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Crescent City Books in Order
Sarah J. Maas's adult romantasy trilogy following Bryce Quinlan in the metropolis of Crescent City. Three books so far, meant to be read strictly in publication order.
Crescent City Books in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Crescent City is the most straightforward of Sarah J. Maas's three series to order: there are only three books, and they are strictly sequential. Each volume picks up directly from the last, so the right way in is simply publication order, starting with House of Earth and Blood (2020), then House of Sky and Breath (2022), and finishing with House of Flame and Shadow (2024). There is no alternate internal chronology to juggle and no prequel to slot in.
That is why this page lists a single order: publication, which here doubles as the reading order. The numbers on the books match the order they came out, and the story runs in a continuous line from Bryce Quinlan's first investigation in the city of Lunathion through to the trilogy's current climax. Read them back to front and you will be lost, so resist the temptation to start anywhere but book one.
The one genuine gotcha is the wider "Maasverse." Crescent City shares an author and, increasingly, a universe with Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) and Throne of Glass series. The third book, House of Flame and Shadow, contains a significant crossover that lands far harder if you have already read ACOTAR, since it pays off characters and worldbuilding from that series. The books still stand on their own, but spoiler-sensitive readers often choose to finish ACOTAR before reaching Crescent City's finale.
If you only want Crescent City, read these three in order and ignore the rest. If you want the full Maasverse experience, a common path is to read ACOTAR (and ideally Throne of Glass) before book three so the crossover lands as intended. Either way, the within-series order never changes: Earth and Blood, then Sky and Breath, then Flame and Shadow.
Timeline 2020โ2024
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Crescent City books are there?
Three so far: House of Earth and Blood (2020), House of Sky and Breath (2022), and House of Flame and Shadow (2024). Sarah J. Maas has indicated the series will continue beyond the current trilogy.
What order should I read Crescent City in?
Read them in publication order: House of Earth and Blood, then House of Sky and Breath, then House of Flame and Shadow. The story is strictly sequential, so there is no alternate reading order within the series.
Do I need to read ACOTAR before Crescent City?
No, Crescent City stands on its own. But the third book, House of Flame and Shadow, features a major crossover with the ACOTAR world, so many readers choose to finish ACOTAR first for the full payoff.
Is Crescent City part of the Maasverse?
Yes. It shares a universe with Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass series, and the connections become explicit in book three's crossover event.
Is Crescent City finished?
Not yet. The current three books form a complete arc for the trilogy, but Maas has said the larger Crescent City story is ongoing, so more books are expected.
Can I read Crescent City before ACOTAR and Throne of Glass?
Yes. Many readers start with Crescent City. Just know that the book-three crossover references ACOTAR, so reading that series first enhances the experience but is not required.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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