Unless you’ve been living inside a #BookTok-free bubble, you’ve likely heard of author Sarah J. Maas and the fictional worlds of fae, beasts, demons and shifters that she’s created across the A Court Of Thorns And Roses, Throne Of Glass and Crescent City series.
It’s not unheard of for some of the genre’s most popular writers to mention Maas’s name when citing their biggest influences. And whether you’re a romance reader from wayback, or are still relatively new to the fandom, ACOTAR is highly regarded as the gateway drug to a lifelong romantasy fixation.
But don’t just take our word for it, with billions of #ACOTAR-related views on TikTok and 70 million (and counting) copies sold worldwide, the cult series has singlehandedly reinvented the adult fantasy genre and with it, a global literary fanbase that expands every day.
While the author’s popularity continues to soar with every passing year, the fandom’s frenzy has never been louder thanks to a recent update following a painfully long four-year wait.
On July 11, 2025, Maas finally gave fans what they’d been thirsting for: confirmation that book 6 in the ACOTAR series is finally complete. Or, at least its first drafts are – but that’s another conversation entirely (which we go into here, if you’re curious).
Within minutes of news breaking, #BookTok was flooded with fan theories and euphoric reactions, but it was the “Sarah J Maas reading order” content that came swiftly afterwards that felt impossible to ignore. As reasonably novice Maas followers ourselves, we weren’t exactly across the “reading order” chat. Needless to say, we were even less aware that, according to the discourse, it’s considered essential prep for the upcoming release.
Feeling overwhelmed, confused, or even just a little curious? You’ve come to the right place.
Wherever you’re up to in the 16-book “Maasverse”, we’ve got the Sarah J Maas books reading order guide to suit. So keep scrolling for the what, why and when of Maas’s three series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City.
Which Sarah J Maas Series Should You Start With?
While there are no hard and fast rules to the Maasverse game, there are a couple of key considerations to note before diving in:
- It doesn’t matter if you begin your Sarah J Maas journey with the Throne of Glass series, or ACOTAR books first.
- You should read the ACOTAR books before starting the Crescent City series (for reasons we’ll go into further down)
The most popular point of entry into the Maasverse is A Court of Thorns and Roses, or ACOTAR for short, as it offers the perfect starter pack for those looking to dip their toes into the romantasy genre. If, however, you’re looking for more fantasy, less-romantasy, then start with the Throne of Glass series. Simple, right?
Are Crescent City & ACOTAR Connected?
Despite what the majority of SJM discourse might have you believe, you don’t actually have to read the Crescent City series before the next ACOTAR book comes out. While Maas herself has never explicitly directed fans to read CC before ACOTAR, she has specified that reading ACOTAR before CC will allow you to be fully engrossed in the world building.
So why exactly do so many people suggest it? It has to do with the fact that this series, which includes House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, and House of Flame and Shadow, has a small amount of crossover with the ACOTAR universe.
Set in modern day, Sarah’s urban fantasy series might feel worlds apart from the High Fae world, but there is a timeline crossover between the two with each series existing in the same megaverse.
Without revealing any spoilers, advocates for the full reading experience will argue that the characters and plotlines present within the five ACOTAR books, provide major clues and breadcrumbs for upcoming releases – most notably, for book six.
A Court Of Thorns And Roses Reading Order
“When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a terrifying creature arrives to demand retribution. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she knows about only from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not truly a beast, but one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world. At least, he’s not a beast all the time”
Total books: 5, including 1 prequel novel
Complete series: No
A Court of Thorns and Roses or ACOTAR for short, is a (so far) five book series that fuses romance, adventure, court politics, and a whole lot of spice and is largely considered the best starting point for anyone looking to break into the world of romantasy.
If, like us, it’s been a while since you picked up a fantasy novel, then trust us when we say – ACOTAR is the perfect kickstarter to lead with. The first three novels follow the POV of nineteen-year-old human huntress, Feyre Archeron, as she navigates the Faerie world. The fourth book, Frost and Starlight, is a multi-POV novella and offers up a tasty context-rich palette cleanser for the fifth book – which is all about Feyre’s sister, Nesta Archeron.
These ones need to be read in release order, which is as follows:
1 A Court Of Thorns And Roses (2015)
2 A Court Of Mist And Fury (2016)
3 A Court Of Wings And Ruin (2017)
4 A Court Of Frost And Starlight (2018)
5 A Court Of Silver Flames (2021)
What Are The ACOTAR Bonus Chapters?
Before you move onto the next series, you absolutely must read the bonus chapters because yes – they are real – and very much canon.
The bonus chapters – often told from the POV of someone you don’t hear much from in the book – originate from the special editions that are published in certain locations around the world.
Obviously these can be hard to come across in their original forms, but thankfully, the ACOTAR fandom are a generous bunch and have compiled the chapters online for easy access. Enjoy!
Throne of Glass Reading Order
“When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the king’s champion and earn her freedom. Her name is Celaena Sardothien –
beautiful, deadly, and destined for greatness”
Total books: 8, including 1 prequel novel
Complete series: Yes
Throne of Glass (2012) is the first book ever published by Sarah J Maas and kicks off the eight-book series that follows the journey of assassin Celaena Sardothien.
If you identify as an epic fantasy fan, then the Throne of Glass novels are definitely for you. However, that’s not to say this series is lacking on the romance/spice front. Once the novels get there, we promise it’ll be worth the wait.
What’s important to understand about the TOG series is that, unlike her other novels, there are different ways to approach the reading order. But as with everything else in life, the choice is inevitably up to you.
Throne Of Glass Publication Order
This is the reading order recommended by Maas, and is suggested so in order to avoid any potential spoilers.
1 Throne Of Glass (2012)
2 Crown Of Midnight (2013)
3 The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
4 Heir Of Fire (2014)
5 Queen Of Shadows (2015)
6 Empire Of Storms (2016)
7 Tower Of Dawn (2017)
8 Kingdom Of Ash (2018)
What’s The Throne Of Glass Tandem Read?
Ok, so we might have lied when we said there were only two ways to read TOG – because there’s a growing number of Maasverse members who swear by the tandem read.
The option applies to reading Tower of Dawn and Empire of Storms simultaneously, as the events featured in both books happen at the same time. According to the publishers website, it’s completely fine to opt in for the tandem experience if you’re so inclined, but it’s worth noting that there are some strict rules to follow if you want to avoid spoilers. Which, in our opinion, makes it unnecessarily complicated – but each to their own!
Lucky for us, some very kind – and devoted – community members have developed the ultimate guide to taking part: like this handy how-to developed by Jenna Clerek, or the below TikTok by Emma Halbrook.
What’s The TOG Timeline Order?
The Assassin’s Blade is the third book (in publication order) in the TOG series, but like ACOTAR‘s A Court of Frost and Starlight, it’s technically a group of novellas. However, unlike ACOFS, it’s a prequel that delves into the events leading up to Celaena’s position at the beginning of the first novel in the series.
Both Maas and Bloomsbury recommend reading the series in publication order, but given there’s a good amount of character development that provides context for Celaena’s state of mind in The Assassin’s Blade, the chronological order makes more sense.
That being said, however you choose to read the series – either chronologically or in publication order – it won’t spoil anything for you.
- The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
- Throne Of Glass (2012)
- Crown Of Midnight (2013)
- Heir Of Fire (2014)
- Queen Of Shadows (2015)
- Empire Of Storms (2016)
- Tower Of Dawn (2017)
- Kingdom Of Ash (2018)
Throne Of Glass Bonus Chapters
When it comes to getting the most out of the Sarah J Maas books reading order, it’s important to remember that just when you think it’s over – there’s a little treat waiting for you. If you know where to look, that is.
As with the ACOTAR bonus chapters, there are also plenty of deleted scenes and extra chapters from TOG to keep the fire burning.
Crescent City Reading Order
“Bryce Quinlan loves her life. Every night is a party, and Bryce is going to savour all the pleasures Lunathion – also known as Crescent City – has to offer. But when a brutal murder shakes the very foundations of the city, Bryce’s world comes crashing down. Two years later, Bryce still haunts the city’s most notorious nightclubs – but seeking only oblivion now. Then the murderer attacks again. And when an infamous Fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, is assigned to watch her every footstep, Bryce knows she can’t forget any longer”
Total books: 3
Complete series: 3 – with a possible 4th in the works
So, you’ve heard the whispers about winged males and multiverse crossovers, and now you’re wondering: What’s the correct Crescent City reading order? Do you need to read CC before the sixth ACOTAR book comes out? And do you need to read ACOTAR first? Technically – No. But practically? Yes – especially if you plan to read House of Flame and Shadow or anything that comes after.
The end of book two (Sky and Breath) delivers a major crossover twist that drops the ACOTAR universe straight into the Crescent City timeline. The overlap expands even more in book three (House of Flame and Shadow), specifically when it comes to the characters and plotlines explored in A Court of Silver Flames, plus there’s even some minor TOG lore.
So, in short, skip at your own risk. But if you want the full impact (and to understand who those characters are), read the ACOTAR series first.
1 House Of Earth And Blood (2020)
2 House Of Sky And Breath (2022)
3 House Of Flame And Shadow (2024)
Crescent City Bonus Chapters
It may be the shortest in the Sarah J Maas books reading order series – but CC boasts the most deleted and bonus chapters.
It’s worth noting that there are none for book one – so hold off on that little extra lore on the side until you’re up to book two at least. If you’ve crossed the threshold, then you can start working your way through the eight CC bonus chapters (compiled by The Rambling Book Nerd) at your leisure, below.
Related articles:
- We Unpack Sarah J. Maas’ Cryptic ACOTAR 6 Announcement
- We Grilled Josh Heuston About Joining The ‘Fourth Wing’ TV Adaptation
- Spicy Romance Books To Satisfy The Thirstiest Readers
If you want the full immersive experience (and to understand the growing web of crossover clues), go with this order:
– Throne of Glass series (start with The Assassin’s Blade or Throne of Glass)
– A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series
– Crescent City series
Not at all. The series are separate, and you can jump straight into ACOTAR if you’re in it for the thrilling romance and winged males. That said, Throne of Glass is where it all started – and the payoff is big once you see how her universes start to connect.
Yes – kind of. While Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, and Crescent City are set in different worlds, recent books suggest they may be part of a larger multiverse, or the Maasverse, if you will. However, each series can still be read independently.
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