The Sarah J. Maas Book Reading Order: A Spoiler-Free Guide

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Reading Sarah J. Maas books is a surprisingly meta experience: Her 16 romantasy novels take you on your own literary “hero’s journey.” There’s the call to adventure, when you’re tempted to find out why these jewel-toned covers are all over best-seller lists and bookstore displays. Then there’s the refusal of the call, when you learn they involve faeries, goofy masks, and dudes with wings. Eventually, you give in, but there are still multiple reading paths to choose from. And each is filled with treacherous challenges, from BookTok posts that reveal major plot twists to an entire novella where the characters basically just shop for Christmas presents. But like any good fantasy hero, you’ll ultimately be rewarded, even if you’re slightly tortured for the rest of your days. (When is that ACOTAR 6 release date?!)

So allow me to serve as your mentor as you embark on this quest. First, I’ll cover the basics on how to approach Maas’s three series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City. Then I’ll go a bit deeper on each series, providing sage, spoiler-free advice to help you avoid common pitfalls. Eventually, you may outgrow me and question everything I’ve ever told you, but for now let’s begin your journey through the Maasverse.

Getting Started With the Sarah J. Maas Books

Which series should I read first?

Probably A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), but possibly Throne of Glass (TOG). (There are a lot of acronyms in the “SJM” fandom.)

What’s the case for starting with ACOTAR?

A Court of Thorns and Roses begins with Feyre Archeron, an illiterate 19-year-old human huntress, killing a wolf in the woods to feed her starving family. This leads to her being whisked off to the faerie realm, where (naturally) there is trouble brewing. (Don’t be put off by the nerdy terminology; the “High Fae” are just ridiculously hot people with magical powers and pointed ears. Think Legolas, not Tinkerbell.)

If you’re a romance reader or aren’t that into fantasy, ACOTAR is the place to start. While there’s plenty of lore to dig into if you want, the series is mainly about the relationships between the characters, and the world is easy to understand. (For example: The country where it’s always spring is called … the Spring Court. The mysterious, raven-haired guy who can manipulate darkness hails from … the Night Court.)

A Court of Thorns and Roses is also the way to go if you’re just curious about the Sarah J. Maas hype. While Maas is certainly not the first author to combine fantasy and romance, ACOTAR is the cornerstone of the current “romantasy” book trend. The series is not complete: So far, there are four novels and a novella. But the last book won’t leave you on a major cliffhanger.

What’s the case for starting with Throne of Glass?

You may want to begin with Throne of Glass, Maas’s first series, if you’re interested in a more traditional fantasy epic, want a less romance-forward story, and are open to experiencing an eight-book emotional roller coaster. The completed series follows Celaena Sardothien, a teenage assassin who lives in a land where a tyrannical king has banished magic. The vibe is Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Lord of the Rings. TikTok user @unhingedbooktalk compiled some good, spoiler-free fan art for the first book in the series:

@unhingedbooktalk

yes i consider throne of glass to be book one 🙃 #booktok #bookishthoughts #booktokgirlies #booktoker #bookish #booktokrecs #bookclub #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #booktokfyp #sjm #sarahjmaas #throneofglass #togfanart

♬ original sound – Sierra 📚🗡️

What about Crescent City?

Technically, you can start with the first Crescent City book, House of Earth and Blood, but this is an unconventional and more difficult path. Crescent City is an urban fantasy (so picture Legolas, but he’s texting, bar-hopping, and watching trashy reality TV shows). The series is about Bryce Quinlan, a half-Fae, half-human who spends the first book unraveling a murder mystery with Hunt Athalar, an angel/assassin/unofficial detective.

If you really liked Blade Runner and would have liked it even more if Harrison Ford’s character were a sassy redheaded party girl, then you might want to dive into House of Earth and Blood. But you’ll spoil yourself for Maas’s other series if you read the entire three-book Crescent City series first. Here’s some spoiler-free fan art for the first novel:

@unhingedbooktalk

Replying to @Katie Leann Mercer I GOTCHU! #booktoker #booktok #bookishthoughts #booktokgirlies #bookish #booktokrecs #bookclub #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #booktokfyp #sjm #sarahjmaas #crescentcity #huntathalar #ruhndanaan #brycequinlan #lunathion #greenscreen

♬ original sound – Sierra 📚🗡️

What is the Maasverse?

That’s the term for the interconnected universe that ties together all three series. Maas published the first four Throne of Glass books between 2012 and 2014. Then she alternated between that series and ACOTAR from 2015 to 2018. Those books contain fun Easter eggs for people who have read both, but you can read TOG before ACOTAR, or vice versa.

The first Crescent City book was published in 2020, and the full-on Maas series crossover starts toward the end of that series.

“I had sprinkled little hints throughout all of my books that they were part of a megaverse,” Maas told Time last year. “Then, when I started writing Crescent City, I had this idea out of the blue that, bam, this is the moment. I just felt like, ‘I can f-cking do this. It’s going to be amazing.’”

What book is Sarah J. Maas releasing next?

She’s confirmed that her next book will be ACOTAR 6. Fans are eagerly (and at this point, impatiently) awaiting news on the release date, title, and plot.

Reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series

How do I read ACOTAR in order?

The five ACOTAR books have to be read in release order:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses
• A Court of Mist and Fury
• A Court of Wings and Ruin
• A Court of Frost and Starlight
• A Court of Silver Flames

The first three novels focus on Feyre. Frost and Starlight, a multi-POV novella, is the ACOTAR holiday special. Book five (the fourth full-length novel) is about Feyre’s sister, Nesta.

Can I skip Frost and Starlight?

You shouldn’t. Yes, the vibe is “SJM writes fan fiction about her own book.” But it’s a nice breather before Silver Flames, some important plot points are set in motion, and you can read the whole thing in a few hours. Also, there’s an off-the-wall sex scene that you definitely won’t read in a normal romance novel.

I didn’t like the first ACOTAR book. What should I do?

If you start ACOTAR, you really need to commit to reading the first two books. The first novel is weirdly paced, a bit goofy, and not as well written as the rest of the series. There are new characters, worlds, and twists toward the end of A Court of Thorns and Roses and throughout A Court of Mist and Fury that flip the story on its head (and make rereading the series absolutely delightful).

So, as the meme goes, disliking book one is a canon event — I can’t interfere! But I will say this: Don’t get any character’s name tattooed on your leg until you’ve finished the series.

I didn’t like A Court of Mist and Fury. What should I do?

Explore SJM’s other series? Check out Fourth Wing? Think about whether you actually like reading for fun? Mist and Fury is her most beloved book, so if you truly hate it, you aren’t going to enjoy the rest of the ACOTAR series.

I hate Nesta. Will I like A Court of Silver Flames?

Yes. Silver Flames is about Feyre’s horribly bitchy sister, and a significant chunk of the book focuses on her quest to walk up and down stairs. Sounds terrible! But the magic of ACOSF is discovering you’re wrong.

Reading the Throne of Glass Series

How do I read Throne of Glass in order?

You need to make two big choices: first, whether to start with The Assassin’s Blade, a collection of prequel novellas, or the first full-length novel, Throne of Glass. Then later, you need to decide whether to read books six and seven consecutively or simultaneously (i.e., the “tandem read”).

What is The Assassin’s Blade?

In making this choice, it’s helpful to understand why The Assassin’s Blade exists. Maas posted the original draft of her reimagined Cinderella story, then titled “Queen of Glass,” on FictionPress.com in 2002. It became very popular, and in 2008, Maas removed the story from the site to pursue a book deal. She was successful, but reworking the story into the first few Throne of Glass books was a long process. As Publisher’s Weekly reported in December 2012, the novellas were released to satisfy fans anxiously awaiting her debut novel:

[Maas] admits to feeling terrified that the online fan support “would all go away” during the yearlong process of revising and submitting her work to prospective agents, but signed with Tamar Rydzinski (Laura Dail Literary Agency) in 2009, and gained the interest of editor Margaret Miller at Bloomsbury in 2010. Concern for waiting fans led, in spring 2012, to the publication of four prequel e-novellas set in the ToG universe. 

Four of the prequel novellas were published as e-books in the months leading up to the release of Throne of Glass in August 2012. After the release of the second TOG novel, Bloomsbury packaged the four prequel stories into a single book, along with a new novella. These five stories were published in print as The Assassin’s Blade in March 2014.

When does Sarah J. Maas recommend reading The Assassin’s Blade?

It’s unclear. For years, Maas’s website recommended reading The Assassin’s Blade first, according to Reddit users. Around 2024, the FAQ on her website recommended reading it third. SarahJMaas.com was recently revamped again, and now it just directs readers to consult her publisher’s reading-order guide. This is what Bloomsbury says:

We recommend reading in publication order … which means you read The Assassin’s Blade after Crown of Midnight. The Assassin’s Blade is a collection of prequel novellas that take place before the events of Throne of Glass, and the novellas feature characters and locations that appear in later books in the series — so it’s helpful to read before moving on to Heir of Fire! It’s also ok if you would rather read The Assassin’s Blade first, though, as it won’t spoil anything for you.

Disregard the reference to “publication order,” as we just learned most of the Assassin’s Blade e-books came out first.

Okay, so when should I read The Assassin’s Blade?

My hot take: Read The Assassin’s Blade first. I followed the SJM website’s advice to read the prequel third and found it hard to connect with Celaena’s character at the start of the Throne of Glass novel because she’s weirdly cocky for no apparent reason. The events of The Assassin’s Blade take place immediately before Throne of Glass, and her emotional journey makes more sense if you read her story in chronological order.

But like Bloomsbury says, any order is probably fine as long as you read the prequel before book four, Heir of Fire. Read through the first few pages of Throne of Glass and The Assassin’s Blade and see which book grabs you.

What is the tandem read?

Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash are the last three books in the series. Empire of Storms ends on a huge cliffhanger for Celaena and most of the main characters. Tower of Dawn is about a male character’s quest to a faraway land during the same time period, with an almost entirely new set of characters. Some readers dislike this guy, find Tower of Dawn boring, and are anxious to find out what happens to Celaena & Co.; thus, the tandem read was born.

In my opinion, the tandem read just makes things unnecessarily complicated. But if you feel the need to read two nearly 700-page books simultaneously, this TikTok from @emmahalbrook explains how to do it:

@emmahalbrook

Replying to @Jasmine Here’s your Throne of Glass tandem read guide! 📖✨⚔️ #throneofglass #throneofglassseries #tandemread #empireofstorms #towerofdawn #kingdomofash #sarahjmaas #sjm #booktoker #fantasybooktok #sjmuniverse

♬ original sound – Emma Halbrook

Can I just skip Tower of Dawn?

Is it a weird choice to devote the penultimate book in your series about a badass female assassin to a male character many readers dislike? Sure. To explain it in Star Wars terms, imagine Han Solo is frozen in carbonite, but you have to watch a whole movie about C-3PO plotting with the Rebel Alliance before Return of the Jedi.

However, Tower of Dawn is extremely important to the rest of the story, and you may actually wind up loving the main character (or at least appreciating him and loving some of his new pals).

I didn’t like the first Throne of Glass book. What should I do?

Keep reading — maybe for several books? Sorry! The series was marketed as YA, and you really feel it in the first few books. Fans often explain this by saying, “She wrote it when she was 16!” That’s only partly true: Maas started working on the story as a teen, but by the time she had heavily revised it into her debut novel, she was 26. For whatever reason, some find the beginning of the series clunky.

The good news: Each book is better than the last. Several major, beloved characters don’t even appear until halfway through the series, and there are twists that will make you want to throw your book across the room (in a good way).

Reading the Crescent City Series

How do I read Crescent City in order?

Simple: Read them in publication order.
• House of Earth and Blood
• House of Sky and Breath
• House of Flame and Shadow

I read the first 100 pages of Crescent City, and I’m lost. What should I do?

Keep reading. The world is overwhelming — at least somewhat intentionally. Maas has explained she was trying to capture the “hustle and bustle” of living in a city like New York, surrounded by people from different cultures (or in this case, different species):

@todayshow

#SarahJMaas shares the physical inspirations for CrescentCity, mirrored after important landmarks in her own life. Head to the link in our bio to read the full digital interview with Sarah or find it on today.com. #TODAYShow #ACOTAR #ThroneOfGlass #BookTok #SJM

♬ Blue Moon – Muspace Lofi

Many experienced SJM readers feel lost at the beginning of Crescent City, but eventually, it clicks and the story (mostly) makes sense.

Should I read ACOTAR before Crescent City?

Yes, unless you are committed to never reading A Court of Thorns and Roses. The first Crescent City doesn’t spoil anything in the other series. You get a peek at the broader Maasverse in the second Crescent City. But the third book heavily overlaps with ACOTAR, especially A Court of Silver Flames, and there’s some discussion of Throne of Glass lore.

For those fluent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the third Crescent City book, House of Flame and Shadow, is like Captain America: Civil War. Cap is the focus, but other Avengers play a significant role.

So do I need to read all of Crescent City before ACOTAR 6?

Maybe? To continue the Marvel metaphor, there are strong hints that Maas is building to a full Infinity War/Endgame situation where characters from all three series team up, but that hasn’t happened yet. Presumably, if Crescent City is really required reading for the next ACOTAR, they’ll tell us that (Bloomsbury isn’t going to miss a chance to sell more books).

Other Maasverse Questions

Can I just read all the SJM books in publication order?

Sure. Obviously, plenty of her early fans read her books this way. These days, it’s not a popular way to do your first read, but it might be fun if you’re committed to reading the entire Maasverse and have a really good memory.

Throne of Glass (2012)
Crown of Midnight (2013)
The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
Heir of Fire (2014)
A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
Queen of Shadows (2015)
A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
Empire of Storms (2016)
A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
Tower of Dawn (2017)
A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
Kingdom of Ash (2018)
House of Earth and Blood (2020)
A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
House of Sky and Breath (2022)
House of Flame and Shadow (2024)

How do I read the bonus chapters?

All three series have a handful of bonus chapters, which were included in various store-specific editions. Fans have posted them all online, but the titles spoil which characters survive and/or end up together.

There are six Throne of Glass deleted scenes and bonus chapters. The Rambling Book Nerd compiled them here.

There are three ACOTAR bonus chapters. You can read this one after you finish A Court of Mist and Fury, and these two after you finish A Court of Silver Flames.

There are eight Crescent City bonus chapters (but none for book one). The Rambling Book Nerd compiled them here.

Has Maas written any other books?

In 2018, she wrote a book for the DC Comics universe called Catwoman: Soulstealer. It’s a fun side quest, but it shouldn’t be relevant to your epic reading journey unless the Maasverse gets really crazy.

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