Should I read Assassin’s Blade first?
For Throne of Glass, Bloomsbury places The Assassin’s Blade after Crown of Midnight. Chronological-first is a reread taste, not the first-read path.
Short answer
No. Start with Throne of Glass.
Bloomsbury’s pictured path is novel, Crown of Midnight, then the prequel collection. Assassin’s Blade first is allowed. It is not required, and it is a spoiler-leaning chronological taste.
Publication path (house first read)
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- The Assassin’s Blade
- Then Heir of Fire through Kingdom of Ash
Meet the novel, then the earlier jobs, then the rest. That is the publisher order this house follows.
What “Assassin’s Blade first” actually does
The collection is earlier in Celaena’s calendar and later in the publishing history. Reading it first hands you jobs, names, and a temperature the opening novel is designed to discover. Some readers still want that. Bloomsbury says it is allowed. It is a valid reread or a stubborn chronological taste. It is not the path pictured for a first visit.
Do not start with Kingdom of Ash. Do not skip to Queen of Shadows because later books are a different temperature. That change is designed.
The other TOG trap
Tower of Dawn runs beside Empire of Storms. Reading ToD first spoils parts of EoS. Publication order (EoS then ToD) is enough. Tandem charts are a reread toy. Details, the tandem note, and the Crescent City warning live on the Throne of Glass reading-order guide.
FAQ
Assassin’s Blade first or third?
Third for a first read. First if you already know you want chronology and will accept the cost.
Do I have to tandem-read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn?
No.
Is the series complete?
Yes.
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