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Quick answer: Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) for fae romantasy, Throne of Glass (2012) for a YA assassin fantasy series or House of Earth and Blood (2020) for adult urban fantasy. Her adult series include explicit scenes, so check content notes.
Quick facts
Best-known series: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), 2015 onward
YA series: Throne of Glass (8 books, 2012–2018)
Adult urban fantasy: Crescent City (2020 onward)
ACOTAR starts with a Beauty and the Beast retelling
Heat level: ACOTAR and Crescent City contain explicit scenes
Sarah J. Maas is one of the best-selling fantasy authors of her generation, known for fast plots, lush world-building and slow-burn romances. She has three major series: Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) and Crescent City. Each is long, and each has devoted fans, so starting can feel like picking the right door in a very large castle. The correct choice depends on your age, taste and comfort with mature content. This guide breaks down the series by tone and heat, explains reading order and offers advice for newcomers so you can begin where you will most enjoy the ride.
Table of Contents
Most Popular Start: A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) begins as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Feyre, a young huntress, kills a wolf in the woods and is taken to the faerie lands as punishment. The book has fantasy adventure, romance and a dark curse. It is the entry to a series of five main books, and its sequels deepen the world and change the tone. It has some sexual content that increases later. A Court of Thorns and Roses is usually where readers begin.
YA Start: Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass (2012) follows Celaena Sardothien, an assassin who is released from a prison camp to compete in a contest to become the king’s champion. The series grows from a courtly contest into a sweeping epic across eight books, ending with Kingdom of Ash (2018). It is young adult, with violence and romance but little explicit content. If you want a long, fantasy-adventure series with a strong heroine, Throne of Glass is the one. Some readers find the first book slow.
Adult Urban Fantasy: Crescent City
House of Earth and Blood (2020) opens Crescent City, an adult urban fantasy set in a city with fae, angels, shifters and humans. Bryce Quinlan, a party-loving half-fae, and Hunt Athalar, an enslaved angel, investigate a murder. The sequels are House of Sky and Breath (2022) and House of Flame and Shadow (2024). It has explicit scenes and strong language. If you like modern settings and mystery with fantasy, House of Earth and Blood is a good choice.
ACOTAR Reading Order
The main ACOTAR books are A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015), A Court of Mist and Fury (2016), A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017), A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018, a novella) and A Court of Silver Flames (2021). Many fans consider A Court of Mist and Fury the series’ turning point. Read them in order, since each builds on the last. The novella can be skipped by some readers but fills in the winter after the war.
Throne of Glass Reading Order
The Throne of Glass books are The Assassin’s Blade (2014, a prequel collection of novellas), Throne of Glass (2012), Crown of Midnight (2013), Heir of Fire (2014), Queen of Shadows (2015), Empire of Storms (2016), Tower of Dawn (2017) and Kingdom of Ash (2018). Many fans recommend reading The Assassin’s Blade after the first or second novel. Tower of Dawn happens during the events of Empire of Storms and is best read after it.
Choosing by Content
If you want little to no explicit content, Throne of Glass is the better choice. If you want a romantic fantasy with explicit scenes, ACOTAR and Crescent City are written for adults. ACOTAR book one has only light content, while book two and beyond are more explicit. If you are unsure, read the first book and see how you feel. Maas’s books also include violence, trauma and abuse, which are part of the characters’ arcs.
Why Readers Love and Criticize the Books
Fans praise Maas’s pacing, character chemistry and emotional payoffs. Critics point to repetitive phrasing, over-the-top romance and uneven handling of themes. Her popularity on BookTok brought new attention, and her books top bestseller lists. Reading a sample can help you decide whether her style appeals to you. Many readers love the books for the immersive escapism.
If You Like Maas, What Next
If you enjoy her work, try Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash, Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince and Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows. Each combines romance and fantasy in different ways. If you want a more literary fantasy romance, try Naomi Novik’s Uprooted.
How the Series Fit Together
Maas’s three series are separate but share a love of ensembles, chosen families and slow-burn romance. Throne of Glass is the oldest, aimed at young adults, with a sprawling war story. ACOTAR is a more intimate fae romance that grew into a larger epic. Crescent City is urban fantasy with a mystery plot and a futuristic feel. Fans have noted connections between the series, including shared concepts of magic and characters who echo each other, but you do not need to read one to enjoy another. Pick the series that fits your preferred setting and heat level.
Fan Terms, Editions and Adaptations
Maas’s fandom has its own vocabulary, such as ‘Court’ names, ‘mates’ and ‘found family.’ Special editions with new covers, sprayed edges and bonus content appear regularly, which makes the books popular gifts. The ACOTAR series has been announced for television adaptation, and many fans debate casting. If you want to avoid spoilers, stay off social media until you have finished. Reading in order and at your own pace, with a break after emotionally intense books, makes the long series easier to enjoy.
Print, E-Book or Audiobook for Sarah J. Maas?
Your format can change how a book feels. Print is best if you like to underline and flip back, e-books are handy for travel and night reading, and audiobooks are ideal for long books and for people who prefer to listen on walks or commutes. For Sarah J. Maas, a good narrator can add a lot, so try a sample before you borrow. Your public library likely offers all three formats through free apps, and holds let you queue for popular titles. If a book is over 500 pages, many readers find that combining a print copy with an audiobook helps them keep momentum.
How to Tell Whether Sarah J. Maas Is Right for You
Before you commit to a long book, test the author’s voice. Read the first chapter or a free sample, and ask yourself whether you want to keep going. Check a few reviews from readers whose tastes match yours, not only the top rated ones. Notice what bothers you, whether it is the pace, the tone or the subject matter, and use that to choose a different starting point. If the first book does not click, try another from this list before giving up, since an author’s books can differ widely. Every reader has a best starting point, and it is not always the most famous title.
Reading Sarah J. Maas With a Book Club or Friends
Many of these books are good for group reading because they spark strong opinions. Pick one title and agree on a date, then meet in person or online to talk about it. Questions that work well include: what surprised you, which character did you understand best, and did the ending feel earned? If your group has mixed tastes, offer two or three starting points from this guide and let people choose. A shared read can turn a hard-to-start author into a favorite, and hearing other readers’ reactions often reveals things you missed.
Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Sarah J. Maas
A few common missteps can make a good author feel like a bad fit. Do not begin with the longest or most famous title just because it is famous; a shorter, tighter book is a gentler introduction. Do not read reviews that spoil twists, since much of the pleasure comes from surprise. Do not judge the author by an adaptation, because movies and shows often change tone and content. Do not force yourself through a book that bores you after fifty pages; move on to another recommendation from this guide. And do not read everything at once. Spacing books out lets you notice patterns and appreciate how Sarah J. Maas writes.
A Long-Term Reading Plan for Sarah J. Maas
Once you have found a favorite, build a plan that keeps the pleasure going. Choose one new book every month or two, alternating between a famous title and a lesser-known one. Keep a short note of what you liked about each, such as the pacing, the characters or the ideas, and use those notes to pick the next. Revisit a favorite after a year, since second readings often reveal new details. Join an online community or a local group if you enjoy talking about the books. Over time you will develop your own ranking and your own recommendations for newcomers.
How Long Will It Take to Read Sarah J. Maas?
If you read twenty minutes a day, you will finish about 15 to 20 pages, or roughly a 300-page book every two to three weeks. Reading thirty minutes a day cuts that to about ten days. Audiobooks at normal speed run around 9 hours for a 300-page book, so a daily commute of 45 minutes covers it in two weeks. These are rough numbers, but they show that even a busy reader can get through several of the books in this guide in a few months. Set a modest goal, and let the habit build.
Choosing the Right Edition of Sarah J. Maas’s Books
Editions matter more than most readers expect. Paperbacks are the best value and the lightest to carry, while hardcovers last longer and often have better paper. Older books may exist in several translations or revised texts, so check which edition you are buying and whether it includes notes, maps or introductions. Omnibus volumes save money but can be heavy, so consider an e-book or audiobook for those. If you are sensitive to content, look for recent editions, which sometimes update language, and read the publisher’s description. For gifts, a clean, attractive edition of a stand-alone makes a good impression.
Giving Sarah J. Maas’s Books as Gifts
Books by Sarah J. Maas make good presents if you match the title to the person. Ask what they have read and enjoyed lately, then choose a starting point from this guide that fits their taste. A stand-alone or the first volume of a series is safer than a book from the middle. Pair the book with a small extra, such as a bookmark, tea or a gift card for a bookstore, and add a short note about why you thought of them. If you are unsure about content, choose the gentlest option on the list, or give a gift receipt so they can exchange it. A thoughtful recommendation often means more than the book itself.
What to Read If Sarah J. Maas Is Not for You
Not every author clicks with every reader, and that is fine. If your first attempt does not work, try a different book from this guide before you give up, since the range within one author’s work can be wide. If you still do not enjoy it, look for writers with a similar subject but a different style, ask a librarian for read-alikes or browse the “readers also enjoyed” lists in your library catalog. You might also come back in a year, since tastes and moods change. Your time is limited, and there are many other wonderful books to read.
Related: 15 Best Fantasy Books for Beginners and 15 Best Clean Romance Novels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Sarah J. Maas series should I read first?
ACOTAR is the most popular, Throne of Glass is YA and Crescent City is adult urban fantasy.
Do I need to read Throne of Glass before ACOTAR?
No. They are separate series, though they share some connections later.
Are Sarah J. Maas books for teens?
Throne of Glass is YA. ACOTAR and Crescent City are adult and include explicit scenes.
In what order should I read ACOTAR?
Read the main books in publication order.
Is A Court of Thorns and Roses a standalone?
No. It is the first of a series.