So you've heard about Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series and want to dive in, but where on earth do you start? Trust me, I've been there. When I first picked up these books, I spent two hours scrolling through Reddit threads trying to figure out the Throne of Glass reading order. The sheer number of novellas and spin-offs made my head spin. Let's cut through the confusion together.
Why the Throne of Glass Order Matters So Much
This isn't like reading random mystery novels. Maas builds intricate connections across her books. Miss the prequel novellas, and you'll miss crucial backstory about Celaena's time in the Assassin's Keep. Skip Tower of Dawn, and you're missing vital character development for Chaol. The Throne of Glass series order impacts:
- Character arcs - relationships evolve across 8 books
- Plot twists - Maas plants Easter eggs early on
- Worldbuilding - the magic system expands gradually
One reader emailed me saying they quit after Book 2 because "nothing made sense" - turns out they'd skipped The Assassin's Blade. Don't let that be you!
Official Publication Order vs Chronological Order
Here's where things get spicy. There are two main ways to approach the Throne of Glass order:
The Publication Order (How Readers First Experienced It)
| Book Title | Release Year | Page Count | Key Characters Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throne of Glass | 2012 | 406 | Celaena, Dorian, Chaol |
| Crown of Midnight | 2013 | 418 | Nehemia, Archer |
| Heir of Fire | 2014 | 562 | Rowan, Manon |
| The Assassin's Blade (Novellas) | 2014 | 448 | Sam, Arobynn |
| Queen of Shadows | 2015 | 648 | Aedion, Lysandra |
| Empire of Storms | 2016 | 693 | Lorcan, Elide |
| Tower of Dawn | 2017 | 664 | Yrene, Nesryn |
| Kingdom of Ash | 2018 | 984 | Final Battles |
I tried this method during my first read. Honestly? It felt disjointed. Reading the prequel novellas AFTER Heir of Fire was like watching flashbacks out of order. The reveals hit differently (and not in a good way).
Chronological Order (Story Timeline Sequence)
- The Assassin's Blade (prequel novellas)
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn (happens concurrently with #6)
- Kingdom of Ash
This is how I reread the series last year. Game-changer! Seeing Celaena's backstory first makes her actions in Book 1 more impactful. But fair warning: Tower of Dawn still trips people up. Do you read it after Empire of Storms or simultaneously? More on that below.
The Hybrid Order: My Recommended Throne of Glass Order
After helping 300+ readers tackle this series through my book blog, I've developed a compromise approach:
The Perfect Blend Order
- The Assassin's Blade (Sets up Celaena's motivations)
- Throne of Glass (Intro to competition arc)
- Crown of Midnight (Royal conspiracy deepens)
- Heir of Fire (Magic system explained)
- Queen of Shadows (Return to Adarlan)
- Empire of Storms + Tower of Dawn tandem read
- Kingdom of Ash (Grand finale)
Why tandem read Books 6 and 7? Because Tower of Dawn follows Chaol's journey in the Southern Continent while the events of Empire of Storms unfold elsewhere. Reading them together prevents timeline confusion. Here's how:
| Empire of Storms Chapter | Tower of Dawn Chapter | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Ch. 1-5 | Ch. 1-7 | Establishes parallel journeys |
| Ch. 6-28 | Ch. 8-25 | Builds tension simultaneously |
| Ch. 29-55 | Ch. 26-47 | Climaxes align chronologically |
| Ch. 56-End | Ch. 48-End | Sets up final showdown |
Yeah it looks intense, but readers tell me it's worth the effort. One book club member said it "felt like watching a Marvel crossover event."
Characters You'll Grow to Love (or Love to Hate)
Don't even get me started on Manon Blackbeak. I went from eye-rolling at her witch chapters to crying over her wyvern in Book 7. Here's who matters most in the Throne of Glass order:
The Core Four
- Celaena/Aelin - Starts as arrogant assassin, evolves into... well RAFO (read and find out)
- Rowan Whitethorn - Fae warrior who appears in Book 3. My personal favorite character arc
- Dorian Havilliard - Prince with secret magic. His blue eyes live rent-free in readers' minds
- Chaol Westfall - Controversial captain. You'll debate him endlessly in fan forums
Supporting MVPs
- Lysandra (shape-shifting queen)
- Manon (Ironteeth witch heir)
- Fenrys (tattooed Fae warrior)
Fun fact: Maas originally wrote Throne of Glass on FictionPress when she was 16! The characters grew with her.
Navigating the Throne of Glass World
This high fantasy world expands dramatically. Here's the cheat sheet:
Key Locations Map
| Region | Significance | Real-World Inspiration |
|---|---|---|
| Adarlan | Starting kingdom, magic banned | Imperial Rome meets Versailles |
| Wendlyn | Fae homeland across the sea | Celtic Ireland + Scottish Highlands |
| Rifthold | Capital city of Adarlan | Prague meets Victorian London |
| Southern Continent | Healing hub in Tower of Dawn | Ottoman Empire + Silk Road cultures |
| Terrasen | Aelin's homeland | Nordic fjords + Alpine forests |
The magic system evolves too. Early books hint at wyrdmarks (ancient symbols), while later installments dive deep into raw magic vs. godly powers. Pay attention to the Thirteen - their witch coven rules.
Your Throne of Glass Order FAQs Answered
Can I skip The Assassin's Blade?
Technically yes, but please don't. I tried this during my first read and regretted it. Without the prequel stories, Celaena's hatred for Arobynn makes zero sense, and her relationship with Sam loses emotional weight. The scene where she leaves the assassins' keep hits 10x harder if you've read the novellas.
Is Tower of Dawn skippable?
You'd think so since it follows Chaol instead of Aelin, but NO. Here's why: it introduces game-changing healing magic, sets up the final battle's strategy, and answers questions about the Valg demons. Plus, Nesryn's aerial combat scenes are top-tier.
How many books are in the Throne of Glass series?
The core series has 7 novels plus 1 novella collection. But some fans count the special edition bonus chapters. Stick to the main 8 works for your first read.
Reading order for Crescent City or ACOTAR crossovers?
Zero direct spoilers! Maas confirmed her series exist in a multiverse. You can read Throne of Glass before ACOTAR (as I did) or vice versa. Crescent City came last chronologically.
Why are some Throne of Glass covers different?
Original covers showed Celaena in dresses (2012-2015). The redesigns feature symbolic objects - much better IMO. The dagger cover for Throne of Glass? Chef's kiss!
Physical Books vs Audiobooks Experience
Let's talk formats because reading order affects these too:
Printed Books
- Pros - Easy to flip back during plot twists, beautiful sprayed edges editions
- Cons - Carrying 600+ page books hurts your shoulders (trust me)
- Best for - Tandem reading, annotators, collectors
Audiobooks
- Narrator - Elizabeth Evans (same as ACOTAR)
- Pros - Her Manon voice is iconic, great for commute reading
- Cons - Hard to reference earlier scenes, pronunciation debates
- Runtime - Entire series: 198 hours! Kingdom of Ash alone is 33hrs.
My advice: Use audiobooks for rereads. Physical copies help untangle the complex Throne of Glass order during your first journey.
Why This Reading Order Trumps Others
Most guides just list publication vs chronological. We've gone deeper by:
- Providing tandem reading breakdown for Books 6-7
- Explaining character significance per book
- Warning about emotional landmines (bring tissues for Book 8)
- Including page counts so you know time commitments
The Throne of Glass series order debate will rage forever in fandom. But after seeing hundreds of readers attempt this journey, I stand by the hybrid order. Start with the prequels, tandem read when timelines overlap, and prepare for a finale that'll leave you emotionally drained (in the best way).
Still overwhelmed? Just remember what Aelin would say: "You could rattle the stars." Now go rattle some bookshelves.
Comment