Published on November 2, 2026
Looking for ACOTAR books in order and wondering why one list counts five books while another includes more? Between a shorter companion story, shifting main characters, and new installments, choosing your next read can take more searching than it should.
The starting point is simple: begin with A Court of Thorns and Roses and follow publication order, keeping A Court of Frost and Starlight between the third and fifth installments. No chapter shuffling or advance knowledge of Sarah J. Maas’s other worlds is required.
This guide puts A Court of Thorns and Roses books in order, explains where each installment fits, and separates published titles from upcoming releases. Whether you’re meeting Feyre for the first time or returning to Prythian after a break, you’ll find a clear path forward without major plot spoilers.
What Is the ACOTAR Series About?
The ACOTAR book series begins with Feyre Archeron, a nineteen-year-old huntress trying to keep her family fed. When she kills a wolf in the woods, the consequences take her beyond the human world and into the dangerous territory of the Fae. There, the stories she grew up fearing become considerably harder to dismiss.
That premise opens the door to Prythian, a land of magical courts, powerful rulers, uneasy relationships, and threats that reach beyond any single character. Even “court” takes its meaning from context here: think of a ruler’s household and surrounding power structure rather than a courtroom. This guide to words with multiple meanings explores how familiar terms change with their setting.
Romance drives much of the story, but questions of loyalty, freedom, belonging, and personal choice give the relationships their weight. Readers interested in how writers express opposing ideas can explore these antithesis examples, which explain how balanced wording gives a contrast emphasis.
Wondering whether you need to be an experienced fantasy reader? Bloomsbury recommends the series as a starting point for readers who enjoy romance and are newer to fantasy. The world unfolds through the characters rather than requiring you to learn its entire history before anything happens.
Readers searching for Sarah J Maas ACOTAR books should also know that the romantic and sexual content becomes more explicit as the series progresses. The fairy-tale atmosphere of the opening does not describe every later installment.
Following ACOTAR books in order lets you discover the expanding world alongside its characters. Relationships change, earlier events gain new meaning, and people who initially stand at the edges of Feyre’s story eventually move into the spotlight.
ACOTAR Books in Order: The Complete Reading List
Here are the ACOTAR books in order, with the upcoming installment clearly marked. The position column shows the reading sequence, including the shorter companion book; it is not a count of full-length novels alone.
| Reading position | Book title | Publication year | Status | ||
| 1 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | 2015 | Published | ||
| 2 | A Court of Mist and Fury | 2016 | Published | ||
| 3 | A Court of Wings and Ruin | 2017 | Published | ||
| 4 | A Court of Frost and Starlight | 2018 | Published; shorter companion installment | ||
| 5 | A Court of Silver Flames | 2021 | Published | ||
| 6 | A Court of Splintered Harmony | 2026 | Published October 27, 2026 | ||
| 7 | A Court of Forgotten Melody | 2027 | Scheduled for January 12, 2027 | ||
This ACOTAR series order follows the sequence listed by the author, with the forthcoming title placed after the published books.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Start here. The opening novel introduces Feyre, her human family, and the encounter that carries her into the faerie lands. Her arrival at Tamlin’s estate puts her in an unfamiliar position: she must navigate a world whose beauty offers little reassurance about its safety.
The early chapters establish what Feyre fears, what she values, and how much responsibility she has already taken on. Those details matter as her circumstances change and she begins questioning what she believes about the Fae.
For readers approaching the ACOTAR book series for the first time, this is where the emotional groundwork begins. Give yourself room to meet the characters without looking up their future relationships. Even an innocent search for a character illustration can reveal more than you intended.
Before you start: You do not need a prequel, another Maas series, or a detailed guide to the courts.
A Court of Mist and Fury
The second book follows the consequences of the first, giving Feyre’s emotional state as much attention as the expanding magical world. Her experiences cannot simply be left behind, and the story asks what recovery, independence, and a different future might look like.
The Night Court becomes more important here, widening the circle of characters and drawing Feyre further into the politics of Prythian. The scale grows, but the central questions remain personal: whom can she trust, and how much say does she have over her own life?
When reading ACOTAR books in order, resist the temptation to skip ahead to this installment because you have seen readers discussing it online. Its changing relationships depend on the experiences established in book one.
Before you start: Avoid detailed summaries. Descriptions of this book can spoil major developments from the opening novel.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
The third installment brings the threat of war to the foreground. Feyre must navigate dangerous political divisions, weigh competing loyalties, and consider alliances whose consequences extend far beyond her own circumstances.
The broader cast becomes especially important as the story moves between private relationships and the struggle facing Prythian. Familiar characters bring their own priorities to that conflict, making cooperation more complicated than simply agreeing on a common enemy.
If you are collecting A Court of Thorns and Roses books in order, this is the third title to pick up. It brings major threads from the opening books toward a climax, but reaching its final page does not mean you have reached the end of the published sequence.
Before you start: Keep the first two books fresh in your memory. A spoiler-safe recap of events you have already read can help if you have taken a long break.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
After the intensity of the third book, this shorter installment changes the pace. Set several months later, it follows the characters as they rebuild, approach the Winter Solstice, and discover that surviving upheaval does not make its effects disappear.
The focus shifts toward everyday interactions and the emotional distance between people who have shared difficult experiences. Its smaller scale gives those moments more space.
In the ACOTAR reading order, place it immediately after A Court of Wings and Ruin. Think of it as a bridge into the next stage of the story.
Before you start: Expect a quieter companion tale rather than another book built around a large military conflict. That change in pace is part of its purpose.
A Court of Silver Flames
Nesta Archeron takes center stage in this installment, with Cassian playing a central role in her story. The shift brings a different perspective on familiar people and places, alongside a closer examination of grief, anger, intimacy, and healing.
Nesta’s difficulties are not neatly resolved by entering a magical world. Her relationships, responses to past events, and struggle to find a place for herself shape the book’s emotional direction. Meanwhile, threats beyond her immediate circle continue to develop.
Among the Sarah J Maas ACOTAR books, this is the point where readers should be prepared for a sustained change in the central character. The more explicit sexual content also makes checking content information worthwhile if that affects your reading choices.
Reading ACOTAR books in order gives Nesta’s story its context, including the family tensions and earlier experiences that a brief introduction cannot fully explain.
Before you start: Treat this as a continuation, even though the spotlight changes.
A Court of Splintered Harmony
Published on October 27, 2026, A Court of Splintered Harmony is the sixth installment in the publisher’s sequence. Bloomsbury gives it the subtitle The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I.
Its official description introduces a growing threat from Koschei and a difficult task for the Night Court: confronting danger while damaged relationships and fractured alliances complicate efforts to unite. Those are the publisher’s broad premises; revealing how the characters respond would take this guide into spoiler territory.
Older lists ending with A Court of Silver Flames therefore need updating. For anyone checking ACOTAR books in order before buying their next read, this is the published title that follows it.
Before you start: Read the earlier installments first. The sixth book continues an established world and its unresolved tensions rather than introducing a separate starting point.
A Court of Forgotten Melody | Upcoming
A Court of Forgotten Melody is scheduled for January 12, 2027. Bloomsbury lists it as the seventh installment, subtitled The Valkyrie Cycle, Movements II & III.
Place it after A Court of Splintered Harmony on your reading list. As of November 2026, it remains forthcoming, so this guide relies on confirmed publisher information rather than assessing the unreleased story.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order: Where Does the Novella Fit?
If you’re comparing ACOTAR books in order, publication order is the simplest route for a first read. Follow the list above, keeping A Court of Frost and Starlight between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames. The author’s official guide lists the books in that sequence.
The shorter installment is where confusion usually begins. Some lists label it “3.5,” while others count it as the fourth book. That difference reflects how they number a companion novella alongside full-length novels. It does not mean there are two versions of the story or an extra book you have missed.
When checking A Court of Thorns and Roses books in order, look at the titles rather than relying entirely on the numbers.
Does the novella actually matter? For a first read, I recommend including it. Its quieter scenes show how the characters are living with the consequences of earlier events, while preparing the ground for the next installment. The author explicitly describes it as a bridge between the third book and the later novels.
That makes the recommended ACOTAR reading order straightforward: finish the third novel, read the companion story, then continue to Nesta’s book.
There is no need to rearrange the ACOTAR series order around individual memories or references to the past. A reference to an earlier event is not necessarily a flashback; these flashback examples explain the difference between mentioning the past and returning to it through a scene.
Reading ACOTAR books in order preserves the gradual introduction of information, relationships, and changing perspectives. Save experiments with alternative sequences for a reread, when you already know what happens.
Do You Need to Read Throne of Glass or Crescent City First?
No prerequisite series is required before you begin Feyre’s story. Sarah J. Maas’s official reading guide says readers can start with the first book in any of her three series. You can therefore begin with ACOTAR without completing Throne of Glass or Crescent City.
For a broader look at her three series, the Sarah J. Maas reading guide sets out the available starting points and individual reading sequences.
If searching for Sarah J Maas ACOTAR books has led you to enormous combined reading lists, take a breath. Those lists often serve readers exploring the author’s wider work. They do not turn every title into homework before book one.
For your first journey, keep the ACOTAR reading order focused on this series. Following ACOTAR books in order allows its characters and setting to develop without repeatedly interrupting the experience.
The broader connections are worth discussing carefully because explanations can reveal surprises. Bloomsbury says the three series can be read in any order, while suggesting that Crescent City may be more rewarding after ACOTAR. That is a useful recommendation rather than a requirement to alternate books.
Your ACOTAR series order can stay exactly as listed above. When you are ready to explore another series, choose its opening book and consult a spoiler-safe guide.
Readers considering Fourth Wing next can explore the Rebecca Yarros reading guide for its place among her fantasy and contemporary romance titles.
New ACOTAR Books: Latest Release and What Comes Next
The ACOTAR book series has moved beyond the five-title lineup still found in older reading guides. As of November 2026, A Court of Splintered Harmony is the latest published installment, with an October 27, 2026 publication date confirmed by Bloomsbury.
For readers checking ACOTAR books in order, the distinction matters: A Court of Silver Flames is no longer the most recent book, and the next announced title should be identified separately as forthcoming.
A Court of Forgotten Melody is scheduled for January 12, 2027. Its publisher lists it after A Court of Splintered Harmony, continuing the newly introduced Valkyrie Cycle. The two subtitles identify the sixth installment as Movement I and the seventh as Movements II & III.
Those subtitles should not be mistaken for extra books to purchase between the main titles. They belong to the named installments already included in the reading list.
Search results for Sarah J Maas ACOTAR books may mix older guides, current listings, and fan predictions. Check the date and original source before treating a claim as confirmed.
For future updates, use the author’s official announcements and Bloomsbury’s listings. Character theories can make lively reading, but a helpful guide should clearly distinguish published information, announced plans, and speculation.
America Publishers Author Spotlight presents this guide as a reference for readers deciding where to begin.
Conclusion
Reading ACOTAR books in order gives the changing relationships, shifting perspectives, and expanding world room to develop. Start with Feyre’s introduction, keep the shorter companion installment in its place, and continue through the published sequence before moving to forthcoming titles.
You do not need to understand every fan theory or read every Sarah J. Maas novel before beginning. A clear list and a willingness to discover the story are enough. Which installment are you picking up next: your first visit to Prythian, or a return to familiar characters?
Frequently Asked Question
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How many books are currently in the ACOTAR book series?
As of November 2026, six installments have been published, including the shorter companion book, A Court of Frost and Starlight. A seventh, A Court of Forgotten Melody, is scheduled for January 12, 2027. This count separates published books from forthcoming releases.
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What is the correct ACOTAR reading order?
The ACOTAR books in order are 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, and A Court of Splintered Harmony. The forthcoming A Court of Forgotten Melody follows.
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Can you skip A Court of Frost and Starlight?
For a first read, including it is recommended. Its quieter story bridges the third book and later installments, providing emotional context for the characters. In the ACOTAR series order, it belongs immediately after A Court of Wings and Ruin.
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Is ACOTAR suitable for younger readers?
Readers should expect violence, traumatic experiences, and sexual content that becomes more explicit in later installments. Checking individual content guidance is more useful than judging the entire series by the first book’s fairy-tale premise, particularly when choosing books for younger readers.
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Do you need to read other Sarah J. Maas series first?
No. Readers can follow A Court of Thorns and Roses books in order without first completing another series. The author’s official guide allows readers to begin with any of her three series, although broader connections may reward further reading.
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Is the ACOTAR series finished?
No. As of November 2026, the published sequence continues through A Court of Splintered Harmony, with A Court of Forgotten Melody announced for January 2027. A forthcoming installment does not, by itself, confirm when the overall series will end.
