The Only SJM Reading Order That Matters (Because I Said So)

So, You Want to Enter the Maas-verse?

Oh, look. Another fledgling mortal standing at the gates of the Sarah J. Maas universe, looking utterly bewildered. I see you. You've heard the whispers, seen the fan art, and now you're clutching three different series wondering, "Where do I even start?"

You've probably seen a dozen contradictory TikToks and a flowchart that looked like a wizard's spell gone wrong.

Bless your innocent heart.

Forget all that noise. You don't need a committee. You need an expert. You need me. I've read them all. I've seen the theories. And I'm here to give you the only reading orders that truly matter. Buckle up, darling.

The Three Gates to Your New Obsession

Let's get one thing straight: there are three main entry points, and picking one won't kill you... but it will make me judge you if you do it wrong. The "Big Three" are:

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR): The High Fae romance that launched a thousand Etsy shops.
Throne of Glass (TOG): The high-fantasy epic that's basically an eight-book emotional marathon.
Crescent City (CC): The "adult" urban fantasy with cell phones, murder mysteries, and... other things.

Your choice depends entirely on what kind of emotional devastation you're in the mood for.

Option 1: The Gateway Drug (ACOTAR)

Are you here for the romance? Do you want Fae lords, magical courts, spicy tension, and a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling that goes way off the rails in the best possible way?

Start here. It's the fastest way to get hooked, and it'll have you rearranging your entire personality around bat boys before you can say "To the stars who listen."

Spice Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (It starts hot and just gets hotter. You've been warned.)

The ACOTAR Reading Order

This one is mercifully simple. Don't mess it up.

A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury (Oh, you think you know what's coming after book one. You sweet, naive child. You know nothing. Just wait.)
A Court of Wings and Ruin
A Court of Frost and Starlight (It's a fluffy little novella. A Christmas-cookie-sized snack. Do not skip it. It sets up the next book.)
A Court of Silver Flames (Prepare yourselves. And your reading nooks. And maybe some water. It's... a lot. Wink wink.)

Option 2: The Epic Quest (TOG)

Feeling ambitious, are we? This is for the readers who want the journey. This isn't a weekend fling; it's a long-term, eight-book commitment. We're talking assassins, lost magic, brutal training, and a slow-burn cast of characters that will absolutely shatter your heart and piece it back together.

Spice Level: Starts at a polite 🔥, builds to a very satisfying 🔥🔥🔥. (Patience, you heathens. The plot comes first... for a while.)

The Real TOG Reading Order (This is the important part)

Now, pay attention. This is where mortals get it wrong, and it infuriates me. You have one choice here, and it's the "Tandem Read." Why? For maximum emotional damage. Trust me.

Throne of Glass
Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire
The Assassin's Blade (Yes, you read the prequel collection here. After Heir of Fire. It will hurt. It's supposed to. Do it.)
Queen of Shadows
Empire of Storms AND Tower of Dawn (This is The Tandem Read. You read them at the same time, alternating chapters or sections. Why? Because they happen simultaneously, and if you don't, you'll be hit with a cliffhanger so massive it's visible from space. Get some sticky tabs. You can do it.)
Kingdom of Ash (Good luck. You'll need it. Bring tissues. And probably a drink. Or three.)

A Dragon's Wisdom: Do NOT let anyone tell you to skip Tower of Dawn. I will personally fly to your house and set your bookshelf on fire. (Not really, but I will judge you. Severely.)

Option 3: The Deep End (Crescent City)

So you like your Fae with cell phones, automatic weapons, and a healthy dose of modern slang? Welcome to the deep end. This is urban fantasy, meaning it's our world... but with Fae, angels, shifters, and a whole lot of problems.

It's complex, it's gritty, and it's 100% "adult" SJM.

Spice Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

The Crescent City Reading Order

Also simple. For now.

House of Earth and Blood (The first 100 pages are a world-building infodump. Get a notebook. Push through. It's worth it.)
House of Sky and Breath (And just when you think you're safe... that ending. If you know, you know. And if you don't, stay off the internet.)
House of Flame and Shadow

The "Maas-verse" Question & My Official Order

You've heard the whispers, haven't you? "Are they... connected?"

Yes.

And the only way to truly appreciate the "Oh. My. Gods." moment of realization is to have read all three series. This is no longer a suggestion. This is a requirement for understanding the Big Picture.

So, what's my final, dragon-sanctioned recommendation for the full-universe experience?

The Dragon's Definitive "Big Picture" Order:

Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses. (It's the easiest to get into and gives you the core romance.)

Then, read all of Throne of Glass. (This gives you the epic fantasy foundation and the deepest lore.)

Finish with Crescent City. (This is the one that ties it all together. Read this one last. Trust me. You must read ACOTAR and TOG before you get to the end of House of Sky and Breath. You're welcome.)

This order gives you romance, then the epic history, and then the modern gut-punch that changes everything.

So, What Have We Learned?

It doesn't really matter where you start. Why? Because you'll end up reading all 15+ books anyway. You won't be able to stop. That's the SJM curse. Welcome to the club.

You'll come for the plot, stay for the romance, and end up a shell of your former self, clutching a book and sobbing at 3 AM. Just as we all intended.

Still not sure which Fae court would even claim you? Maybe you should take our personality quiz before you dive in. Or, if you think you can do better, try our romantasy title generator.

Alright, you're armed and dangerous. Now fly down to the comments and tell me which order you actually read them in. Or better yet, try to argue with my perfect TOG reading order.

I'll wait.