A Court of Splintered Harmony has prompted renewed interest in the earlier A Court of Thorns and Roses books. Libby checkouts rose significantly across all five preceding ACOTAR installments compared with the previous October, while a recent check found a 16-week wait for the first Crescent City novel. The release creates a useful excuse to reread familiar stories—but choosing between publication order, chronology, and a hybrid route depends on the experience you want.
The new release is pulling readers back in
Attention around the sixth ACOTAR book is sending readers back to the series, including newcomers trying to decide where to begin. The library response offers one sign of that interest: checkouts increased across the five earlier ACOTAR books, and the first Crescent City novel became much harder to borrow.
That does not necessarily mean the surge will last. Much of it may reflect anticipation surrounding the new volume rather than a permanent shift in reading habits. Even so, a release often gives readers permission to revisit an old favorite. Newcomers gain something valuable from the timing, too: a reason to choose their route before they create any unwanted spoilers.
The key is to separate a useful recommendation from a supposed requirement. You do not have to read every Sarah J. Maas book in a particular order to enjoy another one. Each route offers different rewards, but each also has a cost.
Why ACOTAR makes the easiest starting point
A Court of Thorns and Roses introduces Feyre Archeron, a human woman who agrees to live in the faerie realm of Prythian to save her family. Its familiar Beauty and the Beast structure offers an accessible way into Maas’s world-building, which is less dense here than in Crescent City.
A Court of Mist and Fury continues Feyre’s bargain with Rhysand and draws on the myth of Hades and Persephone. A Court of Wings and Ruin then closes the initial Feyre-led portion of the cycle while leaving room for her story to continue later.
That third book creates the most useful pause point in the recommended hybrid route. After finishing it, you can explore Throne of Glass before returning to A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames. You can also catch up on Crescent City before beginning the newest ACOTAR books.
This approach suits readers who want to move through ACOTAR’s central romance while also treating the series as an entry point into Maas’s larger mythology.
When to start with Throne of Glass instead
Throne of Glass is the stronger choice for readers who prefer action over romance. Its opening introduces Celaena Sardothien, a young assassin with a mysterious backstory who receives an opportunity to compete in a deadly tournament. That is a faster, more combative introduction than the bargain-driven opening of ACOTAR.
There is another advantage: the mythology and history established in the completed high-fantasy series provide context for fan theories about how Maas’s worlds may connect. Throne of Glass is not required to understand A Court of Splintered Harmony or the earlier ACOTAR stories, although Kingdom of Ash contains a brief ACOTAR Easter egg.
The trade-off is density. TOG contains more mythology, and its chronology attracts considerable debate. Read in publication order, the books follow Maas’s own recommended sequence. Read by internal chronology, and you start with The Assassin’s Blade, a collection of five prequel novellas, before moving into the main narrative.
Chronology has benefits—and friction
Reading by event chronology rewards readers who want the backstory before the main story. It also asks them to begin with the novella collection, putting substantial supporting material ahead of Celaena’s primary introduction. For some readers, that context makes the later emotional beats land harder. For others, it makes the opening unnecessarily complicated.
A tandem read of Empire of Storms and Kingdom of Ash offers a different kind of disruption. It requires readers to move directly between the two books while retaining details from each, making it easier to lose the thread. Publication order avoids that shuffle.
The official timeline can therefore work as a reference without becoming your only route. Publication order preserves discovery; chronological order emphasizes continuity. Neither is universally superior.
A decision checklist for your reread
Choose your route based on what you want the reading experience to provide:
- Choose ACOTAR first** if you want a romance-led introduction, a familiar story framework, and the gentlest entry into Maas’s world.
- Choose Throne of Glass first** if action, mythology, and connections between the series matter more to you.
- Pause after A Court of Wings and Ruin** if you want to explore TOG without interrupting the first stretch of Feyre’s story.
- Use publication order for ACOTAR** if straightforward progression matters more than internal chronology.
- Try TOG chronologically on a later pass** if you already know the main story and want to revisit how the prequel material changes the emotional perspective.
- Add Crescent City before the newest ACOTAR books** if you want its context in place before continuing.
This hybrid route does not claim that every reader will enjoy it more. Its advantage is flexibility: it preserves ACOTAR’s accessible opening while creating space for the mythology that makes TOG especially useful to returning readers.
What to watch after the release rush
The most revealing sign will be whether increased library activity continues once attention shifts from the new volume to the stories that led there. A temporary checkout surge could introduce more readers to ACOTAR, or it could fade quickly.
For now, the release makes rereading part of the moment. Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses if romance and an accessible introduction matter most. Choose Throne of Glass first if action and expanded mythology hold more appeal. Then use A Court of Wings and Ruin as a natural pause before finishing the ACOTAR cycle.
Key takeaways
- Begin with A Court of Thorns and Roses for the gentlest introduction to Feyre and the series.
- Start with Throne of Glass if action and expanded mythology appeal more.
- Treat A Court of Wings and Ruin as a practical pause point.
- Use publication order for straightforward reading and chronology for a different second-pass experience.
- Treat the new release as a reason to reread, not as a required reading schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best reading order for ACOTAR?
The simplest route is publication order, starting with A Court of Thorns and Roses. For a hybrid route, pause after A Court of Wings and Ruin, read Throne of Glass, then return for the final two ACOTAR books.
Do I need to read Throne of Glass before A Court of Splintered Harmony?
No. It is not required to understand the ACOTAR plot, but it can add mythology and context for readers who enjoy connecting details across Maas’s series.
Should ACOTAR be read in chronological order?
Chronology is most useful as an alternative or second pass. Publication order offers a simpler introduction, while a chronological route can provide deeper context at the cost of more complicated jumps.
Why are ACOTAR books being checked out more?
Libby checkouts rose significantly across the five earlier books compared with the previous October. The increase followed renewed attention surrounding A Court of Splintered Harmony.