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Series Guide
Throne of Glass Books in Order
By Sarah J. Maas · 8 published volumes · Complete
Read Sarah J. Maas's complete 8-volume Throne of Glass series in order, see where The Assassin's Blade fits, and decide whether the optional tandem read is right for you.
Start with: Throne of Glass
About this series
This Throne of Glass books in order guide helps you read Sarah J. Maas's complete eight-volume Throne of Glass saga in the clearest order.
If you are new to TOG, start with Throne of Glass and continue through the series in publication order. For most first-time readers, The Assassin's Blade works best after Crown of Midnight, and Tower of Dawn should be read before Kingdom of Ash.
8 volumes published · Series complete
Quick answer: read Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, The Assassin's Blade, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash. The tandem read is optional, not required.
Read more about this series
If you are new to TOG, start with Throne of Glass and continue through the series in publication order. For most first-time readers, The Assassin's Blade works best after Crown of Midnight, and Tower of Dawn should be read before Kingdom of Ash.
8 volumes published · Series complete
Quick answer: read Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, The Assassin's Blade, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash. The tandem read is optional, not required.
Throne of Glass Reading Order
Recommended first-time reading order
For most first-time readers, the best Throne of Glass reading order is publication order with The Assassin's Blade placed after Crown of Midnight.
- 1
Throne of Glass
2012
Book 1. Introduces Celaena, Adarlan, and the court-centered opening conflict.
- 2
Crown of Midnight
2013
Book 2. Deepens the mystery, politics, and early identity reveals.
- 3
The Assassin's Blade
2014
Prequel collection. Chronologically first, but commonly placed after Crown of Midnight on a first read.
- 4
Heir of Fire
2014
Book 3 in the main novel sequence. Expands the world and raises the fantasy scale.
- 5
Queen of Shadows
2015
Book 4. Pulls earlier threads together and makes the prequel backstory pay off.
- 6
Empire of Storms
2016
Book 5. Escalates the war and sets up the parallel-story reading debate.
- 7
Tower of Dawn
2017
Book 7 in the complete set. Essential parallel novel and not safe to skip before the finale.
- 8
Kingdom of Ash
2018
Book 8 in the complete set and the finale of the complete saga.
Where Should You Read The Assassin's Blade?
Recommended first-time order
Throne of Glass → Crown of Midnight → The Assassin's Blade → Heir of Fire → Queen of Shadows → Empire of Storms → Tower of Dawn → Kingdom of Ash. This follows current Bloomsbury guidance.
Chronological order
The Assassin's Blade → Throne of Glass → Crown of Midnight → Heir of Fire → Queen of Shadows → Empire of Storms → Tower of Dawn → Kingdom of Ash. Choose this if you prefer timeline order.
Assassin's Blade decision guide
The Assassin's Blade is chronologically first, but many readers prefer it after Crown of Midnight because the prequel then lands with more emotional weight. It should be treated as one volume in the eight-book set, not as five separate main books.
Current recommended placement: after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire. It is part of the complete series read, not an optional bonus.
Can You Skip Tower of Dawn?
Tower of Dawn is not optional. It contains essential character, political, and magical developments that feed directly into Kingdom of Ash.
Read Empire of Storms first, then Tower of Dawn, before Kingdom of Ash. Reading Tower of Dawn first can spoil parts of Empire of Storms.
Should You Tandem Read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn?
You can, but you do not need to. The tandem chapter order is fan-created rather than official, so the standard publication order remains the simplest first-time path.
Final stretch
Kingdom of Ash is the finale and should be read only after both Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn are complete.
The complete set contains 7 full-length novels and 1 prequel novella collection. Kingdom of Ash is the finale.
Reading Order Notes
These Throne of Glass reading order notes clarify the prequel collection, Tower of Dawn placement, complete-series status, and optional tandem handoff.
Why publication order works
The recommended sequence preserves the intended progression of character development, reveals, and worldbuilding while placing The Assassin's Blade before later books draw more heavily on its backstory.
Do You Need to Read The Assassin's Blade?
Yes, for the complete Throne of Glass reading experience. It is a prequel novella collection rather than a standard full-length novel, and the current recommended placement is after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire.
Should you tandem read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn?
You can, but you do not have to. The tandem read is a fan-created optional method that interleaves the two novels because they overlap in timeline. Standard publication order still works perfectly, and most readers can read Empire of Storms followed by Tower of Dawn without issue.
New to Throne of Glass? Start Here
Start with Throne of Glass, then Crown of Midnight, The Assassin's Blade, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash.
New to this series? Start here
Throne of Glass
Best first entry point for Throne of Glass. Start with Throne of Glass, place The Assassin's Blade after Crown of Midnight for the strongest first-read experience, and save the tandem read for later if you want it.
Buy first book on BookshopSeries at a glance
8
Published volumes
7
Full-length novels
Complete
Series status
1
Prequel collection
Tandem optional
Empire of Storms + Tower of Dawn
Best first read: Throne of Glass
Prequel placement: The Assassin's Blade works best after Crown of Midnight for most first-time readers.
Final stretch: Read Tower of Dawn before Kingdom of Ash.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Throne of Glass reading order?
For most readers, the correct Throne of Glass reading order is: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, The Assassin's Blade, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash. That is the order shown in Sarah J. Maas's official reading guide.
Is the Throne of Glass series complete?
Yes. Throne of Glass is complete: 8 published volumes made up of 7 full-length novels and 1 prequel novella collection, The Assassin's Blade. Kingdom of Ash is the finale.
Should I start Sarah J. Maas with Throne of Glass?
You can. Sarah J. Maas's official reading guide says readers can start with the series that appeals to them most. Throne of Glass is a strong entry point if you want a completed epic fantasy arc with romance, larger worldbuilding, and long-form character growth.
When should I read The Assassin's Blade?
The current recommended first-time placement is after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire. The Assassin's Blade is chronologically first, so reading it first is also acceptable if you prefer timeline order.
Should I read The Assassin's Blade first?
Yes, you can read it first for chronological order. For a first read, Bloomsbury currently recommends placing it after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire.
Is The Assassin's Blade required?
Yes, if you want the complete series experience. It is a prequel collection, but it adds important backstory, relationships, and context that matter later in the saga.
Can I skip Tower of Dawn?
No. Tower of Dawn contains essential character, political, and magical developments that feed directly into Kingdom of Ash.
What is the Throne of Glass tandem read?
The tandem read is a fan-created optional method that interleaves Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn because the two books overlap in timeline.
Is the tandem read required?
No. The standard order works perfectly, and most readers can simply read Empire of Storms followed by Tower of Dawn.
Should I read Tower of Dawn before Empire of Storms?
No. The standard order is Empire of Storms first, followed by Tower of Dawn, unless you are deliberately doing a tandem read.
How many Throne of Glass books are there?
There are 8 published volumes in the complete set: 7 full-length novels and 1 prequel novella collection, The Assassin's Blade. The individual novellas are not separate main-series books.
Can any Throne of Glass book stand alone?
No. Throne of Glass is a cumulative epic fantasy saga, so each later installment depends on earlier character relationships, magic, and political developments.