What Is The Recommended Reading Order For The Throne Of Glass Series?

2026-07-31 08:19:04
177
Share
ABO Personality Quiz
Take a quick quiz to find out whether you‘re Alpha, Beta, or Omega.
Scent
Personality
Ideal Love Pattern
Secret Desire
Your Dark Side
Start Test

4 Answers

Tristan
Tristan
Plot Explainer Accountant
This series order thing always trips people up. The core order is 'Throne of Glass', 'Crown of Midnight', 'Heir of Fire', 'Queen of Shadows', 'Empire of Storms', 'Tower of Dawn', and finally 'Kingdom of Ash'. The big debate is about the prequel collection, 'The Assassin's Blade'. Some say read it first for chronological backstory, but I was glad I didn't.

I started with 'Throne of Glass' and got hooked on Celaena’s attitude and the immediate plot. Going back to the prequel after book three, 'Heir of Fire', made those stories hit way harder emotionally. You understand the weight of the names and faces she remembers. Reading it first would have softened some of the mystery and impact, I think. The tandem read of 'Empire of Storms' and 'Tower of Dawn' is a whole other level of commitment I personally skipped, but I’ve heard it smooths out the parallel timelines. I just read them in published order and was fine.
2026-08-01 23:41:56
9
Naomi
Naomi
Helpful Reader Journalist
Read 'The Assassin's Blade' first. Seriously. I ignored the 'read it later' advice and went chronological, and it made Celaena’s journey from the very first chapter of 'Throne of Glass' so much more meaningful. You get her arrogance, her trauma, her references to Sam—it all lands immediately. It transforms her from a seemingly vain assassin into a deeply wounded character right out the gate. The other order feels like backtracking. The only tricky part is 'Tower of Dawn'. It runs alongside 'Empire of Storms', and some people get frustrated leaving one cliffhanger for a whole book on another continent. I didn’t mind the shift; Chaol’s story needed its own space.
2026-08-04 16:44:54
12
Ezra
Ezra
Bookworm Journalist
My recommendation hinges on patience. If you're the type who needs relentless forward momentum, go: 'Throne of Glass', 'Crown of Midnight', 'Heir of Fire', THEN 'The Assassin's Blade'. It acts as an emotional flashback right when the main story’s scale expands, deepening her past before the final push. After that, 'Queen of Shadows', 'Empire of Storms'. For 'Tower of Dawn' and 'Kingdom of Ash', published order works. The tandem read is for re-reads, in my opinion—too much page-flipping for a first timer. The series evolves so much in tone; starting with the prequels might give a slightly misleading impression of the epic fantasy it becomes. The reading order debate is almost a rite of passage for the fandom.
2026-08-05 15:40:19
16
Ruby
Ruby
Reviewer Sales
Just follow the publication order. 'Throne of Glass', 'Crown of Midnight', 'Heir of Fire', 'The Assassin's Blade', 'Queen of Shadows', 'Empire of Storms', 'Tower of Dawn', 'Kingdom of Ash'. It's how the author released them and how the story was originally structured for reveals and emotional payoff. All the other arrangements are interesting experiments, but this is the straightforward path that worked for millions.
2026-08-06 20:12:49
11
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

Related Questions

What is the best reading order for Throne of Glass books?

4 Answers2026-07-20 03:54:35
For maximum emotional devastation, which let's be honest is why we read SJM, try this: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, THEN 'The Assassin's Blade', then Heir of Fire. You get the initial mystery, the first big reveals about her past in Crown of Midnight, then IMMEDIATELY get the full, brutal backstory. It makes Heir of Fire, her rock-bottom moment, hit with the force of a freight train. You understand every scar, every flinch. It's a tough read emotionally, but incredibly cohesive.

Is there a recommended reread order for the Throne of Glass series?

7 Answers2026-07-20 04:02:59
Listen, the tandem read of 'Empire' and 'Tower' is praised to the skies, but it's not for everyone. It requires a level of organization that kills the fun for me. I like to be absorbed in one story. I'd say read 'Empire' first, then 'Tower'. Yes, it's a cliffhanger, but 'Tower' acts as this brilliant, tense respite before the final storm. The whiplash is part of the experience.

What is the correct reading order of Throne of Glass series?

3 Answers2026-07-30 12:03:19
Ugh, the reading order debate. This one's got more opinions than the royal court has assassins. For anyone just picking up 'Throne of Glass' now, it's not as simple as publication order, mostly because of 'The Assassin's Blade'. I read the prequel after 'Crown of Midnight' and honestly, that's the sweet spot. You get to know Celaena in the main story first, so when you jump back to the novellas, her past hits harder. It makes her actions and attitude in the early books way more understandable. Trying to start with the prequel can feel like a slog because you don't have the context to care yet. Plus, you'd spoil some reveals in the first couple novels. Some people swear by reading it after 'Heir of Fire', but that feels too late to me—you're already deep in the epic fantasy shift by then. The tandem read of 'Tower of Dawn' and 'Empire of Storms' is the other big thing. I didn't do it, and I regretted it. The pacing is so much better if you weave them together, even if it's a bit of a logistical nightmare with two books.

Is there a recommended reading order of Throne of Glass novellas?

3 Answers2026-07-30 07:29:45
I see a lot of folks overcomplicating this. Honestly, the 'correct' reading order debate is a rabbit hole. The novellas in 'The Assassin's Blade' were published after the main series started but are prequels. Reading them first gives you her backstory with Sam and the Assassin's Guild, so Celaena's bitterness and certain later character reveals in 'Heir of Fire' and 'Queen of Shadows' hit harder from the start. But some argue for slotting the collection in after 'Crown of Midnight'. The main series throws you right into Endovier, and you learn about her past alongside the present plot. That worked for me; discovering what happened in Skull's Bay or with the Silent Assassins as a mystery made the eventual payoff in the prequels feel earned. Either way, just pick one and dive in. The story's solid enough that you won't ruin it.

What is the best order to read Throne of Glass books?

8 Answers2026-07-19 20:11:53
Wait, people are out here reading these in a different order? I just... read the next one on the shelf. Was I supposed to have a strategy? I feel like I've been playing a game on easy mode without knowing it.

what order to read throne of glass series

3 Answers2025-08-01 00:20:29
I binge-read the 'Throne of Glass' series last summer, and trust me, the order matters! Start with 'The Assassin's Blade'—it’s a prequel collection of novellas that sets up Celaena’s backstory and makes her journey in 'Throne of Glass' hit harder. Then go straight into 'Throne of Glass', 'Crown of Midnight', and 'Heir of Fire'. The middle books like 'Queen of Shadows' and 'Empire of Storms' are where the plot explodes, so don’t skip ahead. Finish with 'Tower of Dawn' (yes, it’s Chaol’s book, but it’s crucial) and wrap up with 'Kingdom of Ash'. Reading in this order keeps the emotional payoff intact. The world-building and character arcs flow perfectly this way.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status