Throne of Glass Reading Order: Complete Sarah J. Maas Series Guide
Throne of Glass is Sarah J. Maas's debut series — the story of Celaena Sardothien, an assassin who is freed from a brutal prison to compete in a deadly tournament, and the eight-book epic it grows into. Often called one of the best fantasy series of the 2010s, it is longer, darker, and more ambitious than ACOTAR. Here is the complete reading order.
Updated April 16, 2026
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Throne of Glass Reading Order (Recommended)
1. The Assassin's Blade (novella collection, 2014) — Optional but recommended. Five prequel novellas that establish Celaena's backstory. Reading them first enriches Books 2 and 3 significantly. 2. Throne of Glass (2012) — Celaena competes in a deadly tournament at the glass castle to earn her freedom. 3. Crown of Midnight (2013) — Where the series truly catches fire. Major revelations about Celaena's past and powers. 4. Heir of Fire (2014) — The scope expands dramatically. New worlds, new characters, new stakes. 5. Queen of Shadows (2015) — A triumphant, turning-point novel. 6. Empire of Storms (2016) — The penultimate book raises the stakes to mythic levels. 7. Tower of Dawn (2017) — Read simultaneously with Empire of Storms, or between EoS and Kingdom of the Wicked. Follows Chaol Westfall. 8. Kingdom of the Wicked (2018) — The epic conclusion.
Should I Read The Assassin's Blade First?
Most experienced readers recommend reading The Assassin's Blade before Book 2 (Crown of Midnight). While they are prequels, reading them after Book 1 but before Book 2 gives you crucial backstory that makes Crown of Midnight hit much harder. If you read them after the whole series, you'll enjoy them as supplementary material but miss their emotional weight.
How Does Tower of Dawn Fit?
Tower of Dawn was originally intended to be part of Empire of Storms, but grew into a full novel. It takes place during the same timeline as Empire of Storms — they run in parallel. Options: (A) Read Tower of Dawn after Empire of Storms, before Kingdom of the Wicked — this is the publication order and avoids spoilers. (B) Read Tower of Dawn and Empire of Storms simultaneously by alternating chapters (fan guides exist showing the exact order). Either approach works; most first-time readers choose option A.
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How Dark Does the Series Get?
Throne of Glass starts as a YA-adjacent fantasy with romance and court intrigue. By Book 4 (Heir of Fire), it has evolved into adult epic fantasy with war, genocide, sacrifice, and real stakes. The progression is gradual — each book is darker than the last. By Kingdom of the Wicked, it is firmly adult fantasy. This evolution is part of what makes the series special; you grow with Celaena.
How Does It Compare to ACOTAR?
Throne of Glass is generally considered better plotted and more ambitious than ACOTAR, with a more complex protagonist and a larger cast. ACOTAR is more romantic and faster-paced. If you loved ACOTAR for the romance and fae world, Throne of Glass will satisfy you with deeper plot and character work. Most fans of one series love the other — just be patient through the first two Throne of Glass books, which are lighter than what follows.
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