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Series Guide
Throne of Glass Books in Order
By Sarah J. Maas · 8 published volumes · Complete
Use this Throne of Glass books in order guide to start in the right place, follow the full 8-volume TOG reading order clearly, and make the big decisions around The Assassin's Blade, Tower of Dawn, and the optional tandem read with confidence.
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.
Three ways to read Throne of Glass
Recommended emotional-impact 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 is the best balanced path for most new readers.
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. Best if you want every event in timeline order.
Later prequel placement
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. This keeps the opening momentum strongest, but most readers should still read the prequel before Queen of Shadows.
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.
Read it before Queen of Shadows at the latest, and do not think of it as a skippable bonus.
Tower of Dawn and tandem read
Tower of Dawn is not optional. It contains essential character, political, and magical developments that feed directly into Kingdom of Ash.
The tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn is a fan-created optional method. It can be fun if you enjoy chapter-switching, but the standard order works perfectly and is easier for most readers.
Read Empire of Storms before Tower of Dawn unless you are deliberately following a tandem schedule.
Final stretch
Kingdom of Ash is the finale and should be read only after both Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn are complete.
For a spoiler-safe first read, think of Throne of Glass as a complete eight-volume saga with one prequel collection, one parallel main novel, and one optional tandem strategy.
Reading Order Notes
These Throne of Glass reading order notes can help first-time readers understand the safest way to read the series, where the prequel collection fits, and why the final two books matter.
Why publication order works
For most readers, publication order is the best Throne of Glass reading order because it preserves the reveal structure, character growth, and the large-scale fantasy escalation that makes the saga land emotionally.
Should you read The Assassin's Blade first?
The Assassin's Blade is chronologically first, but many first-time readers prefer it after Crown of Midnight because that placement preserves the main story's early momentum while still adding crucial backstory before the series expands.
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.
What is the safest first-time path?
For the cleanest first-time path, read the main story first, place The Assassin's Blade after Crown of Midnight, and finish Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn before 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 + 1
Main novels + prequel
Complete
Series status
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. There are 8 published volumes in the full set: 7 primary novels and the prequel collection The Assassin's Blade.
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 safest first-time answer is to read The Assassin's Blade after Crown of Midnight. That placement preserves the opening momentum while still adding important backstory before the series expands.
Should I read The Assassin's Blade first?
You can read it first for chronological order, but many first-time readers prefer it after Crown of Midnight because the prequel lands with more emotional weight there.
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 primary novels and 1 prequel collection.
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.