---
title: "Sarah J. Maas Reading Order: ACOTAR, Throne of Glass and Crescent City"
description: "Which Sarah J. Maas series to start with, the correct order for each one, and the Assassin's Blade question everybody argues about."
canonical: "https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog/sarah-j-maas-reading-order"
url: "https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog/sarah-j-maas-reading-order.md"
author: "Amy — Bella Bugs Books"
locale: "en-IE"
type: "blog-post"
date_modified: "2026-08-18"
---

# Sarah J. Maas Reading Order: ACOTAR, Throne of Glass and Crescent City

Which Sarah J. Maas series to start with, the correct order for each one, and the Assassin's Blade question everybody argues about.

Category: Reading Order

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.

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
2. A Court of Mist and Fury
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight
5. 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.

1. The Assassin's Blade (novellas)
2. Throne of Glass
3. Crown of Midnight
4. Heir of Fire
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms
7. Tower of Dawn
8. 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](/reviews), and there are more author orders over on [reading order](/reading-order).

---

_Every book recommended here is read in full and reviewed by Amy. No sponsorships, no gifted-book obligations, spoilers always marked._

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