Throne of Glass Books in Order
Read the eight books in the order below. The Assassin’s Blade goes third, and Empire of Storms stays before Tower of Dawn. Starting with the prequels and tandem-reading the two parallel books are optional changes.
The cleanest first-time route
Read Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, The Assassin’s Blade, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, then Kingdom of Ash.
Read each book straight through. Starting with The Assassin’s Blade and tandem-reading Empire of Storms with Tower of Dawn are optional, not better versions of the route.
Read these in this order
Keep each book whole. This route gives you the main story first, adds the five prequel novellas before Heir of Fire, and finishes both parallel threads before Kingdom of Ash.
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Start with the contest and castle mystery
Throne of Glass
The contest and castle mystery introduce Celaena before the prequels explain her past.
The Assassin’s Blade happens earlier, but it gives you backstory before the main novel asks for it.
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Stay for the winner’s new job and its cost
Crown of Midnight
Celaena’s work as the King’s Champion turns the contest result into a test of loyalty.
This is not another tournament. The court story now runs on secret work, suspicion, and consequences.
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Add the five prequel stories now
The Assassin's Blade
Five prequel stories show Celaena’s guild life, Sam, and the history that later books call back to.
It looks backward in five shorter stories instead of moving the main plot forward.
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Cross into the larger magical conflict
Heir of Fire
A new land and a rising magical threat open the story far beyond the first books’ castle.
The early court plot gives way to grief, training, new people, and a much wider conflict.
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Return for the court reckonings
Queen of Shadows
The story returns to imprisoned friends, oppressed people, and conflicts left in the early court books.
Heir of Fire widens the world. This book brings that larger force back to old fights.
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Follow the war-side story first
Empire of Storms
War, magic, and the search for allies pull the main group into the late-series conflict.
It ends on a cliffhanger before Tower of Dawn follows another group during the same span of time.
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Take the healing-and-diplomacy companion
Tower of Dawn
Chaol, Nesryn, and Yrene seek healing, allies, and answers in Antica before the finale.
It changes people and place while Empire of Storms follows the war elsewhere at the same time.
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Finish after both threads are complete
Kingdom of Ash
The final war gathers the people and plans prepared by both Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
This is the hardest entry. It begins with months of captivity and torture before the scattered threads meet.
The choices that can change the order
Optional: start with The Assassin’s Blade
Bloomsbury says the five prequel stories can come first. Choose that route if chronology matters more than staged backstory. Our default keeps the collection third because the main novel gives Celaena a sharper entrance.
Optional: tandem Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn
The two novels overlap in time but follow different people and places. A tandem shortens the wait between those threads. The cost is that it turns two novels into a fan-made chapter schedule. Read them straight through if switching sounds like work.
Keep your place in the series
Mark books as you finish them. Progress stays private in this browser and does not require an account.
Primary-source reading order, checked July 16, 2026
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Sarah J. Maas reading guide
The author’s current guide shows The Assassin’s Blade third and Tower of Dawn after Empire of Storms. It is a current display, not proof of one exclusive historical order.
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Official Bloomsbury reading guide
The publisher recommends The Assassin’s Blade after Crown of Midnight, allows it first, and says Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn overlap in time.
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Bloomsbury edition record for The Assassin’s Blade
The record identifies a five-novella prequel collection and dates this first ebook edition to March 13, 2014.
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Bloomsbury complete box set
The current publisher record lists all eight volumes and calls the set the complete series.
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Sarah J. Maas page for Kingdom of Ash
The official description identifies it as the finale and names months of captivity and torture at the start.
A few practical questions
What order should I read Throne of Glass in?
Read Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, The Assassin’s Blade, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, then Kingdom of Ash. This is our default first-read route.
When should I read The Assassin’s Blade?
Read it third, after Crown of Midnight. Starting with its five prequel novellas is also safe, but that trades the main novels’ staged backstory for a chronological start.
Can I skip Tower of Dawn?
No, not for a complete first read. It adds Antica, healing, allies, and answers before Kingdom of Ash. Choose between reading it after Empire of Storms or as part of an optional tandem.
Do I need to tandem-read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn?
No. Read Empire of Storms first and Tower of Dawn second if you want the simplest route. A tandem is an optional fan-made schedule for readers who prefer switching between the parallel timelines.
Is the Throne of Glass series complete?
Yes. Bloomsbury’s current box-set record contains eight books: seven main novels and the five-novella collection The Assassin’s Blade.
Do I need to read ACOTAR before Throne of Glass?
No. Sarah J. Maas’s guide says you can start with the first book in any of her three series. This eight-book story stands on its own.