Sarah J. Maas Books in Order: ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, Crescent City and the Maasverse Explained
The easiest way to read Sarah J. Maas is to follow each series in order. You can begin with A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass or House of Earth and Blood. For readers planning to explore the whole Maasverse, we recommend ACOTAR, then Throne of Glass, then Crescent City.
As of October 7, 2026, her three fantasy series contain 16 published volumes: eight Throne of Glass books, five ACOTAR books and three Crescent City books. Her standalone DC novel, Catwoman: Soulstealer, brings the story-volume bibliography covered here to 17. Two further ACOTAR volumes are announced for October 27, 2026 and January 12, 2027.
This guide gives you Sarah J. Maas’s books in order by series and publication date, explains where the novellas fit, and separates confirmed Maasverse connections from unanswered questions.
Spoiler note: The reading lists and book descriptions avoid major plot twists. The later Maasverse section discusses crossover premises; skip it if you want to discover the connections while reading.
The Best Order to Read Sarah J. Maas
There is no compulsory order across all three series. Maas’s official guide says you can start with any of them, and Bloomsbury recommends ACOTAR first if you want a more rewarding Crescent City experience. Our route for a new reader is:
- ACOTAR: the five published volumes, for romance-led fantasy.
- Throne of Glass: all eight volumes, for a completed epic fantasy series.
- Crescent City: the three published novels, for adult urban fantasy and later crossovers.
- The two forthcoming ACOTAR books, in their announced sequence.
Prefer the history of the books as they appeared? Use the publication-order table. Want to choose by mood? See which series to start with.
About the Author: Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose fantasy worlds span Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City. She began the story that became Throne of Glass when she was sixteen.
Her series range from an assassin’s epic fantasy journey to Fae court romance and a modern supernatural city. She also wrote Catwoman: Soulstealer for the DC Icons collection.
Visit Sarah J. Maas’s official website for book announcements and her reading guide.
Author photograph: © Alexandra Genova / Saint Lucy.
Sarah J. Maas Books by Series
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR)
Set in Prythian, a land of dangerous Fae courts, ACOTAR begins with Feyre’s story and later shifts its focus. Read the following five published volumes in this order. A Court of Frost and Starlight is often numbered 3.5; retailers and the official site may also count it as the fourth volume.
- 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)
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
Feyre’s encounter with a wolf leads her into the dangerous world of the Fae. Start here for a series that puts romance, magical bargains and the question of whom to trust at its centre.
2. A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
The second book expands Feyre’s world and explores the consequences of what she has survived. New courts, difficult choices and a growing conflict make it essential to read after the first book.
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
The third volume brings the conflict between courts to the forefront. Feyre must work out where her loyalties lie as political alliances and the threat of war reshape Prythian.
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
This shorter companion volume bridges the first major story arc and A Court of Silver Flames. Its focus on recovery and the Winter Solstice makes it quieter than the surrounding books, but it belongs between them.
5. A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
The focus shifts to Nesta Archeron, with Cassian playing a central role. It continues the world and relationships established in the earlier books; read the preceding four volumes first.
ACOTAR Five-Book Box Set
Want to get the first five ACOTAR books together? This paperback box set takes you from A Court of Thorns and Roses through A Court of Silver Flames, including A Court of Frost and Starlight. The two forthcoming books are sold separately.
Throne of Glass
This is the publication order listed in Sarah J. Maas’s official reading guide. The series has seven main novels and one collection of five prequel novellas. For more detail, explore our complete Throne of Glass reading guide.
- 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)
1. Throne of Glass (2012)
Celaena Sardothien is offered a chance at freedom through a deadly competition to become the King’s Champion. It is the starting point for Maas’s long-running epic fantasy series.
2. Crown of Midnight (2013)
The second novel continues Celaena’s story as competing duties and dangerous secrets deepen the conflict. Read it after Throne of Glass.
3. The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
Five prequel novellas explore events before Throne of Glass. Maas and Bloomsbury recommend this collection after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire. Starting here is also a valid chronological option.
4. Heir of Fire (2014)
The third main novel broadens the cast and the world. Read it after the prequel collection in the official publication order so you have the earlier context before continuing.
5. Queen of Shadows (2015)
The fourth main novel brings earlier threads together as the struggle against the ruling powers grows. Keep it after Heir of Fire to avoid spoiling the previous books.
6. Empire of Storms (2016)
The fifth main novel raises the stakes across the series’ expanding cast. Its events overlap with Tower of Dawn, but it comes first in publication order.
7. Tower of Dawn (2017)
The sixth main novel follows another part of the cast in a different region during the same broad period as Empire of Storms. It contributes to the final book and should not be skipped.
8. Kingdom of Ash (2018)
The seventh main novel concludes the completed Throne of Glass series. Read it after both Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
Do you need a tandem read? No. Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn cover overlapping periods, so some readers alternate chapters. Reading them separately in publication order is simpler and is Bloomsbury’s recommendation for avoiding spoilers.
Throne of Glass Complete Eight-Book Box Set
Ready for the whole journey? Get the complete Throne of Glass series in one paperback box set: all seven novels plus The Assassin’s Blade, the prequel novella collection.
Crescent City
Read these three adult urban fantasy novels in order. Starting with this series is possible, but reading ACOTAR first gives the later connections more context.
- House of Earth and Blood (2020)
- House of Sky and Breath (2022)
- House of Flame and Shadow (2024)
1. House of Earth and Blood (2020)
Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar become involved in a murder investigation in a modern fantasy city. Phones, nightclubs and supernatural politics give this adult series a different atmosphere from Maas’s other worlds.
2. House of Sky and Breath (2022)
Bryce and Hunt’s story continues as the wider political conflict draws them in. Read the first book before this sequel, and avoid looking up its ending if you want to preserve the surprises.
3. House of Flame and Shadow (2024)
The third volume picks up the consequences of the previous book and expands the connections to Maas’s other work. We recommend finishing the five already-published ACOTAR volumes before reading it.
Crescent City Three-Book Box Set
Get all three currently published Crescent City novels together in this paperback box set: House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, and House of Flame and Shadow.
Catwoman: Soulstealer (2018)
This standalone DC Icons novel follows Selina Kyle in Gotham City. It is separate from the Maasverse, so you can read it whenever you like without interrupting any fantasy series. It was first published on August 7, 2018; the paperback edition followed in 2019.
All Sarah J. Maas Books in Publication Order
This table covers the published story volumes listed above. It counts The Assassin’s Blade as one collection, rather than adding each of its five earlier digital novellas again. It excludes colouring books, rereleases, bundles and graphic adaptations.
| Year | Book | Series |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Throne of Glass | Throne of Glass |
| 2013 | Crown of Midnight | Throne of Glass |
| 2014 | The Assassin’s Blade | Throne of Glass collection |
| 2014 | Heir of Fire | Throne of Glass |
| 2015 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | ACOTAR |
| 2015 | Queen of Shadows | Throne of Glass |
| 2016 | A Court of Mist and Fury | ACOTAR |
| 2016 | Empire of Storms | Throne of Glass |
| 2017 | A Court of Wings and Ruin | ACOTAR |
| 2017 | Tower of Dawn | Throne of Glass |
| 2018 | A Court of Frost and Starlight | ACOTAR companion |
| 2018 | Catwoman: Soulstealer | DC Icons standalone |
| 2018 | Kingdom of Ash | Throne of Glass |
| 2020 | House of Earth and Blood | Crescent City |
| 2021 | A Court of Silver Flames | ACOTAR |
| 2022 | House of Sky and Breath | Crescent City |
| 2024 | House of Flame and Shadow | Crescent City |
Which Sarah J. Maas Series Should You Start With?
Choose ACOTAR if romance and Fae courts are your main draw. It starts with a smaller focus before its world expands. The later books include explicit sexual content.
Choose Throne of Glass if you want a finished epic fantasy with an expanding cast, action and a long character journey. You can complete the series without waiting for another volume.
Choose Crescent City if you prefer a modern setting and supernatural mystery. Expect a lot of world-building early on. If you plan to read ACOTAR too, we recommend finishing its five published volumes before House of Flame and Shadow.
Upcoming Sarah J. Maas Books: The Valkyrie Cycle
As of October 7, 2026, both of these ACOTAR books are forthcoming. The titles and dates are listed on Maas’s official website and Bloomsbury.
ACOTAR 6: A Court of Splintered Harmony
Release date: October 27, 2026. It follows A Court of Silver Flames in the ACOTAR sequence. The publisher’s description points to the threat of Koschei and divisions affecting the Night Court.
ACOTAR 7: A Court of Forgotten Melody
Release date: January 12, 2027. Read it after A Court of Splintered Harmony. The publisher describes a continuation of the growing conflict and strained alliances in Prythian.
For more on the announcement, read our ACOTAR 6 and 7 title reveal. We have not added an unannounced future book to the reading list.
The Maasverse Explained
Crossover spoiler warning: This section discusses the premise of the later Crescent City books. Skip to the FAQ if you have not read them.
“Maasverse” is the fan name for the interconnected worlds in Sarah J. Maas’s fantasy series. It is useful shorthand, not a fourth series with a separate numbered book list. Keep reading each established series in its own order.
Confirmed Crossovers and Unanswered Questions
House of Flame and Shadow follows Bryce after she reaches a world beyond Midgard. The later Crescent City storyline connects with the ACOTAR world; those connections are why we recommend ACOTAR first for readers planning to explore both series.
Readers also discuss echoes between the Throne of Glass world and Maas’s other stories. Similar names, symbols or powers do not automatically establish a specific family relationship or prove that all three series occupy one simple past–present–future timeline.
Future protagonists, romantic pairings and the scope of later crossovers remain open questions unless the author or publisher confirms them. The announced Valkyrie Cycle subtitles and synopses do not settle every fan theory.
Should You Read Crescent City Before the New ACOTAR Books?
If you want the fullest context for the shared worlds, reading through House of Flame and Shadow before the forthcoming ACOTAR books is a reasonable choice. Treat that as our recommendation. Until the new books are published, we cannot verify how much prior crossover knowledge their stories require.
Sarah J. Maas Reading Order FAQ
How many Sarah J. Maas books are there?
This guide covers 17 published story volumes as of October 7, 2026: 16 across her three fantasy series, plus Catwoman: Soulstealer. Two announced ACOTAR volumes are listed separately as forthcoming. The count excludes colouring books, adaptations, bundles and repeat editions.
Is there one official Maasverse reading order?
No single cross-series sequence is compulsory. Maas’s official guide allows you to begin with any of the three series. Follow each series’ order; we recommend ACOTAR before the later Crescent City books for crossover context.
Where does The Assassin’s Blade fit?
Maas and Bloomsbury recommend it after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire. It is a prequel collection, so reading it first is also a valid chronological option.
Can I skip A Court of Frost and Starlight?
We recommend including it between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames. It is a shorter bridge volume that sets up the next stage of the series.
Do I need to read Throne of Glass before ACOTAR?
No. They have their own starting points and main storylines. Choose the series that appeals to you first; you do not need to alternate them chapter by chapter.
Are Sarah J. Maas books suitable for younger readers?
Her series vary in tone and content. ACOTAR and Crescent City include explicit sexual content and violence; Throne of Glass also contains violence and increasingly mature themes. Check the publisher’s classification for the edition and the reader’s comfort level rather than assuming all books share one age rating.
Is Throne of Glass finished?
Yes. The main series concludes with Kingdom of Ash. The eight-volume list includes its prequel collection.
When do the next ACOTAR books come out?
A Court of Splintered Harmony is scheduled for October 27, 2026, followed by A Court of Forgotten Melody on January 12, 2027. Both are forthcoming as of this guide’s October 7 check.
What to Read Next
For another Fae series, try our Zodiac Academy reading order. For more fantasy recommendations, explore books to read after Fourth Wing.
Sources and Updates
Checked on October 7, 2026 against Sarah J. Maas’s official reading guide, her author page, Bloomsbury’s reading guidance, the publisher’s forthcoming ACOTAR announcement and Penguin Random House’s Catwoman listing. Book covers are official published artwork; designs differ by edition and country. Featured photograph: Bloomsbury.
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