in what order should i read sarah j maas books

In what order should i read sarah j maas books if I’m a new reader?

If you’re brand new to Sarah J. Maas, start with Throne of Glass. It’s her debut series, and while it shows some early rough edges, it builds into an expansive, genrecrossing epic.

Recommended reading order:

1. Throne of Glass
2. Crown of Midnight
3. Heir of Fire
4. The Assassin’s Blade (a prequel — read it here for the most emotional impact)
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms
7. Tower of Dawn
8. Kingdom of Ash

This order preserves the plotdriven twists across Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn, which happen simultaneously.

Once you’ve closed that chapter (pun intended), move to:

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR series)

This series blends romance and fantasy, dialed up dramatically after the first book.

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 (a novella, sets up the next arc)
5. A Court of Silver Flames

The first book reads like a loose fairy tale retelling. The rest pivot hard into highstakes fantasy and character development.

Finally, dive into her most recent and most mature saga:

Crescent City

This urban fantasy series is denser, grittier, and more integrated with her other worlds than you’d expect (no spoilers).

1. House of Earth and Blood
2. House of Sky and Breath
3. House of Flame and Shadow

You’ll pick up connections across timelines — especially if you’ve read ACOTAR already.

What if I want to read by publication order?

Here’s the straightup order in which the books were published:

1. Throne of Glass (2012)
2. Crown of Midnight (2013)
3. The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
4. Heir of Fire (2014)
5. Queen of Shadows (2015)
6. A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
7. Empire of Storms (2016)
8. A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
9. Tower of Dawn (2017)
10. A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
11. Kingdom of Ash (2018)
12. A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
13. House of Earth and Blood (2020)
14. A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
15. House of Sky and Breath (2022)
16. House of Flame and Shadow (2024)

This route gives you the exact path fans followed over time, with series overlapping in realtime releases.

What if I’m more into romance or more into epic fantasy?

If you lean romantic: Start with ACOTAR. The character dynamics escalate fast, and by book two, the romantic payoff is real.

If you want high fantasy: Begin with Throne of Glass. It starts YA, but the scope and intensity rivals major fantasy sagas by the end.

Prefer something modern? Go straight to Crescent City. Think ancient magic and fallen angels in a techinfused city, all wrapped in a noirstyle mystery.

How do the series connect?

Without spoilers: All of Sarah J. Maas’ series exist in a shared multiverse. Details start weaving together in later books, especially across ACOTAR and Crescent City.

So, if you’re asking in what order should i read sarah j maas books, the answer partly depends on what kind of reading experience you want — but make no mistake, there’s a larger universe at play.

Final Decision: Which order’s best?

Here’s a simple recommendation for most readers:

1. Throne of Glass series (complete)
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses series (mostly complete, more coming)
3. Crescent City series (ongoing)

This order gives you the full range of Maas’ worlds — from her roots in YA to her adult crossover works — and tees you up for where all the universes may merge.

You’ll get richer payoffs as you go, both emotionally and narratively.

TL;DR

If you’re still wondering in what order should i read sarah j maas books, here’s the fast version:

Want to go by story universe? Do Throne of Glass → ACOTAR → Crescent City. Want to follow how the books were released? Go by publication date. Crave steamy romance? Start with ACOTAR. Want epic fights and a slow burn? Begin with Throne of Glass. Urban fantasy with spice and a twisty plot? Choose Crescent City.

Pick a lane, grab the first book, and settle in. This journey’s addictive.