A Court of Thorns and Roses Book Series Order
Maybe a friend shoved a copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses into your hands and told you not to judge it by the first hundred pages. Maybe you saw it all over BookTok. Or maybe you finished the series years ago and just heard that Sarah J. Maas is finally back in Prythian. Either way, you need the right reading order, and you need to know what’s new.
This guide covers the full a court of thorns and roses book series order, explains where the shorter book fits, answers how many ACOTAR books exist right now, and breaks down the upcoming releases. Big news first for anyone checking the a court of thorns and roses book series order: the long wait is over. Book 6 hit shelves on October 27, 2026, and book 7 is only a few months away.
ACOTAR in Order: The Quick List
Here’s the full a court of thorns and roses book series order, in publication order, which is also the best reading order.
| # | Title | Release Date | Main Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | May 5, 2015 | Feyre and Tamlin, then Rhysand |
| 2 | A Court of Mist and Fury | May 3, 2016 | Feyre and Rhysand |
| 3 | A Court of Wings and Ruin | May 2, 2017 | Feyre and Rhysand, war with Hybern |
| 4 | A Court of Frost and Starlight | May 1, 2018 | Short winter story bridging books 3 and 5 |
| 5 | A Court of Silver Flames | February 16, 2021 | Nesta and Cassian |
| 6 | A Court of Splintered Harmony | October 27, 2026 | The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I |
| 7 | A Court of Forgotten Melody | January 12, 2027 | The Valkyrie Cycle, Movements II and III |
| 8 | Title not announced | Not announced | The Valkyrie Cycle, final part |
New readers should follow the a court of thorns and roses book series order straight down the list.
The A Court of Thorns and Roses Book Series Order, Book by Book
Book 1: A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
Feyre Archeron is a 19-year-old huntress keeping her poor family alive in a human village near the wall that separates humans from the faeries. When she kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like faerie comes to collect a debt. She’s taken to the Spring Court, a magical land ruled by the High Lord Tamlin. The story starts as a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast and then grows into something much bigger.
Many readers find the first half slow. Stick with it, because the final third changes everything.
Book 2: A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
This is the book most fans call their favorite. Feyre struggles with trauma after the events of book 1, and her world opens up when she spends time in the Night Court with Rhysand, its mysterious High Lord. You’ll meet the Inner Circle, the group of friends who become the heart of the series: Cassian, Azriel, Mor, and Amren.
Book 3: A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
War is coming. The king of Hybern wants to tear down the wall and conquer the human lands. Feyre plays a dangerous game as a spy while the courts of Prythian try to unite. This book closes the original trilogy arc and is a natural stopping point if you only want the first story.
Book 4: A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
This one is shorter, about 240 pages, and is often called a novella. It takes place during the Winter Solstice after the war and focuses on the characters healing and rebuilding. It’s light on plot but sets up key threads for book 5, especially Nesta’s story.
Some readers wonder if they can skip it. You can, but you’ll miss context that makes book 5 hit harder. It’s a quick read, so it’s worth the time.
Book 5: A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
The point of view shifts to Nesta, Feyre’s angry, self-destructive older sister, and Cassian, the Night Court’s general. It’s a story about grief, healing, and finding strength. It also introduces the Valkyrie, an order of warrior women, which matters a lot for what comes next.
Book 6: A Court of Splintered Harmony (2026)
After more than five years, ACOTAR is back. A Court of Splintered Harmony is labeled The Valkyrie Cycle: Movement I. The Night Court faces a new threat in Koschei the Deathless, an ancient being who has been stirring since earlier books, and the Inner Circle must pull together its fractured alliances to protect the human lands.
Bloomsbury’s early teaser confirmed that Lucien gets point-of-view chapters, and the book is expected to rotate between several characters. Fans have long expected Elain, Feyre’s middle sister, to take a lead role, and Azriel’s story has been one of the most anticipated. Special editions include bonus chapters for Nesta and Cassian, Feyre and Rhys, and Azriel.
Book 7: A Court of Forgotten Melody (2027)
Due January 12, 2027, A Court of Forgotten Melody covers Movements II and III of the Valkyrie Cycle. It picks up right after book 6 and is reported to be a very long book, close to 1,000 pages. Its summary teases that Prythian’s alliances crumble and the Inner Circle scatters.
Book 8: The Final Movement (Date TBA)
The fourth and final movement of the Valkyrie Cycle is expected to come as book 8. Maas has described the new arc as one long story, and the final part was still being written when books 6 and 7 were announced. There’s no title or release date yet.
Order of Books Court of Thorns and Roses: Publication vs. Chronological
With some series, reading by internal timeline gives a different order than reading by release date. That’s not a problem here. The order of books court of thorns and roses fans recommend is publication order, because the story moves forward in time from book to book.
The only small wrinkle is book 4. A Court of Frost and Starlight takes place between books 3 and 5 on the timeline, and that’s where it falls by publication date too. Publication order and chronological order are the same.
How Many Books in ACOTAR?
As of late October 2026, there are six published books in the series:
- Five full-length novels
- One shorter novella-length book, A Court of Frost and Starlight
That’s the current answer to how many books in ACOTAR. Book 6 just joined the list on October 27, 2026.
How Many ACOTAR Books Will There Be?
This question has changed over the years, so here’s where things stand.
Back in January 2024, Maas shared that she had four more books planned. In March 2026, she revealed release dates for books 6 and 7 on the Call Her Daddy podcast, and the titles followed in August 2026. The new arc, called the Valkyrie Cycle, is one big story split into four “movements”:
- Movement I: A Court of Splintered Harmony (book 6)
- Movements II and III: A Court of Forgotten Melody (book 7)
- Movement IV: Expected as book 8
Maas has explained that the story grew so long it had to be divided. Book 7 combines two movements in one very thick volume.
So, how many ACOTAR books will there be? Based on what’s been announced, at least eight in total. Some fans count book 4 as a novella and say “seven main novels,” but in standard series numbering, the Valkyrie Cycle should bring the total to eight. Maas has not said whether anything comes after that.
Upcoming ACOTAR Books at a Glance
| Book | Title | Status | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | A Court of Splintered Harmony | Out now | October 27, 2026 |
| 7 | A Court of Forgotten Melody | Upcoming | January 12, 2027 |
| 8 | Untitled | In progress | Not announced |
Follow Sarah J. Maas and Bloomsbury on social media for updates. Both announced the new titles there first.
Do You Need to Read Maas’s Other Series First?
Sarah J. Maas has three major series, and fans call the shared world the “Maasverse”:
- Throne of Glass (8 books)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses
- Crescent City (3 books so far)
You don’t need to read the other series to enjoy ACOTAR. That said, the third Crescent City book, House of Flame and Shadow (2024), includes a major crossover with the ACOTAR world. If you plan to read both series, many fans suggest reading ACOTAR first, so the crossover moments don’t spoil anything.
Tips Before You Start
- Know the age range. ACOTAR is shelved as adult or new adult fantasy. Books 2 onward include explicit romance scenes and mature themes like trauma and abuse.
- Push through book 1. Many fans say the series takes off in the final act of the first book.
- Read book 4. It’s short and sets up book 5.
- Keep the full list handy. As new books arrive, the a court of thorns and roses book series order will grow, so check back before each release.
- Reread book 5 before book 6. A Court of Silver Flames introduces the Valkyrie, who give the new arc its name.
- Expect cliffhangers. Book 6 is part one of a longer story, so plan to keep going with book 7.
Is There an ACOTAR TV Show?
Not right now. Hulu picked up the rights in 2021, with Ronald D. Moore attached to develop it. After years of quiet, the project was scrapped in 2025. No new version has been announced.
Final Thoughts
The a court of thorns and roses book series order is simple: start with A Court of Thorns and Roses and read each book in the order it was published. With the new Valkyrie Cycle underway, there’s never been a better time to start or catch up. Book 6 is out now, book 7 arrives in January 2027, and a final book will wrap up the arc after that.
Grab a copy and get ready for late nights in Prythian.
Key Takeaways
- The a court of thorns and roses book series order is publication order, which also matches the story’s timeline.
- ACOTAR in order: A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015), A Court of Mist and Fury (2016), A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017), A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018), and A Court of Silver Flames (2021).
- Book 6, A Court of Splintered Harmony, was released on October 27, 2026, as Movement I of the Valkyrie Cycle.
- Book 7, A Court of Forgotten Melody, comes out January 12, 2027, and covers Movements II and III.
- How many books in ACOTAR? Six are published as of late October 2026, including the shorter A Court of Frost and Starlight.
- How many ACOTAR books will there be? At least eight, with a final book expected to complete the Valkyrie Cycle. No title or date has been announced.
- You don’t need to read Throne of Glass or Crescent City first, but Crescent City’s third book includes a crossover with ACOTAR.
- The planned Hulu TV adaptation was scrapped in 2025, and no new version has been announced.
