Summary
- The release order and chronological order for A Court of Thorns & Roses is the same.
- While the books tell a linear story, readers don't need to pick up the newest ACOTAR books after the first three.
- Fans of ACOTAR should finish the series before starting the Crescent City books to avoid missing out on crossovers.
"romantasy" books. The series often dominates conversations in online book spaces, which gives it the opportunity to attract new readers frequently. But newcomers who are less familiar with Maas' books may not know the best entry point to Feyre and Rhysand's story.
Even those who have read Maas' Throne of Glass series will know that her books don't always follow a chronological sequence of events. Add in the fact that ACOTAR started out as a trilogy — then went on to include a novella and spinoff novel — and the series' reading order could be considered confusing. Fortunately, reading A Court of Thorns & Roses is more straightforward than newcomers might assume. And it could be worth picking up the current installments now, as there are even more ACOTAR books on the horizon.
10 Books To Read If You Love A Court Of Thorns & Roses
Those who love Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns & Roses books may be looking for something similar, especially while they wait for new content.
The Court Of Thorns & Roses Books In Release Order
Sarah J. Maas Used To Release An ACOTAR Book Every Year
Reading books in the order that they're released is always going to work out, as that's the way they're meant to be consumed. A Court of Thorns & Roses' release order is simple enough to follow, even if the length of time between books has gotten longer with recent additions to the series. Maas released the first four ACOTAR novels a year apart from one another, capitalizing on the series' popularity and allowing it to gain momentum quickly.
A Court of Frost & Starlight came out in 2018, and A Court of Silver Flames hit shelves three years after that. Another ACOTAR book is already confirmed, but it's unclear what the wait will be like for this one. Those hoping to read the rest of the series in its release order can dig into the books as follows:
A Court Of Thorns & Roses Books |
Release Year |
A Court of Thorns & Roses |
2015 |
A Court of Mist & Fury |
2016 |
A Court of Wings & Ruin |
2017 |
A Court of Frost & Starlight |
2018 |
A Court of Silver Flames |
2021 |
The Court Of Thorns & Roses Books In Chronological Order
ACOTAR's Release Order & Chronological Order Are The Same
Unlike Throne of Glass — which takes readers back in time with The Assassin's Blade and sees Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn unfolding side by side — A Court of Thorns & Roses follows a chronological narrative. This means that there's no difference between the release order and chronological order. Readers can only tackle A Court of Thorns & Roses one way, though they don't technically need to read the more recent books to enjoy the first three. A Court of Thorns & Roses, A Court of Mist & Fury, and A Court of Wings & Ruin tell a complete story.
Meanwhile, A Court of Frost & Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames expand on it. The latter doesn't even follow Feyre and Rhysand, shifting the focus to Nesta and Cassian instead. But despite this perspective change, its events take place after those of the first four books. For that reason, readers can pick them up in the order they were released. This is likely to be the case for the next ACOTAR book as well, though Maas hasn't confirmed much about its plot. And because of its chronology, the reading experience for ACOTAR is easy to follow.
A Court Of Thorns & Roses Books In Chronological Order |
A Court of Thorns & Roses (2015) |
A Court of Mist & Fury (2016) |
A Court of Wings & Ruin (2017) |
A Court of Frost & Starlight (2018) |
A Court of Silver Flames (2021) |
How ACOTAR Overlaps With The Crescent City Books
Its Characters Appear In 2 Of The Books
While ACOTAR's reading order is straightforward, the Crescent City books complicate things slightly. That's because there are ACOTAR cameos in two of the three Crescent City novels, and Maas may be building to a greater crossover later on. With that in mind, readers should read A Court of Thorns & Roses all the way through before picking up Crescent City. While they could get away with reading the first book, they shouldn't tackle House of Sky & Breath or House of Flame & Shadow without being caught up on ACOTAR.
When Will The Next ACOTAR Book Be Released?
Sarah J. Maas Is Working On The Sixth ACOTAR Book Next
With another ACOTAR book already confirmed, readers may also find themselves wondering when to pick up the series. Unfortunately, there's still no word on when Maas' next installment will hit shelves. During an interview with TODAY.com, the author confirmed that it's the next thing she's writing after Crescent City 3. Depending on how fast she writes, the new book could come up sometime in 2025 or 2026. Until then, there are plenty of reasons to revisit A Court of Thorns & Roses and Maas' other books. Then readers will be ready when the sixth ACOTAR book finally arrives.
Source: TODAY.com