Sarah J Maas Books In Order + How To Read All 15
Sarah J Maas Books In Order + How To Read Them
Sarah J Maas has gathered an enormous following on social media for her fantasy/romance books. She is a master of creating worlds and characters that completely sweep you away. Escapist reading at it’s absolute finest!
I have yet to find any other series that consumed me like hers have. You don’t want to miss out, so if you are looking to read all of Sarah J Maas books in order, you can find everything you need here!
Since she writes in series, you’ll find notes about which of books go together in release date order. However, there are different theories about the best approach to reading Sarah J Maas books in order. So, I’ll cover both the publication date order and another popular suggested reading order.
Grouped by series, I’m sharing all of the Sarah J Maas books in order. I can’t wait for you to escape into these incredible worlds and fall in love with her characters like I have!
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Sarah J Maas Books In Order
Throne Of Glass Series – Chronological Order
Of course this Sarah J Maas Books In Order list can’t be as simple as reading books according to chronological order within the world she created. With a legion of fans, there are lots of opinions about how to read her books and The Throne of Glass series is the most debated.
To start simple, let’s look at the Throne of Glass series in order chronologically. Below you’ll find the books in order as they take place within the world, and publisher summaries of each novel.
However, if you want the most emotional impact, skip down to the next section to find out how first timers should read the Throne of Glass series!
- The Assassin’s Blade (Prequel)
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
The Assassin’s Blade
Celaena Sardothien is Adarlan’s most feared assassin. As part of the Assassin’s Guild, she’s sworn to her master, Arobynn Hamel, yet Celaena listens to no one and trusts only her fellow killer for hire, Sam.
In these action-packed prequel novellas to Throne of Glass, Celaena embarks on five daring missions. They take her from remote islands to hostile deserts, where she fights to liberate slaves and avenge tyranny. But by acting on her own terms, will Celaena truly free herself from her master, or will she suffer an unimaginable punishment for such treachery?
Throne of Glass
In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass–and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.
Crown of Midnight
After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king’s contest to become the new royal assassin. But Calaena is far from loyal to the crown. Keeping up the charade – while pretending to do the king’s bidding – will test her skills in an entirely new way. And it certainly isn’t the only point of confusion for the young girl. Because though she’s made her choice between Dorian and Chaol, the ways of the heart are never simple…
Heir of Fire
Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?
Queen of Shadows
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire-for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…
She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.
Empire Of Storms
The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don’t.
As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.
Aelin’s journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?
Tower of Dawn
Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.
His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica–the stronghold of the southern continent’s mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.
But what they discover in Antica will change them both–and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.
Kingdom of Ash
Aelin Galathynius has vowed to save her people-but at a tremendous cost. Locked in an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. The knowledge that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, but her resolve unravels with each passing day.
With Aelin captured, her friends and allies have scattered. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever. But as destinies weave together at last, all must stand together if Erilea is to have any hope of salvation.
Throne Of Glass Series – Romantic Order
As mentioned above, there are multiple ways to read Sarah J Maas books in order. The Throne of Glass series has a wrinkle in the form of the prequel, The Assassin’s Blade. To avoid spoiling relationships further in the series, it’s highly recommended that first time readers use the following order!
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- Assasin’s Blade (Prequel)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
A Court of Thorns & Roses Book Order
Next up in the Sarah J Maas books in order list is her ACOTAR series. This is my personal favorite and the series that utterly consumed me from start to finish.
While there is no contention about what order to read these books, A Court of Frost and Starlight is an “in-between” shorter novel that’s more of a companion to Book 3 than it’s own standalone novel. I classify it more as Book 3.5. Honestly, as much as I love the main series, you could skip A Court of Frost and Starlight without missing anything!
- 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 Court of Silver Flames (2021)
A Court of Thorns and Roses
The book that started it all for me! Although this isn’t the first of Sarah J Maas books in order by publication date, it was the first book I picked up of hers. So it’ll always hold a special place in my heart!
Feyre is a human living in poverty on the edge of Fae lands. When she accidentally kills a Fae in wolf form, her punishment is being taken captive by Tamlin, a lord of Spring Court. Despite her lifelong hatred of the Fae, she discovers they are dealing with threats that could alter their way of live as well as everyone she holds dear. And Tamlin isn’t the monster she thought he was.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Out of all the ACOTAR books, a Court of Mist & Fury is my ABSOLUTE favorite. It is the beginning of Feyre’s discovery of the true love of her life and coming into her own as a Fae. I also adore getting to know Rhysand and his inner circle – finding out what drives him and the support he has from his friends.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Preparations are in full swing for the great battle to keep evil Hybern at bay and Feyre and Rhysand are doing everything in their power to save their land. While tentative alliances are formed and long lost allies sought out, Feyre is also struggling to help her sisters acclimate to their new situation.
This third book was full of insane tension as it led up to the war! I thought the negotiations and meetings between the various Courts were fascinating, leading up to the battles. It had me flipping through pages insanely fast!
A Court of Frost and Starlight
While still clocking in at 250+ pages, this is more of a novella compared to the other books in both length and plot. It takes place after Book 3 and features Feyre and Rhysand rebuilding their city after the war. The Winter Solstice is approaching, giving everyone a chance to celebrate their first big event in a new world. But the scars from the war run deeper than just physical wounds.
A Court of Silver Flames
Nesta takes center stage in one of the most recent Sarah J Maas books in order currently available. While we don’t know yet how far this series will continue, I’m hoping each of Feyre’s sisters and maybe another side character or two will get to tell their stories!
Nesta is battling the emotional toll from the war and has shut herself off completely from everyone around her. Only Cassian seems to get any reaction out of her, bringing her anger out in full force. There’s a thin line between hate and passion, though and Nesta and Cassian bring out both in each other.
As she begins to train as a warrior to help tame her ugly thoughts, she finds a new purpose, new friendships, and possibly even love in the most unlikely of places. I adored how this book dealt head on with mental health and gave hope to those struggling with it. Nesta is an incredibly strong female character and I loved her transformation that she worked so hard to achieve.
Crescent City Series Book Order
The last of the Sarah J Maas books in order features the Crescent City series! So far there are only two books in this series, but rumors that a third book will be coming out soon are keeping everyone on their toes!
Crescent City Series
- House of Earth and Blood (2020)
- House of Sky and Breath (2022)
House of Earth and Blood
Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.
As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.
House of Sky and Breath
ryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal-they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.
The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.
You can find more Fantasy books to dive into in my YA Fantasy Books post!
Have you tried to read all of these Sarah J Maas books in order? Which do you think is the best Sarah Maas book?