Throne of Glass Series: Order, Spiciness & Controversy

If you’ve spent any time in fantasy book circles lately, you’ve likely seen the same question pop up again and again: what’s the right way to read the Throne of Glass series? Between passionate debates about when to tackle the prequel and a fandom that treats reading orders like a sport, getting started can feel surprisingly complicated.

Books in series: 8 (including The Assassin’s Blade) ·
First book published: August 2, 2012 (WSU Guardian) ·
Author: Sarah J. Maas ·
Genres: High fantasy, young adult ·
Main protagonist: Celaena Sardothien

Here is a quick reference for the series.

In what order should I read the Throne of Glass series?

Like series such as the Pokémon games, the reading order of Throne of Glass sparks debate between release and chronological order. This single question generates more debate in the fandom than almost any other. The source of the confusion is straightforward: The Assassin’s Blade, a collection of five novellas, was published third despite taking place before the first novel. That mismatch between publication order and chronological order splits readers into camps.

Standard reading order

• Publication order (recommended by Bloomsbury): Throne of Glass → Crown of Midnight → The Assassin’s Blade → Heir of Fire → Queen of Shadows → Empire of Storms → Tower of Dawn → Kingdom of Ash (Bookscouter)
• Chronological order: Start with The Assassin’s Blade, then continue with the rest in publication sequence (WSU Guardian)

The Assassin’s Blade placement debate

• Many fans and the WSU Guardian recommend reading The Assassin’s Blade as the third book — after Crown of Midnight and before Heir of Fire (WSU Guardian)
• Bloomsbury’s official guidance also places the prequel after Crown of Midnight (Bookscouter)
• A smaller group of readers insists on starting with the prequel for chronological purity (Bookscouter)

The implication: the “correct” order depends on whether you prioritise narrative tension or complete chronological clarity. For most first-time readers, publication order with The Assassin’s Blade in slot three provides the smoothest experience.

Tandem read option for Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn

• Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn take place simultaneously, following different character groups (WSU Guardian)
• A dedicated fan-created tandem read alternates chapters between the two books, and many readers on platforms like Reddit and Goodreads advocate for it
• Bookscouter notes that “a few dedicated fans” recommend this simultaneous approach (Bookscouter)

Why this matters: reading the two books back-to-back in publication order means you spend an entire book away from the characters you left on a cliffhanger in Empire of Storms. The tandem read solves that pacing problem, though it requires careful chapter tracking.

Is Throne of Glass as spicy as ACOTAR?

Short answer: no — and the difference comes down to the age classification each series was written for.

Spiciness scale in Throne of Glass

• Throne of Glass is classified as young adult and uses a fade-to-black approach for intimate scenes (Bookscouter)
• Romantic tension is central to the plot, but explicit content is minimal
• The focus stays on Celaena’s development, political intrigue, and action sequences

Spiciness scale in ACOTAR

• A Court of Thorns and Roses is new adult, with open-door romance and mature themes, particularly from A Court of Mist and Fury onward
• The series is widely regarded as significantly more explicit than Throne of Glass
• Fans seeking romantic fantasy with higher heat levels consistently point to ACOTAR as the spicier choice

The differences in target audience and content create a clear contrast.

The pattern: if you’re looking for steamy fantasy romance, ACOTAR delivers what Throne of Glass deliberately avoids. That’s not a flaw in either series — they’re aiming at different audiences.

Why is Sarah J. Maas boycotted?

Over the past few years, calls for a boycott of Sarah J. Maas have gained traction on social media, driven by several overlapping criticisms.

Allegations of cultural appropriation

• Critics point to Maas’s use of elements from non-Western cultures — particularly in the Crescent City series — without sufficient cultural context or sensitivity
• Some readers argue that Maas borrows mythology and naming conventions from non-Western traditions without meaningful representation of those cultures
• No formal legal complaints have been filed; the criticism remains centred in reader communities and social media

Controversy around book pricing and marketing

• A separate wave of backlash emerged over pricing strategies for special editions, which some readers view as cash-grab tactics
• Critics allege that Maas’s publisher, Bloomsbury, capitalises on collector demand with high-priced limited editions

Criticism of diversity and representation

• The Throne of Glass series has been criticised for limited racial and cultural diversity among its cast
• Side characters from non-Western-coded cultures have been described as underdeveloped or stereotypical by some reviewers on Goodreads and Reddit
• Maas’s later series (Crescent City) show a broader range of representation, though critics argue it remains surface-level

The catch: while the boycott is real and vocal online, there is no evidence it has materially affected sales or publishing decisions. The author’s overall readership remains large, and her books continue to top bestseller lists.

Are Throne of Glass and ACOTAR connected?

This is one of the most persistent questions in Maas’s fandom, and the answer is straightforward — with one intriguing twist.

Shared universe theory

• Sarah J. Maas has stated that Throne of Glass and ACOTAR are separate series set in different worlds with no official connection (Bookscouter)
• There are no direct crossover characters between the two series
• Some fans speculate about a shared multiverse, but no canonical link exists

Crossover characters and Easter eggs

• The Crescent City series, Maas’s third and most recent series, includes explicit crossover references to characters from both Throne of Glass and ACOTAR
• These crossovers are one-directional: characters appear in Crescent City, but the other two series do not reference each other

Author statements on connections

• Maas has publicly confirmed that Throne of Glass and ACOTAR are not set in the same universe
• The Crescent City crossovers have been described as fan service rather than a declaration of a shared universe

What this means: you can read Throne of Glass and ACOTAR independently without missing anything. The crossover fun is reserved for those who read all three series and catch the Easter eggs in Crescent City.

What is the Throne of Glass series about?

Main plot and setting

• The series follows Celaena Sardothien, a teenage assassin serving a life sentence in the salt mines of Endovier (WSU Guardian)
• She is offered freedom if she competes in a tournament to become the king’s champion — the “Throne of Glass” competition
• Magic has vanished from the world, and the kingdom of Adarlan is ruled by a tyrannical king who criminalises magic users
• The setting spans Adarlan, the fae realm of Wendlyn, the desert kingdom of Anielle, and more

Key characters

• Celaena Sardothien — the protagonist, a gifted assassin with a hidden heritage
• Chaol Westfall — captain of the royal guard, a moral anchor in the early books
• Dorian Havilliard — the crown prince who befriends Celaena and hides his own magical abilities
• Rowan Whitethorn — a fae warrior who becomes Celaena’s ally and later love interest

Themes and genre

• The series blends high fantasy, political intrigue, adventure, and romance
• Core themes include freedom, identity, loyalty, and the cost of power
• The tone matures as the series progresses, moving from tournament drama to an epic war spanning multiple kingdoms

The arc: what begins as a competition story expands into a continent-spanning conflict about magic, empire, and belonging. Readers who start with book one often find the scope grows dramatically by the final volume.

Step-by-step: how to start the Throne of Glass series

1. Decide on your order philosophy — publication vs. chronological vs. custom. Most sources recommend publication order for first-time readers (Bookscouter).
2. Begin with Throne of Glass (2012) — the novel that introduces Celaena, the competition, and the world of Adarlan.
3. Follow with Crown of Midnight (2013) — the sequel deepens the political plot and character relationships.
4. Read The Assassin’s Blade third — the prequel novellas provide backstory for Celaena’s life before the tournament. This placement avoids spoiling the first two books’ mysteries (WSU Guardian).
5. Continue with Heir of Fire (2014) and Queen of Shadows (2015) — the series expands into fae realms and larger conflicts.
6. Decide on the tandem read for Empire of Storms (2016) and Tower of Dawn (2017). If you choose the tandem read, use a chapter guide to alternate between the two books in parallel.
7. Finish with Kingdom of Ash (2018) — the final volume wraps every major plot thread across 992 pages.

Following these steps ensures a smooth reading experience that respects the author’s intended pacing.

What readers are saying

“The Throne of Glass series follows Celaena Sardothien, a teenage assassin in the kingdom of Adarlan, as she fights for her freedom and uncovers a deeper conspiracy involving magic, war, and her own destiny.”

— Sarah J. Maas, series description via WSU Guardian

“The biggest Throne of Glass reading-order debate is when to read The Assassin’s Blade, with the two most popular choices being chronological order or publication order.”

— WSU Guardian (university publication)

“Some fans prefer reading The Assassin’s Blade first because it is chronologically earliest, though this approach can spoil certain reveals in the first novel.”

— Bookscouter (book trading platform)

“I’ve heard that this book wasn’t very good — some readers find the series uneven, with the second book not improving much on the first.”

— Goodreads Q&A (reader community)

The range of opinions tells its own story: the Throne of Glass fandom is passionate, divided on specifics, and deeply invested in getting the experience right. For new readers, the best approach is to pick an order, trust it, and enjoy the ride.

For those who enjoy exploring book summaries, check out The Courage to Be Disliked.

For readers who want to avoid spoilers while navigating Sarah J. Maas’s sprawling fantasy world, this complete reading order guide clarifies both publication and chronological sequences.

Frequently asked questions

For readers deciding between Throne of Glass and ACOTAR, the choice is clear: Throne of Glass offers epic fantasy with romantic tension, while ACOTAR delivers fantasy romance with explicit spice. Newcomers to the Throne of Glass series should follow publication order, slot The Assassin’s Blade third, and consider the tandem read for books six and seven. The debate over reading order may never end, but the story itself rewards whichever path you choose.