The Ultimate 3-Step Guide: What Order To Read The Throne Of Glass Series In 2025

Deciding on the perfect reading order for Sarah J. Maas's epic fantasy series, Throne of Glass, is one of the most debated topics in the book community. As of late 2024 and early 2025, new readers are still wrestling with the crucial question of when to read the prequel novella, The Assassin's Blade, and how to tackle the infamous dual narrative of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. This guide cuts through the confusion, presenting the three definitive reading orders—including the fan-favorite 'Optimal Order'—so you can experience the saga of Aelin Galathynius, the greatest assassin in Erilea, with maximum emotional impact and minimal spoilers.

The Throne of Glass series is a sprawling, high-stakes journey involving assassins, fae royalty, dark magic, and a quest to save the continent of Erilea from a demonic threat. With a total of eight books—seven full-length novels and one collection of novellas—the order you choose will fundamentally change how you perceive the main character's journey, her relationships with key entities like Rowan Whitethorn and Chaol Westfall, and the devastating sacrifices she makes. We strongly recommend the 'Optimal Order' below for the best reading experience.

The Complete Throne of Glass Series: Publication and Chronological Order

The entire Throne of Glass saga consists of seven main books and one prequel collection, The Assassin's Blade, which is comprised of five separate novellas. Understanding the publication history is key to grasping why the reading order is so complex.

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• Book 0.5: The Assassin's Blade (Prequel Novellas, Published 2014)
• Book 1: Throne of Glass (Published 2012)
• Book 2: Crown of Midnight (Published 2013)
• Book 3: Heir of Fire (Published 2014)
• Book 4: Queen of Shadows (Published 2015)
• Book 5: Empire of Storms (Published 2016)
• Book 6: Tower of Dawn (Published 2017)
• Book 7: Kingdom of Ash (Published 2018)

The core debate centers on The Assassin's Blade, which details Celaena Sardothien's life before she became the King's Champion, and the two concurrent books, Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. These choices impact the reveal of major plot points, the emotional weight of character backstories, and the pacing of the overall narrative arc.

The Three Best Ways to Read the Throne of Glass Series

While there are only eight physical books, there are three widely accepted and recommended ways to read the series. The best order for you depends on whether you prioritize plot flow, character development, or following the author's original release schedule.

1. The Chronological Order (The Story-First Approach)

This order follows the timeline of events within the world of Erilea, starting with the earliest events in the protagonist's life. This is often recommended for readers who prefer all backstory up front, though it can spoil the mystery surrounding Celaena's past.

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1. The Assassin's Blade (Prequel)
2. Throne of Glass (Book 1)
3. Crown of Midnight (Book 2)
4. Heir of Fire (Book 3)
5. Queen of Shadows (Book 4)
6. Empire of Storms (Book 5)
7. Tower of Dawn (Book 6)
8. Kingdom of Ash (Book 7)

Pros: You get the full backstory of Aelin Galathynius and her relationship with Sam Cortland right away, making her motivations in the first two books clearer. It's a straightforward timeline.

Cons: The emotional impact of the reveals in Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows is significantly lessened. The tone of The Assassin's Blade is also very different from the main series, which can be jarring for a first-time reader.

2. The Publication Order (The Author's Approach)

The publication order is how Sarah J. Maas originally released the books. She designed the narrative to unfold this way, meaning she controlled the pacing of the reveals, including the crucial information contained in the prequel.

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1. Throne of Glass (Book 1)
2. Crown of Midnight (Book 2)
3. The Assassin's Blade (Prequel)
4. Heir of Fire (Book 3)
5. Queen of Shadows (Book 4)
6. Empire of Storms (Book 5)
7. Tower of Dawn (Book 6)
8. Kingdom of Ash (Book 7)

Pros: This is the intended reading experience. Placing The Assassin's Blade after Crown of Midnight provides necessary context and emotional weight right before the protagonist's journey takes a major turn in Heir of Fire. It also breaks up the initial, more "young adult" feeling of the first two books.

Cons: Some readers feel the break in the main storyline's momentum is awkward.

3. The Optimal Reading Order (The Fan-Favorite Choice)

This is the most highly recommended order by the majority of the Throne of Glass fandom. It combines the best of both worlds, maximizing emotional impact and character understanding, particularly for the pivotal journey to Wendlyn.

1. Throne of Glass (Book 1)
2. Crown of Midnight (Book 2)
3. The Assassin's Blade (Prequel)
4. Heir of Fire (Book 3)
5. Queen of Shadows (Book 4)
6. Empire of Storms (Book 5)
7. Tower of Dawn (Book 6)
8. Kingdom of Ash (Book 7)

Note: This order is identical to the Publication Order in terms of book placement. The reason it’s considered "Optimal" is due to the placement of The Assassin's Blade, which provides critical emotional context for Aelin's inner turmoil and her ultimate destiny before she begins her training with the Fae Prince Rowan Whitethorn in Heir of Fire. The emotional gut punch is perfectly timed.

The Essential Tandem Read: Empire of Storms & Tower of Dawn

The most crucial piece of 'expert' advice for reading the Throne of Glass series is the Tandem Read for Books 5 and 6, Empire of Storms (EOS) and Tower of Dawn (TOD). This is where the reading order truly becomes unique and challenging.

Why the Tandem Read is Necessary:

• Concurrent Timelines: Empire of Storms follows Aelin's journey in Erilea, while Tower of Dawn follows Chaol Westfall's journey in Antica. Both books take place at the exact same time.
• Pacing and Spoilers: If you read one after the other, you will be left with a massive cliffhanger at the end of Empire of Storms and then have to read an entire 700-page book about a secondary character's plotline before getting resolution. Furthermore, Tower of Dawn contains major world-building and character reveals (including for Manon Blackbeak and Dorian Havilliard) that are essential for the final book, Kingdom of Ash (KOA).
• Emotional Payoff: Reading them simultaneously, chapter by chapter, allows you to experience the full scope of the war effort, the political machinations in Antica, and the separate developments of key characters like Yrene Towers and the Khagan's heirs, all while maintaining the breakneck pace of Aelin's story.

To execute the tandem read, you will need a specific chapter-by-chapter guide (easily found online by searching "Throne of Glass Tandem Read Guide"). The general idea is to alternate between the two books, often reading 2-4 chapters of Empire of Storms before switching to 2-4 chapters of Tower of Dawn, ensuring the climaxes of both narratives build together before diving into the epic conclusion, Kingdom of Ash.

Key Entities and Characters to Track

The world of Throne of Glass is rich with complex characters and interconnected locations. Keeping track of these entities will deepen your appreciation for the series' scope and the intricate political landscape of Erilea:

• Aelin Galathynius (Celaena Sardothien): The true identity of the protagonist, the lost Queen of Terrasen, and the central figure of the entire saga.
• Rowan Whitethorn: The Fae Prince and Queen’s consort who becomes Aelin’s essential partner and mentor.
• Dorian Havilliard: The Crown Prince of Adarlan, a loyal friend, and a powerful magic user.
• Chaol Westfall: The former Captain of the Guard whose journey is central to Tower of Dawn.
• Manon Blackbeak: The fearsome Witch-Queen of the Thirteen and a pivotal anti-hero.
• Lysandra: A shapeshifting courtesan who becomes one of Aelin's most loyal allies.
• Yrene Towers: A healer whose destiny becomes intertwined with Chaol and the fate of Erilea.
• Erilea: The continent where most of the action takes place, including the kingdoms of Adarlan and Terrasen.
• Rifthold: The capital city of Adarlan, where the first books are set.
• Wendlyn: The Fae kingdom where Aelin undergoes her transformative training.
• Wyrdkeys and Wyrdgates: Ancient magical artifacts and portals that are the source of the demonic threat.
• The Thirteen: Manon’s coven of Winged Blackbeak Witches.
• The Valg: The demonic, interdimensional beings threatening the world.
• Terrasen: Aelin's ancestral kingdom, which she strives to reclaim.
• The God of Truth: A pivotal deity in the world's mythology.

By following the Optimal Reading Order—starting with Throne of Glass, inserting The Assassin's Blade before Heir of Fire, and executing the Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn Tandem Read—you are setting yourself up for the most rewarding, emotionally resonant, and satisfying experience of this monumental high fantasy series.