When Should You Read The Assassin’s Blade? The Best Throne of Glass Reading Order

Quick answer: Sarah J. Maas’s current preferred Throne of Glass order places The Assassin’s Blade third: after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire. The prequel novellas happen earlier chronologically, so reading them first is possible, but the official recommended path lets you meet Celaena in the main story before returning to the people and events that shaped her.

The official Throne of Glass order

The current Sarah J. Maas reading guide lists: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, The Assassin’s Blade, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn, and Kingdom of Ash. Bloomsbury gives the same practical recommendation for first-time readers.

Why do some readers start with The Assassin’s Blade?

The novellas take place before the first novel, so chronological-order readers like starting there. You meet Celaena before Endovier and get immediate context for her history. That approach is valid; it simply creates a different emotional rhythm.

Why read it after Crown of Midnight?

Reading the first two novels before the prequels lets Celaena arrive with some mystery intact. Then The Assassin’s Blade fills in relationships, locations and choices that become increasingly meaningful as the series expands. If you do not want to optimize every emotional beat, following the author’s preferred order is the easiest answer.

What about the tandem read?

The Empire of Storms/Tower of Dawn tandem is a separate fandom-created option. The books overlap in timeline, but Bloomsbury recommends publication order to avoid spoilers. You do not need a tandem spreadsheet to be a real TOG reader.

Bookish Closet bridge

The verified Bookish Closet Best Seller collection currently includes Throne of Glass designs such as Fireheart and The Thirteen alongside other bookish apparel.

If you are still deciding whether Throne of Glass is the right fantasy commitment for you, compare it with other fantasy romance series for new readers. If you came to Sarah J. Maas after dragons rather than Fae, our guide to what to read after Fourth Wing gives you several natural next steps.

FAQ

Should I read The Assassin’s Blade first?

You can, but Sarah J. Maas’s preferred order places it after Crown of Midnight.

Is The Assassin’s Blade required?

It is strongly worth reading because characters and locations from the novellas matter later.

Is Throne of Glass finished?

Yes. The main series concludes with Kingdom of Ash.

Do I have to tandem read?

No. The tandem read is optional.