ParchACOTAR Reading Order
Sarah J. Maas · 6 books · about 68 hours of reading
ACOTAR has one reading order, and it's the order the books came out. The questions are around the edges: whether the short fourth book can be skipped, where Crescent City fits, and how much there is to read before A Court of Forgotten Melody arrives on January 12, 2027.
Start with A Court of Thorns and Roses and read straight through in publication order. The first three books are one story about Feyre, the fourth is a short bridge, and the fifth moves to her sister Nesta. Book six, A Court of Splintered Harmony, came out on October 27, 2026 and picks up from all of them.
The only order that works: each book follows from the one before. A Court of Forgotten Melody joins the end of this list on January 12, 2027.
This order is about 68 hours of reading — roughly 4 months at half an hour a day.
Average is about 250 WPM. Measure yours in two minutes and every time below recalculates.
Estimated from the unabridged audiobooks at a typical narration pace of 155 words a minute — close, not exact. Reading times are estimates — editions, translations and your own pace all move them.
How long the 100 most popular books take to read
Book seven, A Court of Forgotten Melody (The Valkyrie Cycle, Movements II & III), is due on January 12, 2027. It will be added here with its reading time once it's out. Crescent City is a separate series set in another world, but its second and third books cross over with ACOTAR, and A Court of Splintered Harmony refers back to them.
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Frequently asked questions
What order should I read the ACOTAR books in?
Publication order: A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, A Court of Silver Flames, then A Court of Splintered Harmony. A Court of Forgotten Melody follows on January 12, 2027. There is no separate chronological order, because the books were published in the order the story happens.
How many ACOTAR books are there?
Six are out, and a seventh is dated. A Court of Splintered Harmony, book six, was published on October 27, 2026. A Court of Forgotten Melody, book seven, is due on January 12, 2027. Books six and seven carry the subtitle The Valkyrie Cycle, and Sarah J. Maas has said they are part of a larger four-part story, so more is expected after them.
Can I skip A Court of Frost and Starlight?
You can follow the plot without it, but it's worth the time. It is about a quarter the length of the books around it, and it sets up where Nesta and Cassian stand at the start of A Court of Silver Flames. Read it fourth, where it was published.
Do I need to read Crescent City before A Court of Splintered Harmony?
It isn't required, and the publisher doesn't list it as a prerequisite. It does help: House of Sky and Breath and House of Flame and Shadow cross over with ACOTAR, and A Court of Splintered Harmony refers to what happened in them, so it also spoils them. If you plan to read Crescent City at all, read it after A Court of Silver Flames and before book six.
What should I reread before A Court of Forgotten Melody?
A Court of Splintered Harmony at least, since book seven continues the same Valkyrie Cycle story. If you have more time, start at A Court of Silver Flames, where the Valkyries are introduced. Tick off what you've already read above to see how many hours are left at your reading speed.
How long does it take to read the ACOTAR series?
About 68 hours at an average reading speed of 250 words a minute — roughly 1.0 million words across the 6 books published so far. At half an hour a day, that's about 4 months. The first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses, is about 10h on its own.
Does my progress save?
Yes — ticking a book saves it in your browser, no account needed. Clearing your browser data resets it, so for a permanent record with dates, ratings, and notes, track the series in the Parch app.
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The 2027 Reading Journal Kit
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