If you’ve spent more than five minutes on BookTok or scrolled through the "fantasy romance" tag on Instagram, you've seen the wings. You’ve seen the mountain with three stars. You’ve definitely seen the fan art of guys with names like Rhysand or Cassian. Honestly, Sarah J. Maas basically owns a corner of the internet at this point. But for someone just standing at the edge of the rabbit hole looking in, figuring out the A Court of Thorns and Roses series order is surprisingly stressful. You’d think it’s just 1, 2, 3, and you're done. It isn't.
There are novellas. There are "bridge" books. There’s a massive shift in perspective halfway through. And if you’re a real completionist, there’s the whole "Maasverse" theory that suggests you might need to read her other series—Throne of Glass and Crescent City—to truly get the full picture. It’s a lot.
Let’s keep it simple. If you want the most rewarding experience, you need to follow the publication order, but there is one specific book people always try to skip. Don’t be that person. You’ll regret it.
The Definitive A Court of Thorns and Roses Series Order
Start at the beginning. A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is where it all kicks off. You meet Feyre Archeron, a human girl trying to keep her family from starving, who kills a wolf and gets dragged into a magical, dangerous realm called Prythian. The first half of this book feels like a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It’s fine. It’s good. But honestly? It’s just the appetizer. Most fans will tell you to push through the first book because the series doesn't really become the phenomenon it is until book two.
- 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)
A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF) is widely considered the crown jewel of the series. This is where the world expands, the stakes skyrocket, and the romance goes from "standard YA" to "oh, this is definitely for adults." Then comes A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOWAR), which wraps up the initial war plotline.
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A lot of people look at A Court of Frost and Starlight (ACOFAS) and think, "Oh, it's just a 200-page novella about everyone buying gifts. I can skip it."
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Don't.
While it’s definitely lower stakes—think of it as a Hallmark movie set in a faerie kingdom—it’s the bridge that sets up the massive emotional shift in the next book. It deals with the PTSD of the previous war. It shows the cracks in the characters' relationships. Most importantly, it lays the groundwork for the tension between Nesta and Cassian. If you jump from ACOWAR straight to A Court of Silver Flames, the tone shift will give you whiplash. You'll wonder why everyone is so angry. ACOFAS explains the "why."
Navigating the Perspective Shift in Silver Flames
The A Court of Thorns and Roses series order takes a sharp turn with the fifth installment. While the first four books (including the novella) are told primarily from Feyre’s point of view, A Court of Silver Flames (ACOSF) switches to her sister, Nesta.
Nesta is polarizing. You’ll either love her or want to throw the book across the room. Sarah J. Maas took a gamble here, moving away from the "First Lady of the Night Court" vibe to a gritty, internal story about trauma, addiction, and self-loathing. It’s also much, much more explicit than the previous books. If the first three books were "spicy," this one is a bonfire.
The change in perspective also changes how we see the main characters. Through Feyre’s eyes, Rhysand is the perfect, heroic husband. Through Nesta’s eyes? He can be kind of an arrogant jerk. Seeing the world from a different angle makes the series feel more "real" and less like a fairy tale. It’s essential for the growth of the franchise.
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The Secret Order: Do You Need to Read Crescent City?
Here is where things get spicy for the theorists. If you are just here for the romance and the faeries, you can stop after book five. But if you want to understand the larger "Maasverse," the A Court of Thorns and Roses series order starts to bleed into her other work.
Sarah J. Maas has confirmed that her series are connected. Specifically, the Crescent City series (starting with House of Earth and Blood) eventually features a crossover that will make your jaw drop if you’ve read ACOTAR.
- The "Mega-Fan" Strategy: Read the first five ACOTAR books. Then, read all of Throne of Glass. Finally, dive into Crescent City.
- The "I Just Want the Crossover" Strategy: Read ACOTAR through Silver Flames, then jump into Crescent City.
Wait, why read Throne of Glass? Because there are subtle nods and world-building "rules" established in that series that explain how the different worlds in the Maasverse interact. It’s not strictly necessary for the plot of ACOTAR, but it makes the "big reveals" in later books feel earned rather than random.
Common Misconceptions About the ACOTAR Timeline
People get confused about the ages and the timeline. Feyre starts the series at 19. By the time we get to Silver Flames, only a few years have passed, yet the characters have been through several lifetimes of trauma.
Another big mistake? Thinking the "Coloring Book" or the "Great Rite" lore is just fluff. Maas is a master of the "long game." A throwaway line in book one about a minor lord or a specific ancient spell often becomes a massive plot point three books later. This is why reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series order in the correct sequence—without skipping the "boring" parts—is so vital. You’re looking for breadcrumbs.
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Some readers also ask if they can start with A Court of Silver Flames because they like the "enemies-to-lovers" trope or the "grumpy/sunshine" dynamic. Technically, you could, but you’d be missing about 2,000 pages of context regarding why Nesta is the way she is. You’d miss the history of the Cauldron, the war with Hybern, and the complex political landscape of the High Lords. It’s like starting a movie at the climax. Just don’t do it.
How to Prepare for the Next Book
As of 2026, the ACOTAR fandom is in a state of constant "waiting." We know more books are coming. Sarah J. Maas has a multi-book contract with Bloomsbury, and there are still huge hanging threads. Who is Azriel going to end up with? What’s going on with the fourth dread trove item? What about the human queens?
The best way to stay current is to finish the core five books and then keep a close eye on the Crescent City developments. The lines between these series are blurring. If you’re a fan of the "Inner Circle" (Rhys, Cassian, Azriel, Amren, Mor), you’ll want to be caught up before the next release triggers a total internet meltdown.
Actionable Next Steps for New Readers
If you're ready to dive in, don't just buy the first book. Grab the ACOTAR Box Set if you can find it on sale; it's usually cheaper than buying them one by one, especially since you'll likely binge the first three in a single week.
- Check the Trigger Warnings: Sarah J. Maas doesn't shy away from heavy themes. A Court of Silver Flames, in particular, deals with heavy mental health struggles and sexual content.
- Avoid the Wiki: Seriously. Do not Google the characters. You will be spoiled within three seconds. The "shipping wars" in this fandom are intense, and fan art often depicts major plot twists.
- Listen to the GraphicAudio Versions: If you struggle with the slower pacing of the first book, the "Dramatized Adaptation" (with a full cast and sound effects) is a game-changer. It makes the world feel incredibly cinematic.
- Join a Spoiler-Free Book Club: Apps like Fable or even specific Discord servers allow you to track your progress and talk about your theories without seeing what happens in the final book.
The A Court of Thorns and Roses series order is a journey from a simple forest in the human lands to a sprawling, multi-dimensional epic. Start with the wolf in the woods and let the story take you from there. Just remember: stay for the "Mist and Fury." That's when everything changes.