Sarah J. Maas is a terrific writer, and her ACOTAR book series is massively popular worldwide. So, if you plan to read the entire A Court of Thorns and Roses series in order, I’ve got you covered!
A Court of Thorns and Roses, also popularly called the ACOTAR series, is a young adult fantasy series first published in 2015, with the most recent book published in 2021. This series is about a young woman named Feyre Archeron who has been forced to enter the lands of faeries. The reason is that she ended up murdering a faerie and has to face the consequences for it.
The Court of Thornes and Roses series has gained so much popularity over the years that Hulu is currently in talks of adapting it into a television series. However, there hasn’t been any information about release dates yet.
This series’ writer is Sarah J. Maas, who was born on March 5, 1986, in New York City and raised there. In 2008, she graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in creative writing, which is fitting for a future writer.
Sarah’s writing career started when she was a teenager and started writing the Throne of Glass book series. It was published in 2012 and was her first series. Her first book in her second series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, was published in 2015, even though it was written in 2009.
In this article, we’ve featured all the books in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series in the order they were published. So, let’s keep reading to learn more about each book!
How Many A Court of Thorns and Roses Books Are There?
In A Court of Thorns and Roses series, there are currently a total of five books, with the most recent one being published in 2021. All were published by Bloomsbury Publishing (since 2015) and fall into fantasy and romance drama. They include:
- 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)
- A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
This is the order in which the books were published. If you want the best ACOTAR reading order, follow only the publication order!
Is the ACOTAR Series Finished?
No, the A Court of Thorns and Roses series is not finished yet. More books are expected to be released in the series in the coming years, so there still is a bit of a wait for fans of this series.
Although the book series is unfinished, and the author has mentioned the possibility of a new book, there is no solid information regarding whether it is currently being written. As such, you shouldn’t expect its release any time soon!
For those who are waiting for the next ACOTAR book, this isn’t a good thing, as they have to wait to get more of their favorite characters’ stories. But for those wanting to get into this series, this is a good time to start reading this fantasy series, as it will allow them to catch up on the story before any new books come out.
Is ACOTAR Spicy?
The short answer to whether the ACOTAR series is spicy is YES!
The spice level is pretty mild, starting with the first book, and in books 2 and 3, the author takes things up a notch. However, with the fourth and fifth books, you are in the graphic category as the scenes become more intense, spicy, and graphic.
If you like reading fantasy books with interesting characters and a touch of smut, I would definitely recommend you start reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series without wasting another moment.
However, if you can’t handle the spicy encounters between characters, I don’t think these books will do it for you! But I would still recommend you give this fantasy series a try because there’s a reason why it is considered one of the all-time greats!
Is ACOTAR Series Young Adult?
No, ACOTAR is not YA! The first book in the series was marketed as “young adult,” but that’s no longer the case, especially after the latter books came out.
The series is considered New Adult, as the main character in the ACOTAR series is 19 years old, which is one of the criteria for being considered in the New Adult genre. Plus, the graphic and spicy scenes in the books aren’t exactly suited for young adult audiences.
So, the A Court of Thorns and Roses books should definitely not be considered part of the young adult genre!
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series in Order:
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
A Court of Thrones and Roses is the first novel in the ACOTAR series. Teenager Feyre lives her everyday life in the woods, which are her home. She knows the forest like the back of her hand, and it’s where she feels safe. However, when Feyre kills a wolf while hunting one day, she is confronted by a creature who says she must face the consequences for her kill.
The creature takes her with him to the land of the faeries. His name is Tamlin, a faerie who is cruel to his new captive, wanting her to suffer for the life of the wolf she has taken. At some point during her captivity, Feyre starts to feel differently, not only towards Tamlin but also the world she has been forced into.
It’s a beautiful world but also dangerous because something lurks in the darkness. Feyre can’t say what is wrong, but she knows something is.
2. A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
In A Court of Mist and Fury, we pick up with Feyre, who is now fully meshed into the lives of the faerie. After saving Tamlin and the rest of the faerie, she was given some gifts.
Not only will she be able to live longer than most humans, but she has powers to boot, as well as a future marriage to Tamlin, whom she grew to love! Many would be thrilled with these gifts and how things had turned out, but this is the last thing Feyre feels.
She feels conflicted, scared, and devastated. There were things Feyre had to do to save her future husband and his people, of which she is ashamed. Part of it required her to make a bargain with none other than the lord of the Night Court. Feyre loves Tamlin… but a bargain is a bargain.
Somehow, she must navigate these difficulties and come out unscathed on the other side!
3. A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
Here we have A Court of Wings and Ruin, the third book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series reading order. After the events in the previous book, Feyre finds her life to be a bigger mess than before. She is still trying to find a home in the world of the fae, control her powers, and keep those she loves safe and sound.
Things with Tamlin aren’t any better. She is forced to figure out what is happening with the man she once thought she knew, even if it means buttering up a king who has invaded the land. Throw in Rhysand from The Night Court, and Feyre is unsure where to turn or to whom.
This book, published in 2017, is another excellent example of Sarah J. Maas combining romance and fantasy to deliver a story that keeps the readers glued to the book until the end. Pardon the pun, but it’s a literal and figurative page-turner!
4. A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
A Court of Frost and Starlight, published in 2018, is the fourth book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Feyre has found a place amongst the Night Court and Rhysand, a man who has become her friend and more.
Though they must adjust to their new reality and rebuild the Night Court, Feyre is looking forward to it. It will be a nice change of pace compared to how her life has been these past few years.
Also, the Winter Solstice is approaching, putting a spring in everyone’s step in the Night Court. As the High Lady of the Night Court, Feyre has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, but she is more than ready to move forward and plow full steam ahead. At least, this is the plan, but Feyre can’t shake the feeling that something terrible is lingering just beyond the horizon.
The last thing Feyre wants is for something to happen to one of her friends and someone she cares about. She’s been through it before and doesn’t want to go through it again.
5. A Court of Silver Flames (2021)
A Court of Silver Flames is the most recent release in the A Court of Thorns and Roses book series. Meet Nesta Archeron, the younger sister of Feyre Archeron, who has also found herself amongst the fae. Ask anyone, and she’ll gladly tell them she hates it and was forced here against her will.
To make everything worse, she is forced to interact with Cassian, a man who is in her sister’s court. As a high fae herself who is close to her sister, she has no choice but to interact with him. However, bubbling just below the surface is her frustrating attraction for the man… an attraction she refuses to acknowledge.
Nesta is more than happy to ignore Cassian until a possible new war on the horizon forces her to be in close proximity to him. This is the last thing she wants because that attraction Nesta has tried to push away will be much harder to ignore.
Conclusion
And there you go, all you book lovers out there! Sarah J. Maas’s ACOTAR book series has proven to be a best seller with every release. Its perfect mixture of fantasy and romance keeps both types of fans satiated.
The only downside is that the A Court of Thorns and Roses series isn’t finished, so by the time you read the most current book, you’ll want more… and there isn’t anymore!
If you have not read the A Court of Thornes and Roses series in order, now would be a great time to purchase the entire series.
So, next time you are at the bookshop or online, consider buying some physical or digital copies of this fantastic series! We promise that you won’t regret adding these books to your bookshelves. And, when the next entry in the A Court of Thorns and Roses books in order comes out, you’ll want to get your hands on it as soon as it is released!
Also Read: How to Read Red Queen Series in Order?