Monogatari Series (物語シリーズ) is one of the most popular light novel series written by the famous Nisio Isin. The fantasy novel has been read by both Japanese and foreign fans since its first title Bakemonogatari was published in 2006. A large part of Monogatari Series has been already adapted into the anime series. Its manga adaptation started in 2018.
There are 27 volumes published in Monogatari Series so far, and you may wonder which order you should read them. For those who start reading Monogatari Series from now or who have watched the anime series and want to read the original story, here is an introduction to the best Monogatari Series reading order.
18 volumes out of all the 27 current volumes have been translated into English while the same part has been made into the anime adaptation. And, there are three popular major reading orders for Monogatari Series: a light novel publication order, a chronological order and an anime airing order.
- 1 Which should you read Monogatari Series, in the published order, the chronological order or the anime order?
- 2 How many volumes in Monogatari Series can you get in English?
- 3 Light Novel Published Order: The Best Order for Beginners to Read Through Monogatari Series
- 3.1 1. Bakemonogatari: Monster Tale (1)
- 3.2 2. Bakemonogatari: Monster Tale (2)
- 3.3 3. Bakemonogatari: Monster Tale (3)
- 3.4 4. Kizumonogatari: Wound Tale
- 3.5 5. Nisemonogatari: Fake Tale (1)
- 3.6 6. Nisemonogatari: Fake Tale (2)
- 3.7 7. Nekomonogatari: Cat Tale (Black)
- 3.8 8. Nekomonogatari: Cat Tale (White)
- 3.9 9. Kabukimonogatari: Dandy Tale
- 3.10 10. Hanamonogatari: Flower Tale
- 3.11 11. Otorimonogatari: Decoy Tale
- 3.12 12. Onimonogatari: Demon Tale
- 3.13 13. Koimonogatari: Love Tale
- 3.14 14. Tsukimonogatari: Possession Tale
- 3.15 15. Koyomimonogatari: Calendar Tale (1)
- 3.16 16. Koyomimonogatari: Calendar Tale (2)
- 3.17 17. Owarimonogatari: End Tale (1)
- 3.18 18. Owarimonogatar: End Tale (2)
- 3.19 19. Owarimonogatari: End Tale (3)
- 3.20 20. Zoku Owarimonogatari: End Tale (Cont.)
- 3.21 21. Orokamonogatari
- 3.22 22. Wazamonogatari
- 3.23 23. Nademonogatari
- 3.24 24. Musubimonogatari
- 3.25 25. Shinobumonogatari
- 3.26 26. Yoimonogatari
- 3.27 27. Amarimonogatari
- 3.28 28. Ougimonogatari
- 3.29 29. Shinomonogatari
- 3.30 Exclusive Box Sets
- 4 Anime Order: The Recommended Order for Fans of the Anime Series to Read the Original Story
- 5 Chronological Order: The Order for Experienced Readers to Review the whole Story
Which should you read Monogatari Series, in the published order, the chronological order or the anime order?
It’s not necessarily easy to understand the whole story by reading Monogatari Series in chronological order. For example, the first title Bakemonogatari happens after the second published volume Kizumonogatari. That’s to say, should you read Kizumonogatari at first? I strongly recommend Bakemonogatari for you to read first of all, though. You can enjoy Kizumonogatari more deeply after knowing what the protagonist Koyomi Araragi and a heroine Tsubasa Hanekawa are like.
In conclusion, the novel published order is the best reading order for beginners to maximize the pleasant profits from Monogatari Series. For your information, the publication order is listed below, compared with another two orders.
▽Here is the Monogatari Series watch order for those who want to watch the anime series!▽
What do you think is the best anime series ever? In addition to lots of classic masterpieces that were born decades ago,[…]
How many volumes in Monogatari Series can you get in English?
There are 27 volumes that have been published in Japanese so far, and 18 volumes have been translated into English from Bakemonogatari to Zoku Owarimonogatari, which cover First Season, Second Season and Final Season. The anime series adaptation has been made from the 18 volumes as well.
They are followed by four volumes in Off Season and six volumes in Monster Season. The rest of the stories have not been announced to released in English, however, they are introduced below in this article in addition to the existing 18 volumes.
Light Novel Published Order: The Best Order for Beginners to Read Through Monogatari Series
1. Bakemonogatari: Monster Tale (1)
Monogatari Series started with the first title Bakemonogatari (化物語), which describes Monster Tale in Japanese. It consists of two volumes in Japanese published in 2006. Bakemonogatari is divided into three books in English. The third-grade high school half-vampire, half-human boy Koyomi Araragi meets his several classmates and friends who hold severe problems caused by apparitions. Bakemonogatari Book 1 focuses on Hitagi Senjogahara and Mayoi Hachikuji.
Published (Japanese): 2006
Published (English): 2016
Season: First Season
Episodes: Hitagi Crab/Mayoi Maimai
▽▽Get this title right now!▽▽
▽▽You can enjoy Bakemonogatari (1) on Audible!▽▽
2. Bakemonogatari: Monster Tale (2)
Bakemonogatari (2) depicts the stories of Koyomi’s encounters with Suruga Kanbaru and Nadeko Sengoku. Suruga is a Kohai girl of Hitagi Senjogahara from the middle school and Nadeko is an old friend of his little sister Tsukihi.
Published (Japanese): 2006
Published (English): 2017
Season: First Season
Episodes: Suruga Monkey/Nadeko Snake
▽▽Get this title right now!▽▽
▽▽You can enjoy Bakemonogatari (2) on Audible!▽▽
3. Bakemonogatari: Monster Tale (3)
Bakemonogatari (3) is the final part of Bakemonogatari including the fifth episode Tsubasa Cat, centering on Tsubasa Hanekawa, who is a classmate of Koyomi and saves his life in the previous spring break.
Published (Japanese): 2006
Published (English): 2017
Season: First Season
Episodes: Tsubasa Cat
▽▽Get this title right now!▽▽
▽▽You can enjoy Bakemonogatari (3) on Audible!▽▽
4. Kizumonogatari: Wound Tale
Kizumonogatari (傷物語), a.k.a Wound Tale, is the episode 0 in First Season, representing the beginning of Monogatari Series. It depicts how and why Koyomi meets the vampire and the king of apparitions Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade and is vampirized by her. Its anime adaptation was released with three separated anime movies in 2016 and 2017, but the original novel was published second following Bakemonogatari.
Published (Japanese): 2008
Published (English): 2015
Season: First Season
Episodes: Koyomi Vamp
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▽▽You can enjoy Kizumonogatari on Audible!▽▽
5. Nisemonogatari: Fake Tale (1)
Nisemonogatari (偽物語), a.k.a. Fake Tale, is the third title of Monogatari Series, consisting of two books featuring Koyomi’s little sisters Karen and Tsukihi, who are also known as Fire Sisters. On a time-series basis, Nisemonogatari comes up next to Bakemonogatari and is set in the summer break. Nisemonogatari (1) contains Karen Bee, which tells the story of Koyomi’s bigger sister Karen and a con man Deishuu Kaiki.
Published (Japanese): 2008
Published (English): 2017
Season: First Season
Episodes: Karen Bee
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6. Nisemonogatari: Fake Tale (2)
Nisemonogatari (2) is the second half of Nisemonogatari, focusing on Koyomi’s smaller sister Tsukihi as well as two new characters and immortal apparitions specialists Yozuru Kagenui and Yotsugi Ononoki.
Published (Japanese): 2009
Published (English): 2017
Season: First Season
Episodes: Tsukihi Phoenix
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7. Nekomonogatari: Cat Tale (Black)
Nekomonogatari (猫物語), which means Cat Tale in Japanese, is the joint title of First Season and Second Season. Nekomonogatari (Black) is the final part of First Season, set in the Golden Week holidays in May. As the prequel of Tsubasa cat in Bakemonogatari (3), it centers on Tsubasa Hanekawa and her apparition Black Hanekawa.
Published (Japanese): 2010
Published (English): 2017
Season: First Season
Episodes: Tsubasa Family
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8. Nekomonogatari: Cat Tale (White)
Nekomonogatari (White) is the beginning part of Monogatari Series Second Season, set in the second semester just after the summer break. A main character Tsubasa Hanekawa meets a large white talking tiger and her house burned down in a fire.
Published (Japanese): 2010
Published (English): 2018
Season: Second Season
Episodes: Tsubasa Tiger
▽▽Get this title right now!▽▽
▽▽You can enjoy Nekomonogatari (White) on Audible!▽▽
9. Kabukimonogatari: Dandy Tale
Kabukimonogatari (傾物語) is the second published title of Second Season of Monogatari Series. It is set in the end of the summer break following Tsukihi Phoenix in Nisemonogatari (2) in chronologial order. Koyomi Araragi and his partner Shinobu Oshino try to travel back in time to the past, which brings about the unimaginable accident closely related to Mayoi Hachikuji.
Published (Japanese): 2010
Published (English): 2018
Season: Second Season
Episodes: Mayoi Jiangshi
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10. Hanamonogatari: Flower Tale
Hanamonogatari (花物語) is the third volume in Second Season of Monogatari Series focusing on Suruga Kanbaru, who becomes the third-grade student in high school. If a chronology of events is drawn up, Hanamonogatari is situated after all Second Season episodes and even Final Season since it depicts the story after Koyomi Araragi graduated from the high school and enters the university.
Published (Japanese): 2011
Published (English): 2018
Season: Second Season
Episodes: Suruga Devil
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11. Otorimonogatari: Decoy Tale
Otorimonogatari (囮物語) is the fourth part of Monogartari Series Second Season. It focuses on Nadeko Sengoku following Nadeko Snake in Bakemonogatari (2) and depicts the details of her life in Nanahyakuichi Public Middle School for the first time. She is involved in a new apparition problem in Otorimonogatari, which is intimately connected to the sequels like Koimonogatari.
Published (Japanese): 2011
Published (English): 2018
Season: Second Season
Episodes: Nadeko Medusa
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12. Onimonogatari: Demon Tale
As the fifth volume of Second Season, Onimonogatari (鬼物語) was published featuring Shinobu Oshino and her past when she was the legendary vampire king as told in Koyomi Vamp in Kizumonogatari. Set in the end of the summer break after Mayoi Jiangshi in Kabukimonogatari, Onimonogatari introduces a weird darkness suddenly showing up in front of Koyomi Araragi.
Published (Japanese): 2011
Published (English): 2018
Season: Second Season
Episodes: Shinobu Time
▽▽Get this title right now!▽▽
13. Koimonogatari: Love Tale
Koimonogatari (恋物語) is the sixth volume and the final part of Second Season of Monogatari Series. The setting is January and February after Nadeko Medusa in Otorimonogatari, when Koyomi Araragi and Shinobu Oshino are almost killed everyday. To save them, his girlfriend Hitagi Senjogahara asks a con man for help.
Published (Japanese): 2011
Published (English): 2019
Season: Second Season
Episodes: Hitagi End
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14. Tsukimonogatari: Possession Tale
Monogatari Series Final Season started with its first part Tsukimonogatari (憑物語) in 2012. Set in February after Hitagi End in Koimonogatari, Tsukimonogatari revolves around Koyomi Arraragi, who finds his vampiric characters significantly enhanced again and consult Shinobu Oshino and specialists Yozuru Kagenui and Yotsugi Ononoki.
Published (Japanese): 2012
Published (English): 2019
Season: Final Season
Episodes: Yotsugi Doll
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15. Koyomimonogatari: Calendar Tale (1)
As a part of Final Season, Koyomimonogatari (暦物語) was published in 2013, which is divided into two translated volumes in English. Koyomimonogatari (1) consists of six episodes, and each story follows Koyomi Araragi and a specific heroine looking back on a a long history of Monogatari Series from First Season.
Published (Japanese): 2013
Published (English): 2019
Season: Final Season
Episodes: Koyomi Stone/Koyomi Flower/Koyomi Sand/Koyomi Water/Koyomi Wind/Koyomi Tree
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16. Koyomimonogatari: Calendar Tale (2)
Koyomimonogatari (2) contains another six episodes centering on Koyomi Araragi and main female characters, which are more closely integrated with the final stage of Monogatari Series than the half in Koyomimonogatari (1). Koyomi Nothing depicts the story in the end of February after Yotsugi Doll in Tsukimonogatari and Koyomi Dead in the middle of March at the same time as the next title Owarimonogatari.
Published (Japanese): 2013
Published (English): 2019
Season: Final Season
Episodes: Koyomi Tea/Koyomi Mountain/Koyomi Torus/Koyomi Seed/Koyomi Nothing/Koyomi Dead
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17. Owarimonogatari: End Tale (1)
Owarimonogatari (終物語), the final part of Final Season and the main story of Monogatari Series, includes three volumes published in 2013 and 2014. Owarimonogatari (1) tells the story from Koyomi Araragi’s past and his childhood friend Sodachi Oikura. Ougi Oshino, one of the main characters in Final Season, is also featured in these three mystery episodes.
Published (Japanese): 2013
Published (English): 2019
Season: Final Season
Episodes: Ougi Formula/Sodachi Riddle/Sodachi Lost
▽▽Get this title right now!▽▽
▽▽You can enjoy Owarimonogatari (1) on Audible!▽▽
18. Owarimonogatar: End Tale (2)
Owarimonogatari (2), which contains a single episode Shinobu Mail, is set in the end of the summer break after Kabukimonogatari and Onimonogatari. In proper time sequence, Shinobu Mail happens at the same time as Tsubasa Tiger in Nekomonogatari: Cat Tale (White). It introduces Seishirou Shishirui as the first apparition slayer who Shinobu Oshino as Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade vampirized for the first time.
Published (Japanese): 2014
Published (English): 2020
Season: Final Season
Episodes: Shinobu Mail
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19. Owarimonogatari: End Tale (3)
Final Season of Monogatari Series completed the main story with Owarimonogatari (3). In the middle of March, Koyomi Araragi is forced to fall into hell by the leader of apparition specialist Izuko Gaen in Mayoi Hell. The final episode Ougi Dark gives away the ending of the mysterious character Ougi Oshino.
Published (Japanese): 2014
Published (English): 2020
Season: Final Season
Episodes: Mayoi Hell/Hitagi Rendezvous/Ougi Dark
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20. Zoku Owarimonogatari: End Tale (Cont.)
Zoku Owarimonogatari (続・終物語), positioned as the real final part of Final Season, tells a spin-off story after Ougi Dark in Owarimonogatari (3). After graduating from Naoetsu Private High School, Koyomi Araragi is transported to another world, where he notices something odd about the characters’ personalities. There are almost all main characters of the whole Monogatari Series in Koyomi Reverse.
Published (Japanese): 2014
Published (English): TBA
Season: Final Season
Episodes: Koyomi Reverse
▽▽Get this title right now!▽▽
21. Orokamonogatari
The story of Monogatari Series seemed to be completed with Final Season, but it was followed by Off Season, which consists of four spin-off volumes. Orokamonogatari (愚物語) is the fist title of Off Season published in Japanese in 2015. With the theme of “Fool”, each of the three episodes presents the post-fin stories of Sodachi Oikura, Suruga Kanbaru and Tsukihi Araragi.
Published (Japanese): 2015
Published (English): TBA
Season: Off Season
Episodes: Sodachi Fiasco/Suruga Bonehead/Tsukihi Undo
22. Wazamonogatari
As the second title of Off Season, Wazamonogatari (業物語) consists of four spin-off episodes focusing on some heroines. Princess Beauty and Acerola Bon Appétit presents the past of Shinobu Oshino when she was a human being known as Princess Beauty or Princess Acerola. Karen Ogre happens after Karen Araragi goes on to a high school. Tsubasa Sleeping follows Tsubasa Hanekawa, who travels around the world looking for Meme Oshino.
Published (Japanese): 2016
Published (English): TBA
Season: Off Season
Episodes: Princess Beauty/Acerola Bon Appétit/Karen Ogre/Tsubasa Sleeping
23. Nademonogatari
Nademonogatari (撫物語), the third volume of Off Season, is also a spin-off but had an important implication for the next Monster Season. Nadeko Draw, the only episode included in Nademonogatari, centers on Nadeko Sengoku, who aspires to becoming a manga artist but is opposed by her parents.
Published (Japanese): 2016
Published (English): TBA
Season: Off Season
Episodes: Nadeko Draw
24. Musubimonogatari
Musubimonogatari (結物語) is the last part of Off Season and is positioned at the end of the whole Monogatari Season in chronological order. Musubimonogatari contains four episodes that tells the story of Koyomi Araragi, who becomes a police officer as his parents after graduating from the university. Each episode focuses on new colleague characters in his department.
Published (Japanese): 2017
Published (English): TBA
Season: Off Season
Episodes: Zenka Mermaid/Nozomi Golem/Mitome Wolf/Tsuzura Human
25. Shinobumonogatari
Following Off Season, the new part started as Monster Season in 2017, which tells the story of Koyomi Araragi after entering Manase National University. The first title Shinobumonogatari (忍物語) represents a new apparition incident he tackles with the leader of specialists Izuko Gaen. And, Deathtopia Virtuoso Suicide-Master shows up, the legendary vampire that transformed Princess Acerola into a vampire named Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade (Shinobu Oshino) about 600 years ago.
▽Check the link below for the detailed story!▽
Following Off Season, the new series Monster Season of Monogatari Series started with Shinobumonogatari (忍物語). Shinobumo[…]
Published (Japanese): 2017
Published (English): TBA
Season: Monster Season
Episodes: Shinobu Mustard
26. Yoimonogatari
Yoimonogatari (宵物語) is the second volume of Monster Season revolving around Koyomi Araragi, who investigates a child abduction case with Mayoi Hachukuji, Shinobu Oshino and Yotsugi Ononoki. There are two episodes in Yoimonogatari, and the latter one titled Mayoi Snake centers on Nadeko Sengoku following Nadeko Draw in Nademonogatari.
▽Check the link below for the detailed story!▽
Yoimonogatari (宵物語) is the second part of Monster Season of Monogatari Series written by Nisio Isin. It was published on[…]
Published (Japanese): 2018
Published (English): TBA
Season: Monster Season
Episodes: Mayoi Snail/Mayoi Snake
27. Amarimonogatari
Amarimonogatari (余物語), the third part of Monster Season, is set in the end of the first semester of the university. In Yotsugi Body, Koyomi Araragi is consulted by an associate professor Hagoromo Iesumi and address the child abuse problem with Yotsugi Ononoki. Yotsugi Shadow is the sequel of Mayoi Snake in Yoimonogatari featuring Nadeko Sengoku.
▽Check the link below for the detailed story!▽
Amarimonogatari (余物語) was released on April 17, 2019 as the third part of Monster Season of Monogatari Series written by[…]
Published (Japanese): 2019
Published (English): TBA
Season: Monster Season
Episodes: Yotsugi Body/Yotsugi Shadow
28. Ougimonogatari
Ougimonogatari (扇物語) is introduced as the fourth part of Monster Season, consisting of two episodes. Set in late freshman year, Ougi Right follows Koyomi Araragi, who encounters strange phenomena themed on apology. Ougi Flight centers on Nadeko Sengoku following Yotsugi Shadow in Amarimonogatari.
▽Check the link below for the detailed story!▽
Ougimonogatari (扇物語) was released on October 28, 2020 as the 26th volume of Monogatari Series written by Nisio Isin, fol[…]
Published (Japanese): 2020
Published (English): TBA
Season: Monster Season
Episodes: Ougi Right/Ougi Flight
29. Shinomonogatari
The fifth and final part of Monster Season Shinomonogatari (死物語) was published in Japanese in 2021 with two volumes. Book 1 contains Shinobu Suicide, which tells the story of Koyomi Araragi until he graduates from the university. Book 2 includes Nadeko Around, which presents the final story of Nadeko Sengoku, who trains to become an apparition specialist.
▽Check the link below for the detailed story!▽
Finally, Shinomonogatari (死物語), the fifth and last part of Monster Season of Monogatari Series, was just released by Nis[…]
Published (Japanese): 2021
Published (English): TBA
Season: Monster Season
Episodes: Shinobu Suicide/Nadeko Around
Exclusive Box Sets
This is a good news for fans of Monogatari Series: there are three cool box sets with original illustrations designed by VOFAN, who is in charge of cover illustrations for the whole Monogatari Series. First Season, Second Season and Final Season are available so far.
-First Season Box Set
>>Check availability of First Season Box Set!
-Second Season Box Set
>>Check availability of Second Season Box Set!
-Final Season Box Set
>>Check availability of Final Season Box Set!
If you like the illustrations of the box and all of the current Monogatari Series covers by Vofan, this is the illustration book titled Colorful Dreams!
Anime Order: The Recommended Order for Fans of the Anime Series to Read the Original Story
As you know, the anime adaptation of Monogatari Series has covered from First Season to Final Season, so here is the list of the anime airing sequence until the final Zoku Owarimonogatari.
This anime order is recommended if you have watched the anime series from start to finish.
▽Here is the perfect anime guide to watch Monogatari Series in the best way!▽
What do you think is the best anime series ever? In addition to lots of classic masterpieces that were born decades ago,[…]
Many popular manga and light novels have been made into anime adaptations recently, and some of the anime series have no[…]
- Bakemonogatari
- Nisemonogatari
- Nekomonogatari (Black)
- Nekomonogatari (White)
- Kabukimonogatari
- Otorimonogatari
- Onimonogatari
- Koimonogatari
- Hanamonogatari
- Tsukimonogatari
- Owarimonogatari (1)
- Owarimonogatari (2)
- Koyomimonogatari
- Kizumonogatari
- Owarimonogatari (3)
- Zoku Owarimonogatari
Chronological Order: The Order for Experienced Readers to Review the whole Story
The third option to binge-read the Monogatari Series light novel is in chronological order, which is only recommended to those who have completed it at least once.
- Kizumonogatari
- Nekomonogatari (Black)
- Bakemonogatari
- Nisemonogatari
- Kabukimonogatari
- Onimonogatari
- Nekomonogatari (White)
- Owarimonogatari (2)
- Owarimonogatari (1)
- Otorimonogatari
- Koimonogatari
- Tsukimonogatari
- Koyomimonogatari
- Owarimonogatari (3)
- Zoku owarimonogatari
- Hanamonogatari
- Orokamonogatari
- Wazamonogatari
- Nademonogatari
- Shinobumonogatari
- Yoimonogatari
- Amarimonogatari
- Ougimonogatari
- Shinomonogatari
- Musubimonogatari
I hope you will find the best reading order to enjoy Monogatari Series and smoothly read from beginning to end!
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