If you’re searching for a clear Sarah J. Maas books in order reading order guide, this overview gives you the answers without the spoiler nonsense. Sarah J. Maas is a bestselling fantasy author known for three major series: the Throne of Glass series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series.
This Sarah J. Maas books in order reading order guide covers the complete fantasy book series lineup. It breaks down each series and helps you choose the best book series order for your reading plans.
You can read by release date, within a single series, or across the wider Maasverse. The list includes every released book, shows where the novellas fit, and previews the two new ACOTAR releases announced for 2026 and 2027.
Use this reading guide to find the series that best matches your mood and preferred reading experience. Sarah J. Maas’s books unfold across three interconnected fantasy worlds, each with its own setting, characters, and atmosphere.
Key Takeaways: Sarah J. Maas Books in Order Reading Order Guide
- Use publication order as your default. This reading guide preserves the intended pacing, reveals, and connections across the books.
- The Throne of Glass series includes eight books. The Assassin’s Blade is a prequel collection you can read first or after Crown of Midnight.
- The ACOTAR sequence begins with A Court of Thorns and Roses, continues through A Court of Mist and Fury, and currently ends with A Court of Silver Flames.
- For book series order, the Throne of Glass series, ACOTAR, and the Crescent City series can each be read independently. Following the broader order can make the Maasverse connections more impact.
- The two announced ACOTAR novels are upcoming releases, not currently released installments. In release order, they follow the sequence that begins with A Court of Thorns and Roses, with dates set for October 27, 2026, and January 12, 2027. A separate eighth installment is also in progress.
Sarah J. Maas Books in Order: The Complete Series List
For most readers, publication order is the least stressful way to read Sarah J. Maas books in order. This reading order guide follows the book series order for each story’s release, while noting where a recommended sequence may work better. It also keeps major reveals intact as the Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, and Crescent City worlds begin brushing against each other in this fantasy book series.
Throne of Glass books and novellas in the series
The Throne of Glass series includes the following true publication order:
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
The collection known as the assassins blade includes five earlier novellas: The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Healer, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld, and The Assassin and the Empire. If you’re searching for the assassins blade, this is the prequel collection to look for in boxed sets or used-book listings.
Publication order places The Assassin’s Blade after Crown of Midnight, but many readers prefer that recommended placement. Start with Throne of Glass, read Crown of Midnight, then pick up the assassins blade before Heir of Fire. This sequence gives Queen of Shadows and Kingdom of Ash more emotional context.
Reading the assassins blade before the main story is also valid. It introduces Celaena’s history immediately, while reading it after Crown of Midnight lets that history carry more weight. The choice depends on whether you prefer backstory first or the faster hook of young adult fantasy.
Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn: publication timing
The Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn books happen at roughly the same time. Their overlapping timelines make publication order the simplest option, but a spoiler-aware tandem read can work for readers who dislike leaving one story line unfinished.
A tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn requires coordinating chapters carefully. The Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn tandem read is optional, not required. It can smooth out the timeline, though reading the books separately remains the easiest book series order.
What is even is a tandem read?
A tandem read means switching between Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn in a set chapter order. It keeps the overlapping timeline together, but it takes more effort than reading the books separately.
A tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn requires coordinating chapters carefully. The Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn tandem read is optional, not required. It can smooth out the timeline, though reading the books separately remains the easiest book series order.
A Court of Thorns and Roses books in publication order
The A Court of Thorns and Roses books follow this publication sequence:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
- A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
- A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
- A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
In A Court of Thorns and Roses, readers enter a world shaped by high fae, dangerous bargains, and romantic fantasy books energy. The opening novel establishes the setting, central relationships, and rules that shape the rest of the series.
A Court of Mist and Fury deepens the emotional and political stakes. A Court of Wings and Ruin brings the original trilogy’s central conflict to a major turning point. Together, A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Wings and Ruin create the series’ biggest shifts in scope and intensity.
Why You Shouldn’t Skip A Court of Frost and Starlight
Don’t skip A Court of Frost and Starlight because it’s shorter. It has more of a holiday-episode feel than a giant plot engine, but it carries relationship fallout and healing into A Court of Silver Flames.
A Court of Frost and Starlight provides a quieter bridge into the next book. A Court of Silver Flames begins a different emotional arc and shifts the central point of view. That change brings a new character journey and a different kind of intensity to A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Should you read the Throne of Glass series in chronological order?
Chronological order starts with The Assassin’s Blade. This is a good choice for readers who want Celaena’s past before the main story begins, especially when deciding how to read the Throne of Glass series.
Starting with the assassins blade gives the early character history more context, but it delays the main story’s hook. Starting with Throne of Glass creates faster momentum and introduces the premise immediately.
If backstory is your comfort read, choose chronological order and begin with the prequel collection. If you need a hook immediately, begin with Throne of Glass. Both approaches work, and neither changes the larger publication sequence of the Throne of Glass series.
The simplest ACOTAR reading order
Read the books in publication order, beginning with A Court of Thorns and Roses and continuing through A Court of Silver Flames. This straightforward book series order requires no rearranging and gives you the intended progression through the series.
The story grows past its opening setup quickly. The romance gets deeper, the stakes get meaner, and the character dynamics change in ways that work better without advance knowledge. A Court of Frost and Starlight is the small but important breath between disasters.
Crescent City books in publication order
The Crescent City series currently follows this publication order:
The Crescent City series can be read independently, beginning with House of Earth and Blood and continuing with House of Sky and Breath. However, House of Flame and Shadow has a stronger Maasverse impact after you’ve read the ACOTAR books.
Readers who want the biggest crossover reaction should finish at least the first two ACOTAR novels first. Completing all five released titles is even better. Reading House of Flame and Shadow after ACOTAR protects several delicious “WAIT. WHAT?” moments.
If you’re unsure where to begin, start with Throne of Glass for an expansive fantasy journey, A Court of Thorns and Roses for romance-forward fantasy, or House of Earth and Blood for a modern setting with a larger mystery. You can always explore the other series later, once you’ve found the reading rhythm that works best for you and your Sarah J. Maas books in order journey.
How the Maasverse Fits Together Without Spoiling the Fun
The Maasverse is the shared mythology connecting the Throne of Glass series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City series. It isn’t one required mega-series with a single starting point.
Each world has its own main story, cast, tone, and emotional center. You won’t be lost reading only A Court of Thorns and Roses, the Throne of Glass series, or the Crescent City series. Still, the Maasverse rewards readers who follow publication order, especially when they notice hints about powers, ancient history, and the high fae.
The Crescent City series has the clearest known connection to A Court of Thorns and Roses. That’s all you need to know before opening book one. Look for recurring imagery, familiar magical concepts, and details that suggest a larger universe without explaining every connection upfront.
The Crescent City series also contributes context to the broader Maasverse, while A Court of Thorns and Roses provides the most direct crossover point currently known. The Throne of Glass series adds another layer of mythology, but you don’t need to finish it first. Each story line stands on its own.
If emotional payoff is your whole thing, read A Court of Thorns and Roses first. If urban fantasy is your mood today, start the Crescent City series anyway. Reading should feel fun, not like you need a syllabus and three highlighters.
Why rereading ACOTAR and Crescent City may be worth it
A reread before the next ACOTAR novels makes sense if you want to revisit clues, court politics, powers, alliances, and unfinished character threads. The ACOTAR and Crescent City books reward readers who remember the little details. The broader mythology becomes easier to appreciate on a second pass.
Confirmed announcements are one thing. Fan theories are another. Keep those lanes separate, especially when social media presents a guess like it’s a signed contract. The Maasverse is designed to make discovery part of the fun, so you don’t need to solve every connection before you start reading.
What to Know About the New ACOTAR Books in 2026 and 2027
Two new ACOTAR novels are expected as a continuation of A Court of Thorns and Roses. Sarah recently appeared on Call Her Daddy and shared several details readers have been waiting for. Together, the books will continue the story beyond the five currently released novels. Publisher’s Weekly also reported Bloomsbury’s announcement. This update should help readers following Sarah J. Maas books in order, though some details remain unconfirmed.
What’s Confirmed About the Next A Court of Thorns and Roses Books
As of August 2026, official titles, covers, and full plot details had not been revealed in the available announcements. Reported page counts may also change before publication. Save the fan casts and plot claims for group chats, not your expectations.
The reported release dates are October 27, 2026, and January 12, 2027. The connected-story format has also been reported, but readers should watch for official publisher updates before treating every detail as final.
An eighth installment is reportedly underway, with no current release date announced. So, there’s plenty to read before then, with no need to stress.
Where the new ACOTAR books fit in the reading order
In publication order and the overall book series order, both novels belong after A Court of Silver Flames. Read all five released ACOTAR books, including A Court of Silver Flames, before starting this continuation of A Court of Thorns and Roses. You don’t need to read the Throne of Glass series or Crescent City series first.
Rumored character leads and an unconfirmed ACOTAR 8 release date aren’t official reading-order information. They shouldn’t affect your plans.
The new books may build on wider connections already established in the Maasverse and the Crescent City world. They may also remain focused on Prythian’s unresolved court politics and character threads while adding context to the Maasverse. However, the available announcements don’t confirm plot details beyond this possible continuation of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Which Sarah J. Maas Series Should You Read First?
A search for Sarah J. Maas books in order can lead to a helpful reading guide. Still, choosing where to begin depends on whether you need kissing, kingdoms, or a murder mystery tonight.
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses if you want romance and fast emotional stakes
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a top-tier choice for readers who love romantic fantasy books, dangerous courts, sharp chemistry, and dramatic reveals. You’ll meet the high fae and enter a world of shifting power. This is an ideal starting point if you’re looking for A Court of Thorns and Roses as your first Maas series.
The first book is only the door. Walk through it. Expect shifting points of view and a story that grows beyond its original setup. If you read romantic fantasy books for yearning and emotional chaos, A Court of Thorns and Roses is your lane.
Start with the Throne of Glass series if you want a long fantasy journey
Pick the Throne of Glass series if you want a sprawling fantasy book series with a huge cast, found family, battles, politics, and a heroine who changes over time. Its early books feel younger and more contained. They can appeal to readers who enjoy young adult fantasy, so give them room.
By the later installments, the emotional stakes are enormous, leading all the way to Kingdom of Ash. Bring snacks. Bring tissues. Maybe don’t start it on a casual Tuesday night. The Throne of Glass series rewards readers who enjoy a long, immersive arc.
Start with the Crescent City series if you want urban fantasy and a mystery hook
Start the Crescent City series for modern-city energy, grief, found family, romance, and a central mystery. House of Earth and Blood establishes the series emotional foundation. Its New York Times bestselling status reflects how quickly the story found its audience.
The world-building comes at you fast, making the Crescent City series a strong choice if the other two series don’t match your mood. House of Earth and Blood also delivers the mystery hook that pulls tighter as you read. It can feel like being handed a map in another language for the first few chapters. Stick with it if the opening lands for you. Once the story clicks, the feelings show up loud, and the wider book series order feels less like homework and more like a road map.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best order to read Sarah J. Maas’s books?
For most readers, this reading guide to Sarah J. Maas books in order uses publication order, the clearest book series order. It preserves intended reveals across the Throne of Glass series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City while letting the Maasverse connections develop naturally.
Should I read The Assassin’s Blade first?
You can, but many readers prefer reading it after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire. This placement gives the backstory greater emotional context than reading it first.
Do I need to read ACOTAR before Crescent City?
No. The Crescent City series works as a standalone at first. Reading the first two books of A Court of Thorns and Roses, especially A Court of Mist and Fury, provides helpful context. Reading all five released A Court of Thorns and Roses titles makes later connections more rewarding.
Where does A Court of Frost and Starlight fit?
Read it after the third ACOTAR novel and before A Court of Silver Flames. Although shorter and quieter, this transitional story carries important relationship and healing threads forward.
Find the Maas Series That Matches Your Mood
For Sarah J. Maas books in order, publication order is the default, and this reading order guide offers the smoothest journey. This reading guide still lets your mood choose the starting point. Try A Court of Thorns and Roses for a quick romantasy hook, the Throne of Glass series for an epic commitment, or the Crescent City series for mystery with emotional bite.
Keep the assassins blade flexible, and don’t skip A Court of Frost and Starlight. Place A Court of Silver Flames after the original ACOTAR trilogy and novella. The Throne of Glass journey ultimately ends with Kingdom of Ash.
There’s no wrong starting point in this book series order or the wider Maasverse, only the book that delivers the fictional chaos you need today.
