If you’re like me and A Court of Thorns and Roses was your gateway book into adult fantasy (as opposed to the YA fantasy we all loved 10 or 20 years ago!), you’re going to need to know more about another series by Sarah J. Maas: Throne of Glass. This is the epic fantasy series that started it all for Sarah J. Maas. Where ACOTAR is more of a romantasy, Throne of Glass is more plot driven – readers describe the Throne of Glass series as shattering their hearts!
Following 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien, it’s packed with assassins, court intrigue, deadly magic, and slow-burn romance, and has become a staple in YA-to-NA fantasy.
Whether this is your first time diving into the Maasverse, or you’ve just read ACOTAR and want to know where to go next, this post should have you covered. There are a few different ideas for the best Throne of Glass reading order, so I’ll outline those and which one I would recommend, along with answering a few frequently asked questions about Throne of Glass.
Read more: 10 ACOTAR Gifts for Fantasy Book Gift Ideas
What is the Throne of Glass Series About?
The story begins with Celaena Sardothien, an 18-year-old assassin who has spent a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier after being betrayed and captured. When the crown prince, Prince Dorian, offers her a deal, to compete in a series of eliminations to become the new royal assassin for the king, she seizes her chance at freedom.
This is where it all gets interesting: training sessions, brutal tests, court life, and a dangerous competition where failure means death. Alongside Celaena are gruff Captain Westfall (also known as Chaol, the captain of the guard) and the charming Prince Dorian, both of whom play major roles in her story. But what starts as a fight for survival soon spirals into a tale of dark magic, hidden identities, and a battle that will determine the fate of the world.
If you’re looking for a series with assassins, fae, ancient powers, forbidden romance, and political intrigue, this is your next obsession.
Read more: The Best 99p Amazon Kindle Book Deals
It’s also a very interesting one as Throne of Glass was Sarah J. Maas’ first novel, which she started writing at the age of 16. After reading A Court of Thorns and Roses, I went straight into Throne of Glass and the difference in writing was quite obvious. The writing, tone and story develops very quickly throughout the series though. And if you’re worried that you’re not getting enough magic in the first ones, just wait, it comes!
Throne of Glass Book Summaries
The Assassin’s Blade (Prequel Novellas)
A collection of stories about Celaena’s life before the salt mines of Endovier. You can read this first or after Book 3 for extra emotional punch, but starting here gives you amazing backstory for Celaena and Sam amongst more important emotional context. See below for more detail about these novellas.
Throne of Glass
The book that started it all. Celaena is freed from the Endovier salt mines to compete in a deadly tournament at the glass castle. I’ve seen this described as a mix of Hunger Games-style competition, training sessions, and court life drama, with a mini love triangle brewing between Celaena, Prince Dorian, and the gruff Captain Westfall, Chaol.
Crown of Midnight
Things get darker, bloodier, and more magical. Celaena’s role as a member of the king’s court changes everything, and shocking betrayals set the tone for the rest of the series.
Heir of Fire
The series expands beyond the castle and into fae territory. Celaena (now embracing her true identity) trains with Rowan in one of the most beloved arcs of the series. This one has some pretty epic character development and jaw-dropping reveals.
Queen of Shadows
A fan-favourite book where Celaena truly steps into her power with emotional reunions, big battles, and some of the best SJM writing yet.
6. Empire of Storms
The stakes skyrocket as alliances form, kingdoms clash, and the romance gets intense. This one has an ending that might tear your heart apart! (By the way, it gets harder and harder to give a summary of each without any spoilers!)
7. Tower of Dawn
This one follows Chaol (Captain of the Guard) on a separate but crucial mission. Many fans read this alongside Empire of Storms for a parallel timeline experience, but you can read it after if you choose to – see below on how to tandem read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
8. Kingdom of Ash
The explosive finale. Every thread comes together in a massive, emotional, high-stakes conclusion that will leave you wrecked in the best possible way.
Throne of Glass Series Reading Order
There are seven main books in the series, plus a collection of prequel novellas which has been put together as one book called The Assassin’s Blade. There are a few different Throne of Glass reading orders that readers suggest, with the main sticking point being when do you read The Assassin’s Blade?
Read more: 5 New Romantasy Books You HAVE To Read in 2025
Here are 3 options for the Throne of Glass reading order:
- Chronological Reading Order
- Publication Reading Order
- Emotional Reading Order
Throne of Glass Chronological Reading Order
This Throne of Glass reading order follows events as they actually happened were the story to happen in real life. The only problem with this is that there are characters in The Assassin’s Blade that mean very little to you unless you’ve read some of the other books first, which is why this isn’t the most recommended reading order.
- The Assassin’s Blade (prequel novellas)
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- The Assassin’s Blade
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
Throne of Glass Publication Reading Order
This is the order in which Sarah J. Maas published the books and her approved order according to her website. The biggest difference is that The Assassin’s Blade is placed 3rd in the series, but many readers also suggest tandem reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn in this reading order (find out more about that below). Placing The Assassin’s Blade as 3rd in the series allows you to understand the motivations behind Calaena’s character development and growth, and why characters such as Sam Courtland and Arobynn Hamel are so important. This is the Throne of Glass reading order that I chose, mostly because it was recommended by the author herself!
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- The Assassin’s Blade (prequel novellas)
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms AND Tower of Dawn (tandem read)
- Kingdom of Ash
Throne of Glass Emotional Reading Order
This is the Throne of Glass reading order that many readers recommend for reading Throne of Glass as it gives the most emotional and romantic impact. It places The Assassin’s Blade as 4th in the series and highly recommends tandem reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- The Assassin’s Blade
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms AND Tower of Dawn (tandem read)
- Kingdom of Ash
The Assassin’s Blade Novellas
There can be some confusion over The Assassin’s Blade, as technically, it’s not a single book – it’s a collection of novellas, the events of which all happen before the first published book of the series – Throne of Glass. This is why there is debate over where to read them in the series, whether to stay true to the chronological Throne of Glass reading order – that is, reading the events as they happened – or in the order that they were published, as the author intended the context from the prequel novellas to come as a revelation after you’ve read the first two (or three, depending on your choice!).
Read more: Romantasy Book Review: Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
The Assassin’s Blade is the collection of 5 novellas or short stories, each between around 40 and 100 pages and centring on critical missions that Calaena Sardothien is sent on while she is an assassin under Arobynn Hamel leading up to her time in the salt mines.
The Throne of Glass novellas are:
- The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne of Glass #0.1)
- The Assassin and the Healer (Throne of Glass #0.2)
- The Assassin and the Desert (Throne of Glass #0.3)
- The Assassin and the Underworld (Throne of Glass #0.4)
- The Assassin and the Empire (Throne of Glass #0.5)
Tandem Reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn
If you’ve started reading the Throne of Glass series, you’ve probably heard about the Throne of Glass tandem read. Technically Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn can be read independently, with Empire of Storms first followed by Tower of Dawn, however most fans highly recommend reading them at the same time with the chapters intertwined with one another. This is because the books are written on a simultaneous timeline, but with the events shown from Calaena’s perspective in Empire of Storms and from Chaol’s perspective in Tower of Dawn.
It can get a little complicated, so here’s a very handy graphic which you can print off and use as a bookmark to guide you through the Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn tandem reads – it tells you when to stop reading each book and swap to the other, chapter by chapter.
The bookmark needs to be printed double-sided!
And here’s a text guide to tandem reading Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn:
Empire of Storms: Nightfall – Chapter 5
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 1
Empire of Storms: Chapter 6 – Chapter 8
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 2 – Chapter 3
Empire of Storms: Chapter 9 – Chapter 10
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 4 – Chapter 6
Empire of Storms: Chapter 11
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 7
Empire of Storms: Chapter 12 – Chapter 13
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 8 – Chapter 10
Empire of Storms: Chapter 14 – Chapter 16
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 11 – Chapter 12
Empire of Storms: Chapter 17 – Chapter 18
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 13 – Chapter 16
Empire of Storms: Chapter 19
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 17
Empire of Storms: Chapter 20 – Chapter 23
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 18 – Chapter 21
Empire of Storms: Chapter 24 – Chapter 25
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 22 – Chapter 23
Empire of Storms: Chapter 26
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 24
Empire of Storms: Chapter 27 – Chapter 29
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 25 – Chapter 28
Empire of Storms: Chapter 30
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 29 – Chapter 31
Empire of Storms: Chapter 31
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 32
Empire of Storms: Chapter 32
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 33 – Chapter 35
Empire of Storms: Chapter 33 – Chapter 51
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 36 – Chapter 37
Empire of Storms: Chapter 52
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 38 – Chapter 40
Empire of Storms: Chapter 53
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 41 – Chapter 42
Empire of Storms: Chapter 54 – Chapter 56
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 43
Empire of Storms: Chapter 57 – Chapter 59
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 44 – Chapter 48
Empire of Storms: Chapter 60 – Chapter 61
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 49 – Chapter 51
Empire of Storms: Chapter 62 – Chapter 63
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 52 – Chapter 53
Empire of Storms: Chapter 64 – Chapter 65
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 54 – Chapter 56
Empire of Storms: Chapter 66 – Chapter 67
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 57
Empire of Storms: Chapter 68 – Chapter 75
Tower of Dawn: Chapter 58 – Fireheart
Where Does Throne of Glass Fit Into the Maasverse?
If you’ve heard people mention the Maasverse, they’re talking about the interconnected world across Sarah J. Maas’ series:
- Throne of Glass (epic YA-to-NA fantasy, a complete series)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series (romantasy with fae courts and spice. This is a 5 book series so far and book 6 is underway!)
- Crescent City series (urban fantasy with some crossovers. This is a 3 book series so far, and book 4 is underway!)
Q: Do you need to read them all of Sarah J. Maas books in order?
No, each series stands on its own, but House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) brings the worlds together with a major crossover.
Q: Is there a Maasverse reading order?
As these are three completely different series, there is no right or wrong way to read them, but readers of all three do have suggestions! My personal reading order is:
#1: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series (this is a “gateway” book for most of us into romantasy and grown up fantasy worlds – it’s a soft entry, if that makes sense!)
#2: Throne of Glass Series (I personally recommend this second as I feel the first couple of books of the Throne of Glass series show Sarah J. Maas’ age when she wrote them – I don’t think they’re her best work, and I’d worry they’d put readers off if they were read first!)
#3: Crescent City Series (I haven’t yet read it, but it’s more of an urban fantasy and readers suggest it is a bit more gritty. Due to some characters crossing over between worlds as well, I believe there is some potential for spoilers, or at the very least, you won’t realise who the characters are without the context of reading them in their original works first).
Read more: A Guide to Carissa Broadbent’s Crowns of Nyaxia Series (Reading Order)
Spice Level in Throne of Glass
If you’ve landed on Throne of Glass after reading ACOTAR, you’re probably wondering how the Throne of Glass spice level compares! After all, ACOTAR is renowned for being the first spicy romantasy that many of us have read, and if you’ve picked up Throne of Glass, you might be looking for similar. I’ll be honest, it’s a bit different than ACOTAR! Here’s a breakdown:
- Early books (Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight) → Low spice (kissing, romantic tension)
- Later books (Empire of Storms, Kingdom of Ash) → More mature content, but still less explicit than ACOTAR
- It’s slow burn with emotional payoff, and swoony moments rather than explicit steam. You’re here for the overall plot rather than the romance.
FAQs About the Throne of Glass Series
Q: Is Throne of Glass appropriate for YA readers?
A: Yes, the first few books are firmly YA, but the tone matures as the series progresses. Later books lean more NA with some spicy moments. I’d suggest the Throne of Glass age rating as 14+, but parents may want to read the later books first to be able to judge it for their own children.
Q: Do I need to read The Assassin’s Blade?
A: Yes, you do need to read the Throne of Glass novellas if you want full emotional depth and Celaena’s backstory. It makes the main series even more powerful.
Q: Is Throne of Glass connected to ACOTAR and Crescent City?
A: Yes! While you can read it alone, there are easter eggs across the series and a crossover in Crescent City #3 that fans loved.
Read more: Best Romantasy Books & Series You HAVE To Read Now
Q: Will there be a Throne of Glass TV show or movie?
A: Rumours have swirled for years, but there’s been nothing official yet. Fingers crossed though!
Q: How long are the Throne of Glass books?
A: There are 8 books in the Throne of Glass series, with just over 5000 pages in total! Different editions have slightly different lengths, but here’s a breakdown of how many pages are in each book as reported on Goodreads:
The Assassin’s Blade: 451 pages
Throne of Glass: 406 pages
Crown of Midnight: 420 pages
Heir of Fire: 576 pages
Queen of Shadows: 648 pages
Empire of Storms: 733 pages
Tower of Dawn: 663 pages
Kingdom of Ash: 984 pages
Q: Which is the best Throne of Glass book?
A: That’s a question that I’d say most people will answer differently! The fan favourite for the best Throne of Glass book is Empire of Storms, I’d say!
Why Everyone Loves Throne of Glass
It’s the series that put Sarah J. Maas on the map. With its young assassin heroine, morally grey characters, court politics, and sweeping fantasy world, Throne of Glass has everything:
- A badass protagonist (Celaena!)
- Brooding warriors and charming royals
- Training sessions, court life, and deadly magic
- Slow-burn romance that will destroy you
If you’re ready to binge an addictive fantasy series with found family vibes, high stakes, and heartbreak, this is the one.
