Who is the Author Behind All This?
Sarah J. Maas—known to fans simply as SJM—is the mind behind A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR). Her writing blends epic fantasy, slowburn romance, and stabworthy plot twists. But she’s not a oneseries wonder. Maas has built a small empire of interconnected worlds that satisfy readers who crave magic, vengeance, impossible love, and morally gray characters doing righteous (and questionable) things.
So if ACOTAR hijacked your sleep schedule, it’s time to dive into the other books by the author of a court of thorns and roses.
Throne of Glass Series: The One That Started It All
Before Velaris, there was Erilea. The Throne of Glass series is Maas’ first series and arguably the blueprint for her success. It follows Celaena Sardothien, a deadly assassin with a past full of shadows and a future full of power plays, betrayal, and selfdiscovery.
What’s strong here: actionheavy worldbuilding, a sharper comingofage arc, and a slow transition from court intrigue to high fantasy chaos. The romantic trajectory is winding (read: messy), which keeps things interesting. There are eight books total if you tackle the prequel The Assassin’s Blade, and trust me—you should.
If you liked ACOTAR’s evolving power dynamics and morally knotty decisions, Throne of Glass is your next move.
Crescent City: Welcome to the Modern Magic MashUp
Then there’s the newer, slicker option: the Crescent City series. This is where Maas tests genre boundaries. It’s urban fantasy meets crime thriller meets highdrama romance. Think cell phones, angels, demons, and an emotional payload that doesn’t pull punches.
The first book, House of Earth and Blood, centers on Bryce Quinlan, a halfFae party girl pulled into a murder investigation that unravels into something much bigger. If Feyre is all about survival and growth, Bryce is about justice, identity, and unraveling trauma. Plus, there’s Hunt Athalar—a fallen angel whose brooding rivals Rhysand’s.
Crescent City shifts the tone from mystical courts and classic quests to something grittier and more adult. If you want something that hits emotionally but with a new flavor, it’s the series for you.
How the Series Connect (Or Will)
Here’s where things get juicy. Maas has hinted that these series aren’t islands. There are crossworld connections brewing. Without spoilers, if you’ve read the latest ACOTAR and Crescent City entries, you might’ve caught the early signals. There’s talk (okay, proof) that worlds are colliding.
So starting these other books by the author of a court of thorns and roses isn’t just a side quest—it’s homework for a possible multiverse showdown.
What Sets SJM’s Work Apart?
Three things:
- Pacing that builds like a storm. Maas is a longgame writer. She’ll make you wait for the payoff, but when it hits, it lands.
- Romance with teeth. This isn’t softfocus love. It’s sharp, layered, and often complicated.
- Femaleled power arcs. Whether it’s Feyre, Celaena, or Bryce, you’re watching power bloom from survival. That arc repeats, but never feels recycled.
Where to Start, If You’re Just Finishing ACOTAR
If you’re fresh off the emotional chaos of ACOTAR and not sure which direction to go:
Want fantasy that feels more traditional but builds scale fast? Go Throne of Glass. Want something a little edgier and modern with mature themes? Hit Crescent City. Want to stay in Prythian for a while longer? Reread A Court of Mist and Fury. Yes, again.
Final Thoughts
Sarah J. Maas knows what her readers want—and she delivers. If you’re craving more highstakes emotion, sharpedged fantasy, and characters who feel too real, the other books by the author of a court of thorns and roses won’t disappoint. They don’t replicate ACOTAR—they expand on it. Bigger worlds. Wilder plots. Deeper heartbreak.
Start wherever it feels right. But don’t be surprised when a book that feels like a sidestory ends up being essential. Because in the SJM universe, everything’s connected—and nothing’s safe.
