Sarah J. Maas Books in Order: Complete Reading Guide (2025)

There’s something magnetic about a world where faeries, assassins, and angel-like beings coexist—and Sarah J. Maas has built three such worlds that millions of readers can’t stop talking about. Whether you’re new to the Maasverse or looking to catch up before the next ACOTAR arrival in 2026, this guide lays out every book in order, compares the spice levels you’ve heard about on BookTok, and clears up the controversies that have made headlines.

Total books published: 16 ·
Number of series: 3 ·
First book published: 2012 (Throne of Glass) ·
Most recent book: 2024 (House of Flame and Shadow) ·
Most popular series: A Court of Thorns and Roses ·
Upcoming sequels (ACOTAR): Books 6 and 7 (2026–2027)

Here are the key stats at a glance:

What is the order of the Sarah J. Maas books?

Official series order for Throne of Glass

• Throne of Glass (2012)
• Crown of Midnight (2013)
• The Assassin’s Blade (prequel novellas, 2014) — best read after Crown of Midnight per BookScouter’s reading guide
• Heir of Fire (2014)
• Queen of Shadows (2015)
• Empire of Storms (2016)
• Tower of Dawn (2017)
• Kingdom of Ash (2018)

Official series order for A Court of Thorns and Roses

• 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 (novella, 2018)
• A Court of Silver Flames (2021)

Official series order for Crescent City

• House of Earth and Blood (2020)
• House of Sky and Breath (2022)
• House of Flame and Shadow (2024)

Recommended reading order for Maasiverse

1. Start with the ACOTAR series (A Court of Thorns and Roses).
2. Then read the Throne of Glass series.
3. Finally, read the Crescent City series.

This order preserves crossover surprises, since Crescent City contains references that assume familiarity with ACOTAR (Facebook reader group advice). Publication order within each series works, but the prequel The Assassin’s Blade fits best after Crown of Midnight (BookScouter).

One pattern: Maas’s writing gets more explicit with each series, so ACOTAR’s spice level is a jump from Throne of Glass’s YA roots.

Is there a 6th book in the Court of Thorns and Roses series?

Announcement of ACOTAR 6 and 7

Yes—Sarah J. Maas has confirmed two new ACOTAR novels. Kirkus Reviews reported new books coming in 2026 and 2027, and Harper’s Bazaar specifies the dates: October 27, 2026 for ACOTAR 6 and January 12, 2027 for ACOTAR 7. No official titles or synopses have been released as of early 2025.

Expected release dates

The same dates appear on fan-run social media pages (The World of Sarah J Maas Facebook page), though these are not official publisher channels. Bloomsbury, Maas’s publisher, has not publicly confirmed the exact dates beyond the years 2026–2027.

What we know about the plot

Details remain under wraps. Maas teased on Instagram, “To the stars who listen… it’s almost time” (Instagram reel, see earlier link). The books are expected to continue the Night Court storyline and expand the Maasiverse.

Why this matters: for readers waiting years since A Court of Silver Flames, these releases represent the biggest expansion of the ACOTAR world and will likely include crossover elements from Crescent City.

Is ACOTAR or Throne of Glass more spicy?

Four series, one clear pattern: as Maas moved from YA to adult publishing, the explicit content increased dramatically.

The catch: Throne of Glass was published as YA, so explicit content is minimal. If spice level matters to you, ACOTAR delivers more, especially in A Court of Silver Flames which is essentially an adult romance.

What did Sarah J. Maas do that was controversial?

The 2023 controversy over book signings and fan safety

In 2023, Maas faced backlash over paid VIP event tickets for book signings. Fans accused her of prioritizing profits over fan experience, with some events costing over $100 and including strict rules about photos and autographs (Instagram commentary). The controversy spread across social media, with hashtags calling out pricing.

Criticism of representation in her books

Critics have pointed out a lack of diversity in early books, particularly the absence of LGBTQ+ main characters and limited racial diversity. Some readers also critique the handling of tropes like mates and consent (Reddit discussion). Maas has acknowledged these concerns and promised to do better.

Author’s response

Maas posted on Instagram thanking fans and promising changes to future event policies. She wrote: “I hear you, and I’m working with my team to make sure the next events are better” (Instagram post).

What is Sarah J. Maas’s most popular book?

Best-seller rankings

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is widely considered her breakout hit. It spent months on the New York Times bestseller list and has sold over 1 million copies (Harper’s Bazaar).

Goodreads ratings and reviews

On Goodreads, ACOTAR holds a 4.2+ star rating with hundreds of thousands of reviews. The entire series consistently ranks in the top fantasy romance lists (Kirkus Reviews).

Cultural impact and BookTok virality

ACOTAR became a viral sensation on TikTok’s BookTok community in 2020–2021, sparking millions of videos and propelling the series to mainstream fame. The phrase “romantasy” is often credited to the ACOTAR phenomenon (Instagram BookTok analysis, see earlier link).

Why A Court of Thorns and Roses leads

Its blend of fairy-tale retelling, intense romance, and a world that expands with each book creates an addictive reading experience. The series also marks Maas’s transition to New Adult/Adult, which opened up a broader audience.

The pattern: each series has its devoted fans, but ACOTAR drives the most engagement, pre-orders, and cultural references.

Timeline of Sarah J. Maas’s career

• 2012 – Publication of Throne of Glass, Maas’s debut novel (BookScouter).
• 2015 – Publication of A Court of Thorns and Roses (Harper’s Bazaar).
• 2018 – Completion of Throne of Glass series with Kingdom of Ash.
• 2020 – Start of Crescent City series: House of Earth and Blood.
• 2023 – Controversy over signing events and fan safety (Instagram coverage).
• 2024 – Publication of House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3).
• 2026 (projected) – Expected release of ACOTAR 6 (Harper’s Bazaar).
• 2027 (projected) – Expected release of ACOTAR 7.

The timeline shows how Maas expanded from YA to adult fantasy, with ACOTAR becoming her most celebrated work.

Quotes from the Maasiverse

“To the stars who listen… it’s almost time.”

— Sarah J. Maas, Instagram post teasing ACOTAR sequel (Instagram)

“We are thrilled to confirm two new novels in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.”

— Bloomsbury, official press release (reported by Harper’s Bazaar)

“Fans expressed frustration over paid VIP ticketing and strict signing policies.”

— The Guardian, coverage of the 2023 controversy (reported on Instagram)

For readers diving into the Maasverse, the choice is clear: start with ACOTAR for the most popular entry point, then Throne of Glass for the epic foundation, and end with Crescent City to catch every crossover. The alternative—publication order—works too, but the upcoming ACOTAR releases in 2026 and 2027 make the ACOTAR-first path the most rewarding for now.

Related reading: Fear the Walking Dead: Timeline, TWD Connections & Watch Order

Whether you’re new to her worlds or revisiting them, the complete reading guide for Sarah J. Maas offers a clear path through all three interconnected series.

Frequently asked questions