Throne Of Glass Sarah J Maas Books In Order Novels & Stories

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.

I just finished binge-reading the 'Throne of Glass' series, and figuring out the order was a bit tricky at first. The best way to dive in is to start with the original 'Throne of Glass' novel. It introduces Celaena Sardothien, the assassin with a heart of gold, and sets the stage for everything that follows. After that, move on to 'Crown of Midnight' and 'Heir of Fire' to see her journey unfold.

Next, read 'Queen of Shadows' and 'Empire of Storms' back-to-back because the stakes get higher, and the lore deepens. 'Tower of Dawn' is a parallel story to 'Empire of Storms,' focusing on Chaol and Nesryn, so you can read it after or alongside. Finally, cap it off with 'Kingdom of Ash,' the epic conclusion that ties everything together. If you want extra backstory, 'The Assassin’s Blade,' a prequel collection of novellas, can be read either before the series or after 'Heir of Fire' for maximum emotional impact.

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.