The author is sweeping social media with a fantastical, exciting, and ambitious fantasy multiverse, stretching across three series and two decades. Collecting various awards and a strong fanbase over the years, the books hold undeniable appeal. You may recognise the titles from ‘BookTok’ – but don’t let that put you off. Getting stuck into her world is undoubtedly daunting, but if you need an escape from the mundane there’s nothing better – so here is Braw’s guide to getting started.
Disclaimer: These books all contain graphic scenes of sex, bodily harm, and death. Please follow the links throughout for a full content warning.
Throne of Glass
In 2012, Maas published her first novel Throne of Glass, introducing the world to Celaena Sardothian, a heartless enslaved assassin who embarks on an action-packed, sexy, and enthralling adventure. Filled with magical plot twists, the eight-book series sounds daunting, but it’s very much worth the read and continues to stand as Maas’s strongest series. Throne of Glass introduces the style and word-building of Maas more gently than the other series, making it the perfect starting point.
See content warnings for the first instalment of the series here.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Three years after Throne of Glass, A Court of Throne and Roses graced our shelves. The five-book series has since become somewhat of a ‘BookTok’ sensation. We are introduced to Feyre, a young human stuck in poverty in a world where humans and Fae are divided. Significantly spicier than Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses is quite different, with some weaker characters and less ambitious world-building. However, the story is fantastic and is essential reading if you’re continuing onto Crescent City.
See content warnings for the first book here.
Crescent City
House of Earth and Blood was published in 2020. This was the start of Maas’s first ‘adult’ series, following Bryce Quinlan in an equally surprising, unpredictable, and – yes you’ve got it – sexy, three-book adventure, with more on the way. The first book is an engaging murder-mystery-style thriller. However, you need to be committed to getting past the first 100 pages of world-building. Followed by House of Sky and Breath and recently House of Flame and Shadow.
See content warnings for the first book here. This list is not definitive: there is also drug use, graphic death, and sexual scenes.
How to tackle it
Read the series individually in full to get the whole experience, starting with Throne of Glass and ending with Crescent City. This way, when the multiverse begins to come together, nothing is going to fly over your head – except, perhaps, a few easter eggs in the last Throne of Glass novels. Strong female characters are a key theme throughout Maas’s books – which of them would you add to Braw’s list of iconic female book characters?
Save your pennies
Buying new books is painfully expensive. Secondhand sites are the way to go, saving you money and giving the books a second chance at life. Some of my favourite sites for cheap books include Awesome Books, Vinted (it’s not just clothes!), and Oxfam Online.
Featured Image Credit: Alice Pollard
Journalism student at the University of Stirling. I like writing about happy stories 🙂
