The Throne of Glass Series in Reading Order
Updated 2026-07-20 · 8 books
Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass is one of the defining fantasy series of the last decade: an assassin, a competition, a kingdom, and eight books that grow darker and bigger as they go. The reading order is a common source of confusion because of the prequel and one late book that runs alongside another. Here is the order we recommend, with a note on where each one fits.
- 1
Assassin's Blade
Sarah J. Maas
Start here for the backstory: The Assassin's Blade collects the prequel novellas about Celaena's life before the main series.
FictionFantasyCollections & Anthologies - 2
Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas
The one that started it all: a young assassin is pulled from a prison camp to compete to become the king's champion.
AssassinsPrincesCourts and courtiers - 3
Crown of Midnight
Sarah J. Maas
Book two raises the stakes and the body count, as loyalties and the true cost of the crown come into focus.
Kings and rulersAssassinsLove - 4
Heir of Fire
Sarah J. Maas
Heir of Fire widens the world and deepens the magic, and is where many readers say the series truly takes off.
MagicHigh FantasyFiction - 5
Queen of Shadows
Sarah J. Maas
Queen of Shadows brings storylines crashing together in the series' biggest turning point so far.
MagicHigh FantasyFiction - 6
Empire of Storms
Sarah J. Maas
Empire of Storms goes epic: armies, alliances and a gut-punch of an ending.
MagicQuestHigh Fantasy - 7
Tower of Dawn
Sarah J. Maas
Tower of Dawn runs alongside Empire of Storms and follows Chaol; read them close together for the full picture.
FantasyKingsQueens - 8
Kingdom of Ash
Sarah J. Maas
Kingdom of Ash is the doorstopper finale that ties every thread together. Clear your weekend.
Imaginary placesAssassinsMagic
At a glance
| # | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assassin's Blade | Sarah J. Maas |
| 2 | Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas |
| 3 | Crown of Midnight | Sarah J. Maas |
| 4 | Heir of Fire | Sarah J. Maas |
| 5 | Queen of Shadows | Sarah J. Maas |
| 6 | Empire of Storms | Sarah J. Maas |
| 7 | Tower of Dawn | Sarah J. Maas |
| 8 | Kingdom of Ash | Sarah J. Maas |
Frequently asked
What is the correct reading order for Throne of Glass?
Most readers start with The Assassin's Blade (a prequel of novellas) or with Throne of Glass itself, then continue Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn and Kingdom of Ash. Tower of Dawn runs parallel to Empire of Storms, so some read the two side by side.
Should I read The Assassin's Blade first?
You can read it either first or after Throne of Glass. It sets up characters and events the main series refers back to, so reading it first adds context, while reading it after book one preserves a few surprises.
How many books are in the Throne of Glass series?
Seven main novels plus the prequel collection The Assassin's Blade, for eight books in total, ending with Kingdom of Ash.
Prefer a plain-text version of this list? You can find one here.