Maas is a once-in-a-generation author. She never drops the quality of her book. In every new book, her writing becomes even better. The world-building is more sophisticated and the characters are more developed
Throne of Glass is what made me fall in love with the author. Considering the fact that I am mentioning this series for the third time, it should speak volumes
There are two ways to tackle this series
Throne of Glass books in order of publication
- Assassin’s Blade (Novelas-2012, Compiled-2014)
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
Recommended reading order – tandem read
- Throne of Glass (2012)
- Crown of Midnight (2013)
- Heir of Fire (2014)
- Assassin’s Blade (2014)
- Queen of Shadows (2015)
- Tower of Dawn (2017)
- Tandem read
- Empire of Storms (2016)
- Kingdom of Ash (2018)
I will discuss both options and leave you to decide which one to go through with
Prequel: The Assassin’s Blade
This book includes five short stories:
- The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (2012)
- The Assassin and the Healer (2012)
- The Assassin and the Desert (2012)
- The Assassin and the Underworld (2012)
- The Assassin and the Empire (2012)
And is a prequel to the original series. It follows the adventures of Celaena Sardothien, Adarlin’s most notorious assassin, as she travels around the world. But there is danger back home too. Assassin’s den is like one of the vipers. She has to guard her life. And her heart.
This was not the first book I’ve read, but I wish it was. The novels from this book were published before the first book, throughout the first half of 2012. But all the short stories as a full book were published in 2014.
Once you know this backstory, you’ll be able to better understand Celaena’s character. It will give you a heart-wrenching and memorable start to the Throne of Glass universe.
Book 1: Throne of Glass
If you do start with the Throne of Glass book, buckle up and get ready for the journey.
Sarah J Maas started this book when she was 16 and published it 10 years later. You can still see her developing as a writer throughout the series. The plot becomes more interesting and world-building and characters become more complicated. But still, this book can stand on its own.
This is where the main story starts, from the salt mines of Endovier. We meet the dashing prince, Dorian Havilliard, and the captain of the guard, Chaol Westfall. The events of this book will kickstart this whole mess, which goes on for eight books. It is the best, soul-crushing, addicting mess I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.
Celaena’s character was so different from traditional YA girls. Usually, there is this badass girl, who is different from all the others. She doesn’t like to dress up or do girly stuff. But Celaena is so spoiled. She loves luxury, sweets, self-care, and books. She is a badass assassin but also she is a girly girl and it doesn’t make her less interesting. There is a beautiful friendship between Celaena and Nehemia.
Celaena has to win a contest in the name of the Prince to stay out of salt mines and become the King’s assassin. But strange magic lurks under the Glass Castle, waiting to be unleashed.
Book 2: Crown Of Midnight
In my mind, these first two books are completely different stories. But at the end of the Crown of Midnight, Maas is getting ready to transition her series from YA to High Fantasy.
Book 3: Heir of Fire
This is a breaking point, where we see Celaena’s metamorphosis. The author introduces us to the new characters, the world becomes wider, and the whole series becomes much more interesting. To be honest, Heir of Fire is my favorite part. It is slow but comforting, and at the same time, we learn so much more about Celaena.
After the Heir of Fire, is when the series make a little pause, so if you have not read Assassin’s Blade at this point, this would be the time.
Book 4: Queen of Shadows
I would strongly advise you to have read Assassin’s Blade before this book. We come back to Rifthold and the author uses a lot of references from Celaena’s old life.
Here all the characters come together, and the foundation for the epic events of the last books is built. We get to see Arobynn Hamel, one of my favorite villains of all time, and in my opinion, see the assassin side of Celaena the best.
Side Novela: Tower of Dawn
Do yourselves a favor and either tandem read these two, or read the Tower of Dawn before the Empire of Storms. Events in these two books are happening at the same time but in different locations. In Tower of Dawn, we follow Chaol in the southern continent, inspired by Arabian culture. This is a side novella, but it includes crucial information, that will unravel in the final book.
Book 5: Empire of Storms
Empire of Storms is SO GOOD and ends on such a cliffhanger. That’s why you won’t be able to put your heart into the Tower of Dawn if you read it between Empire of Storms and the Kingdom of Ash. This is where the story comes to its culmination. There are more POVs and the range of action is much larger. The only reason I managed to do that, was that I was reading the books as they came out. I had to wait for years to breathe after that horrible cliffhanger in The Empire of Storms.
There are guides to tandem read these two online. But I’d recommend diving into this Arabian-inspired world before the Empire of Storms.
Book 6: Kingdom of Ash
OH, MY GODS. This is the last book in the Throne of Glass Series and it is a perfect, worthy finale to an epic story. I can guarantee you won’t be able to put down this book.
We have many storylines, and every single one of them is as gripping as the other. You’ll also get glimpses of other worlds Maas had created. There is an epic battle and an ending that will hit your emotional sanity, but also ease you into the end of this amazing journey.
