Author guide
Where to Start With Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas has three major Fabled Romance routes: ACOTAR for fae romance gateway reading, Throne of Glass for completed epic fantasy, and Crescent City for urban fantasy, modern worldbuilding, and crossover relevance.
Last checked: August 19, 2026.
How to use this guide
Choose by the kind of commitment you want. ACOTAR is the romance-forward gateway but ongoing. Throne of Glass is complete and more fantasy-forward. Crescent City is modern, lore-heavy, and best once you are ready for crossover conversation.
ACOTAR
The gateway fae romance route with reading-order and recap support.
ACOTAR Reading Order
Use for the main books, novella placement, and recap links.
Throne of Glass
A completed long fantasy series with assassins, kingdoms, magic, and full recap support.
Throne of Glass Reading Order
Use before deciding where to place The Assassin's Blade.
Crescent City
Modern urban fantasy texture, angels, shifters, politics, and crossover relevance.
Sarah J. Maas Author Hub
Use for all SJM series paths and related links.
Best starting point
| Reader wants | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Romance-forward gateway | ACOTAR | The easiest SJM start for many romantasy readers. |
| Completed epic fantasy | Throne of Glass | Long but finished, with full recap support. |
| Modern urban fantasy and crossover | Crescent City | Best when you want contemporary setting, heavy lore, and wider universe links. |
| Series-order help | Sarah J. Maas Hub | Use when choosing between all three series. |
Reader fit notes
- ACOTAR is ongoing, so it is not the best choice if you need a fully closed series.
- Do not start with Crescent City if dense modern-world lore sounds exhausting right now.
- Start with Throne of Glass if you want the most complete SJM path before new ACOTAR releases.
- Throne of Glass is complete but longer and more fantasy-forward.
- Crescent City is lore-heavy and often works better after you know you enjoy SJM's style.
- Use recaps for Throne of Glass and ACOTAR before continuing or rereading, especially around long gaps between books.
Reader FAQ
Where should I start with Sarah J. Maas?
Start with ACOTAR if you want romance-forward fae fantasy. Start with Throne of Glass if you want a completed fantasy series.
Should I read Throne of Glass before ACOTAR?
You do not have to. Choose by mood: ACOTAR for fae romance, Throne of Glass for epic fantasy, Crescent City for modern urban fantasy and crossover lore.
Is ACOTAR complete?
No. New ACOTAR books are part of the ongoing conversation, so use ACOTAR Reading Order and news updates.
Which SJM series has full recaps here?
Throne of Glass has full book recap coverage, and ACOTAR recap coverage has started.
Next steps
Use ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, or Crescent City depending on whether you want romance gateway, completed epic fantasy, or modern crossover fantasy.