Reading Guides · October 11, 2026

Crescent City Books in Order (and When to Read Them With ACOTAR)

Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series in reading order, how it connects to A Court of Thorns and Roses, and which editions to look for new or used.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas book cover

Last updated: October 23, 2026

Crescent City is Sarah J. Maas's first adult series, and it is the most modern of her worlds: a city of phones, nightclubs and motorcycles where angels, shifters, witches and Fae all live under the rule of the Asteri. It follows Bryce Quinlan, a half-human, half-Fae woman whose life comes apart after a brutal murder, and Hunt Athalar, the fallen angel assigned to help her find out who did it. If you've read Throne of Glass or ACOTAR, expect the same mix of slow-burn romance, found family and big plot twists, with an urban fantasy setting.

Titles with a link are on our shelves right now as new or pre-loved copies. See everything in stock on our Crescent City series page.

How many Crescent City books are there?

There are three Crescent City books so far: House of Earth and Blood (2020), House of Sky and Breath (2022) and House of Flame and Shadow (2024). A fourth book is confirmed but has no title or release date yet (more on that below).

What is the first Crescent City book?

House of Earth and Blood is the first Crescent City book, published by Bloomsbury on March 3, 2020. Start there even if you've read Maas's other series: book one introduces the city of Lunathion, its politics and the mystery the whole series is built on.

Crescent City books in order

  1. House of Earth and Blood (2020). Two years after a devastating loss, Bryce is pulled into the investigation of a string of murders in Lunathion, the Crescent City, alongside Hunt.
  2. House of Sky and Breath (2022). Bryce and Hunt try to live quietly, but a rebellion against the Asteri drags them back in. This is the book where the series starts connecting to Maas's other worlds.
  3. House of Flame and Shadow (2024). Picks up straight after the cliffhanger ending of book two, and moves much of the story beyond Midgard.

Read them in publication order. Each book builds directly on the one before it, and the first book's ending only lands if you've followed every clue.

Crescent City publication dates and ISBNs

These are the standard US Bloomsbury editions. Use the ISBN to check exactly which printing a listing is for.

# Title US release date Pages (hardcover) US hardcover ISBN US paperback ISBN
1 House of Earth and Blood March 3, 2020 816 9781635574043 9781635577020 (2021)
2 House of Sky and Breath February 15, 2022 816 9781635574074 9781639731756 (Oct 2023)
3 House of Flame and Shadow January 30, 2024 848 9781635574104 not confirmed here

Page counts are for the first hardcovers as listed on Wikipedia; library catalogs may list slightly different counts.

Retailer exclusive editions have their own ISBNs

Crescent City books have also been printed as store exclusives (Indigo in Canada sold an exclusive House of Flame and Shadow, ISBN 9781639732937), and each exclusive has a different ISBN from the standard hardcover. For House of Sky and Breath, for example, the Books-A-Million exclusive (ISBN 9781635579437) adds bonus content in which Ruhn and his friends receive an unwanted visitor, while ISBN 9781635579413 is listed by booksellers as the Barnes & Noble exclusive hardcover. If a listing's ISBN doesn't match the table above, it is probably one of these editions, so check what extras it includes before you buy. Our ACOTAR editions guide explains the same thing for Maas's Fae series.

Is there a fourth Crescent City book?

Yes. A fourth Crescent City book is confirmed, but it has no official title or release date as of October 2026. Maas confirmed it in a TODAY interview when House of Flame and Shadow came out in January 2024, saying it would come later, after her next ACOTAR book. In a March 2026 interview she said the fourth book will cross into the ACOTAR world. You may see it called "House of Many Waters" online: that is a fan nickname, not a title from Maas or Bloomsbury. We'll update this page when there's an announcement.

Should you read ACOTAR before Crescent City?

You can start House of Earth and Blood without having read anything else by Maas. Book one stands on its own.

The order matters from book two on. House of Sky and Breath and House of Flame and Shadow cross over with A Court of Thorns and Roses and include major spoilers for that series. The safest order for readers who plan to read both is:

  1. All five ACOTAR books, ending with A Court of Silver Flames
  2. House of Earth and Blood
  3. House of Sky and Breath
  4. House of Flame and Shadow

Many fans also recommend finishing Throne of Glass before House of Flame and Shadow, because the final book rewards readers who know Maas's wider universe. It isn't required, but you'll catch more of the references. Our ACOTAR reading guide and Throne of Glass reading order cover both series.

Is Crescent City worth it if book one feels slow?

The most common advice from readers is to push through the first third of House of Earth and Blood. The opening spends a lot of time on the city, its politics and Bryce's grief, and the pace picks up sharply once the investigation takes over. The last 200 pages are some of Maas's most talked-about.

Is Crescent City young adult?

No. Crescent City is published as adult fantasy. It has explicit romantic scenes, strong language and graphic violence, and it's best suited to adult readers.

Where to buy Crescent City used

The books run past 800 pages each and the hardcovers are heavy, which is why many readers pick up the paperbacks or a pre-loved copy. Each used copy carries a condition grade from the independent US bookseller holding it, and each listing shows the format and ISBN of the copy you'll receive. In stock as of this update:

Stock changes as copies sell, so check the Crescent City series page for what's available today. Free US shipping on orders $35+; orders arrive in 7–15 business days in total (3–7 business days for the bookseller to process and ship, then 4–8 business days in transit).

Crescent City FAQ

How many Crescent City books are there?

There are three published Crescent City books: House of Earth and Blood (2020), House of Sky and Breath (2022) and House of Flame and Shadow (2024). Sarah J. Maas has confirmed a fourth book, but as of October 2026 it has no title or release date.

What is the first Crescent City book?

House of Earth and Blood, published by Bloomsbury on March 3, 2020, is the first Crescent City book. The US hardcover ISBN is 9781635574043 and the US paperback ISBN is 9781635577020.

What book comes after House of Earth and Blood?

House of Sky and Breath (February 15, 2022) comes after House of Earth and Blood, followed by House of Flame and Shadow (January 30, 2024).

Is House of Flame and Shadow the last Crescent City book?

No. House of Flame and Shadow is the latest book, not the last. Maas confirmed a fourth Crescent City book in January 2024, and in 2026 said it will cross into the ACOTAR world.

Where can I buy Crescent City books used?

Lantern Lane stocks used and new copies of the Crescent City books, each used copy with a condition grade from the independent US bookseller holding it. See the Crescent City series page for what is in stock today.

Want more after Crescent City? Browse all Sarah J. Maas books, or try our list of the best romantasy series.

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