Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass is one of the most popular fantasy series; it has eight books, including a collection of prequel novellas, making it a massive undertaking, but it’s absolutely worth the read.
When you look for the Throne of Glass reading order, you will be recommended to read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn, the fifth and sixth books in the series, simultaneously. This is what we call “tandem read,” and it is the best way to enjoy the series!
To get the most out of the story, you should read both books at the same time and switch between chapters at specific intervals.
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If you aren’t sure how to tandem read Throne of Glass series, worry not. In this article, you will find exactly how to read both books in tandem to prepare yourself for the finale!
How to Tandem Read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn?
No matter which Throne of Glass reading order you follow, you should read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn simultaneously, as it will help you enjoy the series better.
The events of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn happen simultaneously but focus on different characters. You should follow the guide below to read them together, as it will help you keep the timeline straight in your head.
So, here’s how you should tandem read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn:
- Empire of Storms – Nightfall
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 1 to 5
- Tower of Dawn – Chapter 1
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 6 to 8
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 2 & 3
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 9 & 10
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 4 to 6
- Empire of Storms – Chapter 11
- Tower of Dawn – Chapter 7
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 12 & 13
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 8 to 10
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 14 to 16
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 11 & 12
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 17 & 18
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 13 to 16
- Empire of Storms – Chapter 19
- Tower of Dawn – Chapter 17
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 20 to 23
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 18 to 21
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 24 & 25
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 22 & 23
- Empire of Storms – Chapter 26
- Tower of Dawn – Chapter 24
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 27 to 29
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 25 to 28
- Empire of Storms – Chapter 30
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 29 to 31
- Empire of Storms – Chapter 31
- Tower of Dawn – Chapter 32
- Empire of Storms – Chapter 32
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 33 to 35
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 33 to 51
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 36 & 37
- Empire of Storms – Chapter 52
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 38 to 40
- Empire of Storms – Chapter 53
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 41 & 42
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 54 to 56
- Tower of Dawn – Chapter 43
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 57 to 59
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 44 to 48
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 60 & 61
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 49 to 51
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 62 & 63
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 52 & 53
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 64 & 65
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 54 to 56
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 66 & 67
- Tower of Dawn – Chapter 57
- Empire of Storms – Chapters 68 to 75
- Tower of Dawn – Chapters 58 to 68
- Tower of Dawn – Fireheart
Why Should You Tandem Read Throne of Glass Series?
If you are wondering why everyone recommends reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn together, then it’s because these two books happen at the same time in the overall timeline, and reading them together gives you a fuller, more connected experience of the story.
In Empire of Storms, the main plot follows Aelin and her crew as they fight to gather allies and prepare for war. At the same time, Tower of Dawn follows Chaol and Nesryn as they travel to the Southern Continent to seek healing and political alliances.
While Empire of Storms was published before Tower of Dawn, and many readers experienced it that way, it isn’t the recommended method.
The ending of Empire of Storms is insane, and you’d want to get the next book and learn what will happen. But that doesn’t happen in Tower of Dawn because it takes you on a completely different journey. And you can’t read Tower of Dawn first because its ending gives away the plot of Empire of Storms, so that’s also a no-go!
Even though the characters are separated, both books are happening simultaneously, and events in one directly impact the other. If you read one book fully before the other, you miss the real-time buildup of tension, world-building, and key reveals that Sarah J. Maas carefully wove into both narratives.
To solve this issue, the reading community came up with the perfect solution: to tandem read the books!
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By tandem reading, you experience the two storylines side by side, making major moments hit harder, especially as both plots race toward the same point in Kingdom of Ash.
The most significant advantage of tandem reading is that it creates a more cohesive understanding of what’s happening across the entire world of Throne of Glass during this critical time.
In short, tandem reading turns two separate books into one epic, parallel adventure—one that makes the final book even more satisfying when all the threads finally come together.
Can I Skip Tower of Dawn?
No, you absolutely cannot!
I understand that Tower of Dawn takes place on a completely different continent and with new characters, they are critical to what will happen in Kingdom of Ash, the final book in the series. Plus, there are reveals about the previous books that you don’t want to miss!
Can I Just Read One Book First And Then The Other?
Yes, you can, and many readers originally read them this way as they were released. However, you may miss some of the tension and connections that build up when reading them separately.
If you read Empire of Storms first, its explosive ending would make you want to skip Tower of Dawn and jump right into Kingdom of Ash, and if you read Tower of Dawn first, you will spoil many events that happen in Empire of Storms.
This is why you need to read them simultaneously, as tandem reading allows you to experience the parallel timelines as they were intended to align.
More Books by Sarah J. Maas: