Sarah J. Maas: Complete Reading Order for the Entire Maasverse
April 6, 2026
Discussing the differences between books and their adaptations may reveal plot points for both.
Sarah J. Maas has written three fantasy series — collectively known as the “Maasverse” — that began as separate worlds and gradually revealed connections to each other. Understanding how they relate, and the best order to read them, saves considerable confusion.
The Three Series
Throne of Glass (ToG) — 8 books
Maas’s debut series. Celaena Sardothien, an assassin, competes for the position of King’s Champion.
- The Assassin’s Blade (2014) — prequel novellas; can be read before Book 1 or after Book 1
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Tower of Dawn (2017) — runs parallel to Empire of Storms; can be read alongside it or after
- Kingdom of the Golden Flames (2018)
The complete Throne of Glass reading order is on the series page.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) — 5 books
Faerie courts, a mortal protagonist, and one of romantasy’s most-discussed love interests.
- 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)
The complete ACOTAR reading order is on the series page.
Crescent City — 3 books
Urban fantasy set in a modern world with fae, angels, shifters, and magic. More adult in tone than the earlier series.
- House of Earth and Blood (2020)
- House of Sky and Breath (2022)
- House of Flame and Shadow (2024) — contains significant crossover events
The complete Crescent City reading order is on the series page.
The Maasverse Connection: What Connects?
The connection becomes significant in Book 3 of Crescent City (House of Flame and Shadow, 2024). Characters from ACOTAR appear in Crescent City. The worlds — previously separate — are revealed to be connected at a cosmological level.
This crossover does not require you to have read Throne of Glass. ToG exists in a separate world from the ACOTAR/Crescent City connection.
Spoiler context: The Crescent City crossover with ACOTAR is a major plot element of House of Flame and Shadow. If you plan to read Crescent City, read ACOTAR first or be aware that Crescent City Book 3 spoils significant elements of ACOTAR.
The Recommended Reading Order
If reading everything: Throne of Glass → ACOTAR → Crescent City. This mirrors publication order and builds from Maas’s earlier style to her more recent, darker, more adult work.
If you don’t want to commit to 16 books: Start with ACOTAR. It’s the most independently satisfying of the three series and has the most active community around it.
If you’ve only read Crescent City and are confused: Yes, the Book 3 crossover with ACOTAR requires ACOTAR context. Reading ACOTAR Books 1–5 will fill in the details.
What Order for Crescent City and ACOTAR Crossover?
Read ACOTAR (all 5 books) before starting Crescent City. The crossover payoffs in Crescent City Book 3 are significantly more meaningful if you know the ACOTAR characters.
Tone Differences Between the Series
- Throne of Glass: YA fantasy; the earliest work; the most conventional fantasy structure
- ACOTAR: Begins YA-adjacent; becomes progressively more adult in tone from Book 2; the explicit content increases through the series
- Crescent City: Adult fantasy from the start; the most mature content, the most morally complex world, the most urban fantasy influence
If you’re coming from ACOTAR and surprised by Crescent City’s darker tone: that shift is intentional.