Sarah J. Maas Books in Order: ACOTAR, Throne of Glass and Which Series to Read First

The short answer: Sarah J. Maas has three main series. Throne of Glass has eight books (2012–2018), A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) has six books so far, with the sixth, A Court of Splintered Harmony, published on 27 October 2026, and Crescent City has three books (2020–2024). Read each series in its own publication order. Across all three, the most popular approach is Throne of Glass or ACOTAR first, and Crescent City after ACOTAR, because the Crescent City books increasingly connect to the ACOTAR world.

Sarah J. Maas is one of the most-read fantasy authors in the world, and her books are a fixture of BookTok. With dozens of characters, crossovers and a novella or two along the way, though, knowing where to start is a genuine question. This guide lists the Sarah J. Maas books in order series by series, explains the tricky bits (The Assassin's Blade, the "tandem read" and the Crescent City crossover), gives honest age guidance and helps you choose the right box set.

Sarah J. Maas books in order at a glance

Here is every main book across her three series, with the year it was first published.

A seventh ACOTAR book has been announced for 12 January 2027, and a fourth Crescent City book is planned, though it has no confirmed title or date yet.

Throne of Glass reading order

Throne of Glass follows Celaena Sardothien, a teenage assassin freed from a prison mine to compete to become the King's Champion. Over eight books, it grows from a competition story into a sprawling war epic with a large cast. It is Maas's longest series and, for many fans, her best.

Where does The Assassin's Blade go?

The Assassin's Blade collects five novellas set before Throne of Glass, telling the story of Celaena's life as an assassin and the events that sent her to prison. There are three common choices:

• Read it first, as chronological order suggests. This gives you the backstory up front, though it reveals some things the early books keep mysterious.
• Read it after Crown of Midnight, which matches publication order. This is the order we recommend for most readers.
• Read it before Queen of Shadows at the latest, because the events of the novellas matter a great deal from book four onwards.

Our Throne of Glass 8-book paperback box set includes The Assassin's Blade alongside all seven novels, so you can read it at whichever point suits you.

What is the Throne of Glass "tandem read"?

Empire of Storms (book 5) and Tower of Dawn (book 6) take place at the same time but follow different characters in different places. Tower of Dawn focuses on Chaol, who travels to a new continent. Many fans read the two books in tandem, alternating chapters or sections, so the timelines line up before Kingdom of Ash. If that sounds like too much juggling, simply read them in order, Empire of Storms first. The important thing is to read both before the final book, as Kingdom of Ash draws on each of them.

Our recommended Throne of Glass order

1. Throne of Glass
2. Crown of Midnight
3. The Assassin's Blade
4. Heir of Fire
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms
7. Tower of Dawn (or a tandem read with Empire of Storms)
8. Kingdom of Ash

A Court of Thorns and Roses reading order

ACOTAR begins with Feyre, a young huntress who kills a wolf in the woods and is taken across the wall into Prythian, the land of the faeries, as payment. It starts as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and becomes something much bigger in the second book, which many readers consider their favourite. This is the series that made Maas a BookTok phenomenon.

Read ACOTAR in publication order:

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
2. A Court of Mist and Fury
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight, a shorter novella set at the Winter Solstice that bridges the main story and the next novel. Do not skip it, as it sets up book five.
5. A Court of Silver Flames, which shifts the focus to Feyre's sister Nesta and the Illyrian warrior Cassian.
6. A Court of Splintered Harmony, published in October 2026 and billed by the publisher as the first movement of "The Valkyrie Cycle".

Which ACOTAR box set should you buy?

If you are starting from scratch, the A Court of Thorns and Roses 5-book box set contains books one to five, including A Court of Silver Flames, so it brings you right up to the new book. There is also a 5-book ACOTAR collection set with the same five titles. If you only want to try the first stretch, the ACOTAR 3-book set covers the original trilogy. A Court of Splintered Harmony is newly published and is not part of these sets.

Crescent City reading order

Crescent City is Maas's first series written for adults from the start. It is urban fantasy, set in a modern city of phones, nightclubs and cars, populated by angels, shifters and fae. Bryce Quinlan, half-human and half-fae, is drawn into the hunt for a killer after a devastating loss.

1. House of Earth and Blood (2020)
2. House of Sky and Breath (2022)
3. House of Flame and Shadow (2024)

Should you read ACOTAR before Crescent City?

Yes, ideally. The first Crescent City book stands on its own, but the ending of House of Sky and Breath links directly to the ACOTAR world, and House of Flame and Shadow features ACOTAR characters and places in a big way. Reading ACOTAR first, at least up to A Court of Silver Flames, means you will catch the connections and avoid spoilers for ACOTAR.

What order should you read all Sarah J. Maas books in?

There is no single official order, but these are the three routes we see readers take most often:

• The BookTok route: ACOTAR (books 1–5), then Crescent City (books 1–3), then Throne of Glass. This gets you to the crossover quickly and starts with the most talked-about series.
• The publication route: start Throne of Glass, begin ACOTAR when you are hooked, and read Crescent City last. This follows how Maas's universe actually grew.
• The epic-fantasy route: Throne of Glass all the way through, then ACOTAR, then Crescent City. Best for readers who love long, plot-heavy series and are less interested in romance.

Whichever route you take, the key rules are the same: read each series in its own order, and read ACOTAR before House of Sky and Breath.

Tips for reading a long Sarah J. Maas series

Maas's books are long, and Throne of Glass in particular is a serious commitment. A few tips from readers who have made it to the end:

• Give each series time. Both Throne of Glass and ACOTAR are often described as "slow to start". The first books lay the foundations, and the stakes rise sharply from the second or third instalment.
• Keep a character list. Throne of Glass and Crescent City both introduce large casts with similar-sounding names. A simple note on your phone or a bookmark with key names helps a lot, especially in the later books.
• Do not search online mid-series. With such a big fandom, spoilers are everywhere, from social media posts to fan art. If you are in the middle of a series, be careful what you look up.
• Read the novellas. The Assassin's Blade and A Court of Frost and Starlight are easy to skip but matter later on. Both are worth the time.
• Own the set before you start. Many readers finish a book late at night and want the next one straight away. A box set means no waiting, and it keeps the spines matching on your shelf.

What age are Sarah J. Maas books for?

This is one of the most common questions we are asked, and the honest answer is that it depends on the series.

ACOTAR was sometimes shelved with teenage books in its early years, which causes confusion. Today it is widely treated as adult fantasy romance, sometimes called "romantasy". For younger teens who love the idea of faerie courts and dangerous romance, we suggest looking at our YA fantasy collection instead.

Where to start with Sarah J. Maas

• If you love romance and BookTok favourites: start with A Court of Thorns and Roses. Push on to the second book even if the first one feels slow, as that is where most readers fall for the series.
• If you love big, plotty epic fantasy: start with Throne of Glass. It begins as a competition story and keeps getting bigger.
• If you prefer modern settings: House of Earth and Blood works as a starting point, but read ACOTAR before the second Crescent City book.

What to read after Sarah J. Maas

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the dragon-rider romantasy that everyone discussed after ACOTAR. Our Empyrean series 4-book collection has Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm and Threshing Day.
• The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen is a spy-princess enemies-to-lovers series. Try the Bridge Kingdom 5-book collection.
• The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith is a lush, historical fae romance for older teens. See the Rose Bargain 2-book set.

Our guide to BookTok books in the UK has many more ideas.

Frequently asked questions

What order should I read Sarah J. Maas books in?

Read each of her three series in its own publication order. Most readers start with either Throne of Glass or A Court of Thorns and Roses, and read Crescent City after ACOTAR because the later Crescent City books connect to the ACOTAR world.

How many A Court of Thorns and Roses books are there?

There are six: five main novels and the novella A Court of Frost and Starlight. The sixth, A Court of Splintered Harmony, was published on 27 October 2026, and a seventh has been announced for January 2027.

Should I read Throne of Glass or ACOTAR first?

Choose ACOTAR if you want romance at the centre of the story, and Throne of Glass if you prefer epic fantasy with a big cast and lots of battles. Neither series requires the other, so you can start with whichever sounds more like you.

Do I need to read ACOTAR before Crescent City?

For the first Crescent City book, no. For House of Sky and Breath and House of Flame and Shadow, it is strongly recommended, as they build on ACOTAR characters and would spoil major ACOTAR events.

Is A Court of Thorns and Roses suitable for teenagers?

ACOTAR is generally treated as adult fiction because it contains explicit sexual content, particularly from the second book onwards. Throne of Glass, which began as young adult fiction, is a better choice for older teens, especially the early books.

Find your next fantasy obsession

Whichever court you join, Sarah J. Maas is easiest to enjoy with the whole series ready on your shelf. Browse our BookTok bestsellers or explore our fantasy books for your next box set.