Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series is a whirlwind of
swords, magic, and flying feelings that has readers reading late into the
night. It all started in 2012 when Maas, who had written the story since age
16, finally wrote and published the first novel Throne of Glass. The epic takes
eight books (counting the prequel novellas The Assassin's Blade) and finished
in October 2018. From the horror of the salt mines of Endovier to the flames of
dragonfire on far-off battlefields, the epic follows the unbreakable heroine
Celaena Sardothien. Watchers on YouTube and BookTok can't get enough: Maas's YA
universe is "one of the most compelling" in fantasy, and Aelin's
development and her complex friends have reviewers singing their praises. With
more than 38 million copies sold globally across all of her series, Maas's
Throne of Glass has put a spell that's had a mighty hold on YA and fantasy
readers everywhere.
The Author Behind the Magic
Say hello to Sarah J. Maas: in her early 20s, she had
already built a huge fantasy world. Maas started writing Throne of Glass when
she was 16 years old and worked on it tirelessly throughout high school. In
2012, at age 26, she finally released Celaena's tale. The risk paid off. The
second book Crown of Midnight propelled the series onto the New York Times
Bestseller list. Maas's fanbase increased only with her subsequent series (A
Court of Thorns and Roses, Crescent City) but Throne of Glass set it up. Now
Sarah J. Maas consistently sits atop bestseller lists. (Forbes recently named
her 2024's best-selling author, with fantasy and romance packed into the top
sellers.) Her success is not limited to book sales: even a card game, Embers of
Memory, allows players to assist Aelin in escaping from captors. And Hollywood
hummed in 2016 when Hulu/ABC optioned the series for television (although the
rights have since reverted to Maas). Clearly the universe of Throne of Glass
has become a pop culture staple.
Let's race through the crazy ride of each book:
The
Assassin's Blade (2014, novellas): Imagine this as a movie flashback opening.
Aelin/Celaena and Sam Cortland bestie cut loose throughout Erilea in five
heart-thumping shorts. It introduces young Celaena pre-throne, when she was
still the coolest, most feared assassin out there.
Throne of Glass (2012): Assassin-turned-orphan Celaena
Sardothien begins confined in a slave camp (Endovier). She's presented with a
deadly ultimatum: win a battle royale tournament to become the King's Champion,
or die. The tournament's highlight? Celeana wowing (and sparring with) both
Prince Dorian and Captain Chaol while shadowy assassins lurk at night. Fans
swoon as this kick-butt Cinderella gets center stage.
Crown of Midnight (2013): With the title of King's
Champion now bestowed on her, Celaena is tasked with executing the king's
adversaries individually. But her conscience will not allow her to kill
innocents, so every "kill" is staged and much riskier than anyone
suspects. Along the way she must decide between two incredible men, Prince
Dorian and Chaol, as greater court intrigues flare. In the background, a rebel
rebellion seethes in Adarlan's throne room.
Heir of Fire (2014): Grab the tissues. Celaena departs
from her friends and heads off to the mystical realm of Wendlyn by herself for
training with Rowan Whitethorn, a dark and brooding fae warrior. His harsh
training and a series of devastating mishaps destroy Celaena — until at long
last she becomes Aelin Galathynius, heir to the vanished kingdom of Terrasen.
In Adarlan, meanwhile, Chaol allies with Celaena's lost cousin Aedion to
overthrow the king, while Dorian finds horrors of magic inside him. And: we are
introduced to Manon Blackbeak, the flame-haired witch who is fighting to find
her place among the Ironteeth clans.
Queen of
Shadows (2015): Finally free (and equipped with dragonfire!), Aelin returns to
the capital Rifthold to rescue her friends and exact vengeance. Old and new
allies rally to her cause: Chaol's rebel battalion,
ex-assassin-turned-kingmaker Arobynn, even shape-shifter Lysandra and fierce
werelion Aedion. They fight against time to save Dorian (currently being
controlled by a Valg demon) and topple the tyrant king. Meanwhile, across the
sea, Manon commands her coven in Morath but is uncertain about her orders after
befriending young Elide Lochan – a girl with connections to Aelin's past.
Empire of Storms (2016): War erupts on all of Erilea.
Aelin pays for armies, Aedion holds the North, and all allies on all maps must
ready themselves to confront monstrous Valg invader Lord Erawan. Prophecies and
knotted fates reveal themselves: Aelin gradually sees that she's been singled
out by fate itself, meant for something more than she'd ever envisioned. This
is epic quest overload: we disappear amidst jungles, deserts and tempestuous
seas as our protagonists rush around the map to seek out allies, Wyrdkeys
(magic artifacts), and solutions.
Tower of Dawn (2017): Pacing parallel to Empire of Storms,
this book chronicles Chaol and Nesryn's journey to the Southern Continent.
Chaol travels to the fabled healing capital Torre Cesme in order to heal his
crippled legs, hoping against hope that the unyielding healer Yrene Towers can
help him. Chaol and Yrene begin warily, but they come to realize that healing
has to be as emotional as it is physical. (Bonus: we get to know new characters
such as dashing Prince Sartaq and mirror-world magic.) This side trip ends up
altering Chaol's heart and gaining an unexpected new ally for the ultimate
showdowns.
Kingdom of Ash (2018): The final installment. Aelin is
captured and tortured inside an iron coffin by Valg queen Maeve, while her
friends race against time to rescue her. Rowan, Aedion and Elide spearhead the
rescue attack, freeing Aelin so she can retake the throne of Terrasen.
Meanwhile Dorian Havilliard, King of Adarlan, joins with Manon Blackbeak and
her witches to pursue the final Wyrdkey necessary to drive away evil. All paths
lead to a massive showdown against Maeve and Erawan. Eventually Aelin and her
devoted army ultimately vanquish both dark lords, but not before devastating
sacrifice and a heartbreakingly bittersweet triumph.
Characters We Live For
Aelin Galathynius (Celaena Sardothien): Our heroine. She
begins as Celaena, thrill-seeking assassin, but her royal heritage is awakened.
By series' conclusion she's absolutely Aelin — Queen of Terrasen — commanding
huge magical firepower in order to deliver her people. Her own fans follow her
action-packed development: from isolated captive in Endovier to the fierce,
empathetic queen who promises "no one hurts my family." In between
she meets her soulmate in Rowan — the silver-haired Fae whose training shapes
her powers. (Rowan and Aelin do ultimately marry and become childhood
sweethearts in a centuries-old mates' prophecy fulfilled.)
Rowan Whitethorn: The taciturn Fae warrior who becomes
Aelin's protector, confidant, and later husband. He's an iceberg with legs
initially, but as Aelin's relationship with him warms up, Rowan reveals his
deep heart. His unspoken strength and honor are a rock for Aelin's
self-assurance.
Dorian Havilliard: The golden-haired Crown Prince (later
King) with the heart of gold and the spirit of a dreamer. He begins as Aelin's
dashing but protected suitor, but a stunning legacy transforms him: Dorian
finds raw magic (particularly ice abilities) he must conceal from his abusive
father. Underducted into leadership by cataclysmic loss, Dorian becomes heroic
and sacrificial. (By the end he even falls for the stoic witch Manon, securing
a potent unexpected bond.)
Manon Blackbeak: The Ironteeth Witch who is a cold-blooded
monster at the start and blossoms into hero. Lastborn of the fabled Crochan
Queenline, Manon's fate shifts when she encounters Aelin and Lysandra. She
comes to question her orders at last and betray her sinister masters, rallying
the witches' clans for good. Manon's ultimate moment is a highlight: audiences
adore seeing the "evil witch" discover a cause worth dying over (and
companions worth defending).
Chaol Westfall: The loyal Captain of the Guard who reveres honor and loyalty above everything. Chaol begins as the third point of Aelin's initial triangle – protective and bound by duty. He suffers awful guilt and tragedy (such as his maimed legs in Book 6), but never ceases to battle for his friends. By the end of the series, they have renewed their friendship, and Chaol falls in love with the gentle healer Yrene, who heals his body and soul. Chaol is sacrificial throughout: he was even ready to sacrifice himself for Prince Dorian.
(Bonus) Lysandra & Aedion: We can't leave these loyalists behind. Lysandra the shapeshifter does not blocks any obstacle, and Aedion the Wolf of the North provides Aelin military brilliance and courage. They tend to steal scenes with fidelity deeper than blood, and every queen needs courageous friends behind her back.
Themes that Ignite the Series
Identity & Power: Mais's tale in the end is about
becoming yourself. Celaena vs. Aelin are not two individuals, but two sides of
one soul. Readers witness her struggle with identity each book: the feisty
assassin persona learns to balance (not negate) the actual Queen within. Power
is derived through that self-acceptance – her Fae lineage has her "immense
magical fire power", and embracing who she is Aelin releases it.
Trauma & Healing: Each hero in this book bears scars.
Aelin's time spent in the salt mines and Maeve's torment leave her with deep
wounds, Chaol's wounds shatter him physically and emotionally, even Manon's
childhood was sheer torture. Maas isn't afraid of this darkness – she
illustrates healing is a long, individual process. (Chaol discovers with Yrene
that repairing a broken spine isn't only magic, it's facing guilt and loss.)
This series magic is that even naked pain eventually becomes strength. At series'
end these heroes learn from each other – and us – that love and help can heal
the most profound wounds.
Sacrifice & Friendship: Grab your tissues. Throne of
Glass is filled with sacrifice. Aelin consistently puts her life (and even her
power) on the line for the greater good, literally giving up her immortal line
in the climactic battle. Similarly, secondary characters die nobly to stall
time, or betray allegiances to safeguard friends. An Audible breakdown captures
it: the series finale "examines themes of sacrifice, unity, and
trauma," particularly Aelin undergoing torture in order to rescue loved
ones. Maas never leaves a hero unscathed by loss – but it's their indomitable
bonds that make the story ring true. Ultimately, it's unity that really does
win the day: "the power of united efforts" overcomes evil at last.
Moments That Make You Swoon (No Spoilers!)
Without spoiling anything, Throne of Glass is full of
heart-in-mouth moments. Imagine Rowan and Aelin finally meet again on the beach
(yes, you'll end up crying tears of joy). Remember Manon and Aelin fighting
back-to-back, Abraxos thundering behind Manon, the two fire and witchcraft
queens at each other's backs. Remember a broken Chaol bidding farewell to the
sole healer he can trust or Dorian's whispered confession to his friend during
a midnight under the moon. These words have been screamed from rooftops by
fans: "I am going to shake the stars! " was made an immediate cheer
on social media. Each book has at least one gasp-inducing, tear-spilling
chapter, whether it's loved ones urging Aelin to "rise up" in her
darkest hour, Aelin's legendary escape from a dragon-scarred castle, or the
bitter triumphs at terrible price. These emotional touches are why fans
continue to pass the series around to friends.
By now you understand why this series has such a fanatical
following. Maas is not merely adding tropes – she's subverting them. Throne of
Glass started out as "Cinderella-with-swords" (as Maas herself
pointed out), but it evolves into a grand epic of fate and rebellion. Pretend
you've read enough of the romance-tinted YA fantasy you can stomach? These
novels will disabuse you of the notion. Romantic Times hailed Maas's "YA
fantasy world" as one of the most thrilling in years, noting how the
assassin heroine's evolution and complex secondary characters are simply
fantastic.
And it's no wonder: by the last page you've experienced
Aelin's whole journey from snarky assassin-for-hire to heroic queen. Throne of
Glass connects with our passion for heroic reimagining, passionate action, and
genuine friendship. It poses the question: What does a girl who has nothing to
lose discover she has everything to live for? The solution is a series of books
that punches you in the stomach and reminds you how fearless, optimistic, and
passionate readers can be. As her own self-wishes, Throne of Glass will leave
you stronger and hungry for more fantasy.
So get your swords sharp and your magic warm – the adventure
of a lifetime is coming between these pages.