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Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas is one of the central gateway authors for romantasy readers, especially through A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City.
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Where to Start With Sarah J. Maas
| Series | Best for | Reading order |
|---|---|---|
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Fae courts, romance-forward pacing, gateway romantasy | ACOTAR reading order |
| Throne of Glass | Epic fantasy arc, assassin heroine, larger cast | Throne of Glass reading order |
| Crescent City | Urban fantasy scale, crossover-curious readers | Crescent City reading order |
Series and reading paths
Reader FAQ
Where should I start with Sarah J. Maas?
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses if you want romance-forward fae fantasy. Start with Throne of Glass if you want the bigger fantasy arc first. Save Crescent City until you are ready for denser urban fantasy and cross-series context.
Which Sarah J. Maas series should I read first?
Most romantasy readers should start with ACOTAR because it is the clearest romance-forward gateway. Choose Throne of Glass first if you prefer epic fantasy, assassins, and a larger long-series arc.
Should I read ACOTAR before Crescent City?
Yes, for most readers. Crescent City is denser and more crossover-aware, so ACOTAR first gives you better emotional and worldbuilding context before the later Crescent City books.
What is the Throne of Glass reading order?
Use the Throne of Glass reading order for the full path. Many first-time readers use the emotional-impact order, then decide whether to tandem read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn later.
What should I read after finishing all of Sarah J. Maas?
Try Books After ACOTAR for similar emotional pull, Books Like ACOTAR But More Fantasy for stronger worldbuilding, or Carissa Broadbent, J. D. Evans, Rebecca Yarros, and Holly Black depending on which Maas series you liked most.
What does the reading community say about them?
Readers talk about Maas as the author who turns casual fantasy-romance curiosity into a full-series obsession. Across Reddit, Goodreads voting history, BookTok, and mainstream romantasy coverage, the recurring praise is for addictive pacing, emotionally intense couples, found family, morally complicated love interests, and worlds that feel easy to binge even when the mythology gets sprawling.
Who is she best for?
Readers who want addictive pacing, intense romantic arcs, large casts, fae courts, found family, and series that become bigger than the first-book premise.
What should readers know before starting?
Her books are often discussed as gateway romantasy, but the balance changes by series: ACOTAR is the most romance-forward entry, Throne of Glass becomes more epic fantasy, and Crescent City asks more from the reader upfront.