There have been many debates amongst bookworms in the last decade as fantasy Romance and especially young adult fantasy has come to the forefront. But if there is one thing the reading community collectively agrees on is that reading the Throne of Glass series by the author Sarah J. Maas is an absolute must.
The story of a teenage assassin who goes through countless trials to reclaim her birthright has become a staple in the reading world, and for good reason. With insanely compelling characters, inspiring Maas quotes, intricate world-building and an intriguing storyline full of twists and turns, Throne of Glass has got it all. It was the author’s first series with Bloomsbury Publishing, which has led to A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City. Maas’ true genius though shines in the interlinking of those three worlds and keeps readers on edge trying to figure out how the Maas books are connected.
Back to Throne of Glass, and it seems that the most common question on every bookworm’s lips is the reading order of this fantasy series. Rest assured, fellow bookworms, if you are reading Throne of Glass books for the first time, we have your back. Keep reading as we explain thoroughly all the possible options and then some.
Here are all the books of the Throne of Glass series:
Throne of Glass (2012)
Crown of Midnight (2013)
Heir of Fire (2014)
Assassin’s Blade (2014)
Queen of Shadows (2015)
Empire of Storms (2016)
Tower of Dawn (2017)
Kingdom of Ash (2018)
But beware, valiant bookworms, there are spoilers ahead!
The first book follows the story of Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s assassin. We see her serving a life sentence in the Salt Mines of Endovier, when she receives an offer; become the King’s champion and leave Endovier behind for good. She will follow Crown Prince Dorian and Chaol, the Captain of the Guard, back to Rifthold and the glass castle. There she will be put in a series of trials where she will prevail and reign victorious, being crowned the King’s champion.
However, darkness and intrigue seem to follow her. In a fight for redemption and justice, Celaena has no choice but to risk everything to save Erilea from the cruelty of Adarlan’s King and reclaim what is rightfully hers.
Let’s dive in and explore the possible reading options.
After countless debates over the reading order, Sarah and Bloomsbury seem to take it upon themselves to give a solution; follow the publication order. As we have shown above, three books have been published before the Assassin’s Blade, which is a novella that prequels the whole story.
This reading order would be:
It has been said by many readers that this is the maximum emotional damage order. By the time a reader gets to Assassin’s Blade, they have met Celaena, fought with her, witnessed her friendship with Nehemia, and even discovered her true identity, only to be destroyed more by discovering her relationship with Sam and how her friendship with Ansel turned out. It is also pointed out that locations and characters that will be introduced in later books are mentioned in the Assassin’s Blade, so reading it after those book leads to less confusion for the reader.
Many avid readers prefer their story to take place in chronological order with no back and forths, which is not so unreasonable, considering flashbacks and the stream-of-consciousness narration give us enough insight into a character’s past and memories—let’s all thank Ms. Virginia Woolf for that. If you are one of those readers, then reading the Assassin’s Blade before Throne of Glass is recommended.
This reading order would be:
By reading the series this way, you meet Celaena, feel her struggles, and get to know her before entering the Glass Castle. The greatest advantage to this is that you get to meet the spectacular man that is Sam Cortland and mourn for his untimely loss and the death of all Celaena’s dreams. Going into Throne of Glass after reading the prequel definitely offers more insight into Celaena’s character and her motives, but the pain of Sam’s loss is real and tangible—but I personally would go through it all over again. This way also allows you a more thorough view into the world-building by offering information about the rest of Erilea during the ban of magic. The rest of the books can be read in the publication order after the first conundrum.
Many readers have chosen this order, and it has been widely suggested on Booktok. At just sixteen years old, Maas published bits and pieces of Celaena’s adventure online before Bloomsbury picked up the series. The first book to be published was Throne of Glass in 2012. There we see Celaena’s trials and the book ends with her becoming the King’s Champion. But many unanswered questions about Celaena’s past will remain as such, until the Assassin’s Blade comes in 2014, which shows how Celaena ended up in Endovier. Then the rest of the series follows a linear plot line following the present and the young assassin’s quest for self-discovery.
This reading order would be:
The question is why would a prequel come after the first three books, and to that, dear bookworms, only Sarah can answer. But we have our guesses. Reading about Celaena’s excruciating time in Endovier makes us bond and root for her, but the references of the betrayal and loss that send her there keep us guessing. Reading the prequel after already being acquainted with Celaena will make for a much more emotionally invested read with many answers to be gained. Sam’s death, which is one of the most traumatic events in the young girl’s life, is the catalyst for her imprisonment and will guide her in the adventures to come. After all, there has to be a reason why this specific order was chosen by the publishing house.
These are the three possible and most commonly suggested reading orders. But that’s not all there is to know about reading these Sarah J. Maas books.
Unlike ACOTAR which is linear and pretty straightforward, this New York Times bestseller has two books whose events occur at the same time, hence the tandem read. A tandem read is to literally read two books at the same time, taking turns between them. Because Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn happen at the exact same time on different continents, readers are able to do just that, despite the fact that Empire of Storms was published first.
Empire of Storm is the sixth installment in the series. There Aelin Ashryver Galathynius has fully embraced her Fae heritage and with the help of Rowan, Dorian, Lysandra, Aedion, the cadre, and even Manon, she will chase her destiny. She will attempt to find the lock that she must build in order to put the Wyrdkeys back and stop Erawan, but at what cost?
Chaol is noticeably absent from this book as he is in the Southern Continent, namely in Antica seeking an ally in the mighty khagan and the famous rukhin. After having been greatly injured and paralyzed in Queen of Shadows, Chaol will also seek a healer from the renowned Torre Cesme. Chaol’s recovery and his romance with Yrene Towers are the main storylines in Tower of Dawn.
As both stories unfold, more information about the Valg and how deeply they have infiltrated Erilea is discovered in both books. More relationships are also formed during those dire times—coughs in Manorian. The chapters are interchanged based on the discoveries made and the time that passes. There is even a specific guide for bookworms who want to attempt the tandem read—which we definitely recommend.
If you follow this guide, then Tower of Dawn and Empire of Storms will blend seamlessly. We must warn you, though, to brace yourself for the final chapter of Empire of Storms, as they are known to bring even the strongest to their knees. The fact that this reading experience finishes with Tower of Dawn, which has a relatively happy ending, is a blessing in disguise after the final pages of Empire of Storms.
With the tandem read, the action is non-stop, all characters are active participants and the reader can keep track and feel gaps in the narrative with each new piece of information revealed. Another major reason to do the tandem read is the cliffhanger the EoS leaves you at. Pulling through the next book, which has a completely different storyline, must be an absolute struggle that will keep your blood boiling for way too long. By doing the tandem read, you are one step closer to reading the phenomenal conclusion of the story.
If there is one fantasy book series you pick up in your life, let it be Throne of Glass. This SJM masterpiece will make you wish there was more, and thus a book hangover—one of the most common bookworm problems—begins.
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Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.
Yes, you can skip Throne of Glass and get straight to Crescent City. Although all the Sarah J. Maas books are connected, reading Throne of Glass is not necessary before reading Crescent City. Crescent City has its own completed storyline, however, at the end of House of Flame and Shadow there are clear indications that Aelin’s and Bryce’s words are connected.
Yes, the SJM books are connected. But it is not necessary to read all of them to follow the storyline. Maas has made sure to leave Easter eggs in all of her books that hint to connections and prompt the readers to look for answers, but each series can be read and enjoyed on each own.
The Assassin’s Blade focuses on Celaena’s teenage years and her struggles as Adarlan’s assassin. It precedes Throne of Glass chronologically, so for readers who want to read the series in chronological order, Assassin’s Blade should come first. The rest of the books follow a linear progression.
Always living in her own enchanted little world, Christina discovered the magic that can be hidden within the pages of a book when one dares to take a closer look from a tender age. An avid reader, she is constantly inspired to delve into the secrets woven between the lines and challenges herself to find her own voice amidst the chaos. She is a dedicated fan of the classics, but the supernatural creatures that have tormented readers for years are her kryptonite. The mastery it takes to infuse the author's essence, molded by the era they grew up in to their innermost desires fascinates her. Undoubtedly, putting her passion and knowledge on paper has a mesmerizing allure on her, and following the steps of so many other dreamers before her she wishes to leave her mark in the literary world. Guided by T.S Eliot’s haunting words: “I will show you fear in a handful of dust” she intends to wreak havoc in the minds of her future readers.
