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Reading Order

A Court of Thorns and Roses Books in Order

All five ACOTAR books in order, including the novella between books three and four, with notes on what each one is.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) is Sarah J. Maas's adult romantasy series. It begins with Feyre, a human huntress, being taken into the faerie lands of Prythian after she kills a wolf in the woods.

There are five books: three main novels, a shorter novella and a fifth novel that shifts focus to a different main character. The series contains explicit sex scenes and violence.

5 books by Sarah J. Maas, in publication order.

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The books in order

  1. 1

    A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)

    Feyre kills a wolf in the woods and is taken to a faerie court as payment, in a retelling with Beauty and the Beast echoes.

    Jim's review

  2. 2

    A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)

    The second ACOTAR book.

    Find it on Amazon

  3. 3

    A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)

    The third ACOTAR book.

    Find it on Amazon

  4. 4

    A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)

    A shorter novella set after book three, bridging to the next novel.

    Find it on Amazon

  5. 5

    A Court of Silver Flames (2021)

    The fifth book, with a different main character at its center.

    Find it on Amazon

Best Reading Order

Read in publication order. Don't skip A Court of Frost and Starlight: it is short, but it sets up A Court of Silver Flames.

Many readers find the first book the slowest of the series, and the second is where its fans say it really takes off. If the first book is only a "fine" for someone, the second is still worth a try.

Is It Related to Throne of Glass?

ACOTAR and Throne of Glass are separate series by the same author, and you can read either one without the other. Throne of Glass is the longer of the two and begins as a young adult series.

Looking for something similar once you've finished? Browse the read-alike lists or the other series guides.