Forget ACOTAR, Sarah J. Maas’ 3-Part Book Series Is The Better Adaptation Choice

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With Hulu’s plans for a A Court of Thorns and Roses series falling through, it’s a great moment to think about adapting another book series by Sarah J. Maas. Maas is a leading author in the popular “romantasy” genre, known for combining epic fantasy settings and intricate plots with compelling love stories. However, she’s not alone – authors like Rebecca Yarros, Callie Hart, Devney Perry, Danielle L. Jensen, and Hannah Nicole Maehrer are also hugely successful in romantic fantasy and are attracting attention from both readers and production companies.

Amazon MGM Studios is creating a TV series based on Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing and a movie based on Danielle Perry’s Shield of Sparrows. Meanwhile, Netflix has acquired the rights to Callie Hart’s Quicksilver for a significant amount of money. Legendary Television is developing Maehrer’s Assistant to the Villain into a TV show, and Red Sage Studios is planning a movie adaptation of Jensen’s The Bridge Kingdom, the first of a six-book series. This is an exciting time for fans of romantasy, as the genre is gaining a lot of attention in Hollywood.

Despite their popularity, Sarah J. Maas’s books haven’t yet seen much adaptation. Recently, she confirmed that the planned Hulu series for A Court of Thorns and Roses is no longer happening, and there are no announcements about adaptations of her other books. While adapting A Court of Thorns and Roses made sense given its popularity, Maas has since written Crescent City, another complex adult fantasy novel that could be a standout in the increasingly crowded world of romantasy adaptations.

Crescent City’s Setting Sets It Apart From The Romantasy Competition

Popular romantasy series like A Court of Thorns and Roses often take place in fantastical worlds reminiscent of medieval times—think kingdoms at war, royal families, magical creatures, and plenty of sword fighting. This type of setting is common in the genre. Upcoming books such as Fourth Wing and Quicksilver promise even more of these classic elements—from ancient castles and secret fortresses to sweeping landscapes of hills, rivers, and mountains—providing plenty of visual spectacle for readers and future adaptations.

Unlike many fantasy stories, Crescent City feels surprisingly modern. It blends magical elements like shapeshifters, angels, and demons with a very realistic setting – a bustling city much like our own. Characters use smartphones, watch reality TV, and get around on motorcycles. The main character, Bryce Quinlan, embodies this contrast – she’d rather spend her time clubbing in a skyscraper apartment than relaxing in the countryside.

Crescent City offers a captivating mix of classic fantasy and modern life. With many fantasy adaptations planned, its distinctive world-building could make it stand out, especially since it would be simpler and more affordable to film on real locations. Another advantage is the series’ relatively short length – only three books currently, with a fourth on the way – making it easier to adapt than the sprawling, eight-book A Court of Thorns and Roses saga.

A TV series based on Crescent City could potentially lead into a future adaptation of A Court of Thorns and Roses. The stories do connect – Bryce Quinlan meets characters from the Night Court. Although the third Crescent City book happens after the fifth A Court of Thorns and Roses book, A Court of Silver Flames, a TV show could use this connection to introduce the world of Prythian in a fresh way, effectively creating a shared universe for Sarah J. Maas’s books. The timelines don’t need to be perfectly aligned for the adaptation to stay true to the original stories, as changes like these are common in TV and movie adaptations.

What Sarah J. Maas Has Said About Her Book Adaptations

There were reports last year that Hulu had cancelled its planned series. Author Sarah J. Maas recently confirmed this in an interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast. She also shared exciting news for fans: she’s planning three more books in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series (books six and seven are available for pre-order), and she discussed her hopes for future adaptations of her novels.

The author recently told podcast host Alex Cooper that she now owns the rights to all of her work. She explained that regaining those rights had been a major focus for her over the last few years. She also wants to be closely involved in any future adaptations – things like the script, visual design, who gets cast, and even the music.

I see TV and movie adaptations as extensions of the worlds I’ve built in my stories, and I really want to oversee them myself. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I’m eager to learn every aspect of the filmmaking process – not to control things, but because I’m passionate about movies and TV. I want to be involved and ensure the adaptations stay true to my vision and what I believe fans would enjoy.

I never want to be told to alter my work to specifically target a certain group of people. That’s not how I approach creating art or telling stories. When I work on a project, it will be authentically me, and I’ll put my full effort into getting it right. I’ll be heavily involved in all aspects of the design, but especially the sound, because music is a crucial element. The music itself will be a massive undertaking.

The author is currently focused on releasing her next two books in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, with the sixth coming out October 27th and the seventh scheduled for January 12, 2027. She’s also working on an eighth book in that series, along with the fourth Crescent City novel. This means plans for TV or movie adaptations are on hold for now. However, a Crescent City adaptation would be incredibly exciting, and could potentially lead to more of Sarah J. Maas’s books being made into films or shows.

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2026-04-18 23:12