Reading Guide

Crescent City & ACOTAR Reading Order: The Complete Sarah J. Maas Guide

Sarah J. Maas's worlds officially cross over in House of Sky and Breath. Here's the correct ACOTAR series order, the Crescent City reading order, and when to read each so you don't get spoiled at the crossover.

TL;DR — recommended order

  1. Finish ACOTAR books 1–4 (through A Court of Frost and Starlight).
  2. Read House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1).
  3. Read A Court of Silver Flames (ACOTAR #5).
  4. Read House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) — the crossover.
  5. Read House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3).

This order keeps every crossover beat in House of Sky and Breath spoiler-safe for both series.

ACOTAR series order

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a five-book main series plus one novella. Read in publication order — that's also the chronological order.

  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015) — Feyre & Tamlin.
  2. A Court of Mist and Fury (2016) — the turn most fans never forget.
  3. A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017) — the war for Prythian.
  4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018) — Solstice novella bridge.
  5. A Court of Silver Flames (2021) — Nesta's book.

Crescent City reading order

Crescent City is set in Midgard and follows Bryce Quinlan. Three books, read in publication order.

  1. House of Earth and Blood (2020) — Bryce & Hunt.
  2. House of Sky and Breath (2022) — the ACOTAR crossover lands here.
  3. House of Flame and Shadow (2024) — direct continuation; reading ACOTAR first matters.

Where the two series cross over

The ACOTAR crossover happens at the end of House of Sky and Breath and runs through House of Flame and Shadow. To read those without major ACOTAR spoilers, finish through A Court of Silver Flames first. Throne of Glass is not required for the crossover yet, though SJM has hinted the worlds will continue to braid together.

Frequently asked

Can I read Crescent City without ACOTAR?

The first book stands alone. From book two onward, ACOTAR knowledge is needed to follow major plot beats.

Do I need to read Throne of Glass?

Not for the Crescent City crossover. Throne of Glass remains its own arc for now.

Is A Court of Frost and Starlight skippable?

It's short and adds character context for Silver Flames. Most readers include it; some skip and miss only minor setup.

Keep your reading thread

LoreAI tracks where you are across series like ACOTAR and Crescent City — paperback, ebook, or audiobook — so you never lose the thread at a crossover.

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