Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series is one of the most popular fantasy book series ever, so it’s natural that you’d want to read it as soon as possible. If you are ready to start this fantasy epic but don’t know how to read Throne of Glass books in order, then I am here to help you!
In the Throne of Glass series, the focus is on a teenage assassin named Celaena Sardothien. She lives in a kingdom ruled by a cruel king and experiences many trials and tribulations throughout the books, eventually culminating in the final book published in 2018.
If you are in a hurry, below is the best order to read Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass books!
The Best Throne of Glass Reading Order:
You can follow two different reading orders—the “Purist” and the “Romantic” orders. Below, you’ll find the “Romantic” order, as that’s the most recommended order. I’d personally recommend you follow it to read the books in that order.
The author, Sarah J. Maas, wrote Throne of Glass years before it was published. It wasn’t until 2012 that the first book in the series was published, followed by seven others, including a prequel. There were also talks of a TV series appearing on Hulu, but nothing has happened yet.
Besides the Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas is also the author of another popular fantasy series, A Court of Thorns and Roses!
How Many Throne of Glass Books Are There?
Throne of Glass series is a YA fantasy series consisting of 8 books, including the prequel novella collection.
In this book series, we meet a teenage assassin who has been suffering in a slave camp. After a year, she is offered a chance to compete to become the King’s Champion. If she does and wins, then in four years, she will become free.
The book series has been well received, appearing on the New York Times best-seller list and even being marked for a television series. Over the years, it won many awards, such as the Best Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction in the Goodreads awards in 2015 and 2018.
How to Read Throne of Glass Series in Order?
There are two different ways to read Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series: the “Purist order,” which is the order of publication, or the “Romantic order.”
The only reason two different reading orders exist is because of the book titled “The Assassin’s Blade,” which is a collection of five novellas published before the main series.
So, when people are all set to start reading the Throne of Glass series, their first question often is whether to start with Throne of Glass or The Assassin’s Blade. The answer to that question is really simple.
If you want to read the books in the series according to their publication date, it’s perfectly fine. But if you are looking for a more impactful emotional connection to the characters and the stories, following the “Romantic order” might be a good idea.
I’ll leave the decision about which order to read the Throne of Glass series to you. I’ll list both orders, and you can choose the one you like the best!
Throne of Glass Series in Order of Release Date – The “Purist Order:”
In this order, you start reading the series with The Assassin’s Blade, which consists of the 5 novellas, and then start with the main series. The order to read the books is as follows:
- The Assassin’s Blade – Prequel
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
Recommended Throne of Glass Reading Order – The “Romantic Order:“
Apart from reading the Throne of Glass series in order of publication, you can also read it in the “Romantic order,” which makes more sense plot-wise. In this order, you will read the first three books in the main series, then The Assassin’s Blade, and then continue with the rest.
Follow the below list to read the series in Romantic order:
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- The Assassin’s Blade (2014) – Prequel
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
Should You Read Tower of Dawn or Skip It?
Unlike other book series, where each book focuses on the main characters, Tower of Dawn doesn’t focus on the protagonist.
It’s so different that many readers choose to ignore it entirely and start reading Kingdom of Ash after reading Empire of Storms. However, that’s not the right thing to do because the events in Tower of Dawn are vital to the series’ conclusion. Skipping the book would make it hard to understand certain things in the final book.
I understand that you’d want to skip a book that doesn’t focus on the protagonist and doesn’t pick up right where the last book ended, especially when the last book ended on a cliffhanger, but do not skip Tower of Dawn as it features events happening at the same time as Empire of Storms.
A better solution to this problem is to “tandem read” Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. By reading both books simultaneously, you won’t feel disconnected from the story.
If you don’t know how to read these two books in tandem, I’ll guide you!
How to Tandem Read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn?
No matter which Throne of Glass reading order you’re following, you should read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn at the same time, 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
All Throne of Glass Books in Order (with Summaries):
1. Throne of Glass (2012)
Celaena Sardothien is living a difficult life. This formally renowned assassin has been living a year in a slave camp as punishment.
When given a chance for freedom, she jumps at the opportunity right away… though there is a catch. To gain this freedom (which will have her serving as the King’s Champion). Celaena must survive a competition where she will go up against over two dozen people.
What seems like a straightforward competition turns into something else entirely when the people she is supposed to fight start dropping dead. Celaena has no problem with killing, but she didn’t do it. Will she end up becoming the next victim?
2. Crown of Midnight (2013)
When Celaena was in the slave camp, she thought about going out every day, so she took the first opportunity to leave. Though it didn’t go according to plan, Celaena is no longer in the slave camp but works as the King’s Champion. She hates him passionately and only pretends to be on his side.
Despite her feelings, she tries to appear loyal, but it isn’t easy. People suspect something, even those who are close to her. When Celaena notices something strange going on in the castle and starts putting her nose where it doesn’t belong, it only raises even more suspicions.
Everything comes to a head one particular night, leaving Celaena shaken. She may have thought getting out of the slave camp would solve her problems, but now it seems like her problems are only getting started.
3. Heir of Fire (2014)
The next book to read in the Throne of Glass books in order list is Heir of Fire! Our heroine, Celaena, has been through many difficult situations even though she is still in her teenage years.
First, she was a trained assassin who spent a year suffering in a slave camp. Then, she got a chance to join a competition and fight to the death, and she ended up becoming the King’s Champion. It’s not a position she wanted, but if it meant leaving the slave camp, then so be it.
It was supposed to be a step up, but things went awry. Now, Celaena has left her homeland, forced to travel to this land she knows nothing about. One reason she’s there is to learn about her past, something she isn’t sure she wants to figure out!
4. The Assassin’s Blade (Prequel)
The Assassin’s Blade is the prequel to the Throne of Glass series. In this series, the protagonist, Celaena, works as a deadly assassin for her master, Arobynn Hamel. He is a cruel man, and Celaena despises working for him. If she can slight him, then she will jump at the chance to do so.
During her work as an assassin, Celaena had many adventures that took her all over the world. In The Assassin’s Blade, her past adventures that take place before the events of Throne of Glass are told in a series of five novellas. These novellas include:
- The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
- The Assassin and the Healer
- The Assassin and the Desert
- The Assassin and the Underworld
- The Assassin and the Empire
5. Queen of Shadows (2015)
Celaena has finally discovered her true identity. She is more than a deadly assassin, eventually forced to serve as the King’s Champion. She is Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen.
It’s not something she ever expected to learn about herself, but now that Celaena knows the truth, she knows what she must do. There can be no more running.
In Queen of Shadows, Celaena returns to the kingdom and is ready to take her rightful place on the throne. It will require her to fight the king she had once reluctantly worked for… a brutal king who isn’t afraid to take lives. Celaena has plenty of allies by her side, and she will need to call on all of them to defeat this evil king once and for all.
6. Empire of Storms (2016)
Trying to take back a kingdom ripped from you unceremoniously is never easy. Celaena, or Aelin, as she is going by now, knows this all too well.
She is the long-lost ruler of a kingdom that was stolen from her by a brutal and cruel man. To take it back, Aelin has to engage in war, which hasn’t been easy. People have died, and others have been betrayed. Sure, there have been successes, but they still don’t erase all the difficulties they have faced.
Luckily, Aelin isn’t alone. She has plenty of people by her side, including a warrior prince who has her heart. To save her people, she has to push forward and keep going. However, with a cruel king and things from her past determined to stop her, Aelin knows her work is cut out for her!
7. Tower of Dawn (2017)
Tower of Dawn is a bit different from all the books in the Throne of Glass reading order list because it doesn’t focus on Calaena, aka Aelin.
The book focuses on two characters named Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq. They are desperate and have traveled to Antica for many reasons. One of the biggest ones is to get Yrene Towers, a great healer, to heal Chaol.
Only Yrene can heal his injuries, but the main issue is that Yrene doesn’t want to help. Helping Chaol, given his status and place of origin, triggers her because of past things she has dealt with.
At the same time, Yrene took an oath as a healer, and that oath eventually wins out. Reluctantly, she agrees to help Chaol, but her agreeing to help the mysterious Lord thrusts all three characters into chaos.
8. Kingdom of Ash (2018)
We are put back into Aelin’s point of view, and things aren’t going so well. She wanted to save her people. In doing so, she got put in an iron coffin, locked in there by the Queen of the Fae herself!
Every day is torture, but Aelin knows she must keep pushing forward. If she doesn’t, she’s afraid she will give in to that Queen, who will be more than happy to hurt her people and all those she cares about.
Aelin is a strong woman. However, a person can only take so much. Her friends outside her iron coffin may be Aelin’s only hope of surviving her current predicament. Hopefully, she will be able to hold on until that moment comes!
FAQs about the Throne of Glass Series:
Is Throne of Glass Series Complete?
Yes, the Throne of Glass series is complete. You can start binge-reading the books without waiting for the next title.
Is Throne of Glass Spicy?
The series falls under the Young Adult genre, so it’s not as spicy as you’d expect. Of course, the story has romance and some spicy elements, but it’s not highly detailed.
When to Read The Assassin’s Blade?
The Assassin’s Blade is a collection of 5 prequel novellas, and it can be read before you start reading the series. However, most readers suggest reading it after Heir of Fire and before Queen of Shadows to get the best reading experience.
What Order to Read Throne of Glass Series?
The best order to read the Throne of Glass series is the “Romantic order.” In this order, you start with Throne of Glass, then read Crown of Midnight and Heir of Fire.
After that, you should read The Assassin’s Blade, then Queen of Shadows, and follow it up with Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash.
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