If you’re standing in front of the Throne of Glass series wondering where to begin, you’re not alone. With eight books, one prequel collection, and a vocal fan community, the debate over the ideal reading order can feel like a quest of its own. This guide pulls together the official guidance from the publisher and the author, along with the most popular fan strategies, to give you a clear roadmap through Sarah J. Maas’s epic fantasy world.

4 related posts

Total books in Throne of Glass series: 8 ·
First Throne of Glass book publication: 2012 ·
Last Throne of Glass book publication: 2018 ·
Tandem read pair: Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
Key facts at a glance
Label Value
Author Sarah J. Maas
First ToG book published August 2012
Last ToG book published October 2018
Total ToG books 8 (including The Assassin’s Blade)
Recommended starting book The Assassin’s Blade or Throne of Glass
Tandem read books Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn

In what order should I read the Throne of Glass series?

Publication order vs. recommended order

Eight books in the series, but the order you pick changes the experience. Here’s how the two main approaches compare:

  • Publication order: Throne of Glass (2012), Crown of Midnight (2013), The Assassin’s Blade (2014), Heir of Fire (2014), Queen of Shadows (2015), Empire of Storms (2016), Tower of Dawn (2017), Kingdom of Ash (2018) – as listed by Bloomsbury Publishing (official publisher guidance).
  • Recommended order (author-supported): The Assassin’s Blade first, then the rest in publication sequence – based on the reading guide on Sarah J. Maas’s official website.

Bloomsbury notes that it’s also acceptable to read The Assassin’s Blade first, though publication order is their recommended approach (Bloomsbury series reading order).

Where does The Assassin’s Blade fit?

This prequel novella collection is the most debated placement. Three common options exist:

  • First (chronological order): Start with The Assassin’s Blade to get Celaena’s backstory before Throne of Glass – a choice supported by the author’s reading guide.
  • After Crown of Midnight (Bloomsbury’s recommendation): Read it before Heir of Fire for emotional payoff without early spoilers (Bloomsbury series reading order).
  • After Heir of Fire (alternative fan order): Some readers place it later to avoid interrupting the main story’s momentum (T.L. Branson book blogger).

Tandem read: Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn

These two books happen at the same time. Many readers choose to read them interleaved. The typical approach: read Empire of Storms until chapter 51, then switch to Tower of Dawn and finish both (Bloomsbury series reading order). The tandem read avoids spoilers and keeps the timeline straight.

“The timelines of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn happen concurrently, so reading them together gives you the full picture without gaps.”

– Community thread on Reddit (r/SarahJMaas)

Bottom line: New readers should start with The Assassin’s Blade for the full backstory; publication-order purists can read it after Crown of Midnight. The tandem read is recommended for Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn to maximize the experience.

Should I read A Court of Thorns and Roses or Throne of Glass series first?

Two of Sarah J. Maas’s most popular series, but they differ in tone. Here’s a breakdown:

Series comparison
Aspect Throne of Glass A Court of Thorns and Roses
Genre Epic fantasy with political intrigue Romantic fantasy with faerie courts
Romance pacing Slow-burn, builds over multiple books Central from the start, faster burn
Explicit content Fade-to-black; low (1-2/5 by fan consensus) Explicit from book 2; moderate-high (3-4/5 by fan consensus)
Reading investment 8 books, deeper world-building 5 books, more streamlined
Author’s advice “Readers can begin with whichever series calls to them most” (Sarah J. Maas official reading guide)

The pattern: Throne of Glass rewards patience with an epic payoff; ACOTAR delivers romance and tension faster. For new readers who prefer romance-driven plots, ACOTAR is the easier entry; for those who love sprawling fantasy with slow-burn relationships, start with Throne of Glass.

The trade-off

Fans who start with ACOTAR often find Throne of Glass’s slower pacing a challenge; those who start with Throne of Glass gain emotional depth that enriches later ACOTAR re-reads.

What order to read ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City series?

The three series share a universe but are set in different worlds. To avoid spoilers, most fans follow this sequence:

  1. Throne of Glass series (all 8 books) – the foundation of the Maasverse.
  2. A Court of Thorns and Roses series (5 books) – introduces crossover elements.
  3. Crescent City series (3 books, ongoing) – contains direct crossover references to both earlier series (Sarah J. Maas official reading guide).

Some fans suggest reading House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City book 2) only after finishing both Throne of Glass and ACOTAR because of major spoilers. This is a widely shared caution in community discussions (Reddit r/SarahJMaas).

Why this matters: Reading Crescent City first would spoil key reveals from Throne of Glass and ACOTAR. Publication order is the safest route to keep the magic intact.

How many books are in the Throne of Glass series?

The Throne of Glass series includes eight books total when counting the prequel novella collection, The Assassin’s Blade (Sarah J. Maas official reading guide). The main novels are:

  1. Throne of Glass (2012)
  2. Crown of Midnight (2013)
  3. The Assassin’s Blade (2014) – prequel collection
  4. Heir of Fire (2014)
  5. Queen of Shadows (2015)
  6. Empire of Storms (2016)
  7. Tower of Dawn (2017)
  8. Kingdom of Ash (2018)

The Assassin’s Blade collects five previously published novellas and is considered essential to the series. Bloomsbury’s reading order lists it as the third book (Bloomsbury series reading order).

What is the correct order to read Sarah J. Maas books?

For readers who want to read all of Sarah J. Maas’s work in publication order (the most common approach), here is the sequence:

  • 1. Throne of Glass series (2012–2018) – 8 books
  • 2. A Court of Thorns and Roses series (2015–2021) – 5 books
  • 3. Crescent City series (2020–present) – 3 books

The author’s official reading guide groups all three series together and does not mandate a strict order (Sarah J. Maas official reading guide). However, reading Throne of Glass first gives you the longest timeline and deepest world-building before the more interconnected later books.

The upshot

For a spoiler-free experience, follow publication order: ToG → ACOTAR → Crescent City. Jumping ahead risks ruining revelations in earlier series.

Pros and cons of starting with The Assassin’s Blade vs. later

Upsides

  • Emotional context for Celaena’s past from the beginning
  • Chronologically correct, satisfying for completionists
  • No need to pause the main story later

Downsides

  • Slower start; the novellas lack the epic scope of the main books
  • Can overwhelm new readers unfamiliar with the world
  • Some fans prefer the mystery of learning Celaena’s past gradually (Barely Bookish reader community blog)

Timeline: Throne of Glass publication history

Key release dates
Date or period Event
August 2012 Throne of Glass published
August 2013 Crown of Midnight published
March 2014 The Assassin’s Blade (prequel novella collection) published
September 2014 Heir of Fire published
September 2015 Queen of Shadows published
September 2016 Empire of Storms published
September 2017 Tower of Dawn published
October 2018 Kingdom of Ash published

The catch: The three-year gap between Queen of Shadows (2015) and Kingdom of Ash (2018) gave fans time to absorb the tandem read concept, which became a community standard.

What we know and what’s still debated

Confirmed facts

  • The Throne of Glass series has 8 books when counting The Assassin’s Blade (Sarah J. Maas official reading guide)
  • The Assassin’s Blade is a prequel collection set before Throne of Glass (Bloomsbury series reading order)
  • Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn take place concurrently (T.L. Branson book blogger)
  • Sarah J. Maas recommends reading order: The Assassin’s Blade first or publication order (Sarah J. Maas official reading guide)

What’s unclear

  • Whether to read The Assassin’s Blade first or later is debated among fans
  • The exact spice level rating varies by reader interpretation
  • Optimal cross-series reading order (ACOTAR, ToG, Crescent City) is subjective

What readers say: Quotes from the community

“I read The Assassin’s Blade after Crown of Midnight and it was perfect. It gave me all the backstory right before the story really expanded.”

– Reddit user (r/SarahJMaas)

“The tandem read for Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn is non-negotiable if you want to avoid spoilers and keep the timeline straight.”

– T.L. Branson book blogger

“Sarah J. Maas’s reading guide on her website makes it clear there’s no wrong way to start – just pick the series that excites you most.”

– Sarah J. Maas official reading guide

Summary – For readers who want to experience the Throne of Glass series in its most immersive form, starting with The Assassin’s Blade and using the tandem read for Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn offers the richest narrative journey. The choice between publication order and chronological order ultimately comes down to your appetite for backstory up front. For the new reader in 2025, the clearest path: read The Assassin’s Blade first, then follow the publication order, and don’t skip the tandem read. Your emotional investment in Celaena’s story will thank you.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

How many pages is the Throne of Glass series?

The entire series, including The Assassin’s Blade, totals approximately 5,000 pages across all eight books. Individual book lengths vary from ~400 to ~1,000 pages.

Is there a Throne of Glass audiobook reading order?

Yes – audiobooks follow the same order as print. The series is narrated by Elizabeth Evans, with consistent narration across all titles. The tandem read works for audiobooks too, though it may require switching between titles.

What age rating is Throne of Glass?

The series is typically rated for young adults (ages 14+). It contains violence, some romantic content, and mature themes but is less explicit than Maas’s ACOTAR series.

Should I read Throne of Glass if I liked ACOTAR?

Absolutely – but expect a different pacing. Throne of Glass has a slower start and less romance focus. If you loved ACOTAR’s world, you’ll enjoy the richer lore of Throne of Glass, but be prepared for a longer commitment.

How long does it take to read the entire Throne of Glass series?

At an average reading speed of 300 words per minute, the full series takes about 50–60 hours. Most readers finish it within two to four months of casual reading.

What is the difference between publication order and chronological order for Throne of Glass?

Publication order follows the release sequence (starting with Throne of Glass); chronological order starts with The Assassin’s Blade (set before Throne of Glass). Both are valid, but the author and publisher recommend publication order for first-time readers unless you strongly prefer chronological backstory first.