Reading Order
Sarah J. Maas Reading Order: ACOTAR, Throne of Glass and Crescent City
August 18, 2026 · 5 min read read
Last updated:
Which Sarah J. Maas series to start with, the correct order for each one, and the Assassin's Blade question everybody argues about.
Sarah J. Maas has three big series and no obvious front door. Here is how they actually fit together.
Start here: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Five books, and the one most new readers should begin with.
- 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
Book one is a slow burn with a fairy-tale skeleton. Book two is the reason the internet will not shut up about this series. If book one leaves you lukewarm, read book two before you quit.
Throne of Glass
Eight books, and the one that rewards patience.
- The Assassin's Blade (novellas)
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
The Assassin's Blade question: read it first if you like knowing a character's history before you meet her, or read it after Crown of Midnight if you would rather the backstory land as a gut punch. Both work. There is no wrong answer, only a different kind of ache.
Tower of Dawn runs parallel to Empire of Storms. Many readers alternate chapters between the two. If that sounds like admin, read them straight through in the order above.
Crescent City
Adult, modern, messier in the best way: House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, House of Flame and Shadow. Read ACOTAR and Throne of Glass first — the later Crescent City books connect to both and the moments land far harder with the context.
Which series suits you
- Want romance front and centre? ACOTAR.
- Want a huge epic with an assassin at the middle? Throne of Glass.
- Want urban fantasy with a grown-up edge? Crescent City.
My star ratings for the individual books are on the review shelf, and there are more author orders over on reading order.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I read The Assassin's Blade first?
- Either first, or after Crown of Midnight. Reading it first gives you context; reading it later makes the emotional payoff sharper.
- Can I start with Crescent City?
- You can, but the crossover moments in later books rely on ACOTAR and Throne of Glass, so most readers save it for last.
Not sure which to pick first? You can order a blind date with a book instead — three hints on the paper, the book hidden underneath, €17.99 pre-loved or €25.99 new. Check Irish postage times and costs before you order.