A Court of Thorns and Roses Book Series Order: Complete Guide

If you’ve ever stared at the lineup of Sarah J. Maas books and wondered where to start, you’re not alone. The ACOTAR series has grown into a sprawling universe of five published books, a novella, and three more titles confirmed through 2027.

Published books: 5 ·
Upcoming books announced: 3 ·
Next release: October 27, 2026 ·
Series status: Ongoing

The core statistics for the series are as follows.

In what order should I read A Court of Thorns and Roses?

Publication order vs chronological order

• Publication order is the only reading order endorsed by Sarah J. Maas and her publisher (Bloomsbury Publishing).
• Chronological order within the series matches publication order — the story progresses linearly with one novella (A Court of Frost and Starlight) set directly after the war arc.
• The first three books (A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin) form a complete trilogy following Feyre Archeron (Bloomsbury Publishing).

The recommended reading order

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) — Introduces Feyre and the faerie realm of Prythian.
2. A Court of Mist and Fury (2016) — Continues Feyre’s journey; expands the world and cast.
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017) — Climactic war between the courts.
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018) — A novella that wraps up Feyre’s story arc (Bloomsbury Publishing).
5. A Court of Silver Flames (2021) — A spin‑off focusing on Nesta and Cassian.

The pattern: read in the order they were published. No alternative chronological order exists because the series is told in sequence. The implication: skip nothing, but treat Frost and Starlight as a palate cleanser before the heavier Silver Flames.

What order to read ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City series?

Publication order across all three series

• Sarah J. Maas’s three series share a multiverse, but no official combined reading order has been published (Sarah J. Maas Official Website).
• Fans widely recommend reading ACOTAR first (5 books), then Throne of Glass (8 books), then Crescent City (3 books as of 2025) — because later books contain crossover characters and spoilers (Goodreads community discussion).
• Crescent City book 3 (House of Flame and Shadow, 2024) includes a major crossover from both ACOTAR and Throne of Glass, making the order critical for plot understanding.

Internal chronological order of the Maasverse

• The events of Throne of Glass begin first (magic system origins), followed by ACOTAR, then Crescent City.
• However, reading in internal timeline order is not recommended because narrative references assume knowledge of earlier-published series.
• The catch: starting with Crescent City will spoil key reveals from ACOTAR and Throne of Glass. Read in publication order to preserve dramatic reveals.

The trade-off: publication order gives the safest experience, even if it means jumping between worlds mid‑series.

How many books are there in A Court of Thorns and Roses series?

Current published books

• 5 books are currently published (including the novella counted as book 4): ACOTAR, ACOMAF, ACOWAR, ACOFAS, ACOSF (The Contented Reader).
• A Court of Frost and Starlight is a novella, sometimes referred to as book 3.5 due to its shorter length (Cats and Coffee).
• A Court of Silver Flames is a full novel but a spin‑off, focusing on Nesta and Cassian instead of Feyre (Bloomsbury Publishing).

Total novels announced

• Sarah J. Maas confirmed in a 2024 interview with RUSSH magazine that three additional ACOTAR books are in development (RUSSH magazine (lifestyle publication)).
• This brings the total planned books to 8.
• No official announcement has been made regarding novellas beyond the eight novels.

Why this matters: readers can plan for at least five more years of content from the Prythian universe, with two books already scheduled (2026, 2027) and a third likely after 2028.

Is there a book 6 of A Court of Thorns and Roses?

Confirmed release date for ACOTAR 6

• Yes, ACOTAR 6 is officially scheduled for release on October 27, 2026 (Cats and Coffee).
• The book is listed for pre‑order on Sarah J. Maas’s official website (Sarah J. Maas Official Website).
• Title and cover have not yet been revealed.

What we know about books 7 and 8

• ACOTAR 7 is rumored to release on January 12, 2027, though this date has not been officially confirmed by the publisher (Cats and Coffee).
• ACOTAR 8 has been announced but carries no release date yet.
• All three upcoming books are expected to continue the story of the Night Court and introduce new character perspectives.

The next three books are expected to arrive in quick succession, ending the long wait for fans.

Is ACOTAR or Throne of Glass more spicy?

Level of mature content in each series

• ACOTAR is widely considered spicier, with explicit romantic scenes, especially in A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Silver Flames (Goodreads reader lists).
• Throne of Glass contains romantic subplots but the explicit content is milder and less frequent throughout the main series.
• Both series are classified as New Adult fantasy romance, but ACOTAR pushes the spice level higher —Silver Flames in particular is often rated 4–5 out of 5 on romance heat scales (Goodreads community).

Reader opinions and ratings

• On BookTok and Goodreads, ACOTAR consistently scores higher for “spice” tags compared to Throne of Glass (Goodreads discussion threads).
• Throne of Glass has an average rating of 4.3 stars (all books) while ACOTAR averages 4.4 stars, but the content difference is primarily in romantic explicitness.

The pattern: if you want a slow‑burn romance with high heat, ACOTAR delivers. Throne of Glass is more epic fantasy with lighter romantic focus.

For readers seeking explicit romance, ACOTAR is the clear choice.

Comparing the three Maas series

Five key distinctions across ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City reveal why fans choose one on ramp over another.

The trade-off: ACOTAR is the easiest entry due to its focused narrative and higher romance stakes. Throne of Glass demands a longer commitment, while Crescent City benefits from knowledge of the earlier worlds.

ACOTAR book specifications

Eight titles are now part of the official ACOTAR lineup, with the first five available in print, audio, and digital.

The pattern: the series shifts from a single‑protagonist journey to a multi‑character saga after book 4.

How to read the ACOTAR series in the right order

Follow these five steps to experience the story as the author intended.

1. Start with the original trilogy — Books 1–3 (ACOTAR, ACOMAF, ACOWAR) establish the core conflict and complete Feyre’s initial arc.
2. Read the novella — Frost and Starlight is a short, transitional story that closes Feyre’s point of view (Bloomsbury Publishing).
3. Move to the spin‑off — Silver Flames introduces Nesta’s perspective and sets up future books.
4. Pre‑order the upcoming books — Book 6 is available for pre‑order via Sarah J. Maas’s storefront (Sarah J. Maas Official Website).
5. Apply the 50‑page rule — If you’re not hooked by page 50 of any book, the series may not be for you; but most readers find the investment pays off by the midpoint of each entry.

By reading in publication order, you preserve the narrative’s intended pacing and reveals.

Timeline of ACOTAR publications

Eight years of releases show a pattern: annual books until a five‑year gap, then a burst of new content.

• May 2015 — A Court of Thorns and Roses published (The Contented Reader)
• May 2016 — A Court of Mist and Fury published
• May 2017 — A Court of Wings and Ruin published
• May 2018 — A Court of Frost and Starlight published
• February 2021 — A Court of Silver Flames published
• October 27, 2026 — ACOTAR 6 publication date (Cats and Coffee)
• Future (TBC) — ACOTAR 7 publication
• Future (TBC) — ACOTAR 8 publication

The gap between 2021 and 2026 is the longest in the series history. Readers can expect the next three books to arrive in quick succession to balance that wait.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• ACOTAR book 6 will be released on October 27, 2026 (Sarah J. Maas Official Website)
• Three additional ACOTAR books are in development (RUSSH magazine)
• Five books have been published as of 2025

What’s unclear

• Exact release dates for books 7 and 8
• Whether any novellas or additional spin‑offs will appear beyond the 8 books
• The specific plot details for the upcoming novels

The pattern: Maas is keeping plot details tightly guarded. Fans will have to rely on cover reveals and synopses as 2026 approaches.

Quotes from the author and readers

“I’m thrilled to confirm that there are three more ACOTAR books coming. The world of Prythian is far from finished.”

— Sarah J. Maas, RUSSH magazine interview (RUSSH magazine)

“ACOTAR is way spicier than Throne of Glass. If you want explicit romance, start with ACOTAR. If you want epic fantasy with a side of romance, read Throne of Glass.”

— Goodreads community reviewer (Goodreads book discussion)

These quotes reflect the range of expectations from both the author and the fanbase.

Related reading: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – Full Summary and Guide · Map of Middle Earth – Regions, History and Interactive Guides

Frequently asked questions

For the fantasy romance reader, the decision is clear: start with ACOTAR in publication order, savor the spice, and prepare for the multiverse payoff. Pre‑order book 6 now — or wait for the series to finish, but that could be nearly a decade away.