Ever tried jumping into Sarah J. Maas' books only to get completely lost? Trust me, I’ve been there. When I first grabbed "A Court of Wings and Ruin" thinking it was a standalone, I spent three chapters wondering who these random fae guys were and why everyone kept mentioning some mountain. Big mistake. That’s why getting the Sarah J. Maas books in order matters – her fantasy worlds connect in ways you wouldn’t expect until it’s too late.
Why Reading Order Matters With SJM
SJM doesn’t just write books; she builds universes. Characters reappear, magic systems evolve, and spoilers lurk everywhere. Mess up the sequence and you risk:
- Major character death spoilers (still mad about that one Throne of Glass moment)
- Missing crucial backstory for emotional payoffs
- Getting whiplash from tonal shifts between series
Plus let’s be real – her books are like potato chips. You can’t stop at one. Might as well binge them right.
Personal confession: I read Tower of Dawn before Empire of Storms because I didn't check the dates. Huge mistake. Chaol's entire character arc felt backwards, and I accidentally spoiled the cliffhanger from EoS. Learn from my pain!
Throne of Glass Series Order
Her debut series that started it all. Follows Celaena Sardothien, an assassin fighting for freedom in a brutal kingdom. More political intrigue and epic battles than ACOTAR.
The Great Reading Order Debate
Fans fight over two options for starting Throne of Glass:
| Reading Order | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Publication Order Throne of Glass (2012) Crown of Midnight (2013) Heir of Fire (2014) The Assassin's Blade (2014) Queen of Shadows (2015) Empire of Storms (2016) Tower of Dawn (2017) Kingdom of Ash (2018) |
• Builds mystery about Celaena's past • Natural pacing as written |
• Flashbacks feel disjointed • Prequel comes after 3 books |
| Chronological Order The Assassin's Blade Throne of Glass Crown of Midnight Heir of Fire Queen of Shadows Empire of Storms Tower of Dawn Kingdom of Ash |
• Complete backstory upfront • Emotional moments hit harder |
• Spoils early book surprises • Slow start with novellas |
My take? Do publication order. That gut-punch moment in Heir of Fire loses impact if you’ve already read Assassin’s Blade. But if you hate flashbacks, chronological works.
Full Throne of Glass Checklist
| Book Title | Year | Pages | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Assassin's Blade | 2014 | 448 | Prequel novellas |
| Throne of Glass | 2012 | 404 | Book 1 |
| Crown of Midnight | 2013 | 418 | Book 2 |
| Heir of Fire | 2014 | 565 | Book 3 |
| Queen of Shadows | 2015 | 648 | Book 4 |
| Empire of Storms | 2016 | 693 | Book 5 |
| Tower of Dawn | 2017 | 664 | Book 6 |
| Kingdom of Ash | 2018 | 984 | Book 7 (Finale) |
Hot tip: Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn happen simultaneously. Most fans recommend tandem reading – there are chapter-by-chapter guides online to avoid timeline confusion.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Order
The series that broke BookTok. Starts as a Beauty and the Beast retelling before exploding into full-blown fae warfare and romantic entanglements. Steamier than Throne of Glass.
Essential Reading Sequence
Don’t skip the novella! Here’s the non-negotiable ACOTAR order:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
- A Court of Mist and Fury (2016) – Where it gets REALLY good
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
- A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018) – Crucial bridge novella
- A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
SJM has confirmed 3 more books coming – next expected 2024/2025.
ACOTAR Character Guide
| Book | Main POV Characters | Key Developments |
|---|---|---|
| ACOTAR | Feyre | Human enters fae world |
| ACOMAF | Feyre + Rhysand | New alliances, romance shift |
| ACOWAR | Feyre + Inner Circle | War climax, major deaths |
| ACOFAS | Multiple POVs | Post-war recovery setup |
| ACOSF | Nesta + Cassian | New romance, Valkyrie training |
That last book? Still divides the fandom. Nesta’s a tough pill to swallow if you loved Feyre’s trilogy. Personally, I struggled with her anger until halfway through – then it clicked.
Crescent City Reading Order
Her adult urban fantasy series blending modern tech with magic. Deeper worldbuilding but a SLOW start. Stick through chapter 5 – the payoff is insane.
| Book Title | Year | Pages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| House of Earth and Blood | 2020 | 803 | Worldbuilding heavy first half |
| House of Sky and Breath | 2022 | 805 | Game-changing ending |
| House of Flame and Shadow | 2024 | 832 | Latest release |
Warning: Sky and Breath ends with a crossover twist. You’ll want to have read ACOTAR first for maximum impact.
Standalone Books
Often forgotten in Sarah J. Maas book order guides:
- Catwoman: Soulstealer (2018): DC Comics tie-in. Not connected to her fantasy worlds but fun.
Ultimate SJM Reading Guide
Based on 8 years reading her work (and countless fan debates), here’s the optimal sequence balancing enjoyment and spoilers:
| Phase | Books | Why This Order? |
|---|---|---|
| Starter Fantasy | Throne of Glass series (publication order) | Her earliest work shows writing evolution |
| Romantic Shift | ACOTAR series (including Frost & Starlight) | Higher steam level after ToG's build-up |
| Modern Fantasy | Crescent City 1-2 | Requires understanding of SJM's fae rules |
| Latest Release | House of Flame and Shadow | Final Crescent City book |
But honestly? If you only care about ACOTAR, start there. Just don’t touch Crescent City until you finish A Court of Silver Flames.
I made the mistake of reading Crescent City before finishing ACOTAR. That ending in House of Sky and Breath? Would’ve blown my mind instead of confusing me. Seriously – publication order exists for a reason.
Critical Fan FAQ
Can I start with Crescent City?
Technically yes, but don’t. The last 100 pages of book 2 assume you know her other series. You’ll miss 80% of the “holy crap” moments.
Why does everyone fight about Frost and Starlight?
It’s a “bridge novella” – low plot but heavy character development. Skipping it makes Silver Flames feel abrupt. Worth reading for Nesta/Cassian tension alone.
Do I have to read ALL her series?
Not necessarily, but everything connects after Crescent City 2. That multiverse twist changed the game. Future books will likely cross over more.
What’s the best entry point for new readers?
Depends on your tolerance:
- For fantasy beginners: Start with ACOTAR. More romance-focused.
- For epic fantasy fans: Start with Throne of Glass. Bigger scope.
- For urban fantasy lovers: Crescent City, but brace for info-dumps.
Are her books YA or adult?
Throne of Glass starts YA but matures. ACOTAR book 1 is YA, later books are adult. Crescent City is firmly adult. Check content warnings – Silver Flames gets explicit.
Controversial Opinions (Don't @ Me)
After devouring every Sarah J. Maas book in order multiple times, here's my unfiltered take:
- Biggest strength: She writes addictive romantic payoffs better than anyone in fantasy
- Biggest weakness: Formulaic “special chosen one” protagonists
- Most overrated: A Court of Frost and Starlight (it's basically Christmas fanfiction)
- Most underrated: Tower of Dawn. Chaol's redemption arc healed my soul
- Hot take: Crescent City has her best worldbuilding but worst opening chapters
Look, her books aren’t literary masterpieces. The prose won’t win Nobels. But for pure escapist romance fantasy? Nobody does it better. Just get the order right.
What's Next for SJM Books?
The future looks packed:
- ACOTAR Book 6: Confirmed, likely focusing on Elain Archeron
- Crescent City Book 4: Expected final installment based on her comments
- New series?: Rumored fae-meets-space opera concept
Given her pattern, expect the next Sarah J. Maas book order update late 2024. I’ll be refreshing her social media daily like the rest of us addicts.
Final thought? However you tackle the Sarah J. Maas books in order – just start. That first step into Prythian or Erilea changes everything. Even if you mess up the sequence like I did, the journey’s worth it. Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for my annual ACOTAR reread.
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