What Is the Assassin’s Blade?
Before we talk order, let’s clarify what we’re dealing with. The Assassin’s Blade is a collection of five novellas written by Sarah J. Maas. These stories chronicle the early life of Celaena, the infamous teenage assassin and central character of the Throne of Glass series.
The novellas serve as prequels, offering backstory and connecting directly into the first full novel of the series. That’s why understanding the sarah j maas assassin’s blade series order is more helpful than you’d think—it’ll shape how you experience the characters and plotlines moving forward.
Suggested Reading: Publication vs. Chronological
There are two main approaches to reading these novellas:
1. Publication Order
In this approach, you read each novella in the order they were originally released as eBooks before being compiled into The Assassin’s Blade.
Here’s that list:
The Assassin and the Pirate Lord The Assassin and the Healer The Assassin and the Desert The Assassin and the Underworld The Assassin and the Empire
This is also the same order they’re arranged in the The Assassin’s Blade collection. For most readers, this approach works perfectly. It preserves author intent, builds character development gradually, and introduces plot elements in a narratively satisfying arc.
2. Chronological Order (If You Really Want)
Want to read the novellas in the timeline in which events occur within Celaena’s life, not when they were written or published? You’d be following:
- The Assassin and the Pirate Lord
- The Assassin and the Healer
- The Assassin and the Desert
- The Assassin and the Underworld
- The Assassin and the Empire
Yes, chronologically it’s nearly identical to the publication order. The twist comes when you zoom out and try to read these alongside the main series.
Where The Assassin’s Blade Fits in the Throne of Glass Series
This is where the sarah j maas assassin’s blade series order really matters. The Throne of Glass series includes:
- The Assassin’s Blade (the prequels)
- Throne of Glass
- Crown of Midnight
- Heir of Fire
- Queen of Shadows
- Empire of Storms
- Tower of Dawn (parallel novel)
- Kingdom of Ash
So, should you read The Assassin’s Blade before the main books or somewhere in between?
Best Option for New Readers:
Read The Assassin’s Blade first. Doing so introduces you to Celaena’s world, motivations, and key backstory before you get into the main arc. You’ll understand references in Throne of Glass much better. Think of it as a solid prologue.
Optional Twist for Returning Readers:
If you’ve already read a few of the core books and are coming back, some fans suggest reading The Assassin’s Blade right before Queen of Shadows. That way, certain character reappearances hit harder.
It depends on your goals: story clarity vs. emotional payoff.
Why Reading Order Matters
Getting the sarah j maas assassin’s blade series order right does more than tick a completionist box. It gives emotional context.
You’ll witness Celaena’s relationships before they fell apart. You’ll understand her trauma, her guard, and her anger without info dumps. And when her past shows up later in the main series, you won’t be scrambling to remember names.
Final Thoughts on sarah j maas assassin’s blade series order
Still undecided? Here’s the quick guide:
Newcomer to the series? Read The Assassin’s Blade first, in the order it appears in the collection. Prefer release realism? Stick to the publication order. Want all backstory in one go after setting into the main world? Read it after Throne of Glass but before Queen of Shadows.
No matter how you do it, those novellas are a powerful dose of worldbuilding and character depth. They’re more than appetizers—they’re the thread that stitches Celaena’s story together.
Now that you know the sarah j maas assassin’s blade series order, it’s your move. Choose your path and step into Erilea. It’ll be bloody, magical, and absolutely addictive.
