Throne of Glass Book Order: The Ultimate Guide to Reading Sarah J. Maas's Epic Fantasy Series

You’re likely here because you’ve finished Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses and crave more, or perhaps a Maas aficionado wisely suggested tackling Throne of Glass first. Regardless, welcome! The Throne of Glass series offers multiple reading paths, each impacting the emotional and romantic journey. Prepare for a rollercoaster—it’s intense, and only the strong survive (emotionally speaking, of course). This spoiler-free guide explores all approaches, helping you select the perfect experience.

Understanding the Throne of Glass Reading Order Debate

The core of the debate lies in The Assassin’s Blade, a collection of novellas preceding the main series. Its placement significantly impacts the overall emotional arc and romantic development. There’s no single “right” order; however, we’ll explore popular choices and ultimately suggest an optimal path for maximum narrative cohesion and emotional resonance. We will also cover the unique tandem reading experience for Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.

1. The Chronological or Purist Order

This straightforward approach prioritizes the timeline of events. The Assassin’s Blade begins the journey, followed by the main series in chronological sequence:

1. The Assassin’s Blade
2. Throne of Glass
3. Crown of Midnight
4. Heir of Fire
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms (Tandem Read)
7. Tower of Dawn (Tandem Read)
8. Kingdom of Ash

This order provides a clear, linear progression, crucial for understanding the world and its characters’ backstories. However, some find it less impactful emotionally.

2. The Romantic Order

Prioritizes the romantic relationships, delaying The Assassin’s Blade to maximize emotional build-up:

1. Throne of Glass
2. Crown of Midnight
3. Heir of Fire
4. The Assassin’s Blade
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms (Tandem Read)
7. Tower of Dawn (Tandem Read)
8. Kingdom of Ash

This approach enhances the impact of romantic developments by introducing them earlier in the narrative.

3. The Emotional Order

This prioritizes the emotional beats of the plot, carefully considering the impact of The Assassin’s Blade:

1. Throne of Glass
2. Crown of Midnight
3. The Assassin’s Blade
4. Heir of Fire
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms (Tandem Read)
7. Tower of Dawn (Tandem Read)
8. Kingdom of Ash

This order carefully paces the emotional intensity, using The Assassin’s Blade to amplify certain character arcs.

4. Sarah J. Maas’s Recommended Reading Order

Author Sarah J. Maas herself recommends reading The Assassin’s Blade after Crown of Midnight. This order acknowledges the emotional impact of Crown of Midnight before providing additional character context within The Assassin’s Blade.

While Maas offers her preference, remember there’s no wrong way to enjoy the series.

The Tandem Read: Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn

Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn unfold concurrently, following different character groups. Reading them in tandem creates a cohesive timeline, avoiding a jarring shift in perspective and narrative pace. The cliffhanger ending of Empire of Storms necessitates this approach; you’ll be left hanging for 663 pages without the tandem. Moreover, Tower of Dawn contains crucial information that links across Maas’s series, making it vital for a fully immersive experience.

The tandem read involves alternating chapters between the two books according to a specific order:

1. EOS: Nightfall
2. EOS: Chapters 1-5
3. TOD: Chapter 1
4. EOS: Chapters 6-8
5. TOD: Chapters 2-3
6. EOS: Chapters 9-10
7. TOD: Chapters 4-6
8. EOS: Chapter 11
9. TOD: Chapter 7
10. EOS: Chapters 12-13
11. TOD: Chapters 8-10
12. EOS: Chapters 14-16
13. TOD: Chapters 11-12
14. EOS: Chapters 17-18
15. TOD: Chapters 13-16
16. EOS: Chapter 19
17. TOD: Chapter 17
18. EOS: Chapters 20-23
19. TOD: Chapters 18-21
20. EOS: Chapters 24-25
21. TOD: Chapters 22-23
22. EOS: Chapter 26
23. TOD: Chapter 24
24. EOS: Chapters 27-29
25. TOD: Chapters 25-28
26. EOS: Chapter 30
27. TOD: Chapters 29-31
28. EOS: Chapter 31
29. TOD: Chapter 32
30. EOS: Chapter 32
31. TOD: Chapters 33-35
32. EOS: Chapters 33-51
33. TOD: Chapters 36-37
34. EOS: Chapter 52
35. TOD: Chapters 38-40
36. EOS: Chapter 53
37. TOD: Chapters 41-42
38. EOS: Chapters 54-56
39. TOD: Chapter 43
40. EOS: Chapters 57-59
41. TOD: Chapters 44-48
42. EOS: Chapters 60-61
43. TOD: Chapters 49-51
44. EOS: Chapters 62-63
45. TOD: Chapters 52-53
46. EOS: Chapters 64-65
47. TOD: Chapters 54-56
48. EOS: Chapters 66-67
49. TOD: Chapter 57
50. EOS: Chapters 69-75
51. TOD: Chapters 58-68
52. TOD: Fireheart

Kindle editions are ideal for this tandem read, with individual book downloads providing easy chapter switching. Physical books are manageable, while audiobooks require careful bookmarking or a visual guide to switch efficiently between chapters.

The Optimal Throne of Glass Reading Order: A Recommendation

After extensive personal experience and countless discussions within the Throne of Glass fandom, the ultimate reading order for maximum impact is:

1. Throne of Glass
2. Crown of Midnight
3. The Assassin’s Blade
4. Heir of Fire
5. Queen of Shadows
6. Empire of Storms (Tandem Read with Tower of Dawn)
7. Tower of Dawn (Tandem Read with Empire of Storms)
8. Kingdom of Ash

This order allows for a gradual immersion into the world and its characters before delving into the richer backstories and emotional complexities presented in The Assassin’s Blade. The tandem read of Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn ensures a seamless narrative flow and maximizes the impact of the series’s climactic moments.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of different reading orders, enabling you to choose the perfect experience for your journey through Sarah J. Maas’s enthralling Throne of Glass series. Enjoy the adventure!