TL;DR: If your teen is suddenly obsessed with "High Lords," "mate bonds," and "the Night Court," they’ve fallen into the Sarah J. Maas (SJM) rabbit hole. Specifically, ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses). It’s the crown jewel of "Romantasy"—a genre that is exactly what it sounds like: 50% high-stakes fantasy world-building and 50% very explicit romance.
The quick verdict: These books are technically "New Adult," not "Young Adult." While the first book starts around a PG-13 level, the series quickly ramps up to R-rated territory. If your child is under 16, you’ll want to have a real conversation about "spice" levels before they hit book two.
Quick Links for the SJM Universe:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1) – The gateway drug.
- A Court of Mist and Fury (Book 2) – Where the "spice" and the obsession really begin.
- Throne of Glass – Her earlier, more "YA-friendly" (but still intense) series.
- Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood – Urban fantasy, definitely for the 18+ crowd.
If you haven’t been on TikTok lately, "ACOTAR" stands for A Court of Thorns and Roses. It’s a series by Sarah J. Maas that started as a Beauty and the Beast retelling but evolved into a massive, sprawling epic about faerie politics, ancient wars, and—let’s be honest—extremely attractive supernatural beings having very intense feelings for one another.
The series has become a cultural juggernaut. It’s the reason physical bookstores have massive "Romantasy" sections now. In the world of digital wellness, ACOTAR is the primary driver of "BookTok" (the book-loving side of TikTok). It’s not just a book series; it’s an identity. Your teen isn't just reading; they are choosing which "Court" they belong to and arguing about which male lead is the "best book boyfriend."
We are officially in the "SJM Summer" of 2026. After a couple of years of relative quiet following the release of House of Flame and Shadow, Sarah J. Maas just dropped the bombshell announcement for the next ACOTAR installment, rumored to be focused on Elain Archeron.
The hype is reaching Taylor Swift levels of "Easter egg" hunting. Teens are scouring old interviews and re-reading the entire series to find clues. If your teen is glued to their Kindle or Goodreads profile right now, this announcement is why.
Ask our chatbot about the best reading order for Sarah J. Maas
Let’s not pull punches: Sarah J. Maas books are famous for their "spice." In the book world, "spice" is code for explicit sexual content.
If you grew up reading Twilight or The Hunger Games, you might assume "Teen Fantasy" means some heavy yearning and a few intense kisses. That is not the case here.
- A Court of Thorns and Roses: Relatively mild. It’s got some steam, but it’s mostly plot-driven.
- A Court of Mist and Fury and beyond: The descriptions become very graphic. We’re talking multi-page scenes that leave nothing to the imagination.
- A Court of Silver Flames: This one is essentially a romance novel with a fantasy subplot. It is very explicit.
The Screenwise Take: If your 14-year-old is reading these, they are being exposed to adult sexual content. Is it "brain rot"? No. SJM is actually a very talented storyteller who handles themes of PTSD, female empowerment, and sacrifice beautifully. But it is adult content. If you aren't comfortable with your teen reading the equivalent of an R-rated movie, you might want to steer them toward her Throne of Glass series first, which stays in the YA lane much longer.
It’s easy to roll our eyes at the "faerie porn" memes, but there’s a reason these books have a grip on the Gen Z and Gen Alpha imagination.
- Emotional Resonance: SJM writes characters who deal with massive trauma. The protagonist of ACOTAR, Feyre, starts the series as a starving girl trying to keep her family alive and ends it as a powerful leader. Teens—especially girls—resonate with that journey of finding one's voice in a world of "monsters."
- The Community: Between Instagram fan art and TikTok theories, reading ACOTAR is a social experience. It’s the "water cooler talk" of the middle school and high school hallways.
- The Aesthetic: The "Night Court" aesthetic (stars, mountains, velvet, "dark academia" vibes) is a massive trend. It’s a way for kids to express their personal style through literature.
If your kid wants to dive in, or if they’ve already finished ACOTAR and are looking for more, here is how to navigate the Maas-verse:
Best for: Ages 13+ This was her first series. It starts out as a story about a teenage assassin and turns into a massive "save the world" epic. It’s much more focused on action and plot than romance, though the romance is definitely there. It’s a safer entry point for younger teens.
Best for: Ages 16+ The main event. Just be prepared for the "spice" level to jump significantly after book one. If they are reading this, they are officially in the "New Adult" world.
Best for: Ages 18+ This is her "Adult" series. It’s set in a modern city with phones and clubs, but also angels and demons. It’s dense, it’s long (800+ pages per book), and it’s very mature.
The "If they liked ACOTAR" recommendation If they’ve finished all of SJM’s books and are waiting for the 2026 release, they will almost certainly move to this. Warning: It is just as spicy (if not more so) than ACOTAR and features dragons.
Instead of being the "book police," use ACOTAR as a bridge to talk about some pretty important real-life stuff. The series actually provides some great "teachable moments" that aren't cringey if you frame them right.
- Healthy vs. Toxic Relationships: The first book sets up a relationship that later turns out to be quite controlling and toxic. The second book shows what a supportive, "equal" partnership looks like. Ask your teen: "Why do you think Feyre felt stifled in the first book? What makes her relationship in the second book different?"
- Consent and Boundaries: SJM is very big on the "choice" of the female protagonist. It’s a great opening to talk about what consent looks like in a relationship.
- The Digital Rabbit Hole: Talk about how the TikTok algorithm keeps feeding them ACOTAR content. Is it making them want to read more, or is it just making them want to buy more "merch"?
While we’re fans of kids reading anything these days, there are a couple of things to watch out for:
- The "BookTok" Consumerism: The fandom encourages buying five different editions of the same book (the "sprayed edges" obsession). It can get expensive.
- Inappropriate Fan Fiction: If they are looking up ACOTAR on sites like Wattpad or AO3, they are going to find content that is way more extreme than what’s in the actual books.
- The "Idealized" Body Image: Every character in these books is described as impossibly beautiful, tall, and fit. For some teens, this can feed into unrealistic body expectations.
Sarah J. Maas is the reigning queen of the 2026 book world for a reason. She writes "un-put-downable" stories. If your teen is reading ACOTAR, they are engaging with complex themes of sacrifice, politics, and identity.
Yes, the books are "spicy." Yes, they are a bit melodramatic. But in an age of 15-second attention spans on YouTube Shorts, a kid sitting down to read a 700-page book is a win in our book. Just make sure they know that real-life relationships don't usually involve "blood pacts" or "wingspans," and you’ll be just fine.
- Check the shelf: See which SJM books they actually have. If it’s Silver Flames, just know that’s the "steamiest" one.
- Set boundaries on "BookTok": Remind them that the community is great, but to be wary of spoilers and "NSFW" fan art.
- Read the first few chapters: Honestly, the first 50 pages of A Court of Thorns and Roses are actually a great read. You might find yourself hooked, too. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Ask our chatbot for more book recommendations based on what your kid likes