Which Books Make Up The Unwanteds Series In Order?

I got totally hooked on this world, and I like to read the books in straight publication order so the plot threads and character growth hit you the way they were intended. Here’s the reading order I follow: 1. 'The Unwanteds' 2. 'Island of Silence' 3. 'Island of Fire' 4. 'Island of Legends' 5. 'Island of Shipwrecks' 6. 'Island of Graves' 7. 'Island of Dragons' Start with 'The Unwanteds' and just keep going down that list. The tone shifts from discovery to bigger stakes as you move forward, and reading them consecutively makes the reveals and relationships way more satisfying. I like pausing after each book to stew over the new twists and sketch the characters, but you can binge them if you want a nonstop ride — either way, the world-building rewards attention. I still smile thinking about my favorite scenes.

My local bookstore had them filed under 'M' for McMann in this order: Island of Fire, Island of Silence, Island of Legends, Island of Shipwrecks, Island of Graves. The clerk confirmed it was the release order. Sometimes the old-fashioned physical shelf is the most reliable resource, you know?

Whenever I hand these books to a friend, I like to give them the straight-up reading order so they can enjoy the world without spoilers. The chronological order for the main 'The Unwanteds' series by Lisa McMann is: 'The Unwanteds' (Book 1) 'Island of Silence' (Book 2) 'Island of Fire' (Book 3) 'Island of Legends' (Book 4) 'Island of Shipwrecks' (Book 5) 'Island of Graves' (Book 6) If you want a little extra context: those books were released in sequence from 2011 through 2016, and publication order is the same as the best reading order because the plot and character arcs progress directly from one volume to the next. I find the world-building deepens nicely as you go, so diving in order makes the reveals land better. Honestly, finishing the last book felt like saying goodbye to a group of friends who taught me about creativity and courage.

I can confidently guide you through the ideal reading order. The core series begins with 'The Unwanteds', followed by 'The Unwanteds: Island of Silence', 'The Unwanteds: Island of Fire', and 'The Unwanteds: Island of Legends'. The journey continues with 'The Unwanteds: Island of Shipwrecks', 'The Unwanteds: Island of Graves', and concludes with 'The Unwanteds: Island of Dragons'. For those craving more of this magical world, the spin-off series 'The Unwanteds Quests' is a must. Start with 'The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Captives', then move to 'The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Bones', 'The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Ghosts', 'The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Curse', 'The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Fire', 'The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Slayers', and finish with 'The Unwanteds Quests: Dragon Fury'. Each book builds beautifully on the last, creating an immersive experience that fans of fantasy and adventure will adore.

I got pulled into 'The Unwanteds' like a magnet and one thing I noticed straight away is that the prequel material is usually treated as extras rather than numbered entries in the main sequence. In practice that means the prequels are included in series bibliographies and reading lists, but they often sit outside the main 1–7 numbering — think of them as 0 or 0.5 stories. Publishers and fan lists will usually show them in order of publication or label them clearly as prequels. If you want the smoothest experience, read in publication order unless you crave strictly chronological flow. Publication order preserves the way the author revealed things and keeps surprises intact, while reading the prequels first gives backstory and worldbuilding upfront. Some special editions or boxed sets sometimes bundle prequel novellas with the main books, so check the table of contents if you care about having everything in one place. Personally, I like finishing book one and then dipping into the prequel for extra context — it felt like a tasty bonus that deepened the magic without spoiling the ride.

Yep — the author and publisher do present the series in reading order, which makes diving into 'The Unwanteds' world super easy. When I first hunted down these books, I loved that everything is clearly arranged so you can follow the story as it was meant to be experienced. Typically you'll see the reading order listed on the author’s site, on the publisher’s product pages, and often right on the book’s dust jacket or spine with a volume number. That little clarity matters so much with series that build on previous events, and it saved me from accidentally jumping into a later book and spoiling some awesome reveals.

If you want to snag 'The Unwanteds' on the cheap and keep the books in order, there are a bunch of practical places and little tricks I swear by. First off, my go-to is always used-book marketplaces: ThriftBooks and AbeBooks often have whole stretches of a series for way less than retail, and they let you filter by edition and condition so you can make sure you’re getting the full run. eBay is excellent for bundled lots or box sets—sellers sometimes list the entire series at a steep discount if you’re willing to wait for an auction or watch for a Buy It Now price drop. Better World Books and Alibris are great too, especially when you want international shipping that won’t murder your wallet. If you prefer physical in-person hunts, Half Price Books and local independent used bookstores can surprise you with excellent finds, and library book sales are a goldmine for series sets that people donated when they were done. A few buying strategies that helped me keep costs down: look specifically for box sets or “complete series” lots—per book they’re often cheaper than buying one by one. If you’re buying used, check that every volume is included and in decent condition; sometimes missing pages or heavy highlighting can make a cheap buy less fun. Use price-tracking tools and alerts: put the ISBN or title in CamelCamelCamel for Amazon, set eBay saved searches with alerts, and follow sellers who list boxes of kids’/YA books. Don’t forget digital options—Kindle sales and daily deals can make the ebooks ridiculously cheap, and Audible runs sales where you can snag audiobooks for pennies if you collect credits or wait for a deal. If you’re patient, snag volume bundles during Black Friday, back-to-school sales, or summer clearance events—Book Outlet and many online retailers slash prices then. Also check seller return policies and shipping fees; a $2 book with $8 shipping isn’t actually a win. If you care about supporting local shops but still want a bargain, try asking your favorite indie bookstore if they have a used copy trade shelf or if they can put a set aside when they come in—sometimes they’ll give a small discount or a loyalty point. Facebook Marketplace and Mercari are surprisingly useful for local pickup, which saves on shipping and lets you inspect the books before buying. And if you want to confirm reading order before you buy a mixed lot, the author’s site and Goodreads both list the official sequence for 'The Unwanteds', so you don’t accidentally pick up volumes out of sequence. Personally, I mix strategies: library borrow to decide which volumes I absolutely love, then hunt used marketplaces for complete sets or pick up individual keeper copies at thrift sales. Happy hunting — the world of 'The Unwanteds' is totally worth the treasure hunt, and it feels awesome scoring a full set for a bargain.

The author said in a Q&A that they wrote the series to be accessible in either order, but their personal recommendation is still the order in which they were written. They said the prequels contain 'echoes of truths you learn later,' which is a fancy way of saying spoilers. I'd take the author's hint and start with 'The Unwanted'.

I can tell you that 'The Unwanteds' by Lisa McMann is a fantastic journey. The series has a total of seven books, which is perfect for those who love immersive worlds that grow with each installment. The first book introduces the dystopian society of Quill, where creativity is punished, and the magical world of Artimé. The subsequent books expand the lore, introduce new characters, and deepen the conflicts. The final book, 'The Unwanteds: Island of Fire,' wraps up the series beautifully. It’s rare to find a series that balances action, creativity, and emotional depth so well, but 'The Unwanteds' nails it. If you haven’t started it yet, I highly recommend diving in—there’s plenty to enjoy across all seven books. For fans of middle-grade fantasy, this series stands out because it doesn’t shy away from complex themes while keeping the adventure lively. The way McMann weaves magic and societal critique is impressive. Each book feels like a new layer unraveling, making the seven-book journey feel just right—long enough to satisfy but not so long that it drags.