What to Read After Crescent City
This page is for readers who have finished the complete Crescent City trilogy — all three books, through House of Flame and Shadow. If you've only finished Book 1, see our What to Read After House of Earth and Blood guide instead. For those who've seen Bryce Quinlan's full arc — the urban fantasy world-building, the mythology that kept expanding, the crossover events that redefined the Maas-verse — these nine books deliver the same addictive blend of propulsive pacing, complex romance, and worlds you'll never want to leave.
- 1
Fourth Wing
by Rebecca Yarros
If the war-college setting and enemies-to-lovers intensity of Crescent City hooked you, Fourth Wing delivers the same addictive formula at full throttle. Dragon riders, a morally grey love interest with devastating secrets, and a pace that makes it physically difficult to put down. Yarros and Maas are in conversation as the defining voices of modern romantasy.
- 2
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
Maas's other series — the one that started it all. If Crescent City's layered world-building and forbidden romance left you wanting more of the same author's voice, ACOTAR delivers a lush fae world with one of the most beloved slow-burn romances in the genre. The two series share DNA, and House of Flame and Shadow makes that explicit.
- 3
Throne of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas
Maas's original series — an assassin competing in a deadly tournament who grows into one of fantasy's most formidable heroines. Seven books of escalating stakes, court intrigue, and character development that rewards readers who commit to the full arc. Celaena Sardothien will remind you why you fell for Bryce.
- 4
From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A sheltered maiden chosen by the gods falls for the guard assigned to protect — and control — her. Armentrout matches Maas's heat level and mythology-building, with a twist-laden plot that rewards readers who think they've figured out what kind of story they're reading. The forbidden dynamic hits the same notes as Bryce and Hunt.
- 5
The Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
A mortal girl schemes her way into power among a court of ruthless faeries. Darker and more politically vicious than Crescent City, but fans of Bryce's refusal to be underestimated will love watching Jude Duarte outmaneuver everyone who underestimates her. Holly Black's prose is razor-sharp and her fae world genuinely treacherous.
- 6
An Ember in the Ashes
by Sabaa Tahir
A slave girl infiltrates a brutal military empire while a soldier fights to survive its deadliest trials. If Crescent City's mix of oppressive regime, dual perspectives, and slow-burn romance drew you in, Tahir's world-building delivers the same emotional weight with a Roman-inspired setting and one of YA fantasy's most complex romantic arcs.
- 7
Iron Flame
by Rebecca Yarros
The direct sequel to Fourth Wing — if you've already fallen for Violet and Xaden, this is your next stop. Higher stakes, more revelations about the war and the world, and a relationship put through its most brutal test. Readers who loved Crescent City's escalation from Book 1 to Book 3 will recognize the same structural ambition here.
- 8
Shadow and Bone
by Leigh Bardugo
An orphaned soldier discovers she possesses a rare and world-altering power, drawing her into the orbit of the Darkling — the most powerful and morally complicated figure in the Grishaverse. Bardugo builds an immersive world with the same attention to myth and faction politics that makes Crescent City's Midgard so compelling.
- 9
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
by Sue Lynn Tan
Xingyin is the daughter of Chang'e — the Moon Goddess — raised in hiding in a celestial realm until she must leave to save her mother. Lyrical and epic, this Chinese mythology-inspired quest fantasy captures the same sense of a vast magical world with profound personal stakes that makes Crescent City's mythology so satisfying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crescent City a complete series?
Yes. As of 2024, the Crescent City trilogy is complete with three books: House of Earth and Blood (2020), House of Sky and Breath (2022), and House of Flame and Shadow (2024). Sarah J. Maas has not announced additional books in the main Crescent City storyline, though the world remains part of her interconnected Maas-verse.
What order should I read the Crescent City books?
Read them in publication order: House of Earth and Blood (Book 1), House of Sky and Breath (Book 2), and House of Flame and Shadow (Book 3). This page is for readers who have finished all three. If you've only finished Book 1, see our separate 'What to Read After House of Earth and Blood' guide.
Is Crescent City connected to ACOTAR?
Yes — significantly so. House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) contains major crossover events with the ACOTAR world. Sarah J. Maas has recommended finishing the ACOTAR series before reading Crescent City Book 3 to avoid spoilers for both series. The Throne of Glass world also has connections introduced in Book 3.
What should I read after House of Flame and Shadow?
If you want to stay in the Maas-verse, ACOTAR (starting with A Court of Thorns and Roses) and Throne of Glass (starting with Throne of Glass) are the two other interconnected series. For similar urban fantasy energy with a different author, From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout delivers comparable heat and mythology. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is the closest match for Crescent City's romantasy balance.