ACOTAR Reading Order
By the Ember team · Updated June 2026
The ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas has five books out as of June 2026, with two more scheduled for October 2026 and January 2027. The reading order is straightforward: publication order. Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses and read straight through.
The question everyone asks is where A Court of Frost and Starlight goes. It's a novella, and it sits between books 3 and 5. Do not skip it. It's setup for A Court of Silver Flames, and skipping it will leave you confused about character relationships and emotional arcs.
Short answer
The ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas has five books: 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), and A Court of Silver Flames (2021). Read in publication order. ACOTAR book 6 is scheduled for October 27, 2026, and book 7 for January 12, 2027. Sarah J. Maas has confirmed book 8 is also planned as part of a four-part story told across three books, but no release date has been announced for book 8 yet.
ACOTAR series books in order
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Published 2015
Feyre kills a wolf in the woods. It turns out to be a faerie in disguise, and the consequences drag her into the world of Prythian, where nothing is what it seems and beauty can be just as deadly as cruelty.
Start here. This is the foundation for everything that comes after.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Published 2016
Feyre is back in the Spring Court, but she's not the same person who left. The war is over, but the cost was higher than anyone knew. This book shifts everything you thought you understood about the first book.
Most fans consider this the best book in the series. The romance changes direction, and the worldbuilding opens up.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Published 2017
War is coming to Prythian. Feyre must gather allies, confront old enemies, and decide what she's willing to sacrifice to protect the people she loves. The original trilogy concludes here.
This wraps up Feyre's main story arc. You can stop here if you want a complete narrative, or continue with the companion books.
A Court of Frost and Starlight
Published 2018
A 272-page novella set after the war. Feyre, Rhysand, and the Night Court try to rebuild and find normalcy. The book is lighter than the main trilogy, focusing on healing and the winter solstice celebration.
Read this between books 3 and 5. It's a bridge story with setup for what comes next, told from multiple perspectives.
A Court of Silver Flames
Published 2021
Nesta Archeron, Feyre's older sister, has her own story. She's angry, traumatized, and drowning. Cassian, the Night Court's general, is tasked with training her. The book is darker and more explicit than the original trilogy.
This is a companion novel, not a direct sequel. The romance is spicier, and Nesta's character arc is polarizing but rewarding if you commit to it.
Where the ACOTAR series stands
Is the ACOTAR series finished?
No. Five books are out, and books 6 and 7 are confirmed for 2026 and 2027. Sarah J. Maas has said she plans to write more stories in the ACOTAR world beyond book 7, but the exact number of books is not set.
Can I stop after book 3?
Yes. A Court of Wings and Ruin concludes Feyre's main arc. If you want a complete trilogy with a satisfying ending, you can stop there. Books 4 and 5 are companion stories that expand the world and focus on other characters.
Who is book 5 about?
A Court of Silver Flames focuses on Nesta (Feyre's older sister) and Cassian. It's darker, angstier, and spicier than the original trilogy. Feyre and Rhysand are side characters. If you did not like Nesta in the first three books, this might not work for you, but many readers find her arc the most compelling in the series.
Where to start with ACOTAR
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses. The first book is slower than the rest of the series, and some readers bounce off it. Push through. The second book is where the series finds its footing, and most fans agree that A Court of Mist and Fury is the best book Sarah J. Maas has written.
A Court of Thorns and Roses is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in a fae world where humans and faeries have been at war for centuries. Feyre is a human huntress who kills a wolf in the woods and gets dragged across the wall into Prythian as punishment. Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court, is supposed to be her captor. The romance that unfolds is not what you expect, and the second book flips the entire premise.
If you like fae romance, chosen one arcs, enemies-to-lovers (eventually), morally gray love interests, political intrigue, and fantasy worlds with Courts and magic systems, you will like ACOTAR. If you hate retellings or want a fast-paced first book, this might not work for you.
What to read after ACOTAR
If you finished ACOTAR and want something similar, the obvious next step is Sarah J. Maas's other series, Throne of Glass. It's longer (8 books plus novellas), and the first book reads like YA assassin fantasy, but the series matures and the worldbuilding connects to ACOTAR in ways that fans love.
If you want fantasy romance from other authors with the same energy, try these.
War college, dragons, enemies-to-lovers, morally gray love interest. If you liked the Night Court training scenes and the tension between Feyre and Rhys, you will like this.
Forbidden romance, fated mates, political intrigue, and a chosen one arc. The tone is similar to ACOTAR, and the series has the same addictive cliffhanger structure.
Books like ACOTAR
Explore fantasy romance readalikes with fae courts, fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, and slow-burn tension similar to ACOTAR.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the ACOTAR reading order?
The ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas has five books: 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), and A Court of Silver Flames (2021). Read in publication order. ACOTAR book 6 is scheduled for October 27, 2026, and book 7 for January 12, 2027. Sarah J. Maas has confirmed book 8 is also planned as part of a four-part story told across three books, but no release date has been announced for book 8 yet.
Where does A Court of Frost and Starlight go in the ACOTAR reading order?
A Court of Frost and Starlight goes between A Court of Wings and Ruin (book 3) and A Court of Silver Flames (book 5). It's a 272-page novella that bridges the events of the third and fifth books. Do not skip it, even though it's shorter. It sets up character arcs and relationships that matter in A Court of Silver Flames.
Can I skip A Court of Frost and Starlight?
Technically yes, but you should not. A Court of Frost and Starlight is setup for A Court of Silver Flames. It introduces Nesta's emotional state after the war, shows Cassian's perspective, and plants seeds for the romance in book 5. If you skip it, you will miss context that makes Silver Flames more satisfying.
What should I read after ACOTAR?
After finishing the ACOTAR series, try Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (her other major fantasy series), Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (war college fantasy romance with dragons), From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout (forbidden romance with fated mates and political intrigue), or books like ACOTAR that deliver similar fae romance, chosen one arcs, and enemies-to-lovers tension.
When do ACOTAR books 6 and 7 come out?
ACOTAR book 6 is scheduled for October 27, 2026, and book 7 for January 12, 2027. Sarah J. Maas has confirmed book 8 is also planned as part of a four-part story told across three books, but no release date has been announced for book 8 yet.
Sources
Series order and publication dates verified as of June 2026.
- Sarah J. Maas Official SiteUsed for official series information and publication dates.
- ACOTAR Series GoodreadsUsed for series order and reader context.
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