Throne of Glass Reading Order: When to Read The Assassin's Blade
April 6, 2026
Discussing the differences between books and their adaptations may reveal plot points for both.
Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series is where the Maasverse began — eight books following Celaena Sardothien, an assassin who becomes something far greater. It’s also the source of one of YA fantasy’s most debated reading order questions: when do you read The Assassin’s Blade?
The Complete Reading Order
The prequel: The Assassin’s Blade (2014) — five novellas set before Book 1. See below for when to read it.
The complete Throne of Glass reading order is on the series page.
The Assassin’s Blade: Before or After Book 1?
This is the most-searched reading order question about the Throne of Glass series. Here’s the definitive answer:
Read The Assassin’s Blade after Book 1 (or after Book 2 — both work). Not before.
Why: The Assassin’s Blade is a prequel that deals heavily with Celaena’s backstory — specifically a relationship and events referenced throughout the main series. Reading it before Throne of Glass removes the mystery around her past. Reading it after Book 1 or Book 2 means the backstory lands with full emotional weight.
Maas herself has suggested reading it after Crown of Midnight (Book 2), which is when the emotional payoff is highest.
Tower of Dawn: Read It Alongside Empire of Storms?
Tower of Dawn and Empire of Storms run parallel in timeline — they cover the same period from different character perspectives. Two approaches:
Option A: Read Empire of Storms fully, then Tower of Dawn (publication order). Option B: Read them chapter-by-chapter using an online guide. This gives the true simultaneous experience.
Most readers find Option A fine for a first read. Option B is for re-reads or very detail-oriented readers.
How Throne of Glass Connects to the Maasverse
The Throne of Glass series connects to ACOTAR and Crescent City through the broader Maasverse. Reading Throne of Glass before ACOTAR is the traditionally recommended order for new Maas readers — it’s where the world begins.
Is Throne of Glass YA?
The early books are written for a YA audience. The series becomes progressively more adult in content and tone — Book 7 is considerably more mature than Book 1. Readers who find ACOTAR’s adult content manageable will be fine throughout.