A Court of Thorns and Roses Book Series Order
Yesterday was a big day for Prythian. A Court of Splintered Harmony, the sixth ACOTAR book, hit shelves on October 27, 2026, five years after the last full novel. Fans who drifted away are coming back, and new readers are picking up the first book for the first time. Whichever group you are in, you need the A Court of Thorns and Roses book series order before you start.
The good news is that the list is short. The tricky part is that the numbering does not always match what you see on covers, and the newest books belong to a story arc that is still being written. This guide clears it all up. You will see every book in order, how they connect, and what we know about the books still to come.
What Is A Court of Thorns and Roses About?
The series follows Feyre Archeron, a 19-year-old huntress who keeps her poor family alive by hunting in the woods. One winter day she kills a wolf that turns out to be a faerie. As payment, she is taken across the wall into Prythian, a land ruled by powerful High Fae.
What starts as a dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast grows into a full fantasy saga. There are seven courts, ancient curses, wars with neighboring kingdoms, and some of the most argued-about romances in modern fantasy. The books began as young adult but grew more mature over time, and they are now shelved as adult fantasy romance.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Book Series Order
Here is the full A Court of Thorns and Roses book series order, by publication date. If you want ACOTAR in order, publication order and story order are the same, so you only need one list.
| # | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Court of Thorns and Roses | May 5, 2015 |
| 2 | A Court of Mist and Fury | May 3, 2016 |
| 3 | A Court of Wings and Ruin | May 2, 2017 |
| 4 | A Court of Frost and Starlight | May 1, 2018 |
| 5 | A Court of Silver Flames | February 16, 2021 |
| 6 | A Court of Splintered Harmony | October 27, 2026 |
| 7 | A Court of Forgotten Melody | January 12, 2027 |
Book 1: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Feyre is taken to the Spring Court by Tamlin, a High Lord hiding a terrible secret. A curse hangs over the land, and only she can break it. The first half moves slowly, but the final act Under the Mountain is where the series shows its teeth.
Book 2: A Court of Mist and Fury
Most fans call this the best book in the series. Feyre deals with the trauma of book one and is drawn to the Night Court and its High Lord, Rhysand. The world opens up, new characters arrive, and the story changes direction in ways that hooked millions of readers.
Book 3: A Court of Wings and Ruin
War comes to Prythian. Feyre returns to the Spring Court as a spy while armies gather from across the sea. This book closes the first big arc of the series.
Book 4: A Court of Frost and Starlight
This is a short novella set during the Winter Solstice after the war. It has little action and focuses on the characters healing and planning their future. Some lists number it 3.5, but Maas and her publisher count it as book four. Do not skip it. It sets up Nesta’s story in the next book.
Book 5: A Court of Silver Flames
The focus shifts to Nesta Archeron, Feyre’s angry older sister, and Cassian, the Night Court’s general. It is the most mature book in the series, with heavy themes about grief and self-worth. It is also the longest of the first five.
Book 6: A Court of Splintered Harmony
The newest book, released October 27, 2026. Its full title is A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I. A villain named Koschei the Deathless, long bound to a mountain lake, is spreading his reach across the Fae lands, and the Night Court must stop him while dealing with splits in its own ranks. Early previews confirm Lucien has point of view chapters. Many fans expect Elain to be a main narrator as well, but Maas has not confirmed the full cast of narrators.
Book 7: A Court of Forgotten Melody
The seventh book arrives January 12, 2027, less than three months after book six. It covers Movements II and III of the Valkyrie Cycle, and publisher listings put it at around 900 pages. The Inner Circle scatters to find any edge against Koschei, and old enemies return.
What Is the Valkyrie Cycle?
This is the part that confuses most readers, so here is the short version. Maas wrote the next stage of the story as one huge narrative and split it into four parts, which she calls movements:
- Movement I: A Court of Splintered Harmony (book 6)
- Movements II and III: A Court of Forgotten Melody (book 7)
- Movement IV: Not yet released, with no title or date
Maas has said the story came out of her “in a way that surprised” her, and that it is “meant to be read as one massive, massive story.” That means books six and seven are not standalone stories in the way book five was. Expect them to end on open threads that carry forward.
How Many Books in ACOTAR?
As of today, there are six published ACOTAR books, with the seventh coming in January 2027. So the answer to how many books in ACOTAR depends on the date you ask:
- Published now: 6 books
- Including the January release: 7 books
- Counting the final movement of the Valkyrie Cycle: At least 8 books
If you see older articles that say there are five books, they were written before A Court of Splintered Harmony came out.
How Many ACOTAR Books Will There Be?
Nobody outside Maas and her publisher knows for sure. Here is what is known:
- Movement IV still needs a home. The fourth part of the Valkyrie Cycle has not been released, and most readers expect it to become book eight.
- Maas has more books under contract. She has said she is signed for several more books, but not all of them are ACOTAR. She also writes Crescent City and has a fourth Crescent City book planned.
- The story is still growing. Maas has said in past interviews that she has more ideas for this world, and the Valkyrie Cycle shows the series is far from wrapping up.
So the best answer to how many ACOTAR books will there be is at least eight, with room for more. Watch Maas’s official social media for the first news on Movement IV.
Do You Have to Read ACOTAR in Order?
Yes. The A Court of Thorns and Roses book series order matters. Each book picks up right where the last one ended, and the big twists in book two only work if you read book one first. The same goes for the novella. Skipping A Court of Frost and Starlight leaves you confused at the start of A Court of Silver Flames.
The order of books court of thorns and roses readers follow is simply the release order listed above. There are no prequels, spin-offs, or alternate paths to worry about.
How ACOTAR Connects to Crescent City and Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas has three big series, and they are more linked than they first appear.
- Throne of Glass (2012 to 2018): An eight-book series about assassin Celaena Sardothien. It stands on its own.
- Crescent City (2020 onward): An adult urban fantasy series about Bryce Quinlan.
- ACOTAR (2015 onward): The Prythian series covered in this guide.
House of Flame and Shadow, the third Crescent City book, crosses over into the world of Prythian. Characters from ACOTAR appear, and events there may matter for the Valkyrie Cycle. If you want the full picture, read A Court of Silver Flames, then House of Flame and Shadow, then A Court of Splintered Harmony.
You do not have to read Crescent City to follow ACOTAR, but fans who do say the crossover adds a lot.
Is There an ACOTAR TV Show?
Not right now. Hulu announced an adaptation in 2021, with Ronald D. Moore attached, but the project stalled. In February 2025, reports said the series was no longer moving forward at Hulu. No new network or studio has been announced since then.
Content Note
ACOTAR is shelved as adult fantasy. The books include explicit romantic scenes, violence, and themes of trauma, abuse, and grief. The first book is the mildest, and the series gets more mature as it goes. A Court of Silver Flames is the most explicit book so far.
Long Series to Read Next
If you love following a huge story across many books, you may enjoy other long-running series. They are different genres, but each one has a clear reading order worth keeping close:
- Try the JD Robb books in order for a romance and crime series set in a future New York, with more than 60 books to explore.
- Check out the John Grisham books in order if you want fast legal thrillers you can read in almost any order.
- See the Mitch Rapp books in order for a long spy series with prequels that, like ACOTAR, rewards careful reading order.
Common Questions About the A Court of Thorns and Roses Book Series Order
Is ACOTAR young adult or adult? It started on young adult shelves but is now shelved as adult fantasy because of its mature content.
What book is the best in the series? Most fans name A Court of Mist and Fury, though A Court of Silver Flames has a loyal following too.
Should I reread before book six? Many fans do. If a full reread feels like too much, at least reread A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames.
When will Movement IV come out? No date has been announced. Given the short gap between books six and seven, fans are hopeful it will not take another five years.
Final Thoughts
The A Court of Thorns and Roses book series order is simple: read the books in release order, starting with A Court of Thorns and Roses and ending, for now, with A Court of Splintered Harmony. A Court of Forgotten Melody follows on January 12, 2027, and a final Valkyrie Cycle volume is still to come. Keep this A Court of Thorns and Roses book series order guide handy, and you will be ready for every new release in Prythian.
Key Takeaways
- The A Court of Thorns and Roses book series order is the same as the release order: ACOTAR, Mist and Fury, Wings and Ruin, Frost and Starlight, Silver Flames, Splintered Harmony, then Forgotten Melody.
- A Court of Splintered Harmony, book six, came out on October 27, 2026. It is Movement I of the Valkyrie Cycle.
- A Court of Forgotten Melody, book seven, arrives January 12, 2027, and covers Movements II and III.
- There are six published ACOTAR books now, seven by January 2027, and likely at least eight once Movement IV is released.
- A Court of Frost and Starlight is a short novella, but it is required reading before A Court of Silver Flames.
- House of Flame and Shadow, from the Crescent City series, crosses over with ACOTAR and is worth reading before book six.
- The Hulu TV adaptation stopped moving forward in February 2025, with no new home announced.
- The series is adult fantasy, with explicit romance and heavy themes that grow stronger in later books.
