throne of glass books in order to read
Whether it’s your first time or a reread, treat the sequence as nonnegotiable.
1. Throne of Glass (2012)
Celaena Sardothien—infamous assassin and survivor—gets her chance at freedom in the king’s deadly tournament. Courtly intrigue, hidden magic, and early betrayals all begin here, grounding every later plot thread.
2. Crown of Midnight (2013)
Celaena’s role as King’s Champion exposes her to deeper threats. Loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and the scope of danger moves from the castle to the fate of kingdoms.
3. Heir of Fire (2014)
With freedom comes exile—and hard truths. Away from Adarlan, Celaena faces Fae magic, brutal training, and the ghosts of her past. New key characters are introduced. The world expands from palace corridors to enormous battlefronts.
4. Queen of Shadows (2015)
Back in Rifthold, Aelin claims her power and her name. Every alliance and vow from previous books is stresstested. The politics and magic grow denser, and the personal becomes global.
5. Empire of Storms (2016)
The war for Terrasen and the continent escalates. Every friendship and betrayal matters, drawn from scars developed in Books 1–4. Major secrets and highstakes magic bring the narrative to a parallel climax.
6. Tower of Dawn (2017)
Happening alongside Empire of Storms, this book follows Chaol and Nesryn’s journey to the Southern Continent—healing, alliances, and worldaltering discoveries. Critical for understanding all chess pieces for the final battle.
Pro tip: Some veteran readers interlace Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn for exact chronology, but the simplest throne of glass books in order to read puts Empire first, then Tower.
7. Kingdom of Ash (2018)
The final war. Every character, every prophecy, and every compromise comes to a head. Only by reading the whole progression do the emotional and plot payoffs in the finale strike with full force.
Optional: The Assassin’s Blade (2014, novella collection)
Prequel novellas. Most readers tackle this either before or after Queen of Shadows—giving context to Celaena’s motivations and pain, adding depth to major later events.
Why Following the Throne of Glass Books in Order to Read Matters
Character development: Aelin’s journey from assassin to queen is mapped in setbacks, victories, and losses best understood stepwise. Worldbuilding: Magic’s limits, political structures, and prophecy complexity increase with each book. Payoff: Secrets, betrayals, and romances only make sense with accumulated context—early actions matter in the last book. Parallel plotlines: Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn run concurrently; reading them in order, not isolation, ensures clarity and max suspense.
Ignoring order weakens every hardwon victory and betrayal.
Tips to Maximize the Experience
Pace yourself: Each book is a commitment—don’t rush, but keep momentum to recall prior arcs. Make notes: Especially for alliances, magic systems, and foreshadowed clues. Avoid spoilers: The series is full of reversals; protect your investment by reading before joining online forums.
Common Pitfalls
Skipping Tower of Dawn—critical information and character redemption are missed. Starting with The Assassin’s Blade: Read after Book 1 or before Queen of Shadows for best payoff. Interleaving only on a reread; for new readers, stick to the “straight” order.
Themes and Structure
The Throne of Glass series is as much about discipline and transformation as magic or romance:
Power is built, not inherited; scars earn perspective, not just spectacle. Loyalty and trust are constructed the hard way—across continents, not inside palaces. Final victory is a product of alliance, sacrifice, and memory, not prophecy.
Order is the architecture behind every emotional punch and narrative climax.
Final Thoughts
Reading the Throne of Glass series in order is the only respectful path for a saga built on earned triumph. The throne of glass books in order to read guide every alliance, heartbreak, and transformation. Skip a book or change the order, and both logic and heartache are lost. Maas’s series rewards patience, memory, and the ability to see growth through pain—one book, one court, one choice at a time. True epic fantasy delivers only to the disciplined reader; honor the order, and every page will pay you back.