Crescent City Reading Order
By the Ember team · Updated July 2026
The Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas has three books: House of Earth and Blood (2020), House of Sky and Breath (2022), and House of Flame and Shadow (2024). Read them in publication order. Start with House of Earth and Blood and do not skip it.
The biggest question readers have is whether they need to read ACOTAR before Crescent City. The answer is no, but House of Flame and Shadow (book 3) includes direct crossover moments with the ACOTAR universe. For the full impact, read at least the first three ACOTAR books before starting House of Sky and Breath.
Short answer
The Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas has three books: House of Earth and Blood (March 2020), House of Sky and Breath (February 2022), and House of Flame and Shadow (January 2024). Read them in publication order. House of Flame and Shadow includes a direct crossover with the ACOTAR universe. For maximum impact, read at least the first three ACOTAR books before starting Crescent City Book 2.
Crescent City series in reading order
House of Earth and Blood
Released March 3, 2020
Bryce Quinlan is a half-fae, half-human woman living in Lunathion, a modern city where humans, fae, and other magical beings coexist. When a demon murders her closest friends, Bryce teams up with fallen angel Hunt Athalar to find the killer. What starts as a murder investigation becomes something far more dangerous.
House of Sky and Breath
Released February 15, 2022
Bryce and Hunt are trying to build a life together, but the rebellion brewing in Lunathion threatens to pull them into a war they did not ask for. New alliances form, old enemies resurface, and the stakes rise higher than the first book. The world expands, and the real scope of the danger becomes clear.
House of Flame and Shadow
Released January 30, 2024
The conclusion to the Crescent City trilogy. Bryce's journey takes her beyond Lunathion and into other worlds in the Maasverse. This book includes direct crossover moments with the ACOTAR universe. The final battle for Midgard arrives, and nothing is the same after this book.
Do you need to read ACOTAR before Crescent City?
You do not need to read ACOTAR before starting Crescent City. The first two Crescent City books stand completely on their own. You will not miss anything essential if you have never read ACOTAR.
However, House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) includes direct crossover moments with ACOTAR characters and settings. These are not Easter eggs or vague references. They are real, plot-relevant crossovers that expand Sarah J. Maas's multiverse.
If you want the full emotional impact of those crossover moments, read at least the first three ACOTAR books before starting House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City Book 2). This gives you time to catch up before the crossover arrives in Book 3. The ACOTAR books are: A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wings and Ruin.
If you do not care about crossovers or want to read Crescent City first and then go back to ACOTAR, that works too. The Crescent City story still makes sense without ACOTAR. You just miss some of the fan-service moments that Maas built for readers who have been with her since Throne of Glass.
Where to start with Crescent City
Start with House of Earth and Blood. The first book is long (over 800 pages), and some readers find the first 200 pages slow. Push through. The world-building is intricate, and Sarah J. Maas is setting up a lot of pieces. By the halfway point, the pace picks up, and by the end, you will understand why readers call this one of her best series.
House of Earth and Blood follows Bryce Quinlan, a half-fae woman living in Lunathion, a modern city where humans, fae, angels, shifters, and other magical beings coexist. When a demon murders her closest friends, Bryce teams up with Hunt Athalar, a fallen angel enslaved to the Archangels, to find the killer. What starts as a murder investigation becomes a story about power, rebellion, and what it means to fight for the people you love.
This is urban fantasy with fae. If you want high fantasy with castles and courts, start with ACOTAR or Throne of Glass. If you want fae in nightclubs, cell phones in a magical world, and a romance that takes its time to develop, Crescent City is the series for you.
What to read after Crescent City
If you finished House of Flame and Shadow and need something to fill the Crescent City-shaped hole, these are the reads that hit the same notes.
If you loved Crescent City, ACOTAR is Sarah J. Maas's fae romance series with higher heat, morally gray characters, and the crossover universe that connects to House of Flame and Shadow. The first three books set up the crossover moments in Crescent City Book 3.
Urban fantasy meets war college. A heroine who has to survive brutal trials, a morally gray love interest, dragons, and a slow-burn romance that becomes the reason you keep reading. The found family dynamics and world-building hit the same way Crescent City does.
See how Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, and Crescent City connect, and decide which series to read next. The Maasverse is bigger than one series.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Crescent City reading order?
The Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas has three books: House of Earth and Blood (March 2020), House of Sky and Breath (February 2022), and House of Flame and Shadow (January 2024). Read them in publication order. House of Flame and Shadow includes a direct crossover with the ACOTAR universe. For maximum impact, read at least the first three ACOTAR books before starting Crescent City Book 2.
Do I need to read ACOTAR before Crescent City?
You do not need to read ACOTAR before starting Crescent City. The first two Crescent City books stand alone. However, House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) includes direct crossover moments with the ACOTAR universe. For the full impact of those crossovers, read at least the first three ACOTAR books (A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin) before starting House of Sky and Breath. The crossover is intentional and expands the Maasverse multiverse.
Is Crescent City connected to ACOTAR?
Yes. House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) includes direct crossover moments with ACOTAR characters and settings. The connection is not just Easter eggs. It is a real multiverse crossover that matters to the plot. Reading ACOTAR first is not required, but it enhances the experience significantly.
Where does Crescent City fit in the Sarah J. Maas reading order?
Crescent City is Sarah J. Maas's third series. You can read Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, and Crescent City in any order. Each series can be read independently. However, because House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3) has ACOTAR crossovers, many readers recommend reading ACOTAR before Crescent City if you plan to read all three series. See the complete Sarah J. Maas reading order for the full recommended sequence.
How many books are in the Crescent City series?
The Crescent City series has three books: House of Earth and Blood (2020), House of Sky and Breath (2022), and House of Flame and Shadow (2024). Sarah J. Maas has not confirmed whether the series is complete or if more books are planned. The third book wraps up major storylines but leaves the world open for future stories.
Sources
Series order and release dates verified as of July 2026.
- Sarah J. Maas Official SiteUsed for official Crescent City series information.
- Goodreads Crescent City SeriesUsed for series order and publication dates.
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