The Ultimate Throne Of Glass Reading Order: 3 Ways To Conquer Sarah J. Maas's Epic Series

Are you ready to dive into the world of Celaena Sardothien, the most feared assassin in Erilea? Starting the *Throne of Glass* series by bestselling author Sarah J. Maas can feel overwhelming, not because of its size—it spans seven main novels and a prequel collection—but because of the passionate debate over the correct reading order. As of December 15, 2025, the series is complete, but choosing the right path for your first read is critical to maximizing the emotional impact of the story.

This ultimate guide cuts through the confusion, presenting the three most popular and recommended reading orders, including the author's own suggestion and the essential instructions for the infamous "Tandem Read" that connects the narratives of *Empire of Storms* and *Tower of Dawn*. Follow these steps to ensure your journey with Aelin Galathynius, Dorian Havilliard, and Rowan Whitethorn is nothing short of legendary.

The Complete Throne of Glass Book List (The 8 Essential Titles)

Before you choose your reading path, you must know the full list of books in the series. The core narrative is comprised of seven full-length novels, plus a collection of five prequel novellas that are crucial for understanding the main character's backstory and motivations.

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

The main confusion—and the biggest decision you'll make—revolves entirely around when to read the prequel collection, The Assassin's Blade (often abbreviated as *TAB*), and how to handle the concurrent events of Books 5 and 6.

Option 1: The Sarah J. Maas Recommended Order (The "Emotional" Path)

For many years, author Sarah J. Maas has suggested a specific reading order that prioritizes the emotional impact and the mystery surrounding Celaena Sardothien's past. This is the most popular and often recommended method for first-time readers.

The SJM Recommended Reading Order

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

Why This Order Works: Reading *The Assassin's Blade* after Book 2, *Crown of Midnight*, provides critical context and emotional weight to the characters and events that unfold in Book 3, *Heir of Fire*. By this point, you are invested in the main character, and the prequel provides a devastating look at the trauma that shapes her, making her subsequent journey of self-discovery in *Heir of Fire* far more powerful.

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The Trade-Off: You lose some of the initial mystery about Celaena's background that is slowly revealed in the first two books. However, the emotional payoff is generally considered worth it.

Option 2: The Chronological Order (The "World-Building" Path)

This order is the most straightforward and places the events in the exact order they happen within the world of Erilea. It is the best choice if you prefer a linear story progression and want to fully understand the protagonist's life before she is captured and sent to the Endovier salt mines.

The Chronological Reading Order

1. The Assassin's Blade (Prequel Novellas)
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) & Tower of Dawn (Book 6) - The Tandem Read
7. Kingdom of Ash (Book 7)

Why This Order Works: Starting with *The Assassin's Blade* gives you a complete picture of Celaena Sardothien's life as an infamous assassin, her relationships with Sam Cortland and Arobynn Hamel, and the events that led to her enslavement. It provides a rich foundation of world-building from the very start.

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The Trade-Off: The tone of *TAB* is slightly different from the main series, and some readers find it a slow start, as it introduces several characters and plot points that won't become relevant until later books, potentially overwhelming a new reader.

Option 3: The Publication Order (The "Purest" Path)

This is the simplest method: read the books in the order they were released. This is how original fans experienced the series, and it preserves the narrative reveals exactly as the author intended them to be published.

The Publication Reading Order

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

Why This Order Works: It maintains the mystery of Celaena's past and the slow reveal of her true identity, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, allowing the author's original pacing to guide your experience. This is a great choice if you prefer to trust the author’s original release strategy.

The Trade-Off: Reading *The Assassin's Blade* so late in the series (after Book 4) can feel jarring, as the prequel's events are highly relevant to the plot of Book 3 (*Heir of Fire*), causing a slight disconnect for some readers.

The Essential Guide to the Tandem Read: Empire of Storms & Tower of Dawn

Regardless of which order you choose, you will eventually reach a critical juncture: Books 5 and 6. *Empire of Storms* (*EOS*) and *Tower of Dawn* (*TOD*) are unique in that their events happen concurrently—at the exact same time—but follow different main characters in different locations.

• Empire of Storms: Focuses on Aelin, Rowan, and the main group in Erilea as they prepare for the final war against the King of Adarlan and the forces of Erawan.
• Tower of Dawn: Focuses on Chaol Westfall and Nesryn Faliq as they travel to the Southern Continent to seek healing and build alliances with the Khaganate.

The Dilemma: Reading them separately (e.g., *EOS* then *TOD*) means you pause the main plot's intense action for a full novel focused on a secondary plotline, which can break the momentum.

The Solution: The Tandem Read.

The most popular and recommended method is to read *Empire of Storms* and *Tower of Dawn* simultaneously, alternating between chapters of the two books. This allows the two storylines—Aelin's war preparations and Chaol's diplomatic mission—to unfold side-by-side, providing a complete picture of the global conflict building toward *Kingdom of Ash*.

How to Execute the Tandem Read:

1. You will need physical or digital copies of both books.
2. Look up a free, chapter-by-chapter Tandem Read Guide online (easily found via a quick search). These guides tell you exactly which chapters to read from which book (e.g., *EOS* Chapter 1, *TOD* Chapter 1, *EOS* Chapter 2, etc.).
3. Follow the guide religiously until you finish the final chapter of both books, immediately leading into the epic conclusion, *Kingdom of Ash*.

The payoff is immense, as the narratives of the Wyrdkeys, the Thirteen, Manon Blackbeak, and the final battle for Terrasen all converge with maximum impact in the final novel. The Tandem Read is a challenging but highly rewarding experience that brings a massive sense of topical authority to your knowledge of the series.