If you’re wondering how many books will be in the ACOTAR series, you’re not alone. Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses saga has grown beyond a single trilogy into one of the most talked-about fantasy series of the past decade.
The short answer is that the series is expected to continue beyond the original five books, but the exact final total has not been officially fixed in a way readers can treat as permanent. Here’s the clearest reading guide to what has been published, what is known, and how to approach the series in order.
How many books will be in the ACOTAR series?
The ACOTAR series currently includes five published books, and Sarah J. Maas has indicated that the story world is not necessarily finished. Because future plans can change, the safest answer is that the series is likely to have more than five books, but an exact final number has not been firmly locked in for readers.
What books are in the ACOTAR series so far?
For readers trying to catch up, the core ACOTAR books published so far are the following:
- 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
The first three books form the original arc most readers think of as the central trilogy, while the fourth is a shorter bridge-style installment and the fifth shifts focus to a different main character.
Is ACOTAR a trilogy or a longer series?
It began as a trilogy in the minds of many early readers, but it has clearly expanded into a longer series. That matters because when people ask how many books will be in the ACOTAR series, they are often asking whether the story ends with the first three books or continues into later character arcs and worldbuilding.
Why the confusion happens
The confusion comes from the way fantasy series often evolve. A planned trilogy can become a larger franchise when the world, side characters, and political conflicts support additional books.
ACOTAR is a good example of that shift: the later books deepen the setting, broaden the cast, and move the emotional center of the series beyond the original romance plotline.
What order should you read the ACOTAR books in?
If you’re reading the series for the first time, the publication order is the easiest and most reliable route. It preserves the intended reveals, emotional beats, and character development.
- 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
Some readers ask whether the shorter fourth book should be skipped. It should not be skipped if you want the full series experience, because it functions as a transition between major story phases.
What kind of fantasy series is ACOTAR?
ACOTAR is an adult fantasy-romance series with strong fairy-tale influences, court politics, danger, magic, and emotionally intense relationships. It blends epic fantasy structure with romance conventions, which is one reason it appeals to both fantasy readers and romance readers.
Core genre elements
- Romantic fantasy with a strong emotional center
- Faerie lore and courtly intrigue
- High-stakes conflict across multiple realms and factions
- Character-driven arcs that evolve across several books
The series also uses familiar fairy-tale framing at first, then gradually turns toward darker, more politically layered fantasy. That tonal shift is part of what keeps readers invested across multiple installments.
Why readers keep asking how many ACOTAR books there will be
The question persists because the series has a strong habit of expanding. Each book opens up new emotional and narrative territory, so readers naturally wonder whether the current set is the end or just the latest stage of a larger plan.
Reasons the series feels open-ended
- The worldbuilding is broad enough for multiple future stories.
- Several supporting characters have enough depth to anchor later books.
- The series balances romance, politics, and war, which leaves room for more plotlines.
- Sarah J. Maas has written other connected fantasy works, so readers are used to larger story ecosystems.
In practical terms, that means a “final number” is less important than the fact that the series is still alive as a reading project.
Do you need to read every ACOTAR book?
If you want the full emotional and narrative payoff, yes, reading the books in order is strongly recommended. The series builds on earlier relationships, power shifts, and revelations, so later books assume familiarity with what came before.
Who may want to read all of them
- Readers who enjoy long character arcs
- Fans of romance with fantasy stakes
- Readers who like court intrigue and shifting alliances
- Anyone who wants to understand the series’ evolving mythology
Who might stop after the first book
- Readers who prefer self-contained stories
- People who do not enjoy slow-burn romance or extended series arcs
- Readers who want a lighter fantasy tone throughout
That said, many readers find that the series changes significantly after the first book, so a lukewarm reaction to book one does not always predict how you’ll feel about the later installments.
What themes run through the ACOTAR series?
Although the series is often discussed for its romance and action, its staying power also comes from recurring themes. These give the books a larger emotional structure beyond plot twists and relationship drama.
Major themes
- Transformation — characters change through trauma, love, power, and responsibility
- Healing — emotional recovery is a major thread across the series
- Power and agency — who gets to choose, rule, protect, or resist
- Found family — bonds formed by loyalty rather than blood
- Desire and vulnerability — romance is tied to trust and self-knowledge
These themes help explain why the books are often discussed as more than simple fantasy-romance. They ask how people survive, rebuild, and redefine themselves after loss.
How does ACOTAR compare to other long fantasy series?
Readers often compare ACOTAR to other sprawling fantasy series because it combines a central romantic arc with a larger mythic world. Unlike some epic fantasies that focus mainly on wars and kingdoms, ACOTAR keeps personal relationships at the center of the drama.
What makes it distinctive
Its distinctive feature is the balance between intimate emotional stakes and large-scale fantasy conflict. The result is a series that can feel both character-focused and epic at the same time.
That balance is one reason the question “how many books will be in the ACOTAR series” matters so much: readers are not just asking about quantity, but about how long they can stay in this particular emotional and imaginative world.
Quick reading guide for new readers
If you’re starting now, here is the simplest way to approach the series:
- Start with book one to understand the world and its central premise.
- Continue in publication order to preserve reveals and character development.
- Expect tonal shifts as the series moves from setup to deeper emotional and political conflict.
- Read the bridge book if you want the full continuity between major arcs.
If you enjoy series that reward patience, ACOTAR is built for that kind of reading experience.
So, how many books will there be in ACOTAR?
The most accurate answer is: at least five are already out, and more are expected, but the final total has not been definitively fixed for readers. If you’re planning your reading, treat the series as an ongoing fantasy saga rather than a closed five-book set.
For readers who want to explore more of Sarah J. Maas’s work and how her series connect, you may also like how many books Sarah J. Maas has written and whether Sarah J. Maas books connect.