A Court of Thorns and Roses Books in Order: Complete ACOTAR Reading Guide (2026)
Every A Court of Thorns and Roses book in order — ACOTAR, ACOMAF, ACOWAF, ACOSF, the bonus content, and how it connects to Throne of Glass and Crescent City.
The A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas is the defining romantasy series of the 2020s — the books that established the genre as a mainstream publishing category and that BookTok’s reading community returned to again and again. The series has sold over twenty million copies globally. Every other Fae romance published since 2015 is responding to it.
The reading order is simple and non-negotiable: read in publication order, beginning with A Court of Thorns and Roses. The series does something relatively rare in genre fiction — it gets demonstrably better with each book. The best book in the series is the second one, and it only works the way it does because you’ve read the first.
Quick answer: A Court of Thorns and Roses → A Court of Mist and Fury → A Court of Wings and Ruin → A Court of Silver Flames. Read the main trilogy first. All four books are essential.
All ACOTAR Books at a Glance
| # | Title | Abbreviation | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | ACOTAR | 2015 | Start here |
| 2 | A Court of Mist and Fury | ACOMAF | 2016 | Best in series — do not skip Book 1 |
| 3 | A Court of Wings and Ruin | ACOWAF | 2017 | Trilogy conclusion |
| 4 | A Court of Silver Flames | ACOSF | 2021 | Semi-standalone; Nesta’s story |
Best starting point: A Court of Thorns and Roses — the only correct entry point.
Start Here: A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) follows Feyre Archeron, a mortal huntress living in poverty with her family, who kills a wolf in the woods. The wolf was a Fae in disguise. As payment, she is taken to Prythian — the land of the High Fae — by Tamlin, a High Lord. What begins as captivity slowly transforms into something more complicated, against the backdrop of a blight on the Fae’s magic and a growing threat from forces that want to keep Prythian in darkness.
Maas draws on Beauty and the Beast and Irish/Welsh Fae mythology. The first book is primarily a romance novel with Fae world-building — rich in description, driven by the relationship between Feyre and Tamlin, and building toward a climax that introduces the darker and more complex world the subsequent books explore.
The common advice: ACOTAR is a very good book. ACOMAF is an exceptional one. Read the first to access the second.
The Best Book: A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Mist and Fury (2016) begins immediately after the events of ACOTAR and should not be summarised in detail — the transformations it makes to the story, the characters, and the reader’s understanding of the first book are the source of its reputation.
What can be said without spoiling: Feyre finds herself in the Night Court, under the rule of Rhysand — the High Lord she first encountered in ACOTAR. Over the course of the novel, she discovers that her understanding of almost everything she knew in Book 1 was incomplete, if not entirely wrong. The character work on both Feyre and Rhysand is some of the finest Maas has produced. Rhysand — one of the most celebrated romantic leads in contemporary fantasy fiction — becomes fully himself in this volume.
ACOMAF is the book that made ACOTAR a global phenomenon. It is consistently cited as one of the most re-read novels in romantasy, and many readers report reading it more than once in a single year.
The Trilogy Conclusion: A Court of Wings and Ruin
A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017) is the longest book in the series and the most action-focused — the war that has been building across Books 1 and 2 arrives. It is generally considered slightly weaker than ACOMAF (which is an extremely high bar) but delivers the resolution that the trilogy requires, with a scope that earns its length.
Multiple character arcs that were established in the first two books pay off here. The final battle sequence is ambitious. Readers who have been fully invested in the series since Book 1 find it deeply satisfying; readers who want the concentrated emotional brilliance of ACOMAF should know that ACOWAF is more sprawling in scope.
The Semi-Standalone: A Court of Silver Flames
A Court of Silver Flames (2021) is not a continuation of Feyre’s story — it focuses on her sister Nesta Archeron and the general of the Night Court, Cassian. It is set after the events of ACOWAF and assumes full knowledge of the main trilogy.
ACOSF is the most explicit book in the series, the most romance-forward, and the book that most closely resembles genre romance in its structure. Readers who loved Feyre and Rhysand’s story may need to adjust expectations — this is Nesta and Cassian’s book, and their dynamic is very different. Most readers who complete the main trilogy find it a rewarding extension of the world; a few find it a step down from the first three.
The ACOTAR vs. Throne of Glass Question
Readers discovering SJM’s work often ask: which series should I read first? The options are:
Read ACOTAR first if: You are new to SJM, want adult content, or discovered her through BookTok. ACOTAR’s Fae world is richer and its adult romance more prominent.
Read Throne of Glass first if: You prefer lighter romantic content (the early ToG books are closer to YA), want an assassin protagonist, or want to follow a longer coming-of-age arc across eight books. See our Throne of Glass Books in Order guide.
Both series are independent — you can start with either. The crossover connections to Crescent City are in the third Crescent City book; read at least the ACOTAR main trilogy before starting Crescent City for the full experience.
The SJM Universe: How the Series Connect
Sarah J. Maas has confirmed that her three series — ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City — exist in the same universe and that crossover events occur. The major crossover appears in House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3).
Recommended reading order if doing the full SJM universe:
- Throne of Glass series (8 books) — the longest commitment
- ACOTAR series (4 books) — the most celebrated
- Crescent City series (3+ books) — the crossover payoff
You can read ACOTAR before Throne of Glass — many readers do. The crossover significance only applies to Crescent City, which benefits from both preceding series. See our Crescent City Books in Order and Sarah J. Maas Books in Order guides for the full picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I read the bonus content and extras?
Maas has published short stories and bonus chapters for the ACOTAR series, available through various retailers and her newsletter. These are supplements, not required reading. Read the four main books first; extras are for committed fans of the series who want more time in Prythian.
How long does it take to read the ACOTAR series?
The four books total approximately 2,500 pages. At an average reading pace, all four can be read in two to three weeks of consistent reading. Most readers report reading ACOMAF in one or two sittings.
What books are similar to ACOTAR?
Readers who love ACOTAR tend to respond strongly to From Blood and Ash (Jennifer L. Armentrout — similar forbidden romance, complex world-building), The Cruel Prince (Holly Black — Fae world, enemies-to-lovers, tighter plotting), and Fourth Wing (Rebecca Yarros — different setting, similar romantic intensity). Our best romantasy books guide covers the full range.
For the complete Sarah J. Maas author overview — bibliography, awards, and series connections — see the Sarah J. Maas Books in Order guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read the ACOTAR books?
Read in publication order: A Court of Thorns and Roses → A Court of Mist and Fury → A Court of Wings and Ruin → A Court of Silver Flames. The first three form a complete trilogy; A Court of Silver Flames is a semi-standalone that follows Nesta Archeron and can technically be read after ACOWAF, but is best appreciated with full knowledge of the first three books.
Is A Court of Mist and Fury better than A Court of Thorns and Roses?
Most readers and critics consider A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOMAF) the best book in the ACOTAR series — sometimes the best book Sarah J. Maas has written. It is longer, more complex, and emotionally deeper than the first book. ACOTAR is a strong novel that sets up ACOMAF's emotional stakes. You must read ACOTAR first; ACOMAF rewards that investment with exceptional payoff.
Does ACOTAR connect to Throne of Glass or Crescent City?
Yes — Sarah J. Maas has confirmed crossover connections between all three of her universes (ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City). The connections become significant in House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3). Reading all three series adds depth to the crossover moments, but each series is fully readable independently. The general recommendation is to complete ACOTAR before reading Crescent City.
Is ACOTAR appropriate for teenagers?
A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1) is appropriate for older teens (16+) — it has romantic content but is relatively restrained. A Court of Mist and Fury (Book 2) and subsequent books contain explicit sexual content and are adult fiction (18+). The series is categorised as Adult Fantasy, not Young Adult.
How many books will be in the ACOTAR series?
As of 2026, there are four ACOTAR books. Sarah J. Maas has indicated more books set in Prythian are planned. The main trilogy (Books 1-3) tells a complete story; A Court of Silver Flames is the first of what appear to be additional standalone-ish novels set in the same world with different character focuses.
