If you’re wondering when to read Assassin’s Blade, the short answer is that it works best either before Throne of Glass or after the first few books, depending on what kind of reading experience you want. Sarah J. Maas designed it as a companion collection of prequel novellas, so timing affects both the emotional impact and the amount of background you already have.
This guide explains the best reading order, what The Assassin’s Blade adds to the series, and which choice is likely to suit new readers, rereaders, and fans who want the strongest character and worldbuilding payoff.
When should you read Assassin’s Blade?
The most practical answer is that you can read The Assassin’s Blade either first or after the first two to three books of Throne of Glass. Reading it first gives you chronological background, while reading it later preserves some mystery and can make the emotional stakes land harder. There is no single “correct” spot, but there is a best choice for your reading goal.
What is The Assassin’s Blade?
The Assassin’s Blade is a collection of five novellas set in the world of Throne of Glass. It follows Celaena Sardothien before the events of the main series and shows the experiences that shape her reputation, loyalties, and sense of identity.
Why it matters to the series
The novellas deepen the emotional foundation of the main books. They introduce important relationships, reveal key parts of Celaena’s past, and add context to her skills, choices, and guarded personality.
Best reading order options
Option 1: Read it first
Reading Assassin’s Blade before Throne of Glass gives you the clearest chronological order. You meet Celaena’s earlier self first, so her motivations and emotional history are easier to follow when the main series begins.
This is often the best choice for readers who prefer linear storytelling and want to understand the character from the start. It also helps if you like prequels that function as a foundation rather than a later emotional reveal.
Option 2: Read it after book 2 or 3
Many fans prefer to read Assassin’s Blade after Crown of Midnight or Heir of Fire. By that point, you already know Celaena well enough for the novellas to feel like a deeper dive into her past rather than an introduction.
This order can make some scenes more affecting because you understand what is at stake for her in the main series. It also lets the novellas function as a dramatic backstory reveal, which can increase their impact.
Option 3: Read it between books 1 and 2
Some readers place it after Throne of Glass and before Crown of Midnight. This is a balanced compromise: you get a taste of the series first, then step back to learn more about Celaena before continuing.
If you are unsure, this is a safe middle-ground option. It avoids starting with a prequel that may feel less urgent on its own, while still giving you the background before the series expands further.
What changes depending on when you read it?
Reading it first
- Gives you chronological backstory.
- Helps you understand Celaena’s history from the beginning.
- May slightly reduce the mystery around her past in the early main books.
Reading it later
- Lets the main series introduce Celaena with more mystery.
- Can make the novellas feel more emotionally resonant.
- May help you appreciate references and character dynamics more fully.
Why readers disagree about the ideal order
The debate exists because The Assassin’s Blade is both a prequel and an enrichment text. It is not essential to understanding the basic premise of Throne of Glass, but it does add texture to the story world and to Celaena’s character arc.
Some readers want the cleanest timeline, while others want the strongest narrative surprise. Both approaches are valid, and the “best” order depends on whether you value chronology or emotional reveal more.
What themes does Assassin’s Blade add to the series?
Identity and self-invention
One of the strongest themes in the novellas is the tension between who Celaena is and who she is becoming. Her past is full of loss, training, and survival, and the collection shows how identity can be shaped by trauma as much as by talent.
Loyalty and betrayal
The stories explore how trust works in dangerous environments. Celaena’s world is full of shifting alliances, and the novellas make clear that loyalty is costly, fragile, and often tested under pressure.
Freedom versus control
Like the main series, the prequels are concerned with captivity in different forms: physical, political, and emotional. Celaena’s choices often reflect a struggle to claim agency in a world that tries to define her.
How the novellas affect character understanding
Celaena Sardothien
The novellas give a fuller picture of Celaena’s confidence, pride, grief, and vulnerability. They show why she can seem both formidable and emotionally guarded, which helps explain her behavior in the main series.
Supporting characters
Several important figures from the broader series gain more weight when you know Celaena’s earlier relationships. Even when a character appears only briefly in the novellas, the emotional context can change how you read later scenes.
Does reading order matter for spoilers?
Yes, but mostly in terms of emotional framing rather than major plot mechanics. The Assassin’s Blade does not function like a twist-heavy mystery, yet it can shape how you perceive Celaena and certain relationships as the series unfolds.
If you read it first, you will understand more of her past but lose some of the gradual reveal. If you read it later, you may get a stronger sense of discovery and retrospective meaning.
Who should read it first?
- New readers who like chronological order should start with it.
- Readers who prefer character-first immersion may want to begin with Throne of Glass.
- Fans of prequels and origin stories will likely enjoy it early.
- Readers sensitive to emotional spoilers may prefer to wait until after book 2 or 3.
Who should read it later?
If you like to meet a protagonist with limited backstory and discover the truth gradually, save The Assassin’s Blade for later. That approach can make the novellas feel like a reward once you are already invested in the series.
It is also a good choice for readers who do not want to interrupt the momentum of the main plot right away. In that case, reading it after you are hooked on the series may be the most satisfying option.
Simple recommendation
If you want the most straightforward experience, read Assassin’s Blade first or immediately after Throne of Glass. If you want the strongest emotional payoff, many readers prefer to wait until after Crown of Midnight or Heir of Fire. Either way, it is worth reading because it enriches Celaena’s story and the series’ emotional depth.
For readers exploring the wider world of Sarah J. Maas, you may also find it helpful to look at how Sarah J. Maas’s books connect or decide what to read after ACOTAR.