If you’re wondering how many Throne of Glass books there are, the short answer is that the series is commonly counted as eight books when you include the prequel novella collection The Assassin’s Blade. If you’re reading for the first time, that number can be confusing because publication order and chronological order are not the same.
This guide clears that up quickly and gives you a practical reading order, plus a little context on Sarah J. Maas’s fantasy series and why readers often debate where to start.
How many Throne of Glass books are there?
There are eight books in the Throne of Glass series if you count The Assassin’s Blade, the prequel novella collection. The core series begins with Throne of Glass and continues through seven main novels plus the prequel material, which many readers treat as essential to the full reading experience.
What is the correct reading order?
There is no single “official” reading order that every reader agrees on, but there are two common approaches: publication order and chronological order. Your best choice depends on whether you want the story to unfold as originally released or in the character’s timeline.
Publication order
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
- The Assassin’s Blade (published as a prequel collection, though often read earlier)
Chronological order
- The Assassin’s Blade
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn
- Kingdom of Ash
Some readers prefer starting with Throne of Glass because it introduces Celaena Sardothien with more mystery. Others begin with The Assassin’s Blade because it adds emotional and historical context before the main series begins.
What is Throne of Glass about?
The series follows Celaena Sardothien, a gifted assassin whose life changes when she is drawn into a contest for freedom and then into a much larger struggle involving politics, magic, loyalty, and war. What begins as a court-centered fantasy gradually expands into an epic series with multiple kingdoms, shifting alliances, and high-stakes conflict.
Although the books include romance, action, and adventure, they are also about identity, trauma, power, and the cost of survival. That mix is a big reason the series has remained so popular with fantasy readers.
Why the series order can be confusing
The confusion comes from the way the books were released. The Assassin’s Blade contains prequel novellas set before the first novel, but it was published after several main installments. That means the “first” book can be either the first one published or the first one in the timeline.
There is also a split in the middle of the series, where Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn overlap in time. Many readers choose to read them in publication order because that preserves the intended reveals and pacing.
Best starting point for new readers
- Start with Throne of Glass if you want the original reading experience and a gradual introduction to the world.
- Start with The Assassin’s Blade if you prefer chronological storytelling and want more background on Celaena before the main plot begins.
- Follow publication order if you want to avoid spoilers and preserve the series’ original structure.
Who wrote Throne of Glass?
Sarah J. Maas is the author of Throne of Glass. She is also known for the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and the Crescent City books. Her work is closely associated with romantic fantasy, strong-willed heroines, and large-scale worldbuilding.
In Throne of Glass, Maas combines classic fantasy elements with a fast-moving, character-driven style. The series grows from a story of competition and survival into one of the more expansive fantasy sagas in modern popular fiction.
What themes run through the series?
Readers often return to Throne of Glass for its action, but the series also explores several recurring themes in a more literary way.
Identity and self-invention
Celaena’s story is partly about who she is, who she pretends to be, and who she becomes over time. That tension between public identity and hidden self gives the series much of its emotional force.
Power and responsibility
The books repeatedly ask what power does to people and what it costs to use it well. Political authority, magical ability, and personal influence all come with consequences.
Loyalty and chosen family
Friendship and allegiance matter as much as blood ties. The series often emphasizes bonds built through trust, sacrifice, and shared hardship.
Trauma and resilience
Characters endure loss, violence, and pressure, and the books do not treat recovery as simple. Instead, they show resilience as a process, not a single triumph.
Main characters readers should know
The cast grows substantially as the series progresses, but a few characters are especially important for first-time readers.
- Celaena Sardothien — the central protagonist, known for her skill, pride, and hidden vulnerability.
- Chaol Westfall — a captain whose loyalties and beliefs are tested across the series.
- Dorian Havilliard — a prince whose arc moves from privilege toward responsibility.
- Manon Blackbeak — introduced later, she becomes one of the series’ most important and complex figures.
- Aelin Galathynius — a name that becomes central as the story expands beyond the early assassin premise.
Because the series changes direction over time, readers often feel that the cast deepens significantly after the first few books. That gradual expansion is part of the appeal.
What kind of fantasy is it?
Throne of Glass begins as a mix of court fantasy, assassin fiction, and coming-of-age adventure, then develops into a larger epic fantasy series. It includes magic systems, political conflict, battles, romance, and shifting points of emotional focus.
If you like fantasy that starts with a personal premise and widens into a world-spanning conflict, this series is a strong fit. If you prefer tightly contained stories with little romance or a single-plot structure, it may feel more sprawling than expected.
Is The Assassin’s Blade necessary?
It is not strictly necessary to understand the main series, but it does add useful background. The novellas deepen the emotional stakes of later events and give more context for Celaena’s earlier life.
Some readers find that the prequel collection makes the main books more moving. Others prefer to save it until after the first few novels so the character’s past is revealed more gradually.
Quick reading guide for different kinds of readers
- If you want maximum suspense: read in publication order.
- If you want a chronological timeline: begin with The Assassin’s Blade.
- If you are unsure: start with Throne of Glass and decide later whether to read the prequel collection before or after the main arc.
Final answer
So, how many Throne of Glass books are there? Eight, if you include The Assassin’s Blade. For most readers, the best approach is to choose either publication order or chronological order and stay consistent from there.
If you want to compare the series structure with other Maas books or double-check the full lineup, you may also find these guides useful: How many books are in the Throne of Glass series? and How many books does Sarah J. Maas have?