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Series Guide
ACOTAR Books in Order
By Sarah J. Maas · 6 published books · 1 upcoming · Ongoing
Read Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses books in order, see where A Court of Frost and Starlight fits, and check the current status of Books 6 and 7.
Start with: A Court of Thorns and Roses
What Is ACOTAR?
A Court of Thorns and Roses, often shortened to ACOTAR, is Sarah J. Maas's fae-centered fantasy romance series. The official sequence currently includes five published books and two upcoming installments.
ACOTAR Reading Order: Quick Answer
Follow publication order: five books are published and two are upcoming. A Court of Frost and Starlight is sequence position 4, a companion bridge volume between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames. The series is ongoing.
Published
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses → 2. A Court of Mist and Fury → 3. A Court of Wings and Ruin → 4. A Court of Frost and Starlight → 5. A Court of Silver Flames
Upcoming
6. A Court of Splintered Harmony · October 27, 2026 → 7. A Court of Forgotten Melody · January 12, 2027
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses and follow publication order. Keep A Court of Frost and Starlight between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames.
5 published · 2 upcoming · 7 currently confirmed titles · Ongoing
Books 1–4 form the original Feyre-centered sequence. A Court of Silver Flames shifts the central focus to Nesta, while Books 6 and 7 are The Valkyrie Cycle.
Read more about this series
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses and follow publication order. Keep A Court of Frost and Starlight between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames.
5 published · 2 upcoming · 7 currently confirmed titles · Ongoing
Books 1–4 form the original Feyre-centered sequence. A Court of Silver Flames shifts the central focus to Nesta, while Books 6 and 7 are The Valkyrie Cycle.
Reading order
- 1
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Published2015
Book 1. Introduces Feyre, Prythian, and the core fae-world setup.
- 2
A Court of Mist and Fury
Published2016
Book 2. Expands the courts, the central relationship, and the wider series scale.
- 3
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Published2017
Book 3. Closes the original Feyre-centered war arc.
- 4
A Court of Frost and Starlight
Companion / bridge novellaPublished2018
Companion novella. Bridges the aftermath of book 3 into the later books.
- 5
A Court of Silver Flames
Published2021
Book 5. Shifts the central focus to Nesta and Cassian.
- 6
A Court of Splintered Harmony
The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I
Published2026
ACOTAR Book 6. Officially scheduled for October 27, 2026. Bloomsbury markets Books 6 and 7 together as The Valkyrie Cycle.
- 7
A Court of Forgotten Melody
The Valkyrie Cycle, Movements II & III
UpcomingJanuary 2027
ACOTAR Book 7. Officially scheduled for January 12, 2027. Bloomsbury markets Books 6 and 7 together as The Valkyrie Cycle.
Reading Order Notes
These ACOTAR reading order notes clarify the Frost and Starlight bridge, the five-versus-seven count, and the status of the two upcoming books.
For most first-time readers, the main books are the core reading path. This guide also includes companion and novella entries for readers who want the fuller world-level order.
World connection note: Sarah J. Maas says readers can start with the first book of any of her three series. RomantasyOrder recommends finishing the currently published ACOTAR books before later Crescent City material if you want the clearest spoiler-safe path.
Why publication order works
For first-time readers, publication order is the best ACOTAR reading order because it keeps Feyre’s original arc, the bridge into the later books, and the Nesta-and-Cassian shift in the intended sequence.
Can you skip A Court of Frost and Starlight?
You technically can follow the broad plot without treating it like a full-length main installment, but skipping it is not recommended. It bridges A Court of Wings and Ruin and the later books and gives important emotional and character setup before A Court of Silver Flames.
Can A Court of Silver Flames stand alone?
No. A Court of Silver Flames shifts the main focus to Nesta, but it still relies on the setup, worldbuilding, and relationship history established in the earlier books.
New to Throne of Glass? Start Here
Read the five published books in publication order, then continue with A Court of Splintered Harmony on October 27, 2026 and A Court of Forgotten Melody on January 12, 2027. You can begin with ACOTAR without reading Crescent City or Throne of Glass first.
New to this series? Start here
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Best first entry point for ACOTAR readers. Read the published books in order, keep A Court of Frost and Starlight before A Court of Silver Flames, and come back for A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody next.
Buy first book on BookshopSeries at a glance
6
Published now
🌶️🌶️
Spice
Ongoing
Status
3
Tropes
Confirmed upcoming: A Court of Splintered Harmony on October 27, 2026 and A Court of Forgotten Melody on January 12, 2027.
Bridge novella: A Court of Frost and Starlight bridges the original arc and A Court of Silver Flames.
Best for: fae-court romantasy readers
Start with: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct ACOTAR reading order?
Read ACOTAR in publication order: A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, A Court of Silver Flames, then A Court of Splintered Harmony and A Court of Forgotten Melody.
How many ACOTAR books are there?
There are five published ACOTAR books and two officially confirmed upcoming books, making seven confirmed books in the current sequence.
Is the ACOTAR series complete?
No. ACOTAR is ongoing. A Court of Splintered Harmony is scheduled for October 27, 2026, and A Court of Forgotten Melody is scheduled for January 12, 2027.
Can I skip A Court of Frost and Starlight?
Skipping it is not recommended on a first read. It provides transition material between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames, and it remains part of the official ACOTAR sequence.
Can A Court of Silver Flames stand alone?
No. It changes the central couple, but it still depends on the worldbuilding, character history, and emotional setup from the earlier ACOTAR books.
Does every ACOTAR book follow the same couple?
No. The first arc centers on Feyre, then A Court of Silver Flames shifts the main focus to Nesta and Cassian.
Should I read ACOTAR before Crescent City?
You can start ACOTAR without reading Crescent City or Throne of Glass. Sarah J. Maas's official reading guide says readers can begin with the first book of any of her three series. For readers planning to read the wider Maas books, RomantasyOrder recommends finishing the currently published ACOTAR books before later Crescent City material to reduce crossover spoilers.
Should I read Throne of Glass first?
No. You do not need Throne of Glass before ACOTAR. Sarah J. Maas's official reading guide allows readers to begin with the first book of any of her three series.
Is ACOTAR a trilogy?
No. The first three books form the original major arc, but the full series continues with a bridge novella, A Court of Silver Flames, and two confirmed upcoming books.
What comes after A Court of Silver Flames?
A Court of Splintered Harmony comes next, followed by A Court of Forgotten Melody. The official release dates currently listed are October 27, 2026 and January 12, 2027.