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Throne of Glass Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start with Throne of Glass (2012).

The high fantasy series follows Celaena Sardothien, an infamous assassin who, after a year of hard labor, accepts the offer of Crown Prince Dorian Haviliard to compete for the chance to serve as the tyrannical King of Adarlan's Champion in exchange for her freedom, leading her to uncover deep conspiracies and her own hidden heritage.

Where to start

Start with Throne of Glass (2012).

  • •The Assassin's Blade is a prequel collection; most fans read it after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire.
  • •Tower of Dawn happens at the same time as Empire of Storms; read it before Kingdom of Ash.

Community Consensus

Medium Debate

"The main point of contention regarding the 'Throne of Glass' reading order centers on when to read the prequel collection, 'The Assassin's Blade' (TAB, sometimes referred to as 'Ranger Archives'). There are two dominant, strongly held opposing views: reading TAB first (chronological order) or reading it after the third book ('Heir of Fire') to maximize emotional impact and plot reveals for the later half of the series. Regardless of when it is read, there is strong consensus that TAB must be read before the fourth book ('Queen of Shadows')."

Key Reddit Advice

The most common specific recommendation for maximizing narrative impact is to read the series in this sequence: Throne of Glass (Book 1), Book 2, Book 3 (Heir of Fire), then The Assassin's Blade (TAB/Prequel), followed by Book 4 (Queen of Shadows) and the rest of the series.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order8 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Throne of Glass

Pub: 2012

After she has served a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, Crown Prince Dorian offers assassin Celaena Sardothien her freedom on the condition that she act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

2

Crown of Midnight

Pub: 2013

Plot details hidden until you finish "Throne of Glass".

She is the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But where will her conscience, and her heart, lead her? After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.Keeping up the deadly charade-while pretending to do the king's bidding-will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice. Where do the assassin's loyalties lie, and who is she willing to fight for?

3

The Assassin's Blade

Pub: 2014

Plot details hidden until you finish "Crown of Midnight".

Celaena Sardothien owes her reputation to Arobynn Hamel. He gave her a home at the Assassins' Guild and taught her the skills she needed to survive. Arobynn's enemies stretch far and wide - from Adarlan's rooftops and its filthy dens, to remote islands and hostile deserts. Celaena is duty-bound to hunt them down. But behind her assignments lies a dark truth that will seal her fate - and cut her heart in two forever... Explore the dark underworld of this kick-ass heroine and find out how the legend begins in the five page-turning prequel novellas to the Throne of Glass series.

4

Heir of Fire

Pub: 2014

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Assassin's Blade".

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak-but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth…a truth about her heritage that could change her life-and her future-forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

5

Queen of Shadows

Pub: 2015

Plot details hidden until you finish "Heir of Fire".

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire-for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past... She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight. She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return. Celaena's epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena's story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

6

Empire of Storms

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "Queen of Shadows".

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't. With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what -- and who -- to sacrifice if she's to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

7

Tower of Dawn

Pub: 2017

Plot details hidden until you finish "Empire of Storms".

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the king of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken. His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica - the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them. But what they discover in Antica will change them both - and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

8

Kingdom of Ash

Pub: 2018

Plot details hidden until you finish "Tower of Dawn".

Years in the making, Sarah J. Maas’s #1 New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series draws to an epic, unforgettable conclusion. Aelin Galathynius’s journey from slave to king’s assassin to the queen of a once-great kingdom reaches its heart-rending finale as war erupts across her world. . . Aelin has risked everything to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day… With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last line of defense to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet they soon realize that the many allies they’ve gathered to battle Erawan’s hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation―and a better world. And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen―before she is lost to him forever. As the threads of fate weave together at last, all must fight, if they are to have a chance at a future. Some bonds will grow even deeper, while others will be severed forever in the explosive final chapter of the Throne of Glass series.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read Throne of Glass in?

Start with Throne of Glass (2012).

How many books are in Throne of Glass?

7 main books, published 2012–2018, plus 1 side story.

Can I read Throne of Glass out of order?

It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.

Which books in Throne of Glass are prequels, novellas or side stories?

"The Assassin's Blade" (prequel). Each is placed in the reading order below.

Is there a chronological order for Throne of Glass?

Yes. In story order the series begins with "The Assassin's Blade" rather than "Throne of Glass". Switch the list below to Chronological to see the full timeline.