sarah j maas books in order to read

Why Order Matters for sarah j maas books in order to read

Sarah J. Maas has built interconnected worlds across different series, most notably Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City. Within each, characters evolve drastically, and plotlines build on each other. Reading out of order can spoil major twists or dilute emotional payoffs. A strategic readthrough enhances immersion and gives each character arc its proper weight.

Throne of Glass Series: Start Here

Let’s start with Throne of Glass. This is where Maas made her debut, and it’s a solid foundation. The early books are lighter in tone, but the series gradually matures into a complex, emotionally rich epic.

Suggested reading order:

1. The Assassin’s Blade (prequel novellas – optional, but highly recommended)
2. Throne of Glass
3. Crown of Midnight
4. Heir of Fire
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms
7. Tower of Dawn (takes place concurrently with Empire of Storms)
8. Kingdom of Ash

Tower of Dawn might tempt you to skip it—but don’t. It sets up critical plotlines that culminate in the finale. If possible, read it alongside Empire of Storms using a chapter interleaving guide from fan sites.

sarah j maas books in order to read: A Court of Thorns and Roses

This series starts off like a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but by book two, it explodes into an entirely different beast—bigger stakes, deeper characters, and more political intrigue.

Reading order:

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 (transitional novella)
5. A Court of Silver Flames

While Frost and Starlight feels like a breather, don’t skip it. It bridges the original Feyrecentric storyline with Nesta’s arc in Silver Flames. This series is a fan favorite for romance, worldbuilding, and growth themes.

Crescent City: The New Frontier

This series leans more toward urban fantasy, with modern tech coexisting alongside angels, fae, and demons. It’s more adult in tone and plot complexity.

Reading order so far:

1. House of Earth and Blood
2. House of Sky and Breath

Book three is highly anticipated and reportedly will link to other series in bigger ways. Until then, Crescent City is best saved for when you’ve already read the earlier series or if you prefer more mature fantasy from the start.

The Ideal Reading Path

If you’re aiming for the most rewarding reader experience, follow this order:

1. Throne of Glass series (full series in order, start with Assassin’s Blade if possible)
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses series
3. Crescent City series

This path gives you increasing complexity in theme and character maturity. Starting with Throne of Glass gets you invested in Maas’ narrative rhythms. Moving to ACOTAR adds emotional depth, and ending with Crescent City caps things off with her most ambitious project yet.

How the Worlds Interconnect

Without spoiling too much, let’s just say that Maas confirmed her series do exist within a shared multiverse. Characters from different realms have started to interact, especially in recent releases. So, reading all sarah j maas books in order to read can build up to a satisfying “aha” moment when those puzzle pieces lock into place.

For New Readers: Choose Based on Your Taste

Short on time or just impatient? Choose based on genre preference:

Prefer YA/epic fantasy progression? Start with Throne of Glass. Looking for emotional, characterheavy fantasy romance? Jump into A Court of Thorns and Roses. Want more modern elements, action, and adult fantasy tone? Go for Crescent City series—just be prepared to work harder to connect the world without prior exposure.

But if you’re here Googling sarah j maas books in order to read, the best bet is a full journey from assassin to fae queen to galaxy walker. Whatever your path, you’re in for a complex, thrilling ride filled with high stakes, magical politics, and tangled loyalties.

Now you just have to turn the page.