Sarah J. Maas Books in Order: Complete Reading Guide 2024

Anyone who’s tried to figure out where to start with Sarah J. Maas’s sprawling fantasy universe already knows the struggle: Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, or Crescent City? And where does The Assassin’s Blade fit? The author’s official reading guide lists three series spanning 16 books so far, beginning with Throne of Glass in 2012. This guide walks through each series and the smartest reading strategies, so you can pick your starting point with confidence.

Series: 3 ·
Total books: 16 (as of 2024) ·
Throne of Glass books: 8 ·
ACOTAR books: 5 ·
Crescent City books: 3

Six key facts at a glance, one pattern: the official author site and publisher agree on the broad structure, but reader debates linger on the best starting order.

In what order do I read the Sarah J. Maas books?

Publication order vs recommended reading order

• The three series debuted in publication order: Throne of Glass (2012), then A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015), then Crescent City (2020) (EP Reading Guide).
• The author’s site recommends starting with Throne of Glass if you’re new to her books (Sarah J. Maas Official Reading Guide).
• Bloomsbury adds that readers can start with any series, but Crescent City is more rewarding after ACOTAR (Bloomsbury Publishing).

Start with Throne of Glass or ACOTAR?

For readers who want the full chronological experience, Throne of Glass offers a longer arc—eight books building a detailed world with a slow-burn romantic subplot. ACOTAR, with five books and a tighter cast, delivers a higher romance-to-plot ratio from the start (The Everygirl). The trade-off is about time investment vs. immediate emotional payoff. The pattern: choose Throne of Glass if you love sprawling epics; choose ACOTAR if you prefer a faster romantic hook. Confessions of a Shopaholic – Plot Summary, Series Order, Movie Guide offers another look at navigating long series.

Where to fit The Assassin’s Blade

The prequel collection The Assassin’s Blade contains five novellas set before the main Throne of Glass series. The official publication order places it after Crown of Midnight (book 2), but the author and Bloomsbury both say it can be read first without spoilers (Bloomsbury Publishing). Many fans prefer to read it first for emotional impact, while others use it as a prequel flashback after meeting the characters (EP Reading Guide).

Crescent City order

As of 2024, Crescent City has three books: House of Earth and Bloodú2020), House of Sky and Breath (2022), and House of Flame and Shadow (2024) (Sarah J. Maas). Bloomsbury advises reading it after ACOTAR because of crossover elements that deepen the experience (Bloomsbury Publishing). The implication: even though you could start here, you’ll miss callbacks.