With romance, deadly magic, dangerous bargains and an unforgettable cast of characters, Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series has become one of the biggest fantasy-romance series in the world.
But before entering Prythian for the first time, you may be wondering: What is the correct ACOTAR reading order?
Fortunately, the answer is simple. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with A Court of Thorns and Roses. There are currently five published books in the main series, with A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody already scheduled as the next two ACOTAR releases.
Contents
Below, you will find the complete A Court of Thorns and Roses reading order, an explanation of where the novella fits, and everything you need to know before starting the series.
ACOTAR Books in Order
The correct ACOTAR reading order is:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses
- A Court of Mist and Fury
- A Court of Wings and Ruin
- A Court of Frost and Starlight
- A Court of Silver Flames
- A Court of Splintered Harmony
- A Court of Forgotten Melody
The best way to read the series is in this exact order. The story develops chronologically, and each instalment builds on the characters, relationships and events of the previous books.
ACOTAR Reading Order at a Glance
| Order | Book | Type | Main Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | Novel | Feyre’s story begins |
| 2 | A Court of Mist and Fury | Novel | The world of Prythian expands |
| 3 | A Court of Wings and Ruin | Novel | The original trilogy reaches its climax |
| 4 | A Court of Frost and Starlight | Novella | Bridges the original trilogy and the next novels |
| 5 | A Court of Silver Flames | Novel | Nesta and Cassian |
| 6 | A Court of Splintered Harmony | Novel | Valkyrie Cycle; exact focus not yet included |
| 7 | A Court of Forgotten Melody | Novel | Valkyrie Cycle; exact focus not yet included |
Read the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series
Start your Sarah J. Maas journey with the five currently published ACOTAR books.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
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A Court of Mist and Fury
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A Court of Wings and Ruin
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A Court of Frost and Starlight
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A Court of Silver Flames
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1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Thorns and Roses is the first book in the series and the only place to begin.
The story follows Feyre Archeron, a nineteen-year-old huntress struggling to keep her family alive. After killing a wolf in the woods, Feyre is taken across the wall separating the mortal lands from the magical territory of Prythian.
There, she discovers that her captor is Tamlin, one of the powerful High Fae who once ruled over humans. As Feyre learns more about his world, her hostility begins to transform into something far more complicated.
The first book introduces Prythian, its courts, its magic and the central characters who shape the rest of the series. Even when later books expand far beyond its original setting, the events of A Court of Thorns and Roses remain essential.
2. A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Mist and Fury is the second ACOTAR book and continues directly after the events of the first novel.
Feyre has survived the ordeal Under the Mountain, but survival has come at a cost. As she attempts to deal with what happened, she must also fulfil the bargain she made with Rhysand, the mysterious High Lord of the Night Court.
The sequel expands the world considerably, introducing new locations, powers and characters while exploring the consequences of Feyre’s experiences.
Many readers consider A Court of Mist and Fury the book in which the series truly finds its identity. However, it should never be read before the first book, as its story and relationships depend heavily on what happens in A Court of Thorns and Roses.
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin
The third book, A Court of Wings and Ruin, completes the first major story arc of the ACOTAR series.
War is approaching Prythian, and Feyre must determine whom she can trust as the courts prepare to face a powerful enemy. The conflict that has been developing throughout the first two novels finally reaches its climax.
Although this book concludes the original trilogy centred on Feyre, it is not the end of the ACOTAR series. The world and its characters continue in A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames.
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight
A Court of Frost and Starlight is a shorter companion novella set several months after A Court of Wings and Ruin.
The story follows Feyre, Rhysand and their friends as they rebuild after the war and prepare to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Compared with the previous books, it has fewer major battles and places more emphasis on the characters, their relationships and the aftermath of everything they have survived.
However, the novella is not simply an optional holiday special. Sarah J. Maas’s official description identifies it as the story that bridges the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin with the novels that follow. It also introduces emotional conflicts and character developments that become important in A Court of Silver Flames.
Can You Skip A Court of Frost and Starlight?
Technically, you could understand the main premise of A Court of Silver Flames without reading the novella. However, skipping it is not recommended.
A Court of Frost and Starlight provides important context for several characters, especially Nesta, Cassian and Feyre. It explains how the characters are coping after the war and establishes the situation at the beginning of the next novel.
It is also relatively short, making it a quick transitional read between the original trilogy and the next phase of the series.
5. A Court of Silver Flames
A Court of Silver Flames is the fifth published ACOTAR book and the first full-length novel to shift the main perspective away from Feyre.
The story primarily follows Nesta Archeron and Cassian. After the events of the war, Nesta is struggling with anger, grief and the power she took from the Cauldron. Her relationships are deteriorating, and the people around her no longer know how to help her.
When Nesta is forced to train with Cassian, the two must confront their difficult history, their growing attraction and a new threat emerging within Prythian.
Although the focus changes, A Court of Silver Flames is a direct continuation of the series. Feyre, Rhysand and the other members of the Night Court remain part of the story, while several unresolved political and magical conflicts continue to develop.
Is A Court of Silver Flames Part of the Main ACOTAR Series?
Yes. A Court of Silver Flames is not a spin-off that should be read separately. It is the fifth book in the official ACOTAR reading order and continues the central story of Prythian.
The change in narrator does not mean that Feyre’s earlier books can be skipped. Nesta’s journey relies on events, relationships and conflicts established throughout the previous four instalments.
6. A Court of Splintered Harmony
A Court of Splintered Harmony is the sixth book in the ACOTAR series and is officially scheduled for publication on October 27, 2026.
The novel is part of the announced Valkyrie Cycle and continues the story after A Court of Silver Flames. The title A Court of Splintered Harmony has now been revealed, while further details about its exact main-character focus are not yet included in this guide.
A Court of Splintered Harmony should be read directly after A Court of Silver Flames.
7. A Court of Forgotten Melody
A Court of Forgotten Melody is the seventh announced ACOTAR book and is currently scheduled for release on January 12, 2027.
The book follows A Court of Splintered Harmony and is also part of the announced Valkyrie Cycle. Further details about its exact point-of-view characters and central storyline are not yet included in this guide.
The Next ACOTAR Books
Sarah J. Maas returns to Prythian with two new books in the Valkyrie Cycle.
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How Many ACOTAR Books Are There?
There are currently five published books in the ACOTAR series: four full-length novels and the shorter companion novella A Court of Frost and Starlight.
The original Feyre-centred story arc spans the first three books, but ACOTAR is no longer a trilogy. After A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames, the series continues with A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody.
That brings the planned ACOTAR reading order to at least seven instalments. The series is therefore still ongoing.
What Is the Best ACOTAR Reading Order?
The best way to read ACOTAR is in publication order, which is also the chronological reading order of the series.
Unlike Throne of Glass, ACOTAR does not currently have a prequel collection to place elsewhere in the order or two novels that benefit from a tandem read. Simply begin with A Court of Thorns and Roses and continue through the books in the order in which they were published.
There is also no official or commonly recommended ACOTAR tandem read. Alternating chapters between existing ACOTAR books would interrupt the intended progression of the story rather than improve it.
Is A Court of Frost and Starlight Book 4?
Yes. A Court of Frost and Starlight is the fourth published book in the ACOTAR reading order, even though it is a novella rather than a full-length novel.
This means A Court of Silver Flames is the fifth published ACOTAR book. You may occasionally see it referred to as “ACOTAR 4” because it is the fourth full-length novel, but when counting every published instalment, it comes fifth.
When Should You Read Throne of Glass and Crescent City?
You do not need to read Sarah J. Maas’s other series before starting ACOTAR. Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City all begin with their own characters, settings and storylines.
Do You Need to Read Throne of Glass Before ACOTAR?
No. You do not need to read Throne of Glass before ACOTAR. The two series begin independently, so you can start with ACOTAR without missing any necessary context.
If you plan to read all three Sarah J. Maas series, we recommend starting with ACOTAR, followed by Throne of Glass, and finishing with Crescent City. This order is not required to understand ACOTAR itself, but it works especially well for readers exploring the wider Maasverse.
When Should You Read Crescent City?
If you plan to read Crescent City as well, it makes sense to finish the currently published ACOTAR books first. The first Crescent City novel begins as its own story, but later books connect more closely to Sarah J. Maas’s wider fictional universe.
A simple order is:
- Read all five currently published ACOTAR books
- Read House of Earth and Blood
- Read House of Sky and Breath
- Read House of Flame and Shadow
You can enjoy the beginning of Crescent City without reading ACOTAR first, but finishing ACOTAR beforehand gives you more context for later developments.
ACOTAR Books by Main Character
The first three full-length books centre on Feyre, while A Court of Frost and Starlight includes several perspectives. A Court of Silver Flames then shifts the main focus to Nesta and Cassian.
| Book | Primary Character Focus |
|---|---|
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Feyre |
| A Court of Mist and Fury | Feyre |
| A Court of Wings and Ruin | Feyre |
| A Court of Frost and Starlight | Feyre, Rhysand and other members of the Night Court |
| A Court of Silver Flames | Nesta and Cassian |
| A Court of Splintered Harmony | Not officially revealed |
| A Court of Forgotten Melody | Not officially revealed |
The shift in perspective allows the continuing series to explore other members of the wider ACOTAR cast while still advancing the overarching story of Prythian.
What About the ACOTAR Bonus Chapters?
ACOTAR also has several bonus chapters that were included in special editions of the books. They are not required to understand the main story, but they offer additional scenes and character perspectives.
Because some of the bonus chapters take place at specific points in the series, it is best to read them only after the corresponding book to avoid spoilers.
What Is the First ACOTAR Book?
The first ACOTAR book is A Court of Thorns and Roses. “ACOTAR” is simply the acronym formed from the first letters of the title, and fans also use ACOTAR as shorthand for the entire series.
What Comes After A Court of Silver Flames?
The next book after A Court of Silver Flames is A Court of Splintered Harmony, scheduled for publication on October 27, 2026. It will then be followed by A Court of Forgotten Melody, currently scheduled for January 12, 2027.
For now, the complete ACOTAR reading order remains straightforward: start with Feyre’s first journey into Prythian, read A Court of Frost and Starlight after A Court of Wings and Ruin, and continue through the series in publication order.
Once you have finished the currently available ACOTAR books, you can continue exploring Sarah J. Maas’s universe through Throne of Glass and Crescent City.
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