So, if you’ve made your way here from Instagram or read my about me page you will know by now I’m a huge Sarah J Maas fan.
If you’re new then WARNING! I’m a Maas-ive fan of Queen Maas.
I did a reread of her A Court of… series via audiobook before the release of A Court of Frost and Starlight and really enjoyed that…even if I still haven’t finished A Court of Wings and Ruin, but since I’ve read that series several times it’s not a big deal…really…okay maybe a little.
Anyways…
Today I wanted to talk about the Throne of Glass series or TOG for short since I’m starting a reread of the series via audiobook today.
With the release of Kingdom of Ash later this year you’ve likely been hearing about it, some of you may have never read a Maas book. You may find yourself wondering what the fuss is about and if it’s even worth it. This post is for you and is more geared towards people who haven’t read the series.
First of all I would like to note that while her series are shelved as Young Adult, due to the character’s ages and later content I think of both her series as New Adult, feel free to disagree.
Back to the post…
If you’re brand new to the series you’re first question is probably:
What is this series even about?
It’s about a 18 year old assassin named Celaena Sardothien. (Oh and no you probably won’t be able to correctly pronounce anyone’s name properly though Sarah’s site has this guide which is helpful until like the third book *shrugs*.) She was arrested and thrown into The Salt Mines of Endovier. The King of Adarlan decides to hold a contest of champions and of course his son Dorian decides to choose her as his contestant. She has to compete and win to earn her freedom. And then the series just gets crazy from there. (I’m keeping this vague because I don’t want to spoil anything.)
Is it worth it to read this series?
Short answer: YES!!!
Long answer: I would definitely say yes, but it is a maas-ive investment of time (okay guys I’m stopping I promise). It’s six books (will be seven in total) and a collection of short stories. And honestly I didn’t like the series until the third book, I love it now (and have reread a few of the books a few times), but again I had to read over 800 pages before I decided I really cared.
I didn’t like Celaena, I barely liked Dorian and Chaol (until book 2), but I was curious because I felt like I was being lead blindly through a maze and wanted to see what I was going to get when I got through all the twist and turns. So, I would say that yes, it was worth it. I am now completely emotionally invested in the characters.
Now if you’ve never read the series you maybe wondering what order to read them in and what the deal is with the the short story collection (The Assassin’s Blade) that I keep mentioning.
What order should I read them in?
There is a bit of a debate over how to read the series.
Queen Maas herself has weighed in. People say go with what Sarah says, choose chronological, but others say publication. I agree with book publication because the stories were in fact published separately digitally, but I digress.
If you want to go with what Maas says you will read: The Assassin’s Blade, Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn.
If you want to go by book publication: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, The Assassin’s Blade, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn.
Now, you really can’t go wrong…unless you’re me *dramatic sigh*.
You do NOT want to go with the way I originally read them: Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, The Assassin’s Blade, Empire of Storms, Tower of Dawn.
Note: I didn’t start this series until last year, a few months before Tower of Dawn‘s release, and was scared there were spoilers in The Assassin’s Blade so I read it late and I didn’t want to miss out on anything in Empire of Storms.
Also, I probably would have abandoned the series if I had started with The Assassin’s Blade.
Whatever way you chose to read the series PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE read The Assassin’s Blade before Queen of Shadows you will thank me for this later, because you will miss Easter eggs and some major plot payoffs if you do not. Also, you will probably want some tissues handy because there probably (*cough* definitely *cough*) will be some tears.
Now I’m off to start my chronological reread (via audiobooks) and I’ll weigh in with my thoughts on that reading order when I’ve finished.
(And yes I do think you should definitely read TOG before ACOTAR.)
Have you read the Throne of Glass series? What’s your preferred reading order?