Throne of Glass Series Order: A Complete Reading Guide
The Throne of Glass series order is a popular topic among fantasy readers who are ready to enter Sarah J. Maas's expansive world of magic, assassins, kingdoms, romance, and epic battles. With multiple novels and a prequel collection, new readers often wonder where they should begin and whether they should read the books in publication order or use an alternative reading sequence.
Written by Sarah J. Maas, the Throne of Glass series follows Celaena Sardothien, a talented young assassin whose life changes dramatically after she is offered an opportunity to compete for her freedom. What begins as a competition eventually develops into a much larger story involving ancient powers, political conflicts, friendships, romance, and the fate of entire kingdoms.
Understanding the reading order can make the experience easier and help readers appreciate how the story develops.
How Many Books Are in the Throne of Glass Series?
The main Throne of Glass story consists of seven novels, beginning with Throne of Glass and concluding with Kingdom of Ash. There is also a prequel collection called The Assassin's Blade, which contains five novellas connected to Celaena's earlier life.
The complete reading experience therefore includes eight books or book-length collections, depending on how The Assassin's Blade is counted.
The books are:
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
And the prequel collection:
- The Assassin's Blade
Throne of Glass Series in Publication Order
For first-time readers, publication order is one of the simplest ways to approach the series.
1. Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass introduces Celaena Sardothien, a notorious assassin who has spent time imprisoned in a brutal labor camp. Her opportunity for freedom arrives when Crown Prince Dorian Havilliard offers her a chance to compete in a dangerous competition.
The competition brings Celaena to the royal court, where she encounters powerful enemies and begins uncovering secrets surrounding the kingdom.
The first book establishes the major characters, setting, political environment, and fantasy elements that become increasingly important throughout the series.
2. Crown of Midnight
Crown of Midnight continues Celaena's journey after the events of the first novel. Her role at the royal court becomes more complicated as she faces new responsibilities and difficult decisions.
The book expands the world and begins revealing information that changes the reader's understanding of the kingdom and its history.
3. Heir of Fire
Heir of Fire significantly expands the scope of the series. Celaena travels away from the setting of the first two books and begins confronting painful aspects of her past.
New characters and locations are introduced, and the story begins moving toward the larger conflict that eventually dominates the series.
For many readers, this is the point where Throne of Glass develops from a court-centered fantasy into a much larger epic.
4. Queen of Shadows
Queen of Shadows brings several storylines together. Celaena's identity, relationships, abilities, and responsibilities become increasingly important.
The novel contains major character developments and significant changes to the political situation. Readers who enjoyed the earlier books often find this installment especially rewarding because several previously established elements begin connecting.
5. Empire of Storms
Empire of Storms raises the stakes considerably. The characters face increasingly dangerous enemies while alliances and relationships become more complicated.
The story expands across multiple locations and focuses heavily on the growing conflict that will eventually determine the future of the world.
This book is also notable for its emotional moments, major revelations, and large-scale fantasy elements.
6. Tower of Dawn
Tower of Dawn takes place alongside the events of Empire of Storms and follows characters in a different part of the world.
Because it focuses on Chaol Westfall and introduces vibecrafthope or develops several important characters, it provides information that becomes relevant to the final part of the series.
Some readers are tempted to skip this book because it follows a different group of characters. However, it contributes important world-building and story developments and is generally recommended as part of the complete reading experience.
7. Kingdom of Ash
Kingdom of Ash is the final novel in the main series. It brings together the characters, conflicts, relationships, and mysteries developed throughout the previous books.
The novel provides the conclusion to the central storyline and delivers the large-scale battles and emotional resolutions readers have been building toward.
Because of its position as the finale, reading the earlier books in order is particularly important before starting Kingdom of Ash.
Where Does The Assassin's Blade Fit?
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Throne of Glass series order is where to read The Assassin's Blade.
The Assassin's Blade is a collection of five prequel novellas that explore Celaena's life before the events of Throne of Glass. They provide additional information about her past, relationships, experiences, and the world around her.
There are two common approaches.
Read The Assassin's Blade First
Reading The Assassin's Blade before Throne of Glass gives you background information about Celaena before beginning the main story.
This approach can provide additional context from the beginning and allows readers to understand more about her history.
Read It After Crown of Midnight
Some readers prefer to read The Assassin's Blade after Crown of Midnight. By this point, readers are already familiar with Celaena and her circumstances, so the prequel stories can carry additional emotional weight.
This is a popular option for readers who want to discover Celaena's past gradually.
For a first-time reader, either approach can work. Publication order is also perfectly reasonable, but many readers enjoy placing The Assassin's Blade before or around the beginning of the main series.
What Is the Best Reading Order?
If you want a straightforward reading experience, a practical order is:
The Assassin's Blade → Throne of Glass → Crown of Midnight → Heir of Fire → Queen of Shadows → Empire of Storms → Tower of Dawn → Kingdom of Ash
Another option is to start directly with Throne of Glass, then read The Assassin's Blade before continuing deeper into the series.
The important thing is not to skip the major novels. Each installment contributes characters, history, world-building, or plot developments that become increasingly important later.
Should You Read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn Together?
Some fans use a reading method known as the “Empire of Storms” and “Tower of Dawn” tandem read. This involves switching between the two books according to a specific chapter sequence because their timelines overlap.
The tandem approach can be enjoyable for readers who want to experience the concurrent events together. However, it is not necessary.
If you prefer a simpler reading experience, you can read Empire of Storms followed by Tower of Dawn. This is the easiest approach and avoids constantly switching between books.
Why Reading Order Matters
The Throne of Glass series contains extensive character development and long-running storylines. Events introduced early can become important much later.
Reading the books out of order may lead to confusion about characters, relationships, locations, and major revelations. The series also relies heavily on the gradual development of its world, so experiencing the books sequentially allows the story to build naturally.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the correct Throne of Glass series order can make starting Sarah J. Maas's fantasy saga much easier. The seven main novels follow a continuous story that grows from a relatively contained royal competition into an enormous battle involving kingdoms, magic, ancient forces, and powerful characters.
For a simple reading journey, begin with The Assassin's Blade if you want Celaena's backstory first, then continue with Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and finally Kingdom of Ash.
Whether you choose publication order, chronological placement, or a tandem read for the later books, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. With its memorable characters, intricate world-building, romance, mystery, and epic fantasy storytelling, the Throne of Glass series offers a substantial reading experience for fans of modern fantasy.
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