Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series is easy to start but can be confusing to follow once the novella and spin-off focus come in. The good news is that the best reading order is simply the order the books were published. Here is the full list, with a note on each one.
ACOTAR reading order
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
- A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
- A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018, novella)
- A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
These are the books in the main series so far. If more have been released since this guide was written, they will follow Silver Flames in publication order.
What to expect from each book
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Feyre, a young human huntress, is taken to the Fae lands after killing a wolf. It is loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast and works as a slower, more introductory book. Many readers say the series really takes off in book two, so keep going if book one feels like a warm-up.
A Court of Mist and Fury
The story widens and the tone shifts, with bigger stakes, new characters and a more mature romance. This is the book that most fans point to as the series’ high point.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
The war storyline comes to a head. It wraps up the main arc that began in book one, so it can feel like a natural stopping point for readers who only want Feyre’s story.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
A short, quiet novella set after the war. It is lighter on plot and focuses on the characters recovering and setting up what comes next. It also introduces threads that matter in the next book, so it is worth reading before Silver Flames.
A Court of Silver Flames
This book shifts focus to Nesta and Cassian, two characters from the earlier books. It is more romance-focused and darker in places, and it deals with trauma and healing.
Quick answers
- Can I skip the novella? You can, but you may be missing some context for Silver Flames, so we recommend reading it. It is short.
- Is it a standalone? No. The first three books form one main storyline and should be read in order.
- Is it YA or adult? The first book reads younger, and the series becomes clearly adult from book two onward, with spicy scenes. Check content notes if that matters to you.
Finished the series and need your next read? See our guide to books like A Court of Thorns and Roses.
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