A Court of Mist and Fury in Order: ACOTAR Series Guide

Author: Sarah J. Maas · Main Series Books: 5 · First Book Release: 2015 · Latest Book: A Court of Silver Flames · Publisher: Bloomsbury

Five novels, one straightforward sequence — that’s the pattern across the main ACOTAR books.

What is the order of A Court of Mist and Fury?

A Court of Mist and Fury is the second novel in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, published in 2016 by Bloomsbury (TL Branson Maas bibliography). The standard reading order follows publication dates exactly:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses (May 2015)
• A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
• A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
• A Court of Frost and Starlight (May 1, 2018)
• A Court of Silver Flames (2021)

The first four books follow Feyre Archeron through her transformation from mortal huntress to High Fae. The fifth book pivots to her sister Nesta, marking a tonal shift that some readers appreciate and others find divisive. The series has sold over 13 million copies worldwide, according to Wikipedia’s census of available sales data (Wikipedia ACOTAR entry).

Publication order

The publisher’s own reading guide confirms the five-book sequence above, with no alternative chronology recommended for the main novels. Bloomsbury’s series page notes that A Court of Silver Flames “focuses on Nesta” rather than Feyre, but still positions it as book 5 in the sequence (Bloomsbury official reading order). The reading order matches publication order for the entire main arc.

Chronological reading list

There is no separate chronological order for ACOTAR beyond the publication sequence. Unlike Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series, which has novella insertions that rearrange the narrative, ACOTAR’s main books follow a linear timeline matching their release dates.

What this means: you can trust the book spines in order. The one wrinkle — A Court of Frost and Starlight — functions as a novella bridging the original trilogy into the next phase, but it still belongs after book 3 in the sequence.

In what order should I read A Court of Thorns and Roses?

Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses, then proceed through the numbered sequence. Bloomsbury’s official reading guide endorses this approach without reservations (Bloomsbury official reading order).

Recommended sequence

The five main novels tell a continuous story through Feyre’s arc. The recommended flow:

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (book 1)
2. A Court of Mist and Fury (book 2)
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin (book 3)
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (novella — book 4)
5. A Court of Silver Flames (book 5)

The novella Frost and Starlight runs approximately 57,763 words across 240 pages, published May 1, 2018 (Wikipedia ACOTAR entry). It’s skippable if you’re impatient to reach the fifth book, but it provides closure for Feyre’s storyline before the character shift to Nesta.

Novella placements

Frost and Starlight is the only novella in the main sequence. It sits between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames — not before, not after. If you’re reading purely for plot momentum, you can jump straight to book 5 and circle back. If you’re reading for full character development, include it.

Do I have to read A Court of Mist and Fury in order?

Yes, for the main ACOTAR arc. Sequential reading is strongly recommended because major plot threads from book 1 continue through book 2, and later books contain spoilers that would flatten earlier reads.

Series dependencies

The ACOTAR books share continuous world-building and character arcs. A Court of Mist and Fury introduces plot threads that directly resolve in A Court of Wings and Ruin. Reading out of order means entering mid-story, with no recap that replaces the experience of the journey.

Standalone viability

Each individual ACOTAR book cannot stand alone — the narrative carries across the full sequence. Sarah J. Maas’s official reading guide explicitly states that ACOTAR can be started independently of her other series (Throne of Glass and Crescent City), but it does not say any single ACOTAR book can be read independently of the others (Sarah J. Maas official site). Within the series itself, the dependency is unbroken.

The pattern: publication order is the only reliable reading order for this series.

What is the correct order to read the ACOTAR series?

Bloomsbury’s guide confirms the canonical order is simply the publication sequence of the five main novels. Goodreads’ series page lists books 1 through 5 in the same order, aligning with the publisher’s recommendation (TL Branson Maas bibliography).

Full series list

The complete published sequence:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses — May 2015 (book 1)
• A Court of Mist and Fury — 2016 (book 2)
• A Court of Wings and Ruin — 2017 (book 3)
• A Court of Frost and Starlight — May 1, 2018 (novella, book 4)
• A Court of Silver Flames — 2021 (book 5)

Release vs. story order

For ACOTAR, release order and story order are identical. There is no anthology, no novella released out of sequence, and no companion novel that requires a different placement. The structure is cleaner than Maas’s other major series, Throne of Glass, which involves novella insertions and a tandem read recommendation.

The catch: future books (ACOTAR #6 and #7) are scheduled for October 27, 2026 and January 12, 2027 respectively, but their titles have not been confirmed as of the latest updates (TL Branson Maas bibliography). In March 2026, Maas confirmed on the Call Her Daddy podcast that books 6 through 8 would be structured as “a book told in four parts” (Wikipedia ACOTAR entry), which may alter how the next phase of the series is organized.

Should I read A Court of Thorns and Roses or a Throne of Glass first?

ACOTAR and Throne of Glass occupy separate universes — you can start either. The two series share an author but no characters, locations, or plot connections.

Series independence

Bloomsbury’s reading guide treats ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City as three independent series with no required cross-reading (Bloomsbury official reading order). Sarah J. Maas’s official site reinforces this, listing each series separately with its own entry point.

Author reading paths

If you’re new to Maas, ACOTAR is often recommended as the entry point because it blends fantasy world-building with romance elements at a more accessible pace than Throne of Glass. Throne of Glass begins with a more epic-scale narrative and a larger cast, which can be denser for first-time fantasy readers.

For purists who want to tackle everything Maas has written, one suggested path: ACOTAR books 1–3 first, then Throne of Glass, then Crescent City. However, this ordering has no official endorsement and no publisher preference — it’s community-driven advice from book bloggers (Esta Pinto book blog).

Why this matters: if you finish ACOTAR and crave more Maas, Throne of Glass is waiting. But don’t force yourself through one series to get to the other.

Reading order steps

Follow these steps to read the ACOTAR series correctly:

1. Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses (book 1, published May 2015). This establishes the world, the fae courts, and Feyre as protagonist.
2. Continue with A Court of Mist and Fury (book 2, published 2016). The story expands significantly — the world deepens, and major character relationships shift.
3. Proceed to A Court of Wings and Ruin (book 3, published 2017). The trilogy arc concludes. This is the climactic volume of the initial story.
4. Read A Court of Frost and Starlight (novella, published May 1, 2018) as a bridge if you want full context before the next phase.
5. Finish with A Court of Silver Flames (book 5, published 2021). The protagonist shifts to Nesta. Tone and pacing differ notably from the first three books.
6. Watch for ACOTAR #6 (scheduled October 27, 2026). Titles for #6, #7, and #8 remain unannounced.

New readers who follow this sequence will experience the full arc as intended, while those who skip the novella may need to adjust expectations when Silver Flames introduces its new protagonist.

Clarity on the ACOTAR series

Expert perspectives

The first four books — A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, and A Court of Frost and Starlight — follow the story of Feyre Archeron.

— Bloomsbury Publishing (publisher reading guide)

The best SJM reading order? The one that works for you.

— Esta Pinto (book blogger)

In March 2026, Sarah J. Maas confirmed on the Call Her Daddy podcast that the sixth through eighth books would be “a book told in four parts.”

— Wikipedia (citing podcast interview)

The pattern: Bloomsbury provides the canonical structure, but the community acknowledges that reading should ultimately serve enjoyment rather than strict adherence to external rules.

Related reading: Fellowship of the Ring Complete Guide · The Fellowship of the Ring Summary

Frequently asked questions