Introduction
If you have these days fallen down the BookTok rabbit hollow or eventually determined to look what all of the fuss is ready regarding Sarah J. Maas, welcome. You are reputation at the precipice of one of the maximum epic delusion sagas ever written: the Throne of Glass collection.
However, earlier than you click on “purchase” on the complete series, there may be a assignment you want to stand. It is a project that has sparked heated debates amongst lovers for years: What is the great Throne of Glass series order?
Do you begin with the prequel novellas to get the entire backstory? Do you observe the ebook order to enjoy the twists as the author supposed? And what in the world do you do while you get to Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn— books that arise at the precise equal time?
In this comprehensive manual, we are capable of solution those kind of questions and more. We will offer you with multiple analyzing orders (collectively with a available desk), sure book summaries, and the closing method to make sure you experience Celaena Sardothien’s adventure with maximum emotional impact.
What is the Throne of Glass Series About?
Before we dive into the complicated analyzing orders, it’s miles vital to recognize the arena you’re about to go into.
The Throne of Glass series order, written with the aid of Sarah J. Maas, is a excessive-fable saga that follows Celaena Sardothien, the maximum infamous assassin in Adarlan . When we first meet her, she is a prisoner serving a lifestyles sentence in the brutal salt mines of Endovier. However, the Crown Prince, Dorian Havilliard, gives her a deal: compete in a deadly match to turn out to be the King’s Champion—the royal murderer—and earn her freedom after 4 years of service .
What begins as a smooth competition tale brief spirals right into a big epic regarding misplaced kingdoms, historical magic, demonic forces, and a heroine who ought to decide whether or not she is a killer, a queen, or some element else definitely. Inspired by using a “what if” state of affairs of Cinderella—”What if Cinderella have become an assassin and went to the ball to kill the prince?”—Maas has crafted a international full of political intrigue, coronary heart-wrenching romance, and characters with a view to live with you all the time .
The series includes seven core novels and a fixed of prequel novellas, totaling 8 books.
The Core Books at a Glance
Here is the whole listing of books within the Throne of Glass universe. Note that The Assassin’s Blade is a compilation of 5 novellas.
| Book Title | Book Number/Type | Original Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| The Assassin’s Blade | Prequel Novellas | 2014 |
| Throne of Glass | Book 1 | 2012 |
| Crown of Midnight | Book 2 | 2013 |
| Heir of Fire | Book 3 | 2014 |
| Queen of Shadows | Book 4 | 2015 |
| Empire of Storms | Book 5 | 2016 |
| Tower of Dawn | Book 6 | 2017 |
| Kingdom of Ash | Book 7 | 2018 |
**Note: While The Assassin’s Blade was posted in 2014, its memories take region chronologically earlier than Throne of Glass .*
The Great Debate: How to Read the Throne of Glass Series Order
Because the prequel novellas had been launched after the number one two books, readers are often left pressured about in which to begin. There isn’t any single “correct” manner, but great orders yield wonderful emotional payoffs. Let’s find out the three primary strategies.
1. The Publication Order (Author Recommended)
This is the order wherein the books were released to the area. Sarah J. Maas and her writer, Bloomsbury, often suggest this because the definitive way to experience the story as it mirrors the author’s evolving writing style and ensures that mysteries found in later books aren’t spoiled through earlier context .
The Publication Order:
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
Why pick this order?
- Suspense: It preserves the thriller of Celaena’s beyond. You discover about her records best at the same time as the writer supposed you to.
- Pacing: Reading The Assassin’s Blade after Crown of Midnight acts as a first rate emotional gut-punch flashback right in advance than the stakes are raised in Heir of Fire .
2. The Chronological Order (Timeline Accurate)
If you’re a purist who likes memories to spread within the exact order they take area in-universe, this is the order for you. This method places The Assassin’s Blade first.
The Chronological Order:
- The Assassin’s Blade (Prequel)
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
Why choose this order?
- Context: You witness the activities that formed Celaena into the hardened prisoner we meet inside the salt mines. Her trauma, her relationships with Sam and Arobynn, are clean to your mind .
- Emotional Connection: Knowing exactly what she has misplaced makes her initial cold demeanor in Throne of Glass even more poignant .
3. The Romantic/Emotional Explosion Order (Fan Favorite)
This order has obtained large traction in fan communities (particularly on Reddit and BookTok) as it maximizes the emotional devastation of certain famous. It pushes The Assassin’s Blade even similarly again.
The Emotional Order:
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- The Assassin’s Blade (Prequel)
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
Why pick out this order?
By the time you finish Heir of Fire, you are completely invested in Celaena/Aelin’s adventure. You have visible her at her lowest and most. Then, losing into The Assassin’s Blade acts as a huge flashback that explains why she is the manner she is. It turns the prequel into one lengthy, heartbreaking “starting location story” that hits with first rate pressure proper earlier than the collection’ climax starts in Queen of Shadows .
The Tandem Read: Mastering Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn
Regardless of which critical order you pick, you could in the end hit a unique mission: Empire of Storms (Book five) and Tower of Dawn (Book 6). These novels stand up concurrently but comply with exquisite sets of characters. Empire of Storms specializes in Aelin and her courtroom docket gearing up for battle, finishing on a huge cliffhanger. Tower of Dawn follows Chaol Westfall on a separate diplomatic venture to the Southern Continent .
Many readers discover it jarring to finish Empire of Storms on a large cliffhanger most effective to spend a whole ebook with a selected individual (Chaol) in advance than returning to the precept motion. This is why the Tandem Read turned into born.
How to Tandem Read
The Tandem Read includes switching between the 2 books to revel in the occasions in actual-time. You will need every physical books (or ebooks) and a manual. Here is the essential bankruptcy breakdown :
| Step | Empire of Storms (EoS) Chapters | Tower of Dawn (ToD) Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chapters 1 – 19 | – |
| 2 | – | Chapters 1 – 16 |
| 3 | Chapters 20 – 34 | – |
| 4 | – | Chapters 17 – 29 |
| 5 | Chapters 35 – 52 | – |
| 6 | – | Chapters 30 – 49 |
| 7 | Chapters 53 – 66 | – |
| 8 | – | Chapters 50 – 58 |
| 9 | Chapters 67 – End | – |
| 10 | – | Chapters 59 – End |
Pros of Tandem Reading:
- Chronological Alignment: You get the overall story within the right timeline order.
- No Cliffhanger Lag: You avoid the scary pause between the cliffhanger of EoS and the selection in Kingdom of Ash .
- Balanced Pacing: It breaks up the slower, extra person-pushed plot of ToD with the excessive-octane motion of EoS.
Cons of Tandem Reading:
- Logistics: It requires carrying books round and following a manual.
- Tonal Whiplash: Switching many of the dark, struggle-targeted EoS and the recovery-centered ToD can experience jarring for a few readers .
If you are a fast reader who hates cliffhangers, the Tandem Read is tremendously advocated.
Detailed Book Summaries (Spoiler-Free)
To will let you your journey, here is a quick have a observe what awaits you in every installment.
The Assassin’s Blade (Prequel)
This collection of five novellas follows Celaena Sardothien because the protégé of the King of the Assassins, Arobynn Hamel. It statistics her exploits inside the wasteland with the Silent Assassins, her paintings at the seas, and most importantly, her dating with Sam Cortland. It is a story of loyalty, betrayal, and the tragic occasions that prompted her capture and imprisonment in Endovier .
Throne of Glass (Book 1)
Celaena Sardothien is dragged from the darkness of the salt mines to the glittering glass fort. She must compete towards 23 unique assassins, thieves, and warriors in a series of trials to become the King’s Champion. As opposition begin turning up dead, Celaena realizes the fortress holds a darkish magic that is some distance more unstable than the opposition .
Crown of Midnight (Book 2)
Now serving because the King’s Champion, Celaena is ordered to kill the king’s enemies. But she is stopping a mystery war, faking deaths and protecting the harmless. As she digs deeper into the fortress’s mysteries and the king’s energy, a shattering tragedy forces her to confront the fact about her beyond and her future .
Heir of Fire (Book 3)
Haunted and damaged, Celaena is sent at some point of the sea to Wendlyn. There, she is forced to teach with the Fae warrior Rowan Whitethorn. In Adarlan, Chaol and a modern-day best friend, General Aedion Ashryver, try to rise up in opposition to the king, on the same time as a contemporary danger emerges from the North: the Ironteeth Witch, Manon Blackbeak. This e-book highly expands the arena’s scope .
Queen of Shadows (Book 4)
Celaena returns to Adarlan—however she is not simply an assassin. She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, the rightful Queen of Terrasen. Now, she need to assemble a revolt, unfastened her cousin Aedion, store her friend Dorian from a demonic ownership, and spoil the king who ruined her existence .
Empire of Storms (Book 5)
The war is coming. Aelin and her developing courtroom have to adventure across Erilea, calling in debts and forging alliances to face against the Valg armies. As the internet of conflict tightens, Aelin have to confront the fact that a few debts demand the closing price—and that her hearth may not be sufficient to preserve they all .
Tower of Dawn (Book 6)
Taking area on the equal time as Empire of Storms. Chaol Westfall, broken in frame and spirit, travels to the restoration metropolis of Antica inside the Southern Continent. His project is to solid an alliance with the Khagan’s army, however his journey becomes one in all recuperation, self-forgiveness, and coming across a strength that might turn the tide of the struggle back domestic .
Kingdom of Ash (Book 7)
The final warfare. Aelin is a captive of the Fae Queen Maeve, enduring unspeakable torture. Her buddies are scattered internationally, preventing desperate battles to keep Terrasen together. This 1,000-web page end brings each individual, every plot line, and each state together for an earth-shattering, emotional finale .
Where Does it Fit in the Maas-verse?
For those trying to read all of Sarah J. Maas’s books (in conjunction with A Court of Thorns and Roses and Crescent City), there’s a growing consensus at the quality common order to avoid spoilers and seize Easter eggs.
While Throne of Glass modified into written first, many enthusiasts now endorse analyzing A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) first, followed by way of Throne of Glass, and ending with Crescent City .
The Expanded Sarah J. Maas Reading Order:
- ACOTAR Series: An less difficult get right of entry to thing into Maas’s style.
- Throne of Glass Series: The epic fantasy that deepens the lore.
- Crescent City Series: The maximum complex, with interdimensional crossovers.
Critical Note: You honestly ought to read Throne of Glass series order and ACOTAR earlier than the 0.33 Crescent City E-book (House of Flame and Shadow) to keep away from large, universe-spanning spoilers .
Conclusion
Choosing your Throne of Glass series order is a private selection. If you want the classic experience, go together with Publication Order. If you need a linear timeline, pick Chronological Order. If you want the very first-class emotional stakes, try the Fan Favorite Order.
No rely which course you’re taking, you’re in for an unforgettable trip. Celaena Sardothien’s journey from a broken prisoner to a legendary queen is a masterpiece of modern-day fable.
