover what really happened to her father, she disobeys her uncle's rules. Guided by Ashes, a sarcastic talking cat, Alice sneaks into the forbidden library. There, she encounters a magical book and is pulled inside. To survive and escape, Alice is forced to bind her first creature, uncovering her dormant magical heritage and setting off a chain of events that will reshape the world of the Readers.
2. The Mad Apprentice (2015)
Now officially recognized as an apprentice Reader, Alice continues her training under Geryon's strict and suspicious gaze. The stakes rise when Geryon sends Alice and a group of fellow apprentices to capture a rogue apprentice. The mission takes Alice into a deadly labyrinth hidden within a magical book. As Alice works with—and sometimes against—her peers, she begins to see the dark and selfish nature of the established Readers, realizing that magic comes with a steep moral price.
3. The Palace of Glass (2016)
In the third volume, Alice's suspicion of her uncle turns into open rebellion. Having discovered dark truths about her father's fate and Geryon's role in it, Alice seeks a way to defeat him. Her quest leads her to the legendary Palace of Glass, a dangerous repository of ancient magic. As she navigates shifting alliances with other apprentices and creatures, Alice transitions from a student trying to survive into a leader actively fighting against a corrupt system.
4. The Fall of the Readers (2017)
The final book brings the series to a dramatic conclusion. The conflict between the older, tyrannical Readers and the younger generation of apprentices reaches a boiling point. Alice must unite her allies—both human and magical—to challenge the entire hierarchy of the Readers. The novel delivers a high-stakes battle for the future of magic, wrapping up Alice's character arc and resolving the mystery surrounding her family in a satisfying, bittersweet finale.
Chronological Order and Continuity Caveats
Unlike many modern fantasy series, The Forbidden Library has no companion guides, short story collections, or co-authored spin-offs. Wexler structured the books as a direct, chronological four-part epic. Each novel picks up shortly after the events of the previous one. Skipping a book or reading them out of order is highly discouraged, as the magical rules, character dynamics, and overarching mystery build continuously from the first page of book one to the last page of book four.
Practical Reading Advice
For readers deciding whether to pick up the series, here is some practical guidance:
- Can the books be read as standalones? No. The series functions as a single, continuous story split into four volumes. Reading them out of sequence will result in major spoilers and confusion regarding the magic system and plot.
- Is the series completed? Yes. The Fall of the Readers wraps up the core storyline, and Django Wexler has moved on to other fantasy projects. No further books in this universe are planned.
- Ideal Audience: While excellent for younger fantasy fans, older readers who enjoy clever magic systems, portal fantasies, and atmospheric settings will find plenty to appreciate in Wexler's tight plotting and creative creature designs.