Welcome to the enchanting world of Sarah J. Maas, a realm where fantasy and romance collide in epic proportions.
In this blog post, I’ll delve into Sarah J Maas books in order, providing you with the ultimate roadmap for navigating her magical universes.
From the iconic Throne of Glass series to the enthralling A Court of Thorns and Roses saga — get ready to embark on a literary journey filled with complex characters, heart-stopping action, and spellbinding romance.
And to make your adventure even more seamless, I’ve created a handy checklist to track your progress.
So, buckle up, as we explore the realms of Sarah J. Maas’s imagination!
About the author:
Sarah J. Maas is a best-selling American author known for her enthralling fantasy novels.
Combining romance, action, and magic, her work captivates readers with immersive worlds and complex characters.
Maas’s popular series, including Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, have garnered a dedicated global fanbase.
Maas’s first novel was published in 2012, and since then, her books have been translated into over 35 languages, attracting a vast international readership.
Her compelling storytelling style continues to inspire and thrill readers, solidifying her status as a leading voice in contemporary fantasy literature.
Sarah J. Maas books in order by publication date
Here’s a list of all Sarah J. Maas books in order of release:
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- The Assassin’s Blade (2013)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
- Catwoman: Soulstealer (2018)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
- House of Earth and Blood (2020)
- A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
- House of Sky and Breath (2022)
- House of Flame and Shadow (Coming 2024)
Sarah J. Maas books in order by series:
Throne of Glass Series 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
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series Order
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
- A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
- A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
- A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
Crescent City Series Order
- House of Earth and Blood (2020)
- House of Sky and Breath (2022)
- House of Flame and Shadow (2024)
In which order should I read Sarah J. Maas books?
I recommend the following order:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series
- Throne of Glass series
- Crescent City series
And here’s why.
A Court of Thorns and Roses has better prose, more steam, and serves as a great introduction to Sarah’s fantasy world.
Yes, all of the series are connected — Maas revealed that she’s creating an interconnected literary universe — so the reading order matters.
I know that many readers disagree on this due to the very juvenile writing style in ToG (since Maas wrote it as a teenager), reading ToG after ACOTAR can be hard and cringe.
But I don’t think you can get through that exact juvenile, unpolished prose unless you are a fan and a lover of her world.
With that being said, first ACOTAR, then ToG.
As far as Crescent City is considered, read it last.
This is because CC features elements from the previous series and far less intuitive happenings.
Plus, the third book in the CC series isn’t published yet, so you don’t want to be left on a cliffhanger for a year 😉
However, remember that you can still completely understand and enjoy CC series even if you read it first.
Maas wrote it so that it can be a standalone series, but after reading it all and talking to dozens of other fans, reading CC first doesn’t offer the best reading experience + it doesn’t serve as the best introduction to the Maas’ multiverse.
Sarah J Maas books in order: Throne of Glass series reading order
This is the publication order of Trone of Glass series, but I don’t think that reading them in that order is the best option.
If you want to get the best narrative experience and emotional tension out of it, I recommend the following reading order:
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- The Assassin’s Blade
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
For more information on this reasoning, check my post on Throne of Glass reading order.
Throne of Glass (2012)
Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s most feared assassin, has been condemned to a life of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier.
Her world takes a turn when she is summoned by Crown Prince Dorian, who offers her a chance at freedom.
The condition?
She must win a deadly contest by defeating twenty-three hardened killers and thieves, representing the prince as his champion.
As she navigates the treacherous competition and the dangers of the court, Celaena finds herself drawn to the prince and the captain of the guard, entangling herself in a web of politics, romance, and looming dark forces.
Crown of Midnight (2013)
Now the King’s Champion, Celaena Sardothien is no less entangled in the intricate web of court politics.
While performing her duty to the king, she secretly aids the very rebellion she’s supposed to quell.
As she unravels the castle’s mysteries, she stumbles upon shocking truths hidden within its walls.
With every revelation, Celaena must grapple with her past and navigate her way toward a future that grows more uncertain by the day.
Heir of Fire (2014)
Celaena Sardothien travels to a distant land, leaving behind the life she once knew in the glass castle.
There, she uncovers her destiny as the lost queen of a mighty kingdom. With this revelation, she must grapple with her identity, train to master her magic, and make new allies to survive.
Meanwhile, dark forces are amassing, and Celaena must confront her past, embrace her destiny, and prepare for the battles ahead.
The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
This is a collection of five prequel novellas that take place before “Throne of Glass:”
- The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
- The Assassin and the Healer
- The Assassin and the Desert
- The Assassin and the Underworld
- The Assassin and the Empire
They follow young Celaena on daring missions that take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and avenge tyranny.
The opinions on when you should read this book are mixed, and you can find more about it in my post “Throne of Glass reading order.”
In short, this book gives context to some of the characters and their stories, so reading it first can help you better understand the dynamics and happenings of the series.
At the same time, it can be less engaging because you are not yet familiar with all the characters — for that reason, I recommend you read The Assassin’s Blade after Heir of Fire and before Queen of Shadows.
Reading it that way will provide more emotional impact as you’ll already be invested in the stories and characters.
Queen of Shadows (2015)
After embracing her true identity as Aelin Galathynius, she returns to her troubled kingdom with a heart full of vengeance and a determination to rescue her kidnapped cousin.
Aelin navigates her way through an intricate web of politics and power, formulating strategies to deal with old foes and untrustworthy allies alike.
All the while, she battles her own demons and confronts her dark past.
Her journey is a testament to her strength, resilience, and unwavering hope.
Empire of Storms (2016)
Aelin is only at the start of her tumultuous journey to the throne.
Allegiances have been shattered and traded, friendships have been forfeited and formed, and a chasm grows between those who wield magic and those who do not.
As the kingdoms of Erilea splinter amidst the chaos, Aelin must transform adversaries into companions to protect her loved ones from the menacing dark forces that seek to conquer her realm.
The only hope for survival rests in a perilous quest with battles threatening from every direction. This dire journey may signify the end of all that Aelin cherishes dearly.
The stakes are higher than ever – the survival of her world rests on her shoulders.
Will she have the strength to endure the storm, or will everything she’s fought for crumble into ruin?
Tower of Dawn (2017)
This parallel novel follows Chaol Westfall, the Captain of the Guard, and Nesryn Faliq, the royal assassin.
They journey to the southern continent in search of allies for the upcoming war and a healer for Chaol’s crippling injury.
As they delve into the heart of this foreign land, they discover potent forces, encounter new allies, and uncover shocking revelations that will change their perception of their world and their place in it.
Kingdom of Ash (2018)
The epic conclusion to the series sees Aelin Galathynius, once a feared assassin, now a queen without a throne, facing the ultimate battle against the dark forces threatening to consume her world.
With her allies by her side, she must delve into her past, harness her powers, and make devastating sacrifices.
The trials awaiting her will test her strength, heart, and will to fight.
Will she rise victorious, or will darkness consume her world?
A Court of Thorns and Roses series reading order
Sarah J Maas books in order: ACOTAR series
A Court of Thrones and Roses (2015)
In this beguiling reimagining of the “Beauty and the Beast” tale, Sarah J. Maas introduces us to Feyre, a nineteen-year-old huntress struggling to support her family.
When Feyre kills a wolf in the forest, a beastly creature arrives at her home seeking retribution.
Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not a beast, but Tamlin — one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she resides in his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion.
But an ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom will find Tamlin and his world.
Read a full A Court of Thorns and Roses Review and Analysis here.
A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
Feyre survived the horrors of Amarantha’s court, but the experience has left her with deep scars.
While she has been given the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and she’s haunted by what she endured to save Tamlin and his people.
As she navigates her new life, Feyre must decide who she can trust while grappling with her feelings for Tamlin and an equally compelling High Fae from her past, Rhysand.
But the peace is only temporary, and as a new threat looms, Feyre must confront her past, embrace her powers, and decide what, and who, she wants.
Read a full A Court of Mist and Fury Review and Analysis here.
A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring her world to its knees.
But to do so, she must play a deadly game of deceit — and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but the world as well.
As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and cruel High Lords and hunt for allies in unexpected places.
A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
This novella bridges the initial trilogy with the following book, offering a glimpse into the lives of Feyre, Rhysand, and the inner circle, as they begin to recover from the war that changed their world.
With the festive atmosphere of Winter Solstice serving as the backdrop, Feyre endeavors to rebuild the Night Court and her own life.
As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated — scars that will have far-reaching impacts on the future of their Court.
A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive.
And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits.
The darkness that’s always clung to Nesta isn’t gone, and she finds herself dragged into the heart of a conflict that threatens to shatter her world completely.
Alongside Cassian, the strongest Illyrian warrior whose position in Night Court keeps him constantly in her orbit, Nesta must learn to harness her powers amidst the coming storm, confront her lingering demons, and decide what she stands for.
Crescent City series reading order
Here’s Sarah J Maas books in order Crescent City series:
- House of Earth and Blood
- House of Sky and Breath
- House of Flame and Shadow
House of Earth and Blood (2021)
Welcome to the thrilling world of Crescent City, where half-human, half-Fae Bryce Quinlan seeks justice for her best friend, who was brutally murdered.
Aided by the enigmatic fallen angel Hunt Athalar, Bryce delves into the depths of the city’s underbelly, filled with supernatural creatures, deadly power plays, and long-hidden secrets.
As they unravel the threads of her friend’s death, Bryce and Hunt find themselves entangled in a larger, more sinister plot that threatens to unleash an ancient, malevolent force upon the world.
Amidst the chaos, Bryce must confront her own traumatic past and the undeniable attraction between her and Hunt while navigating the complexities of a city on the brink of destruction.
Sarah J. Maas masterfully crafts a tale of revenge, redemption, and the power of friendship in this captivating adult fantasy novel.
House of Sky and Breath (2022)
Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are seeking a semblance of normalcy in their tumultuous lives. After playing pivotal roles in the salvation of Crescent City, their hearts yearn for a respite, a pause in the relentless pace of their existence. They crave an opportunity to slow down, to ponder on the path that lies ahead.
The Asteri, for their part, have so far adhered to their promise of leaving Bryce and Hunt undisturbed. Yet, with the rebels slowly eroding the power of the Asteri, the potential danger posed by these rulers is escalating.
As Bryce, Hunt, and their allies find themselves increasingly entwined in the machinations of the rebels, they are confronted with a stark choice: remain passive spectators as injustice prevails, or rise in defiance against oppression.
Silence, however, has never been their forte.
House of Flame and Shadow (Due for release in 2024)
Bryce Quinlan had always believed her life would be bound to Midgard, but an unexpected turn of events has shattered that belief. Now, all she yearns for is to return to the familiar embrace of her world. Midgard holds everything dear to her: the warmth of her family, the companionship of her friends, and the bond with her mate.
Lost in an alien realm, she must marshal all her cunning and grit to find her way back.
However, the path home is fraught with unknown dangers, and a discerning friend from foe is formidable.
Hunt Athalar, no stranger to adversity, finds himself in possibly the darkest pit yet.
After a brief period of experiencing everything he ever desired, he finds himself once again in the unforgiving clutches of the Asteri, his liberty stripped away, and uncertainty clouding Bryce’s destiny.
The urgency to aid Bryce is overwhelming, but the shackles of the Asteri bind him, his hands metaphorically and perhaps literally restrained.
Sarah J Maas books in order:DC Icons Series
Catwoman: Soulstealer
Meet Selina Kyle as we’ve never seen her before. When the slums of Gotham City can’t contain her ambitions, Selina takes on a new identity: the cunning and seductive Catwoman.
With a fierce intelligence and a hidden agenda, she navigates the city’s treacherous underbelly, always one step ahead of the law.
But when she’s caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Gotham’s vigilantes Batwing and Batman, she finds herself torn between her past and the allure of the city’s glittering underworld.
As alliances are formed and secrets are revealed, Catwoman’s mission becomes clear: to steal from the city’s corrupt elite without losing herself in the process.
Sarah J. Maas brings Gotham’s most infamous anti-heroine to life in this electrifying tale, showcasing Catwoman’s battle against the city’s darkest forces, and against her own inner demons.
FAQ
What Sarah J. Maas book should I read first?
I recommend starting with A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015), since it is a more refined and interesting writing and story. Keep in mind that Maas started writing the Throne of Glass series when she was just 16, so the writing in that might be a turn-off if you are not her fan already.
Due to its complexity and elements from ACOTAR and ToG, I recommend reading Crescent City last, but you don’t need to. Maas wrote CC series so they can be read standalone and still make sense.
Are all Sarah J. Maas books connected?
Yes, all of her books are connected. Sarah J. Maas revealed that she is creating an interconnected series. In her interview, Maas said: “I had planted seeds in all my series about the possibility of it being a multiverse. The worlds exist, but they’re planets and light-years away.”
Is ACOTAR and Crescent City connected?
Yes, there is a crossover between the two universes at one point in Crescent City, but you don’t need to have read ACOTAR in order to understand, enjoy, and appreciate CC. It can be fully read as a standalone series.