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If you’ve spent more than five minutes on BookTok or Instagram, you’ve definitely seen the hype surrounding Sarah J. Maas. With brand-new books on the horizon, the online chatter is at an absolute fever pitch.
As a stay-at-home mum, your time is precious, your mental bandwidth is often stretched thin, and sitting down with a massive fantasy book feels like a huge commitment. So, if you’re standing on the edge of the “Maas-verse” wondering, “Is it actually worth diving into?”
My answer? A huge big fat YES!!!!
However, consider this your official warning: it will completely consume your brain.
I finished reading the Throne of Glass series months ago, and it still lives completely rent-free in my head. Every single time a fan edit sneaks onto my TikTok FYP, I catch myself getting teary-eyed all over again. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, but it is hands-down the best form of escape after a long day of mum life.
Here is my breakdown of the Maas-verse, my personal star ratings, and where I stand on the journey:
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR)
Series Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Vibe: High-fantasy romance, fae realms, swoon-worthy banter, and absolute drama.
The Summary:
This series follows Feyre Archeron, a human huntress who kills a wolf in the woods to feed her starving family—only to discover the wolf was actually a Fae. She is dragged into the treacherous, magical realm of Prythian as punishment. What starts as a classic Beauty and the Beast retelling quickly spirals into an epic tale of political intrigue, war, ancient magic, and unforgettable romance.
SAHM Perspective:
ACOTAR is the ultimate gateway drug into fantasy romance. I’ll be totally honest: I found the first book in the series actually quite slow to get into. For a while, I was wondering what all the internet fuss was about! But once you hit that final quarter of book one, the plot explodes, the pacing gets ridiculously addictive, and you simply cannot put it down. If you can push through that initial setup in book one, the rest of the series is mind-blowingly good and well worth every second.
Book #2 aka ACOMAF is the absolute best book in the ACOTAR series!!!
Book Ratings:
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: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Court of Splintered Harmony: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I (Rating coming ASAP!!!!)
A Court of Forgotten Melody: The Valkyrie Cycle, Movements II & III (Rating coming ASAP!!!!)
2. Throne of Glass (TOG)
Series Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Vibe: Epic high fantasy, incredible character growth, deep world-building, and emotional warfare.
The Summary:
The story is centred on Celaena Sardothien, a teenage assassin serving a life sentence of hard labour in the salt mines of Endovier. She’s offered a chance at freedom: act as the Crown Prince’s champion in a deadly competition to become the King’s royal assassin. As the series progresses over eight massive books, the scale expands into an unforgettable story of lost kingdoms, unbreakable friendships, and world-shattering war.
My Honest Take & Reading Advice:
This is hands-down my favourite series ever. It’s quite different from ACOTAR—ACOTAR is heavily romance-driven and gets super smutty (especially A Court of Silver Flames!), whereas Throne of Glass keeps the smut level very low. While there are sweet bits of romance woven throughout, TOG is a true, story-driven fantasy action-adventure.
There is a huge debate online about reading order, but I read The Assassin’s Blade first and I will always recommend reading it that way! Starting with The Assassin’s Blade ensures Mr. Sam Cortland gets all the love he deserves, and it gives you a much deeper understanding of Celaena Sardothien right from the start. Some people also suggest doing a tandem read with Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn as they happen at the same time in different parts of the continent… Personally I didn’t do the tandem read and I am very happy with the decision as I just don’t think the impact of EOS would have been the same if I had to switch to TOD when things got intense, and I don’t think I would have appreciated Chaol as much if I had to take breaks in reading his story!!
SAHM Perspective:
These books had me laughing out loud, shedding real tears, and literally walking around the house holding my Kindle while doing chores because I simply couldn’t put it down. If you only commit to one series, make it this one!
Book Ratings:
The Assassin’s Blade: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Throne of Glass: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Crown of Midnight: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heir of Fire: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Queen of Shadows: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Empire of Storms: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!!!!
Tower of Dawn: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (I will never understand the Chaol hate)
Kingdom of Ash: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Crescent City (CC)
My Rating: Currently On Hold / TBD
The Vibe: Modern urban fantasy, murder mystery, angel/demon politics, and heavy world-building.
The Summary:
Set in a modern fantasy metropolis filled with smartphones, nightclubs, and ancient magic, the series follows Bryce Quinlan, a half-Fae party girl seeking revenge after a tragedy shatters her life.
My Honest Take: I have to be completely real here—I picked up the first book, read the first few chapters, and just couldn’t get into it. The urban fantasy setting and the massive info-dump in the opening chapters felt like a bit too much work for my brain right now.
I know so many readers swear that pushing through the initial setup is 100% worth it, especially for the ACOTAR crossovers… but for now, I’m putting it on the shelf. I think I’ll wait and see what future ACOTAR releases bring before I decide whether to dive back into Bryce’s world.
Final Thoughts: Should You Read The Maas-verse?
If you need a world to completely escape into after a day of toddlers, snacks, and endless chores, grab a copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses or Assassin’s Blade. Just make sure you’re prepared to think about Fae high lords while you fold the third load of laundry for the day!
Have you read the Maas-verse yet? Are you team ACOTAR or team TOG? Let me know in the comments!
