ACOTAR Reading Order: A Court of Thorns and Roses Complete Guide
April 6, 2026
Discussing the differences between books and their adaptations may reveal plot points for both.
Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses is the series most responsible for the romantasy boom. Five books in, with a spinoff universe connecting to her other series, it can look complicated from outside. Here’s exactly what to read and in what order.
The ACOTAR Series Reading Order
The complete ACOTAR reading order is on the series page.
Read in publication order. Book 2 contains major revelations that recontextualise Book 1 entirely — these land best if you’ve read the first book first.
Which Book Is the Best?
Reader consensus: A Court of Mist and Fury (Book 2). It’s the novel where the series becomes more than a fairy tale retelling — it’s here that the Night Court, the Inner Circle, and the character of Rhysand fully emerge. Most ACOTAR obsessives trace their devotion back to this book specifically.
A Court of Silver Flames (Book 5) has an equally devoted following for readers who prefer Nesta’s arc and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Nesta and Cassian.
The Maasverse: How It All Connects
Maas’s three series — ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City — exist in separate worlds that begin to connect in her later books. This connection becomes significant in Crescent City: House of Flame and Shadow (2024).
You do not need to have read Throne of Glass or Crescent City to enjoy ACOTAR. The connection is meaningful but reading ACOTAR in isolation is completely valid.
For readers who want the full picture: The recommended order for experiencing the full Maasverse is:
- Throne of Glass series (7 books) — Maas’s debut series
- ACOTAR series (5 books) — start here if you want the most accessible entry
- Crescent City series (3 books) — the crossover events pay off most fully in this order
Is Book 1 Worth Reading If I’m Not Immediately Hooked?
Yes — with a caveat. A Court of Thorns and Roses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling that reads like a YA fantasy in its first half. The series becomes significantly more adult in tone from Book 2 onwards. If the first hundred pages aren’t working for you, be aware the series changes considerably.
BookTok’s near-universal recommendation: if you’re unsure after Book 1, read the opening of Book 2 before deciding whether to continue. Many readers who were lukewarm on Book 1 found Book 2 unputdownable.
The Novellas and Short Stories
A Court of Frost and Starlight is short (around 250 pages) and sits between Books 3 and 5 in terms of the story arc. It’s essential context for Book 5 but can feel transitional — don’t judge the series by it if you found it lighter than the main novels.
The Fandom
ACOTAR has one of the most active fandoms in contemporary fiction. The Night Court, the Inner Circle, and the various ships (romantic pairings) have generated hundreds of millions of views on BookTok. Understanding some terminology before you start can help:
- Inner Circle — Rhysand’s trusted group; central characters in Books 2–5
- ACOSF — A Court of Silver Flames (Book 5); Nesta’s book
- Feysand — the Feyre/Rhysand pairing
- Nessian — the Nesta/Cassian pairing (the focus of Book 5)
- Elriel / Gwynriel — the ongoing fandom debate about Elain’s love interest; unresolved as of Book 5
What to Read After ACOTAR
Finished the series? Full recommendations here →