In recent years, the romantasy genre has taken the literary world by storm, and one particular author is the driving force behind this reading phenomenon: Sarah J. Maas. Known for her signature world-building, complex characters, heart-racing twists and steamy romance, Maas has written more than 15 books—and sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. She is also the reigning queen of BookTok (right now, hashtags related to Maas and her blockbuster A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series yield billions of views across the platform), which continues to fuel her success and grow her fandom.
Whether you’re new to the Maasverse or you’d just like to add more of Maas’ novels to your TBR, you’re in the right place! (If you want to reference a comprehensive reading guide, we suggest visiting the author’s site here. We chose our favorite titles across all of her bestselling works, but we recommend dipping into each series in order for the most immersive reading experience.) Here, we gathered up 8 of the best Sarah J. Maas novels—in no particular order—according to FIRST editors!
Keep scrolling to discover all our favorite SJM books from Throne of Glass to ACOTAR and more!
This riveting fantasy is Maas’ very first novel and follows Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s greatest assassin. After being sentenced to life in prison, Celaena gets the chance of a lifetime: to compete against 23 other murderers, thieves and warriors in a deadly competition. The prize? Her freedom, unimaginable riches and a chance to serve as the King’s Champion. But when an even more deadly outside force turns up, Celaena must decide what truly matters.
What editors are saying: “Celaena’s wit, humor and strength had me cheering for her from the get-go and Maas’ writing keeps you engaged from the very first page,” says Carey Ostergard, FIRST Executive Editor. “Plus, it’s the first of a series—so I cannot wait to read more!”
Power, loyalty and fiery love meld in this epic tale. Knowing that a war is on the way, Aelin Galathynius sets off on a journey to try and gather up allies, weapons and battle gear. But as monsters, old enemies and new threats arise, nothing can prepare the fire queen for what she is about to face. An enthralling adventure filled with team-ups and cameos of fan-favorite characters—both good and bad.
What readers are saying: “This is by far my favorite book in the Throne of Glass series,” shares Carissa Mosness, FIRST Assistant Digital Editor. “Not only did Aelin and Rowan’s story sweep me off my feet, but I also found myself falling in love with Elide and Lorcan and was turning the pages long into the night, needing to know what happened next.”
Maas’s stunning Throne of Glass series comes to an epic conclusion in this page-turning tale. Aelin Galathynius has gone from being a slave to a king’s assassin to the queen of a once-great kingdom, and now she must draw on all her power to save her world from darkness—or risk losing everyone and everything she cares about…for good.
What readers are saying: “Though Kingdom of Ash is the final book in an epic series, it is a wonderful read on its own,” says Ostergard. “The conclusion was equal parts explosive and enthralling—I always recommend the TOG series to all of my book-loving friends.”
Maas delivers a stunning Beauty and The Beast reimagining in A Court of Thorns and Roses. The tale follows 19-year-old huntress Feyre. After she kills a wolf to feed her family, she is kidnapped and dragged to a magical, treacherous land she’s only heard about in legends. Her captor? Tamlin, one of the most powerful faeries. Tamlin is a beast-like immortal, yet over the course of her captivity, Feyre begins to see Tamlin as more than a monster. But still, something doesn’t feel right in this enchanting place. A searing novel that hits every note of the Romantasy genre.
What editors are saying: “A Court of Thorns and Roses was the first SJM book I ever read. Reading it felt like literally stepping into another realm,” says FIRST Senior Editor, Melissa D’Agnese. “Between Maas’ descriptive writing, intricate worlds and intriguing characters, I was obsessed—and Feyre’s fearlessness was inspiring!”
Feyre’s magical journey continues in A Court of Mist and Fury, the stunning sequel to ACOTAR—and it’s a classic romantasy fan-favorite! After deciding not to marry Tamlin, Feyre is left with no choice but to flee the Spring Court and head to the Night Court with its dangerous, deadly and handsome Lord Rhysand. But all is not what it seems when she gets there, and soon Feyre learns that maybe the friends, family and lover she was looking for were right under her nose the whole time.
What readers are saying: “Feyre and Rhys will forever have a place in my heart,” shares Mosness. “Not only was their love story deeply moving, but it also kept surprising me and had me guessing until the very last page.”
After a heartbreaking loss, the trauma of war and being transformed into an immortal against her will, Nesta Archeron has struggled to find a place in the world. The one person who can break down her defenses is the equally scarred warrior Cassian. Together, they battle monsters and find healing in each other’s arms.
What readers are saying: “SJM is one of my all-time favorite authors. When I picked up this epic fantasy, I was instantly drawn in,” says Ostergard. “I couldn’t get enough of this book and its message reminded me that love can ease any hurt!”
With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance and page-turning suspense, the first installment of the Crescent City fantasy series has it all! After her closest friends are murdered by a demon, Bryce Quinlan teams up with a powerful fallen angel, Hunt Athalar, to track down the killer. Together, the two discover an even darker power that threatens everyone they hold dear…and a love that can offer them both redemption.
What readers are saying: “I’ll admit it—at first the sheer length of this book was intimidating,” says D’Agnese. “But once I started reading the story, about half-Fae, half-human Bryce Quinlan, I couldn’t put it down. Bryce and Hunt’s journey was nothing short of exhilarating and the ending twist left me desperate for the next book!”
Maas returns with the third spellbinding, heart-racing saga in the beloved Crescent City series. After being stranded in a strange world, Bryce Quinlan has to do everything she can to get back home to Midgard. Meanwhile, Hunt Athalar finds himself stripped of his freedom in the Asteri’s dungeons with no way to help Bryce. Now, they must devise a new plan to save their world.
What readers are saying: “I truly love anything Sarah J. Maas does,” says Courtney Shapiro, FIRST Digital Associate Editor. “This was a great addition to the Crescent City series, and it was so nice to see all the growth from book one to now in the characters and the story. I was hooked from page one until the very last chapter—it’s always an adventure!”