How many ACOTAR books are there?
There are 5 published ACOTAR books to read in 2026: 4 full-length novels and 1 novella. The novella, A Court of Frost and Starlight, counts toward the five-book reading order, which is why a list of novels alone gives you a different total.
- How many ACOTAR books are there? Five published volumes: four novels and one novella.
- Read A Court of Frost and Starlight between A Court of Wings and Ruin and A Court of Silver Flames.
- The opening three novels follow Feyre’s central story; A Court of Silver Flames shifts focus to Nesta and Cassian.
- GetSimilarBooks suits ACOTAR readers seeking title-based, hand-curated recommendations after the series.
Why this matters
Five books does not mean five equally long installments. ACOTAR includes a shorter bridge book between its opening trilogy and its next full-length novel. If you count only novels, you leave out part of the published sequence.
That distinction matters when you plan your reading. You need the titles in order, but you also need to know where the pace, perspective, and central relationship change. The ACOTAR reading-order guide covers the sequence separately; below is the count and what each installment contributes.
How many ACOTAR books are there?
The ACOTAR reading list contains 5 published volumes in 2026. Four are novels. One is a novella. ACOTAR is short for A Court of Thorns and Roses, the fantasy romance series by Sarah J. Maas.
The table follows publication order, which is also the straightforward order for a first read. It compares each book's role without revealing major plot developments.
| Reading position | Book | Format | Best for | Main difference or limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | A Court of Thorns and Roses | Novel | Starting Feyre's story and learning the setting | Establishes the series rather than delivering the later books' broader scope |
| Second | A Court of Mist and Fury | Novel | Expanding the relationships and court politics | Depends heavily on the first book's events |
| Third | A Court of Wings and Ruin | Novel | Following the opening arc into a larger conflict | Gives more space to war and alliances |
| Fourth | A Court of Frost and Starlight | Novella | Spending quieter time with the characters after the opening arc | Offers less external action than the surrounding novels |
| Fifth | A Court of Silver Flames | Novel | Following Nesta and Cassian's central story | Changes the lead characters and narrative perspective |
The count refers to these distinct works, not to their editions. A paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook of the same title remain one book in the series. A collection containing several titles does not create an additional installment.
For your reading list, count five. For a count of full-length novels, count four. Both totals describe the same bibliography; they answer different questions.
The full-length novels: 4 books
The four ACOTAR novels are A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, and A Court of Silver Flames. These are the longer installments that carry the main story arcs.
The first three form the opening sequence centered on Feyre. The fourth full-length novel shifts its central focus to Nesta and Cassian. That change does not make it a separate series or a fresh starting point.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Best for: starting the series properly. This is the entry point for Feyre, the faerie setting, and the relationships that later books develop. Its fairy-tale elements give the opening a different shape from the wider political and romantic story that follows.
The trade-off is setup. If your interest comes from discussions of later relationships, you still need this foundation rather than treating those discussions as a guide to where to begin.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Best for: a larger emotional and political scope. The second novel expands the world beyond the first book's immediate setting and gives its relationships more room. It builds on consequences rather than restarting the story.
That dependence is also its limitation as an entry point. Starting here means encountering information that assumes you already know what happened in A Court of Thorns and Roses.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
Best for: the opening arc's larger conflict. The third novel brings war, competing interests, and alliances further into the foreground. Readers who want the romantic story to sit inside a broader struggle get more of that here.
The difference is emphasis. Its larger cast and conflict mean the reading experience is not simply another version of the second novel's relationship-focused development.
A Court of Silver Flames
Best for: continuing through a different central character. This novel centers Nesta and Cassian and uses third-person narration, unlike Feyre's first-person narration in the opening novels. Its focus includes recovery, training, and relationships.
The shift asks you to adjust your expectations. It is not another Feyre-led installment with a different title, and its more explicit sexual content deserves a separate content check if that affects your reading choices.
The bridge novella: 1 book
A Court of Frost and Starlight is the novella in the ACOTAR sequence. Read it after A Court of Wings and Ruin and before A Court of Silver Flames. Its place in the sequence explains much of the confusion around the total.
Best for: character aftermath rather than a new large-scale conflict. The book spends time with the characters after the opening trilogy and helps establish their circumstances before the next novel. Its quieter, seasonal focus is the point.
The limitation is equally clear. If you expect the momentum and external stakes of A Court of Wings and Ruin, this shorter installment offers a different experience. Do not approach it as another full-length war novel.
You will also see A Court of Frost and Starlight labeled book 3.5. That label places it between the third novel and the next one; it does not mean you have found an extra title beyond the five listed above.
For a first read, keep the novella in your sequence. You can decide whether its quieter pace appeals to you without mistaking it for a duplicate, an alternate edition, or an unrelated side story.
Why the ACOTAR book count varies
The different totals usually come from different counting rules. Before comparing two lists in 2026, check what each list includes.
- Full-length novels: A novels-only list counts four and leaves out the novella.
- Bridge novella: A complete published reading list includes A Court of Frost and Starlight, bringing the total to five.
- Published volumes: Counting every distinct story installment gives you the reading-list total, regardless of length.
- Edition format: Hardcovers, paperbacks, ebooks, and audio editions are versions of a work, not separate story installments.
- Story arc: The opening trilogy is a smaller group within the series, not the entire published reading list.
The useful distinction is between a work and its packaging. A different cover does not add a story. A shorter work still counts as a distinct installment when it has its own place in the sequence.
Are there 3 ACOTAR books or 5?
There are 5 published ACOTAR volumes; 3 refers to the opening trilogy. That trilogy consists of A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, and A Court of Wings and Ruin. The novella and A Court of Silver Flames extend the reading list beyond that opening arc.
Are there 4 ACOTAR books or 5?
There are 4 full-length ACOTAR novels and 5 published volumes altogether. The difference is A Court of Frost and Starlight, which is a novella. Use the five-title list when planning a first read rather than dropping the shorter installment without realizing it.
Is A Court of Silver Flames the fourth or fifth book?
A Court of Silver Flames is the fourth full-length novel and the fifth published volume in reading order. The novella sits immediately before it. Numbering systems that call the novella book 3.5 explain why Silver Flames also appears as book four.
What the count tells you about the reading commitment
The five-volume total gives you a sequence, not a reliable estimate of reading time. The novella is shorter than the novels, and the later shift in central characters changes the experience as much as the format does.
For your 2026 reading plan, separate these decisions:
- Starting point: Begin with A Court of Thorns and Roses. The later novels assume knowledge of earlier events.
- Pacing: Expect the novella to slow down and spend time on the characters between larger story arcs.
- Perspective: Expect A Court of Silver Flames to change both the central focus and the narration.
- Content: Check individual titles if explicit sex, violence, or trauma affects your choice. One series label does not describe every installment equally well.
There is no need to turn the series into a reading deadline. Finish the first book, decide whether the setting and relationships work for you, and continue in order. Knowing there are five volumes should help you plan, not make the choice for you.
Find your next read by what you want to keep
Once you finish the published sequence, “more fantasy romance” is a broad request. A useful read-alike should preserve something specific: slow-building trust, court politics, a difficult recovery, or a central relationship under pressure. A shared genre label alone does not explain the match.
GetSimilarBooks is best for ACOTAR readers who want hand-curated, title-based book recommendations. Enter a title you enjoyed to receive five suggestions. The free personalized list expands to 20–30 titles and requires an email address.
That distinction matters before you request it. The preview is short; the expanded list asks for an additional step. GetSimilarBooks is a recommendation tool, not another ACOTAR installment or a substitute for checking a recommended book's content.
You can start with GetSimilarBooks when you know which title you want to use as your reference. Choosing the installment you most enjoyed makes the request more specific than using the series name alone.
FAQ
How many ACOTAR books are there in 2026?
There are 5 published ACOTAR volumes in the reading list: 4 full-length novels and 1 novella. The novella is A Court of Frost and Starlight.
What are all the ACOTAR books in order?
Read A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, A Court of Frost and Starlight, then A Court of Silver Flames. This sequence keeps the bridge novella before the novel it precedes.
Does A Court of Frost and Starlight count as a book?
Yes. A Court of Frost and Starlight counts as a distinct published ACOTAR volume, although it is a novella rather than a full-length novel. Include it when counting the complete published reading list.
Can I skip A Court of Frost and Starlight?
Keep A Court of Frost and Starlight in your first-read sequence. It provides character aftermath and a bridge into A Court of Silver Flames, although its quieter focus differs from the surrounding novels.
Is A Court of Silver Flames about Feyre?
A Court of Silver Flames centers Nesta and Cassian rather than continuing with Feyre as the lead. It also changes to third-person narration and assumes familiarity with the earlier books.
Do I need to read Throne of Glass before ACOTAR?
No. Throne of Glass is a separate Sarah J. Maas series, not an earlier ACOTAR installment. Start ACOTAR with A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Do different ACOTAR covers or audiobooks change the count?
No. Different covers and audio editions do not add distinct story installments. Count the underlying titles rather than each format or edition.
One last thing
The number printed beside a title is less useful than the title itself. Book 3.5 and the fourth volume can describe the same novella. Before starting your next ACOTAR book in 2026, check that Frost and Starlight comes before Silver Flames on your list.
After that, let your favorite installment guide your next recommendation. Wanting another book like Nesta's story is a more precise request than wanting another series with five books.
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