Throne of Glass Series Reading Order: Complete Guide

Do you want to know Throne of Glass series order? If so, read on to learn how to approach this series.

The Throne of Glass series is a New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy book series written by Sarah J. Maas. Maas is an American author who is also known for “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and the Crescent City series.

The Throne of Glass series tells the story of Celaena Sardothien and the many challenges she faces on her way to freedom from imprisonment. Many people want to read the series but aren’t sure where to start because the books weren’t released chronologically. There are multiple out-of-sequence books and a prequel.

Here we’ll discuss the series and explain in which order to read the books.

Enter the Epic World of the Throne of Glass

The world of Throne of Glass is vast and complex, with several different kingdoms and magical creatures. The story is set in the kingdom of Adarlan, which has conquered and enslaved several other kingdoms. As the series progresses, readers are introduced to other kingdoms and magical beings, such as the fae, witches, and demons. Maas's world-building skills are unparalleled, and readers will feel fully immersed in this magical realm.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the world of Throne of Glass is the intricate political landscape. The different kingdoms have their own alliances and rivalries, and the characters must navigate these complex relationships in order to achieve their goals. The political intrigue adds an extra layer of depth to the story, and readers will find themselves constantly guessing who to trust and who to be wary of.

The Throne of Glass series Awards and Nominations

The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas has received several awards and nominations, including:

1. Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction in 2015 and 2016.
2. Winner of the 2015 David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
3. Winner of the 2017 RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy Novel.
4. A New York Times bestseller.

In addition to the awards it has won, The Throne of Glass series has been nominated for several other awards, including:

1. The Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers in 2014 and 2016.
2. The Inky Awards in 2013 and 2015.
3. The Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten in 2013.
4. The Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy Novel in 2013 and 2014.
5. The Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018.

These nominations are a testament to the popularity of the series among readers and critics alike. Now, let’s jump into the reading order for the Throne of Glass series.

The Reading Order for the Throne of Glass books

Here’s a list of the Throne of Glass series in chronological order, along with short descriptions of each book.

The Assassin’s Blade

“The Assassin’s Blade” is a prequel and an introduction to the world of Throne of Glass. What may confuse some readers is that this book was published in 2014, after the release of “Throne of Glass” and “Crown of Midnight.” “The Assassin’s Blade” is a collection of five novellas: “The Assassin and the Pirate Lord,” “The Assassin and the Healer,” “The Assassin and the Desert,” “The Assassin and the Underworld,” and “The Assassin and the Empire.”

This prequel introduces the main character, Celaena Sardothien, as the most feared assassin in Adarlan. Although her allegiance is to her master, Arobynn Hamel, Celaena only trusts and listens to her fellow assassin-for-hire, Sam. Each novella represents one of Celaena’s adventures, where she finds herself disobeying her master’s orders and questioning her allegiance. She also realizes Sam is much more than a friend.

Both need to risk everything to survive and escape Arobynn’s orders.

Throne of Glass

In the first part of the must-read series, we’re introduced to Celaena, a prisoner serving a life sentence for her crimes in the salt mines of Endovier. After a year of hard labor, she’s brought before Crown Prince Dorian, who offers her freedom under one condition. Celaena must represent him in a to-death tournament and fight 23 thieves, murderers, and warriors. If she wins, she’ll be the King’s Champion for four years and then become free.

After her opponents start disappearing one by one, Celaena’s battle for freedom becomes a battle for survival. On her way to finding out the identity of the killer, she discovers things she couldn’t have imagined.

Crown of Midnight

Celaena has won the contest and becomes the King’s Champion. Now, she has to follow orders and kill royal “enemies.” Only Celaena doesn’t want to do so. Instead, she fakes the deaths and helps the men escape Adarlan. When given the order to kill Archer Finn, a rebel leader looking for the lost princess Aelin Galathynius, Celaena is put to the test. The princess could restore the kingdom to its glory.

Heir of Fire

As the King of Adarlan’s assassin, Celaena is forced to serve him. But the only thing she has on her mind is avenging the death of her dear friend. The answers she needs are hidden in Wendlyn, a distant kingdom. And Chaol, the captain of the guard, risks everything to help her get there.

As Celaena learns more about her true destiny, new brutal forces take to the skies.

Queen of Shadows

Celaena returns to Rifthold to confront her past and get revenge on the two men who destroyed everything she cared for. She has accepted her destiny as the lost queen of Terrasen, but she can’t reclaim the throne just yet. She needs to keep pretending to get what she wants and create a better world for herself and her people.

Empire of Storms

This book follows the path of Aelin Galathynius, the lost queen to the throne. To protect the people she loves, she needs to compromise and participate in a desperate quest, with war right around the corner.

Tower of Dawn

This part of the story is about Chaol Westfall. Ever since Aelin shattered the glass castle, Chaol has struggled to recover, both physically and mentally. After being spared from a fatal blow, Chaol sails to Antica with Nesryn, to find the healers of Torre Cesme. What they discover there is much more than they could’ve imagined.

Kingdom of Ash

In the last part of the epic fantasy series, we see Aelin trapped in an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae. Lysandra and Aedion remain the only ones who can save Terrasen. We also see Manon, Chaol, and Dorian scattered across the kingdom, finding the paths toward their destinies.

Some connections become even stronger, while others are severed in this exciting finale.

Exploring the characters of the Throne of Glass series

The characters in Throne of Glass are complex, with intricate backstories and motivations. Celaena Sardothien is the lead character, and her journey is the series' main focus. She is joined by several other well-developed characters, such as Chaol Westfall, Dorian Havilliard, Nehemia Ytger, and many more. Each character has their strengths and weaknesses, making them relatable to readers. Maas does an excellent job of creating three-dimensional characters that readers will root for throughout the series.

One of the most interesting aspects of the characters in the Throne of Glass series is their growth and development throughout the books. As the story progresses, readers see the characters face challenges and overcome obstacles, which leads to significant character growth. For example, Chaol Westfall starts off as a loyal captain of the guard, but as the series progresses, he becomes more conflicted and begins to question his loyalties. This growth and development make the characters feel more real and add depth to the story.

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FAQ

Is Throne of Glass or Assassin’s Blade first?

“Assassin’s Blade” is the prequel to the series, while “Throne of Glass” is the official first part. You can start reading the series from “Throne of Glass” and then read “Assassin’s Blade” later on if you want to learn more about the characters and stories.

Will there be a Throne of Glass movie?

At the time of writing, there are no indications that “Throne of Glass” will be adapted into a movie.

Will there be a 9th Throne of Glass book?

No. The author stated she doesn’t have plans to write another Throne of Glass book.

What is the first book published in the Throne of Glass series?

The author Sarah J. Maas released “Throne of Glass” first. It was published by Bloomsbury Publishing in 2012. In fact, Bloomsbury has published the entire series, including the Throne of Glass box set with hardcover editions and the Throne of Glass coloring book.

Is Queen of Shadows before or after Throne of Glass?

“Throne of Glass” is the first part, while “Queen of Shadows” is the fourth part.

Can you read the Throne of Glass series out of order?

No, you shouldn’t read the Throne of Glass Series out of chronological order if you want to keep track of the story. You can skip the prequel (“Assassin’s Blade”) and start with “Throne of Glass.”