Throne of Glass Book Series
Throne of Glass (2012)
Why we love it:
- One of the most interesting adaptations of a fairytale, bringing a cutthroat viciousness and epic scale to a familiar story.
- Excellent worldbuilding and writing that makes for utterly engrossing escapism across each page.
The first book in the Throne of Glass series begins as a loose retelling of the classic Cinderella story, but with a twist. Our heroine, Celaena, is not this demure servant tending to her ugly stepsisters. She is an assassin who has gotten embroiled in an increasingly dangerous contest to prove her skills. This twist, combined with Maas’s ability to construct epic fantasy worlds, makes this well-trodden story feel like a new and fresh story that has never been told before.
Crown of Midnight (2013)
Why we love it:
- The heroine, Calaena, really comes into her own, with her sharp tongue on show.
- Fantastic pacing, moving from plot beat to plot beat in a way that makes it hard to put down.
The second book in the series sees Calaena, now officially the king’s royal assassin, despite her own wavering loyalties, as she comes to grips with an increasingly dangerous series of orders while a new threat musters behind the scenes. Where the first book did a great job of setting the scene for her character and building the world, this book does a great job of moving the plot on briskly, making it a real page-turner without compromising on character development. It’s a great addition to the series and one of Sarah J. Maas’s best books.
Heir of Fire (2014)
Why we love it:
- The series takes a lovely twist with a “lovers-to-enemies” transition that ranks amongst the most dramatic in any fantasy series.
- Stakes keep getting higher as more and more players come onto the stage, including the royalists, rebels, fae, witches, and more, all with their own agendas.
Heir of Fire builds on the story of the first book whilst also expanding its scope by introducing new characters. It sees Calaena discovering more about the hidden world of magic, training her new Fae powers while a rebellion in the kingdom kicks into full swing. It does a lot of the leg work in setting up the rest of the series whilst having a beautiful lovers-to-enemies twist that ranks as one the best in any fantasy series we’ve read - at least, that’s our opinion.
Queen of Shadows (2015)
Why we love it:
- It brilliantly builds on all of the groundwork being laid below the surface of the previous books.
- One of the most exciting reads in the series, from the steamy romance to truly world-shattering plot turns.
This book has it all and is one of the best reads in the whole of the Throne of Glass series. It has everything you’d want and expect from a Sarah J. Maas book. Steamy romances, check. Jaw-dropping plot twist, check. Characters that are deep and feel so real that you could touch them, check. It follows Calaena as a newly free and greatly empowered woman as she returns to the setting of the first two entries, seeking to set magic free into the world after years of it being kept secret by the powers that be. It brilliantly builds on the groundwork laid by the other books, making it one of the most exciting reads in the series.
Empire of Storms (2016)
Why we love it:
- Calaena comes full circle as Aelin, from slave to assassin to freedom fighter to queen.
- The heroine’s path becomes even more thorny and interesting, as with the power to rule comes a whole new level of intrigue and subterfuge.
Now queen, Calaena faces a new threat, the demonic Valg, who are on a warpath to raze the world. Empire of Storms starts to tie all of the loose threads from the conflicts of the other books together, creating an even more precarious and interesting, with more politics and subterfuge coming into play.
Tower of Dawn (2017)
Why we love it:
- Chaol, a key character from across the series, steps up as the protagonist for this one.
- Broadens the world, exploring the as-of-yet unvisited Southern Continent and its unique culture.
Set during the events of Empire of Storms, this book focuses on the exploits of the series-long secondary character, Chaol Westfall, as he travels to a new land, seeking new allies for the upcoming final war. It’s a really fun story that broadens the series and the world as he travels to the Southern Continent, introducing us to their unique culture. All in all, it’s a really welcome addition to the Throne of Glass series.
Kingdom of Ash (2018)
Why we love it:
- Stark, dramatic, with tension as taut as a bowstring.
- A dramatic and epic finale that pulls all of the various series’ plot threads together in a satisfying conclusion.
Scattered, imprisoned, and desperate, the heroes seek a way to band together to defeat the twin forces of the Varg’s leader, Erawan, who is now partnered with the malicious Fae Queen Maeve. As you can tell from that short synopsis, this book is a pulsating, dramatic and epic finale to the series, as with each page it ramps up the tension until it ties off all of the various threads that have been created through the series.
Throne of Glass Short Stories
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (2012)
Why we love it:
- This is the beginning of a prequel series to the Throne of Glass series, looking at the adventures of the young assassin, Celaena.
- A fun look at our heroine as the brooding, sharp-tongued assassin she grows out of in later books.
Set prior to the events of Throne of Glass, this short story sees Celeana being sent with her archrival, Sam, to the island of the Pirate Lord to avenge their comrade. It is a fun short story that is only essential reading if you’re a die-hard fan of the series.
The Assassin and the Healer (2012)
Why we love it:
- A wonderful introduction to fan favourite, Yrene Towers Westfall
- It's fun, fast-paced, and with some pretty excellent action from our dual heroines.
Following her punishment by her master, Celaena must travel to a new land to train under the Silent Assassins but ends up striking up an unlikely friendship with the healer, Yrene. Like the other Throne of Glass short stories, this isn’t essential reading, but if you love the series and some of the best characters from the series, it’s a really fun read. This time, it is the turn of Yrene Towers Westfall, who gets an outing in this fun and fast-paced short story.
The Assassin and the Desert (2012)
Why we love it:
- It is one of the best short stories for the world-building the main series is known for, with the Silent Assassins being a fun group to explore.
- Includes a wonderful friends-to-enemies dynamic that sets up for later books masterfully.
If you’re going to read only one of the Throne of Glass short stories, this would be the one we’d recommend. It follows Celaena as she continues her training under the Silent Assassins, getting caught up in a new rivalry that threatens to bring an end to the entire order. It does a lot more world-building, so it is a little closer to the main series than some of the other short stories, which go at breakneck speed. It also has a little more romance as there is a friends-to-enemies dynamic that ties in nicely with the main books from the series.
The Assassin and the Underworld (2012)
Why we love it:
- A fun, intrigue-filled caper with a decidedly wicked ending, full of the dark promise the main series offers.
- Starts layering in the characters and world of The Throne of Glass series.
Returning to the Assassin’s Keep, Celaena gets caught up in a plot that sees her infiltrating a masquerade, fighting the evils of slavery, and having a chance encounter with a man whose fate will tie to hers. This short story is a straight-up dark caper. It has the same dark and murky feel that the main series has and delivers a decidedly wicked ending.
The Assassin and the Empire (2012)
Why we love it:
- The most dramatic and high-stakes of the five prequel novellas.
- Brings things full circle, making an excellent entry into the Throne of Glass series.
In the last of the five novellas set before Throne of Glass, Celaena seeks her freedom from her master, Arobynn, once and for all, but to earn her freedom, she has to take on her most dangerous mission yet, to kill the ruthless crime lord Ioan Jayne. With stakes so high, this novella feels like it is the most dramatic of them all and beautifully comes full circle back to the main Throne of Glass series.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Book Series
A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
Why we love it:
- A wicked combination of political intrigue mixed with some romance and the odd bit of steaminess.
- A captivating lean into the dangerous and deadly side of fae folklore, making a truly fantastic dark fantasy setting.
The first book in Maas’s most popular series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, this book focuses on Feyre, a young woman spirited away to the world of the fae, beginning a tumultuous relationship with her captor, the immortal faerie Tamlin. It sets the stage for the rest of the series brilliantly by leaning into the dangerous and deadly fae folklore, creating a world that is the perfect setting for a dark fantasy.
A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
Why we love it:
- A brilliant story of twisting loyalties and sexual tension.
- Introduces Rhysand, a sinfully fun foil and new romantic interest for our protagonist, one of the stand-out characters of the series.
After coming around to the magical, dangerous, yet seductive ways of the fae, Feyre becomes High Fae herself and turns to darker and more corrupting means of protecting her newfound people, including a deal with Rhysand, leader of the Night Court. This book introduces one of our favourite Maas characters - Rhysand. A sinfully fun foil for Feyre, their romance creates a whole lot of tension - not all of it sexual - which makes this a brilliant story to read.
A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
Why we love it:
- The real climax of the series for many readers, with a conflict so high in stakes that it’s tough to put down.
- Heaps of suspense, conflicted emotions, flawed characters, and tangled relationships make for some delightfully messy reading (alongside all the steamy romance.)
Although this is only the third book in the series, many of those who love the Maasiverse and ACOTAR will claim this is the real climax of the series. It follows Feyre as she develops a new outlook on the Night Court and returns to Spring Court. She gets embroiled with the hateful King of Hybern which threatens the balance of the world. The story delivers plenty of suspense, with the stakes and emotions around them feeling incredibly high, making it almost impossible to put down and one of Sarah J. Maas’s best books.
A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
Why we love it:
- It feels like a book-long epilogue to the first three in the series, giving some much-needed closure and breathing room for beloved characters.
- Sets up the bridge between Feyre’s story and that of the next book’s protagonist delightfully.
In the aftermath of the war against Hybern, Feyre rebuilds as the new High Lady of the Night Court while the magical Winter Solstice approaches, navigating the fragile peace and her relationship with Rhysand. This book is a lovely, calming ending to the first three in the series, giving the readers some much-needed closure and setting the scene for the next in the series.
A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
Why we love it:
- Nesta takes the floor as the new protagonist, exploring some of the more interesting implications of the Fae transformation both sisters underwent.
- Comes with a wonderfully spicy rivals-to-lovers romance.
Nesta, the sister of Feyre, takes centre stage. Having been forced to become High Fae, she gets entangled with Cassian, a General of the Night Court, while a threat from the past threatens to unleash chaos on all of the lands of the Fae. This book does a brilliant job of introducing a new protagonist whilst still feeling like a part of the series.
Crescent City Book Series
House of Earth and Blood (2020)
Why we love it:
- It doesn’t rush the world-building, creating a dark and urban landscape that is nothing like anywhere else in the Maasiverse
- Maas does a brilliant job of developing the two lead characters, taking them from people that you feel indifferent towards to two people you’re rooting for.
A House of Earth and Blood switches to a more urban setting as it follows Bryce Quinlan, who spends her days working hard and her nights partying just as hard. That is until one of her friends is killed by a demon. Her fate is intertwined with Hunt Athalar, an enslaved fallen angel, as she tries to solve the murders and avenge the death of her friend. A bit of a departure from Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, this book feels a little more like a new adult book than the previous fantasies. Despite that, it still has all the hallmarks of a Sarah J. Maas book that you’ll love with impeccable world-building, flawed and complex characters alongside dark and tense plots.
House of Sky and Breath (2022)
Why we love it:
- A cliffhanger ending that will leave you desperate to read the third book.
- The book rattles along at a great pace, with revelations and plot twists throughout.
This book follows on from the first, with Bryce and Hunt trying to adapt to their new realities. Everything is fine until they are sucked into a rescue mission involving some rebels. Where the first book took its time as it needed to build a whole new world, this book rattles along at a pace with unexpected twists and plot revelations around every corner. It makes it a tense read with you on the edge of your seat before the final conclusion, where it basically pulls the seat from right under you.
House of Flame and Shadow (2024)
Why we love it:
- A heartbreakingly beautiful ending.
- A fast-paced fantasy thriller that ramps up the stakes with each page-turn.
The third in the Crescent City series, House of Flame and Shadow, follows Bryce as she is stranded in a new world that she knows nothing about and Hunt as he is trapped in Asteri’s dungeon. It’s not often you’ll say that an 800+ page book is a page-turner, but House of Flame and Shadow is a thrilling, sexy book that is addictive to read. It jumps from plotline to plotline at a frightening pace, ramping up the stakes before bringing Bryce and Hunt’s story to a beautiful and heartbreaking end.
Happy reading!
With interconnected worlds and plots that reference each other throughout, Sarah J. Maas is one of the few authors whom you can truly say that you really need to read her back catalogue in order to fully experience its brilliance. And with a fourth instalment of the Crescent City series on the way, there is no better time than now to read Sarah J. Maas’s books in order.
If you’re looking for more inspiration, then why not check out our post on which Rebecca Yarros books to read or which Tahereh Mafi books to read.
