How Many Throne of Glass Books Are There?
8 Throne of Glass books by Sarah J. Maas — 7 main novels plus The Assassin's Blade (prequel novella collection). The series is complete, concluding with Kingdom of Ash in 2018.
Complete Reading Order
Read the main series in publication order. Insert The Assassin's Blade after Book 3 — that's when it hits hardest and when the context clicks.
| # | Title | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Throne of Glass | 2012 | Novel |
| 2 | Crown of Midnight | 2013 | Novel |
| 3 | Heir of Fire | 2014 | Novel |
| 3.5 | The Assassin's Blade | 2014 | Novellas |
| 4 | Queen of Shadows | 2015 | Novel |
| 5 | Empire of Storms | 2016 | Novel |
| 6 | Tower of Dawn | 2017 | Novel |
| 7 | Kingdom of Ash | 2018 | Novel |
Tower of Dawn note: Books 6 and 7 are designed to be read simultaneously — Tower of Dawn runs parallel to Empire of Storms. Many fans recommend reading them back-to-back (ToD then EoS), or alternating chapters using an unofficial reading guide. Either way works.
What Is Throne of Glass About?
Set in the fictional kingdom of Adarlan, the series follows Celaena Sardothien — a teenage assassin who is offered her freedom if she serves the king as his champion. What begins as a fantasy-competition story expands into a full epic fantasy over the course of 8 books, with a world-ending stakes finale in Kingdom of Ash.
The series shifts tone significantly as it progresses — early books read as YA fantasy; later books are more adult in scope, scale, and content.
Is Throne of Glass Connected to ACOTAR?
No direct story connection. Both series are written by Sarah J. Maas and share similar elements (strong female lead, fae, romance, magic), but they are set in entirely different worlds with no shared characters or plot threads. You can read either series first.
Which SJM series to start with? Most fans recommend starting with ACOTAR (faster hook, more accessible world) or Throne of Glass (longer but more epic by the end). Crescent City, her third series, has crossover connections to both and should be read last.
Start with Throne of Glass — Book 1 is a good entry point that sets up the full epic to come.
View on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Throne of Glass series finished?
Yes — the series completed in 2018 with Kingdom of Ash. All 8 books are published and available.
How long is the Throne of Glass series?
The main series runs approximately 5,000 pages across 7 novels. Kingdom of Ash alone is 980 pages. Plan for 60–80 hours of reading to complete the full series.
Does Throne of Glass get better after Book 1?
Yes — this is one of the most consistent pieces of fan advice. Book 1 is generally considered the weakest. Crown of Midnight (Book 2) is where most readers get fully hooked. The series reaches its peak around Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows.
What is The Assassin's Blade?
A collection of five prequel novellas originally published separately, following Celaena before the events of Book 1. It contains significant emotional plot points that hit much harder once you've read at least through Book 3.