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When it comes to fantasy, romance, and yes, spice, Sarah J. Maas always delivers. Mass is the author behind some of the most iconic fantasy and romance books in recent, including her A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Readers agree, with her books regularly landing on best-of-the-year lists, not to mention her numerous awards, like the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award she won for House of Flame and Shadow.

So yeah, there’s a lot of good reasons to read her books. However, you might be wondering how her books are connected, or which books go in which series. Don’t worry, Popverse has you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to get started on Sarah J. Maas’s books.

How to read Sarah J. Maas’s books in release order

Sarah J. Maas has written 16 novels, one novella, and two coloring books – and that’s just as of this writing! If you’re looking to get started on reading her books, here is her complete bibliography in release order. If you’re curious about which books are connected, don’t worry, the next section of the guide covers that

• Throne of Glass (2012 novel)
• Crown of Midnight (2013 novel)
• The Assassin’s Blade (2014 novel)
• Heir of Fire (2014 novel)
• A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015 novel)
• Queen of Shadows (2015 novel)
• A Court of Mist and Fury (2016 novel)
• Empire of Storms (2016 novel)
• Throne of Glass Coloring Book (2016 coloring book)
• A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017 novel)
• A Court of Thorns and Roses Coloring Book (2017 coloring book)
• Tower of Dawn (2017 novel)
• A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018 novella)
• Catwoman: Soulstealer (2018 novel)
• Kingdom of Ash (2018 novel)
• House of Earth and Blood (2020 novel)
• A Court of Silver Flames (2021 novel)
• House of Sky and Breath (2022 novel)
• House of Flame and Show (2024 novel)

How to read Sarah J. Mass’s books in chronological order

The previous section of this guide listed all of Maas’s books in publishing order, however some of these books are from different series. In fact, sometimes Maas would jump from series to series, publishing a new A Court of Thorns and Roses book one year, and a Throne of Glass book the following year. If you’re wondering which books are connected, and how to read them in chronological order, this section should answer all your questions. It should be noted that each series is part of a larger literary multiverse. However, there are no direct crossovers between the series beyond Easter eggs.

Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass is a fantasy series that follows an assassin named Celaena Sardothien, who is making her way through a world where magic has been outlawed. It should be noted that while The Assassin’s Blade was published later, it’s a prequel set before Throne of Glass. Other than that, the series publishing order is the same as the 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
  
  

A Court of Thorns and Roses

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a fantasy and romance series that follows a 19-year-old named Feyre Archeron as she makes her way through the mystical fae lands. Oh, we should warn you that these books get a little spicy. The publishing order for A Court of Thorns and Roses is the same as the release order, so just start with the first book and go from there.

• 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
  
  

Crescent City

Crescent City is an urban fantasy that follows Bryce Quinlan, a half-fae who is looking to unravel a conspiracy surrounding the murder of her best friend. The publishing order for Crescent City is the same as the release order, so feel free to start with the first book and continue from there.

• House of Earth and Blood
• House of Sky and Breath
• House of Flame and Show
  
  

Other

This is a small roundup of Maas’s other projects which don’t fall into any of the previous categories. In other words, don’t worry about chronological order or continuity with these.

• Throne of Glass Coloring Book – A coloring book based on Maas’s Thorn of Glass series
• A Court of Thorns and Roses Coloring Book – A coloring book based on Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
• Catwoman: Soulstealer – A novel about the DC Universe character Catwoman.

 

Does ACOTAR 6 have a release date?

As of this writing, there is no release date for ACOTAR 6, the untitled sixth book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. On July 11, 2025 Maas made a post on Instagram stating the first draft was done, but there haven’t been any updates since then. This would indicate that we’ll probably see the book sometime in early 2026, but that’s just speculation. Either way, knowing that the first draft has been turned in is a promising update. Now if we could just find out the title…

How inappropriate is A Court of Thorns and Roses?

Every parent has their own idea about what is appropriate for their kids, but I wouldn’t recommend A Court of Thorns and Roses for any young readers. The series contains sex scenes, and while they aren’t overtly graphic, there is plenty of spice in them. There are also depictions of violence, and some of the characters exhibit toxic behavior. One watchdog group rated the series as 16+, so keep that in mind if you’re wondering about your child reading it.

What is the most spicy Sarah J. Maas series?

A Court of Thorns and Roses (usually abbreviated as ACOTAR) is widely considered Maas’s spiciest series. If you’re looking for a specific book, A Court of Silver Flames is cited as the spiciest of the series. In fact, one reviewer joked the book was so spicy that it should be categorized as smut.

Where should I begin reading Sarah J. Maas?

It all depends on what you enjoy. If you’re into fantasy, then Throne of Glass, the first book in the series of the same name, is a great place to begin. If you’re into romance, then start with A Court of Thorns and Roses, the first book in a series of the same name. If you want something standalone, then you could try Catwoman: Soulstealer, Maas’s one-shot contribution to the DC Universe. Whatever you choose, there is a Sarah J. Maas book waiting for you, and it’s guaranteed to entertain you from the first page to the last.

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