Credentials: I have read A Court of Splintered Harmony, ACOTAR 1-5, CC 1-3 and TOG
With today’s big release of A Court of Splintered Harmony I have seen the big question of reading order arise. While the book is being sold as ACOTAR 6, it has some crossover with the Crescent City series. How much? Some will argue not enough, while others will say telling you there is crossover at all is a major spoiler.
If you want to know if you need to read Crescent City 1-3 before diving into the new ACOTAR book, my answer is yes.
I know some readers have pointed out that Sarah J. Maas has said you can start with any of her three series, and she's right. You don't have to read every book in the Maasverse to enjoy a new release. However, after reading all of Crescent City and The A Court of Thorns and Roses Series, I genuinely believe reading Crescent City first will make a difference in your experience with A Court of Splintered Harmony.
Here's why.
Warning: This post contains general discussion of the connections between the series.
1. A Court of Splintered Harmony Does Spoil Crescent City
This is my biggest reason for recommending reading Crescent City first.
If you haven't read Crescent City yet, A Court of Splintered Harmony contains major spoilers for the series. Some of the information revealed tells you exactly how the third book, House of Flame and Shadow, ends.
You might not mind spoilers, and that's completely fair! But if you're someone who likes going into a book knowing as little as possible, I'd recommend finishing Crescent City before its spoiled in A Court of Splintered Harmony.
2. The Character Crossover Is Important
Without getting into specific spoilers, ACOTAR characters play an important role in the Crescent City story, and the crossover reveals information about Prythian that you wouldn't know from reading the ACOTAR series alone.
These aren't just little Easter eggs for fans to spot. The connections involve characters, history, magical objects, and the larger world Sarah J. Maas has been building across her books. A Court of Splintered Harmony continues exploring these connections, so you'll have a much better understanding of what's happening if you've already read Crescent City.
And honestly, if you're going to read a book set in a connected universe, why not get the full experience?
3. The Timeline Matters
Another reason to read Crescent City first is the timeline. The events of A Court of Splintered Harmony take place after House of Flame and Shadow, the third Crescent City book.
While Maas does a good job explaining the events relevant to the ACOTAR characters, those explanations aren't quite the same as having read the books yourself. House of Flame and Shadow spends considerable time exploring Prythian and its characters, revealing significant information about the history and mythology of the Maasverse.
Plus, A Court of Splintered Harmony once again spoils major developments in the Crescent City series. Reading the books in order gives you the full context without having important revelations spoiled along the way.
Having read both series, I genuinely think reading Crescent City before A Court of Splintered Harmony is worth it.
Of course, you don't have to agree with me! If you're excited about A Court of Splintered Harmony and don't have time to read three more books, you can absolutely choose to jump straight in.
But if you're asking for my recommendation, I'm going to tell you to read Crescent City first.
Bonus Question: Do you need to read Throne of Glass before reading ACOTAR, Crescent City or A Court of Splintered Harmony? No!