If you’re wondering how many books Sarah J. Maas has written, the short answer is: quite a lot, and the number depends on whether you mean published novels, novellas, or companion works. She is best known for her fantasy series, especially Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City.
For readers trying to start, the bigger question is often not just how many books Sarah J. Maas has, but which ones belong to which series and in what order to read them. This guide breaks down her major books, gives a simple reading roadmap, and helps you choose where to begin.
How many books does Sarah J. Maas have?
As of now, Sarah J. Maas has written more than a dozen books across her major fantasy series, plus shorter companion works and related editions. The exact count can vary depending on whether you include novellas, bind-ups, and special editions, but her core bibliography centers on three main series.
Sarah J. Maas books by series
1. Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass is Maas’s earliest major series and remains one of her best-known. It began with the novel Throne of Glass and expanded into a multi-book fantasy saga with prequel novellas and later installments that deepen the world and character arcs.
- The Assassin’s Blade (novella collection/prequel)
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
Depending on how you count it, this series alone accounts for eight core titles. Some readers also count the prequel stories separately, which can make the total feel higher.
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses
This series is one of Maas’s most popular and widely discussed. It began as a fantasy retelling inspired by fairy-tale traditions and developed into a large-scale romance-fantasy series with political conflict, shifting alliances, and an expanding cast.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses
- A Court of Mist and Fury
- A Court of Wings and Ruin
- A Court of Frost and Starlight
- A Court of Silver Flames
This series currently includes five books. The fourth volume is shorter and more reflective than the others, while the fifth returns to a fuller novel length and shifts focus to a different central character.
3. Crescent City
Crescent City is Maas’s newer adult fantasy series, set in a contemporary-feeling world that blends urban fantasy, mystery, and epic worldbuilding. It is often noted for its more complex structure and heavier emphasis on investigation, politics, and emotional stakes.
- House of Earth and Blood
- House of Sky and Breath
- House of Flame and Shadow
This series currently has three books. Because the books are dense and interconnected, readers often approach them as a continuous arc rather than as stand-alone installments.
So what is the total?
If you count only the main novels in her three flagship series, Sarah J. Maas has written 16 books. If you include novellas, prequels, and shorter companion works, the total can rise depending on how you classify each title.
A practical way to think about the count
- Throne of Glass: 8 core titles
- A Court of Thorns and Roses: 5 books
- Crescent City: 3 books
That gives you a clean reading total of 16 core books. If you are asking the question for a library list, school project, or reading challenge, this is usually the most useful number to use.
What kind of books does Sarah J. Maas write?
Sarah J. Maas is known for fantasy with strong romantic elements, often blending adventure, court politics, magical systems, and character-driven emotional arcs. Her books are usually long, immersive, and centered on growth, loyalty, sacrifice, and power.
Common features in her fiction
- Epic fantasy settings with kingdoms, courts, or city-states
- High emotional stakes and slow-building relationships
- Female-centered narratives with evolving agency
- Found family as a recurring theme
- Magic, prophecy, and political conflict
Readers often come to Maas for the romance, but stay for the worldbuilding and the way her series gradually widen from personal survival stories into larger conflicts.
Which Sarah J. Maas series should you read first?
The best starting point depends on what you want from the reading experience. Each series has a different tone, pacing, and level of complexity, so there is no single correct entry point.
If you want the classic Sarah J. Maas experience
Start with Throne of Glass. It is the longest and most expansive of her series, and it shows how her writing and worldbuilding developed over time.
If you want romance-forward fantasy
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses. It is often the easiest entry point for readers who enjoy fairy-tale retellings, emotional tension, and a strong romantic thread.
If you want something more adult and intricate
Start with Crescent City. It has a more urban, contemporary fantasy feel and may appeal to readers who want a denser, more layered plot.
Suggested reading order for new readers
If you want the simplest approach, read each series in publication order within itself. That keeps character development, reveals, and worldbuilding in the intended sequence.
- Choose one series to begin with: Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, or Crescent City.
- Read the books in series order rather than jumping around.
- If you start with Throne of Glass, decide whether to read The Assassin’s Blade first or after the second book, depending on your preference for prequels.
- If you start with A Court of Thorns and Roses, continue in publication order for the smoothest experience.
- If you start with Crescent City, read the books in order without skipping, since later installments build heavily on earlier ones.
For most readers, the safest rule is simple: read each series in order. Maas’s books often rely on emotional payoff, long-term character arcs, and gradual reveals.
Why readers ask how many books Sarah J. Maas has
The question comes up because her bibliography can look larger than it first appears. Between main novels, prequels, and companion pieces, it is easy to lose track of what counts as a “book” and what belongs to a broader series structure.
It also reflects how popular her work has become. Readers often want to know whether they are starting a short series or a long commitment, and with Maas, the answer is usually the latter.
What makes her bibliography notable?
Sarah J. Maas has built a rare kind of commercial fantasy career: one that spans teen and adult readerships, multiple series, and a very recognizable style. Her books are often discussed for their pacing, emotional intensity, and the way they balance romance with large-scale fantasy plotting.
Literary qualities readers often notice
- Escalating stakes across multiple volumes
- Character transformation as a central engine of the plot
- Recurring motifs of light, darkness, fire, courts, and freedom
- Shifting point of view in later books
Even when readers disagree about pacing or style, Maas’s books are easy to identify because of their emotional momentum and immersive series design.
Quick answer for searchers
Sarah J. Maas has 16 core books across her three main fantasy series: eight in Throne of Glass, five in A Court of Thorns and Roses, and three in Crescent City. If you include novellas and companion works, the total becomes higher depending on how you count them.
If you want to keep exploring her books, you may also enjoy reading about how many books are in the Throne of Glass series or browsing a broader question like how many books does it take to have a library.