The Captain and the Prince
Characters: Dorian, Chaol
Best time: After The Assassin's Blade or before Throne of Glass
Required: No
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Reading Guide
Throne of Glass Bonus Chapters: When to Read Every Extra Scene
The Throne of Glass series has more material than the eight books listed in the main reading order.
This guide places the six commonly tracked bonus and deleted scenes by book, character, spoiler risk and first-time reading priority.
Six Extra ScenesOptional ReadingSpoiler-Aware Placement
Last reviewed August 12, 2026
Throne of Glass Bonus Chapters at a Glance
The main point is simple: these scenes are optional. Use them for extra character context, not as required chapters in the standard series sequence.
The Assassin and the Princess
Characters: Celaena, Nehemia
Best time: After Throne of Glass
Required: No
The Assassin and the Captain
Characters: Celaena, Chaol
Best time: After Throne of Glass
Required: No
Heir of Fire Deleted Scene
Characters: Celaena/Aelin, Rowan
Best time: After Heir of Fire
Required: No
Aelin / Terrasen Bonus Scene
Characters: Aelin and companions
Best time: After Queen of Shadows, before Empire of Storms
Required: No
Chaol and Nesryn Bonus Scene
Characters: Chaol, Nesryn
Best time: After Empire of Storms, before Tower of Dawn
Required: No
Quick Answer: When Should You Read the Bonus Chapters?
For most first-time readers, the best approach is to read the main series normally, then return to the bonus chapters after the book they relate to. That keeps the pace intact while still giving you the extra character material.
The simple rule
Read each bonus scene only after reaching the book directly before its recommended placement.
Expanded Throne of Glass Reading Order with Bonus Chapters
This is an expanded RomantasyOrder reading recommendation, not an official requirement from Sarah J. Maas or Bloomsbury.
1. The Assassin's Blade
2. The Captain and the Prince
3. Throne of Glass
4. The Assassin and the Princess
5. The Assassin and the Captain
6. Crown of Midnight
7. Heir of Fire
8. Heir of Fire Deleted Scene
9. Queen of Shadows
10. Aelin / Terrasen Bonus Scene
11. Empire of Storms
12. Chaol and Nesryn Bonus Scene
13. Tower of Dawn
14. Kingdom of Ash
For the normal book-only sequence, use the Throne of Glass books in order guide →
All Six Throne of Glass Bonus Chapters
Each scene below includes what it is, when to read it, who appears, and why it may be worth adding to your series read.
Bonus Scene 1
The Captain and the Prince
The Captain and the Prince is an early bonus scene focused on Dorian Havilliard and Chaol Westfall before the main events of Throne of Glass.
The scene gives extra context for how Celaena enters the orbit of the Crown Prince and Captain of the Guard before Book 1 begins.
It works especially well as a small bridge if you read The Assassin's Blade before starting Throne of Glass.
Main characters
Dorian Havilliard, Chaol Westfall, Celaena Sardothien as the subject of their discussion
Best time to read
After The Assassin's Blade or before Throne of Glass
Placement
Before Book 1
Required?
No
Why It Is Worth Reading
Read it if you enjoy early Dorian and Chaol, their friendship before the series becomes darker, and seeing Celaena from outside her own perspective.
Bonus Scene 2
The Assassin and the Princess
The Assassin and the Princess is a bonus scene centered on Celaena Sardothien and Nehemia Ytger.
It takes place after Throne of Glass and fits cleanly before Crown of Midnight.
Its value is emotional and relational, giving readers more time with Celaena and Nehemia before the next major stage of the story.
Main characters
Celaena Sardothien, Nehemia Ytger
Best time to read
After Throne of Glass
Placement
Between Books 1 and 2
Required?
No
Why It Is Worth Reading
Read it if you care about Celaena and Nehemia's friendship and want a quieter extra moment before Crown of Midnight.
Bonus Scene 3
The Assassin and the Captain
The Assassin and the Captain is another short bonus scene set after Throne of Glass and before Crown of Midnight.
This one focuses primarily on Celaena and Chaol during the transition into Celaena's role as King's Champion.
You can read it before or after The Assassin and the Princess. Their exact order matters less than reading both after Book 1.
Main characters
Celaena Sardothien, Chaol Westfall
Best time to read
After Throne of Glass
Placement
Between Books 1 and 2
Required?
No
Why It Is Worth Reading
Read it if you want early Celaena and Chaol context before Crown of Midnight develops that relationship further.
Bonus Scene 4
Heir of Fire Deleted Scene
The Heir of Fire bonus material is usually described as a deleted scene involving Celaena/Aelin and Rowan.
Some reading guides place it around the later portion of Heir of Fire, but for a first-time reader, stopping mid-book to insert a deleted scene adds unnecessary complexity.
The cleanest first-time approach is to finish Heir of Fire, then read the deleted scene before Queen of Shadows.
Main characters
Celaena / Aelin, Rowan Whitethorn
Best time to read
After Heir of Fire
Placement
Around the Heir of Fire timeline
Required?
No
Why It Is Worth Reading
Read it if you are invested in Rowan and Aelin and want one more interaction from a major stage in their relationship.
Bonus Scene 5
Aelin / Terrasen Bonus Scene
One later bonus scene follows Aelin and members of her group during the transition from Queen of Shadows toward Empire of Storms.
It is best read after Queen of Shadows and before Empire of Storms because that is the clearest chronological placement.
This guide keeps the full character details broad so readers who have not reached the later books can still use the page without getting unnecessary late-series specifics.
Main characters
Aelin and members of her traveling group
Best time to read
After Queen of Shadows, before Empire of Storms
Placement
Between Books 4 and 5
Required?
No
Why It Is Worth Reading
Read it if you care about Aelin as a future ruler, ordinary people living beyond the main cast, and the emotional meaning of returning toward Terrasen.
Bonus Scene 6
Chaol and Nesryn Bonus Scene
The final major bonus scene commonly listed in TOG bonus guides centers on Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq.
It functions as a bridge into Chaol and Nesryn's Southern Continent storyline before Tower of Dawn.
Tower of Dawn gives you everything required to understand their arrival, but this scene can add extra context around the transition.
Main characters
Chaol Westfall, Nesryn Faliq
Best time to read
After Empire of Storms, before Tower of Dawn
Placement
Between Books 5 and 6
Required?
No
Why It Is Worth Reading
Read it if you want more context for Chaol's physical and emotional state, his relationship with Nesryn, and their journey toward Antica.
Do the Throne of Glass Bonus Chapters Matter?
They matter emotionally more than structurally
None of the six bonus scenes is required to follow the central plot of the series. You can read the seven main novels plus The Assassin's Blade and understand the story without these extras.
The bonus material is most useful for readers who want more character interaction, additional relationship context, small transitional moments and deleted material after finishing the related book.
Throne of Glass Bonus Chapters vs The Assassin's Blade
These are not the same thing
The Assassin's Blade is an officially published collection of five prequel novellas about Celaena Sardothien before Throne of Glass. Those novellas are substantial prequel stories with plot and characters that matter later.
The bonus chapters are shorter extra or deleted scenes released separately through special editions, retailer exclusives and promotional material. Treat The Assassin's Blade as strongly recommended series material and the bonus chapters as optional extras.
Where Do Bonus Chapters Fit With the Tandem Read?
If you are not tandem reading, place the Aelin / Terrasen bonus scene after Queen of Shadows, then read Empire of Storms, then place the Chaol and Nesryn bonus scene before Tower of Dawn.
If you are tandem reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn, do not make the schedule harder than it needs to be. Read the relevant bonus scenes immediately before or after your tandem sequence.
Should First-Time Readers Include Every Bonus Chapter?
Option 1: Keep It Simple
Best for: Readers who dislike complicated reading orders
Read the published books only, then return to the bonus scenes after finishing the series.
Option 2: Add the Most Relevant Scenes
Best for: Readers who want extra character material without stopping for every bonus
Add The Captain and the Prince, the Heir of Fire deleted scene, the Aelin / Terrasen bonus scene, and the Chaol and Nesryn bridge scene.
Option 3: Complete Bonus Reading Order
Best for: Completionists and rereaders
Read all six scenes in the chronological gaps between the main books.
Are the Throne of Glass Bonus Chapters Spoiler-Free?
Not all of them. The safest approach is to read each scene only after reaching the book directly before its recommended placement.
Low-risk placement
The Captain and the Prince before Throne of Glass
Low-risk placement
The Assassin and the Princess after Throne of Glass
Low-risk placement
The Assassin and the Captain after Throne of Glass
Later-series material
Heir of Fire deleted scene after Heir of Fire
Later-series material
Aelin / Terrasen bonus after Queen of Shadows
Later-series material
Chaol / Nesryn bonus after Empire of Storms
Where Can You Read the Throne of Glass Bonus Chapters?
The scenes were originally distributed across different publication channels, including paperback extras, promotional releases and retailer-exclusive editions. Availability can vary by edition, country, retailer and whether an older exclusive edition is still in circulation.
This guide does not reproduce the full copyrighted text of any bonus scene. When looking for a legal copy, prioritize the edition in which the scene was officially published, official author or publisher bonus-content releases, licensed retailer editions and library copies of relevant special editions.
Are There Six Bonus Chapters or More?
For this guide, RomantasyOrder tracks six widely cataloged standalone bonus or deleted scenes outside The Assassin's Blade. The number gets confusing because fans sometimes mix together the five Assassin's Blade novellas, deleted scenes, bonus chapters, exclusive-edition material and promotional content.
This page uses the narrower definition: separately released bonus or deleted scenes connected to the main Throne of Glass timeline, excluding the five published Assassin's Blade novellas.
Bonus Chapters by Character
Celaena / Aelin
The Assassin and the Princess, The Assassin and the Captain, Heir of Fire deleted scene, Aelin / Terrasen bonus scene
Dorian
The Captain and the Prince
Chaol
The Captain and the Prince, The Assassin and the Captain, Chaol and Nesryn bonus scene
Nehemia
The Assassin and the Princess
Rowan
Heir of Fire deleted scene
Nesryn
Chaol and Nesryn bonus scene
For help remembering where everyone fits, use the Throne of Glass characters guide →
Bonus Chapters by Reading Stage
Before Throne of Glass
The Captain and the Prince
Between Throne of Glass and Crown of Midnight
The Assassin and the Princess, The Assassin and the Captain
Around Heir of Fire
Heir of Fire deleted scene
Between Queen of Shadows and Empire of Storms
Aelin / Terrasen bonus scene
Between Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn
Chaol and Nesryn bonus scene
Keep Exploring Throne of Glass
Bonus chapters are optional, but understanding where they fit becomes much easier once you have the main reading order and character map nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Throne of Glass bonus chapters are there?
This guide tracks six widely cataloged bonus or deleted scenes released outside the standard main novels and The Assassin's Blade.
What are the six Throne of Glass bonus chapters?
They are The Captain and the Prince, The Assassin and the Princess, The Assassin and the Captain, the Heir of Fire deleted scene, the later Aelin / Terrasen bonus scene, and the Chaol / Nesryn bonus scene.
Do I need to read the Throne of Glass bonus chapters?
No. They add character and relationship context, but the main series can be understood without them.
When should I read The Captain and the Prince?
The cleanest placement is after The Assassin's Blade and before Throne of Glass.
When should I read The Assassin and the Princess?
Read it after Throne of Glass and before Crown of Midnight.
When should I read The Assassin and the Captain?
Read it after Throne of Glass and before Crown of Midnight.
When should I read the Heir of Fire bonus chapter?
For a first read, the easiest placement is immediately after finishing Heir of Fire. The deleted scene itself fits within the Heir of Fire timeline.
Is there an Empire of Storms bonus chapter?
Bonus material was released with special editions associated with Empire of Storms, including an Aelin-centered scene set after Queen of Shadows and a Chaol / Nesryn scene bridging toward Tower of Dawn.
Is there a Tower of Dawn bonus chapter?
A Chaol and Nesryn bonus scene is commonly associated with the transition into Tower of Dawn. It takes place before the main events of Tower of Dawn.
Are the Throne of Glass bonus chapters in The Assassin's Blade?
No. The Assassin's Blade is a separate collection of five prequel novellas.
Can I skip the bonus chapters on my first read?
Yes. If the expanded reading order feels complicated, read the standard series first and return to the bonus material later.
Are the bonus chapters canon?
They are official Sarah J. Maas bonus or deleted material, but deleted material should not automatically be treated as having exactly the same narrative status as text retained in the final published novels.
Are the bonus chapters included in every edition?
No. Several were originally tied to particular editions, promotional releases or retailers, so availability varies.
Should I read the bonus chapters during the tandem read?
You can, but you do not need to complicate the Empire of Storms / Tower of Dawn tandem schedule. Reading the relevant bonus scenes immediately before or after the tandem is usually simpler.
Editorial Note
This guide distinguishes the standard published series, The Assassin's Blade prequel collection, and separately released bonus or deleted material.
The six-scene bonus list and edition-specific placement information are treated as reading-order guidance, not as a required official sequence.