If you’re wondering what order to read Sarah J. Maas books, you’re not alone. Her interconnected fantasy novels can be read in more than one way, and the best sequence depends on whether you want publication order, chronological order, or the smoothest path through each series.
This guide breaks down the main reading options, explains how the series relate, and helps you choose a route that fits your reading style without spoiling major twists.
What order should you read Sarah J. Maas books?
The safest and most common answer is to read Sarah J. Maas in publication order, starting with Throne of Glass, then Court of Thorns and Roses, and then Crescent City. Publication order preserves the intended reveals, lets the world-building unfold naturally, and is usually the best choice for first-time readers.
Why reading order matters for Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas writes large-scale fantasy series with recurring themes, layered magic systems, and gradual world expansion. Later books often assume familiarity with earlier emotional arcs, so the order you choose can affect how much mystery, tension, and surprise you experience.
That said, each series also works as its own entry point. You do not need to read every book to understand a single series, but if you plan to read all of them, the sequence can shape your overall experience.
The three main ways to read her books
- Publication order: Best for most readers and for preserving reveals.
- Chronological order: Useful for readers who want the fictional timeline, though it may spoil later developments.
- Series-by-series order: Best if you want to finish one world before moving to the next.
Sarah J. Maas reading order by publication
If you want the simplest answer to what order to read Sarah Maas books, start here. This sequence follows how the books were released and is the most widely recommended approach for newcomers.
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
- 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
- House of Earth and Blood
- House of Sky and Breath
- House of Flame and Shadow
This order reflects the broad development of Maas’s career: the early Throne of Glass novels, the romantasy turn of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the more urban-fantasy, cross-series complexity of Crescent City.
Which Sarah J. Maas series should you start with?
There is no single “correct” starting point, but each series offers a different reading experience. Your best first book depends on whether you prefer epic quest fantasy, romance-forward fantasy, or a more contemporary-feeling setting with dense lore.
Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass begins as an assassin-centered fantasy and gradually expands into a much larger epic. It is often the best choice for readers who enjoy long-form world-building, political intrigue, and a protagonist whose story grows over multiple books.
Some readers prefer to begin here because it shows Maas developing her style over time. Others find the early books slower than her later work, so patience helps.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a strong entry point if you like fairy-tale retellings, romance, and emotionally intense character arcs. The series becomes increasingly expansive after the first book, but its appeal is often strongest for readers drawn to relationships as much as plot.
If you want the most accessible modern starting point, this is often the one people choose.
Crescent City
Crescent City blends fantasy with a more contemporary urban setting and a heavier emphasis on mystery, investigation, and layered mythology. It is best for readers who are comfortable with dense world-building and want a series that feels more structurally complex from the start.
Because it is the newest of the three major series, some readers prefer to save it for last.
Should you read Sarah J. Maas in chronological order?
Chronological reading can be interesting, but it is usually not the best first-time approach. These books were written to be read in release order, and reading chronologically may expose information before the author intended.
In practice, chronological order is less important than preserving the emotional and narrative build. If you are reading for the first time, publication order is the clearest path.
How the series connect
One reason readers ask about what order to read Sarah Maas books is that the later series are more connected than they first appear. Maas has gradually built a shared fantasy framework, and readers who move through the books in publication order are more likely to notice those links as they emerge.
Those connections are part of the appeal, but they also mean that later books can reward readers who have already spent time in earlier worlds. If you want to understand the full web of references, reading all three series in order is the most satisfying approach.
What to expect from the connections
- Shared thematic concerns such as power, trauma, loyalty, and chosen family
- Overlapping mythic concepts and magical structures
- Increasingly interwoven world-building across series
- Payoffs that are stronger when earlier books are read first
Reading order by series
Some readers prefer to finish one series before moving to the next. If you want to read Sarah J. Maas this way, here is a simple series-by-series guide.
1. Throne of Glass series
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses series
- 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
3. Crescent City series
- House of Earth and Blood
- House of Sky and Breath
- House of Flame and Shadow
What kind of reader will enjoy each series?
Sarah J. Maas writes for a broad fantasy audience, but each series leans in a slightly different direction. Choosing the right starting point can make the reading experience feel more welcoming.
If you like epic fantasy and long arcs
Start with Throne of Glass. It offers the most traditional fantasy structure, with a long character journey and a gradually widening scope.
If you like romance and emotional intensity
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses. It balances fantasy world-building with relationship-driven storytelling and strong romantic tension.
If you like mystery and layered world-building
Start with Crescent City. It is the most intricate of the three in terms of structure and lore, and it rewards close attention.
Common reading-order questions
Can you start with A Court of Thorns and Roses?
Yes. Many readers do, and it is one of the most popular entry points. You may miss some broader connections later, but the series works well on its own.
Do you need to read Throne of Glass before Crescent City?
It is not strictly required to understand the basic plot of Crescent City, but reading earlier Maas books first can make some later connections more meaningful.
Is there a “best” order for spoilers?
Yes: publication order is the best way to avoid accidental spoilers across the larger Maas universe. It is also the easiest order to follow without second-guessing where to begin.
Final recommendation
If you want the most reliable answer to what order to read Sarah Maas books, read them in publication order. That approach gives you the cleanest introduction to her evolving style, the strongest preservation of reveals, and the most rewarding view of how her fantasy worlds connect.
For more guidance on the series links and reading sequence, you may also want to see what order do I read Sarah J. Maas books? and how do Sarah J. Maas books connect?