Throne of Glass Reading Order & Tandem Read Guide
A spoiler-free Throne of Glass reading guide, with where to read The Assassin’s Blade and a chapter checklist for the Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn tandem read.
Books in this guide ↓Throne of Glass starts with an assassin and a dangerous competition, then opens into a much larger fantasy adventure. If your reading list is full of arguments about prequels and tandem reads, take a breath: you can enjoy the series without finding one perfect route through it. This spoiler-free guide gives you a clear starting point and a practical plan for the two parallel books.
Throne of Glass reading order for a first read
For a straightforward first read, follow publication order. This is the route recommended in Bloomsbury’s reading-order guide:
- 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
The Assassin’s Blade collects five prequel novellas. Reading it third lets you meet Celaena in the main story before stepping back into her past. If you prefer to start at the beginning of a character’s timeline, reading the prequel first is another option the publisher acknowledges. Choose your placement before you begin, then give yourself permission to settle into the story rather than keep second-guessing the order.
What is the Throne of Glass tandem read?
Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn take place over the same period, following different characters and locations. A tandem read interleaves their chapters so you move between the two storylines instead of finishing one book before opening the other.
It is an optional fan-created reading method, not an official requirement. The publisher’s simpler route is Empire of Storms followed by Tower of Dawn. Either way, finish both before beginning Kingdom of Ash, and avoid reading Tower of Dawn all the way through first if you want to preserve Empire of Storms’ reveals.
Should you tandem read on your first time through?
Choose the tandem if switching viewpoints sounds exciting and you like the idea of seeing two parts of a larger story develop together. Choose separate books if you prefer an uninterrupted narrative or if keeping two books to hand would make reading feel like admin.
Both approaches ask for the same thing: time with both stories. You do not need to prove that you are a more committed reader by choosing the more complicated option. Pick the format that makes you want to turn the next page.
Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn tandem checklist
In each row, read the Empire of Storms section first, then the Tower of Dawn section. Complete both cells before moving to the next row. Ranges include every chapter between the two numbers. “Nightfall” is Empire of Storms’ opening section; “Fireheart” is Tower of Dawn’s closing section.
The chapter sequence below follows T. L. Branson’s fan tandem guide. It is one established option rather than the only possible sequence.
| Round | Empire of Storms | Tower of Dawn |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nightfall–5 | 1 |
| 2 | 6–8 | 2–3 |
| 3 | 9–10 | 4–6 |
| 4 | 11 | 7 |
| 5 | 12–13 | 8–10 |
| 6 | 14–16 | 11–12 |
| 7 | 17–18 | 13–16 |
| 8 | 19 | 17 |
| 9 | 20–23 | 18–21 |
| 10 | 24–25 | 22–23 |
| 11 | 26 | 24 |
| 12 | 27–29 | 25–28 |
| 13 | 30 | 29–31 |
| 14 | 31 | 32 |
| 15 | 32 | 33–35 |
| 16 | 33–51 | 36–37 |
| 17 | 52 | 38–40 |
| 18 | 53 | 41–42 |
| 19 | 54–56 | 43 |
| 20 | 57–59 | 44–48 |
| 21 | 60–61 | 49–51 |
| 22 | 62–63 | 52–53 |
| 23 | 64–65 | 54–56 |
| 24 | 66–67 | 57 |
| 25 | 68–75 | 58–Fireheart |
After round 25, continue with Kingdom of Ash.
Make the switches easy
- Keep a separate bookmark in each book. A slip of paper with your current round is enough to track the checklist.
- For ebooks, bookmark the next chapter in both files before switching. Record the round number in a note rather than relying on your device’s reading percentage.
- For audiobooks, follow the printed chapter numbers. App track numbers can count opening material separately, so check the chapter label before you switch.
- If you lose your place, compare your last completed chapter in each book with the table. Pause before reading ahead and restart from the next unread section.
- Avoid chapter summaries and character searches while reading. A practical order guide should help you navigate without explaining what is about to happen.
What should you read next?
Stay with Throne of Glass until you have finished Kingdom of Ash, then choose your next shelf by the part you enjoyed most. Try epic fantasy for another expansive journey or slow burn for relationships that take their time.
Explore the available Throne of Glass books below. Read at your own pace: the checklist is here to keep your place, not set your schedule.
