Sarah J. Maas Books in Order

Choose the Sarah J. Maas series that suits your reading mood

Throne of Glass is the completed epic-fantasy journey: eight books, including its prequel collection, with an expanding cast and a long-running conflict. A Court of Thorns and Roses, often shortened to ACOTAR, puts romantic relationships at the heart of its faerie-world adventures. Crescent City opens in a modern fantasy city with a murder mystery, friendship and romance.

You can begin with the first book of the series that appeals to you. If you plan to read them all, finishing the earlier ACOTAR books before Crescent City can enrich the connections you discover. Catwoman: Soulstealer is a separate superhero novel and can fit wherever you want a change of setting.

Throne of Glass reading order

The sequence in this table follows the author’s reading guide:

1. Throne of Glass
2. Crown of Midnight
3. The Assassin’s Blade
4. Heir of Fire
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms
7. Tower of Dawn
8. Kingdom of Ash

The Assassin’s Blade collects five prequel novellas. Placing it third lets you meet Celaena through the original novels before exploring her earlier experiences. For a chronological start, read the collection first and then continue with Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight. Either route brings you to Heir of Fire with that background in place.

Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn cover overlapping periods from different perspectives. Reading one complete book and then the other is the simplest approach. A tandem read is an optional way to alternate between them, not a requirement; finish both before Kingdom of Ash.

ACOTAR reading order and the next release

Read 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, then A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I. Splintered Harmony was released on October 27, 2026.

Frost and Starlight is the shorter bridge between Wings and Ruin and Silver Flames. The table places it fourth in the reading sequence; some booksellers label it book 3.5.

A Court of Forgotten Melody: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movements II & III is announced for January 12, 2027. It is listed here as a book to look forward to, while the completion total tracks books already released.

Crescent City reading order

Follow House of Earth and Blood → House of Sky and Breath → House of Flame and Shadow. These three books follow an unfolding story, so the publication sequence is also the recommended reading sequence. Opening later-book descriptions can reveal earlier developments; use the short notes in this list when choosing your next book.

A reading record that works across editions

The total counts each reading book once: eight Throne of Glass books, six ACOTAR books, three Crescent City books and Catwoman: Soulstealer. The Assassin’s Blade counts as one collected book, and Frost and Starlight counts as its own novella.

Mark the same row whether you finish a paperback, ebook or audiobook. A special cover, boxed set or bonus chapter can enrich your collection without creating another book to complete here. First published means the original book’s year rather than the date of a later edition.

Continue your reading

For another magical reading project, explore the Harry Potter books in order.

This Sarah J. Maas Books in Order is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.

• Avoid forgetting - keep all your Sarah J. Maas Books in Order essentials in one place (external memory)
• Save time - start from a proven Sarah J. Maas Books in Order structure instead of a blank page
• Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
• Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
• Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time

Choose a series in the table filter, or keep all 18 books visible to see your progress across the catalogue.

Use Reading order in series within your chosen series. The numbers restart for each series; Catwoman stands on its own.

Open a book name for a short spoiler-free note, then check it off when you finish reading.

Save your checklist to continue updating it in the app. Choose Save & Compare to compare progress with friends; everyone updates their own checklist.