A Court of Thorns and Roses Books in Order (ACOTAR Reading Guide)

A Court of Thorns and Roses, or ACOTAR, is the series that turned Sarah J. Maas into one of the biggest names in romantasy. It starts as a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with Feyre, a human huntress, dragged into the faerie land of Prythian, and grows into a war story with one of the most talked-about romances in the genre. The reading order is simple, but there are a couple of things worth knowing before you start.

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A Court of Thorns and Roses books in order

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015). Feyre kills a wolf in the woods and is taken to the Spring Court as payment for the life she took.
2. A Court of Mist and Fury (2016). The book most fans call their favorite. Feyre's story moves to the Night Court, and the series changes direction.
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017). War comes to Prythian.
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018). A short novella set during the Winter Solstice. It bridges the first three books and the fifth, so don't skip it.
5. A Court of Silver Flames (2021). The focus shifts to Nesta, Feyre's older sister, and Cassian.

Keep going after book one

A lot of readers find A Court of Thorns and Roses slower than they expected and wonder whether to continue. The honest answer from most fans is yes. Book two is where the series finds its voice, and several things from the first book look very different once you've read it.

Is ACOTAR young adult?

No. Although it was first shelved as young adult in some stores, the series has explicit romantic scenes, especially from A Court of Mist and Fury on. It's best suited to adult readers.

ACOTAR and Crescent City

Maas's Crescent City series is set in a different world, but later books cross over with ACOTAR. If you plan to read both, finish all five ACOTAR books before House of Sky and Breath to avoid spoilers. The Crescent City order is House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, then House of Flame and Shadow.

Which edition should you buy?

ACOTAR has been published in several editions, including the original covers, the newer adult paperback covers and special hardcover and collector's editions. The story is the same in all of them. If you want a matching set, check the cover and ISBN on each listing before you buy.

Finished the series? Try our guide to the best romantasy series, the Throne of Glass reading order, or browse all Sarah J. Maas books. Free US shipping on orders $35+.