Reading Order
Sarah J. Maas Universe
by Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas Universe Reading Order
The complete SJM reading order across all three series: Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City. The three worlds form a shared multiverse — connections are subtle at first, then explicit by the time you reach Crescent City. The recommended order maximises every crossover payoff.
⚠️ Do not start with Crescent City. House of Sky and Breath and House of Flame and Shadow contain major crossover content from ACOTAR — reading CC first will spoil both series. Throne of Glass and ACOTAR can be read in either order.
Reading Order
TOG and ACOTAR can be read in either order. Crescent City must always come last — it pays off both previous series.
Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass #1
Core★ 4.25
2012
The Assassin's Blade
Throne of Glass #0
Optional★ 4.43
2014
Crown of Midnight
Throne of Glass #2
Core★ 4.28
2013
Heir of Fire
Throne of Glass #3
Core★ 4.59
2014
Queen of Shadows
Throne of Glass #4
Core★ 4.57
2015
Empire of Storms
Throne of Glass #5
Core★ 4.58
2016
Tower of Dawn
Throne of Glass #6
Core★ 3.85
2017
Kingdom of Ash
Throne of Glass #7
Core★ 4.74
2018
⚡Read TOG before or after ACOTAR — either order works. The series must be finished before starting Crescent City. Kingdom of Ash ends with a multiverse moment that gains meaning once you know the wider SJM world.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Thorns and Roses #1
Core★ 4.22
2015
A Court of Mist and Fury
A Court of Thorns and Roses #2
Core★ 4.65
2016
A Court of Wings and Ruin
A Court of Thorns and Roses #3
Core★ 4.32
2017
A Court of Frost and Starlight
A Court of Thorns and Roses #4
Extra★ 3.76
2018
A Court of Silver Flames
A Court of Thorns and Roses #5
Core★ 4.49
2021
⚡Complete the full ACOTAR series before starting Crescent City. A Court of Silver Flames must be read before House of Flame and Shadow — Nesta and Azriel appear in CC book 3.
⚠️Do not start Crescent City until you have finished both TOG and ACOTAR. House of Sky and Breath ends with Bryce accidentally crossing into Prythian (the ACOTAR world). House of Flame and Shadow spends roughly a third of its pages there — with Nesta and Azriel. Reading CC first will spoil both previous series.
🗺️ The Multiverse
All three series exist in the same multiverse. Throne of Glass hints at it in Kingdom of Ash. ACOTAR and Crescent City collide directly starting in House of Sky and Breath.
⚠️ Order Matters for CC
Finish all of ACOTAR (including A Court of Silver Flames) before starting Crescent City. Nesta and Azriel appear as major characters in House of Flame and Shadow.
🔗 The Crossover Key
The eight-pointed star appears across all three series. Rhysand (ACOTAR) and Bryce (CC) share Starborn Fae ancestry through Queen Theia. The TOG/Prythian connection is confirmed in Kingdom of Ash.
Where to start
- → New to SJM? Start with either Throne of Glass or ACOTAR — both work as entry points. Most readers recommend ACOTAR first because it's slightly more accessible.
- → Already read TOG or ACOTAR? Add the other series before starting Crescent City — the CC crossovers hit much harder with both under your belt.
- → Already read all of ACOTAR? You can start Crescent City — but finish ACSF first so you know Nesta and Azriel before House of Flame and Shadow.
- → Never start with Crescent City — the payoff requires knowing the other worlds.
The crossover moments explained (minor spoilers)
- → Kingdom of Ash (TOG #7, end): Aelin pierces the veil between worlds — the first confirmation that the SJM worlds are connected.
- → House of Sky and Breath (CC #2, end): Bryce is transported to Prythian instead of Hel. The ACOTAR crossover begins here.
- → House of Flame and Shadow (CC #3): Bryce spends ~1/3 of the book in Prythian with Nesta and Azriel. Bryce learns the Fae of Midgard descended from Prythian. The multiverse becomes explicit.
- → Connecting lore: the eight-pointed star, Starborn Fae lineage, and Queen Theia link ACOTAR and Crescent City through shared bloodlines.
Content notes
- → Throne of Glass: YA-adjacent at first, grows into dark epic fantasy. Explicit content from later books onward.
- → ACOTAR: Explicit from A Court of Mist and Fury onward. War, trauma, and recovery arcs.
- → Crescent City: The most mature of the three — explicit throughout, with urban fantasy violence and higher darkness level.
Darkness progression
Scale: 🕯️ Lighthearted → 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ Brutal
Finished the SJM universe?
More reading orders