Crown of Midnight

Sarah Janet Maas, born on March 5, 1986, is a renowned American fantasy author celebrated for her captivating series, including Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Crescent City. With her impressive literary accomplishments, as of 2022, Maas has sold over twelve million copies of her books, reaching readers in 37 languages worldwide.

Growing up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City, Maas was raised in a Jewish household, with a Catholic mother and Jewish father. During her childhood, she found joy in crafting stories inspired by popular tales and myths. Even in her youth, she explored her creative talents by writing Sailor Moon fanfiction.

Education played a vital role in shaping her writing career. In 2008, Maas graduated magna cum laude from Hamilton College in Clinton, Oneida County, New York, where she majored in creative writing and minored in religious studies. In 2010, she tied the knot with her husband, Josh.

Remarkably, Maas began writing her debut novel, Throne of Glass, at the young age of sixteen. Titled Queen of Glass at the time. The series, based on the story of Cinderella with a unique twist, pondering "What if Cinderella was not a servant, but an assassin? And what if she didn't attend the ball to meet the prince, but to kill him, instead?" The novel garnered significant attention, and in 2008, Maas started sending it to agents. She eventually signed with Tamar Rydzinski of The Laura Dial Literary Agency in 2009. Bloomsbury purchased Throne of Glass in March 2010, acquiring two additional books in the series. Available in 15 countries and 35 languages, the series was supplemented by four prequel novellas, later condensed into The Assassin's Blade along with an original novella. Crown of Midnight, the second book, earned a spot as a New York Times young adult best-seller. The series concluded with Kingdom of Ash, the seventh book, and the novella collection.

Maas's second fantasy series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, presented a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Although written in 2009, the first book of the trilogy was published in 2015 due to its exceptional success. The original series expanded, and a spin-off series featuring other beloved characters was announced. The fourth book, A Court of Silver Flames, was released on February 16, 2021.

In May 16, 2018, Maas unveiled her first adult fantasy series, Crescent City. House of Earth and Blood, the first book, released on March 3, 2020, received critical acclaim and ranked among the top twenty Science Fiction & Fantasy books of 2020 on Kobo. The sequel, House of Sky and Breath, followed on February 15, 2022, with the third installment, House of Flame and Shadow, scheduled for release in January 2024.

Acknowledging her impact on readers, Maas ranked as the fifth most popular author on Goodreads from 2016 to 2021.

Despite her immense success, Maas faced challenges in 2023. The St. Johns (Florida) County School District removed three of her books and quarantined another. Furthermore, an article in The Verge revealed that the UK edition of House of Earth and Blood featured an AI-generated cover image.

In a candid interview with Writers & Artists, Maas shared her inspiration as a writer, citing movie scores and classical music. She expressed that her love for reading and writing fantasy was ignited by books like Sabriel by Garth Nix and The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley. Her storytelling prowess, particularly character development, received acclaim for crafting morally grey characters and rich world-building.

For Maas, writing is a thrilling journey of discovery. Her books are praised for their heavy romantic themes, and she acknowledged that her fantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses appeals to a wide audience, bridging between young adult and adult genres.