If you’re wondering when to read Assassin’s Blade, the short answer is that it depends on what kind of reading experience you want. Sarah J. Maas wrote it as a collection of prequel novellas for the Throne of Glass world, so it can work either as an introduction or as a later expansion of Celaena Sardothien’s backstory.
The best choice is less about “correctness” and more about pacing, spoilers, and emotional impact. If you want the cleanest understanding of the series’ main arc, reading order matters; if you want to know more about Celaena before the larger story unfolds, starting with this book can also make sense.
When should you read Assassin’s Blade?
Most readers read Assassin’s Blade after Heir of Fire or after the first two books in Throne of Glass, but it can also be read first. The “best” time depends on whether you want the prequel novellas to deepen later events or to give you early context for Celaena’s past. Both approaches are valid, but they create different effects.
The main reading options
- Publication order: Read it after the first two Throne of Glass books, which matches how many readers originally encountered the story.
- Chronological order: Read it first if you prefer to begin with the prequel material before moving into the main series.
- After Heir of Fire: A common recommendation for readers who want the novellas to land with more emotional weight and fewer early spoilers.
Why many readers do not start with it
Assassin’s Blade reveals important background about Celaena’s life, relationships, and past losses. Reading it too early can reduce some of the mystery that surrounds her in the first novels, especially if you enjoy discovering a character gradually.
On the other hand, if you like starting a series with a clear sense of the protagonist’s history, the novellas can make the early books feel richer and more grounded. The right choice depends on whether you value suspense or context more.
What is Assassin’s Blade in the Throne of Glass series?
Assassin’s Blade is a collection of five novellas set in the world of Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series. It focuses on Celaena Sardothien before the events of the main novels, showing missions, alliances, and formative experiences that shape her character.
How the book functions in the series
Rather than serving as a standalone novel, it acts as a bridge into the larger series. It provides backstory for Celaena’s training, reputation, and emotional history, while also introducing important supporting characters and tensions that echo later in the series.
Because it is prequel material, it is especially useful for readers who want to understand why Celaena behaves as she does once the main plot begins. It adds texture to her confidence, guardedness, and sense of loyalty.
Reading order: the practical choices
If you are trying to decide when to read Assassin’s Blade, the simplest answer is to choose the order that best matches your reading style. Here is a practical breakdown.
- Read it first if you want a chronological beginning and prefer to know the protagonist’s past before the main storyline starts.
- Read it after the first book or two if you want to meet Celaena in the main series first and then go back for deeper context.
- Read it after Heir of Fire if you want the prequel stories to feel like a meaningful expansion of what you already know.
Which option is most spoiler-safe?
For many readers, reading Assassin’s Blade later is the safer choice if they want to preserve surprises about Celaena’s past. The novellas contain information that can change how you interpret her choices in the early books.
That said, the book is not a twist-heavy mystery in the usual sense. Even if you read it first, you will still have a strong experience; you will simply enter the series with more background and less uncertainty.
Why timing changes the reading experience
The placement of Assassin’s Blade affects tone, pacing, and emotional payoff. Reading it early makes the series feel more linear, while reading it later gives the novellas a retrospective force, as if you are uncovering the roots of a character you already know well.
Reading it first
This approach emphasizes chronology. You begin with Celaena’s earlier life, which can help you understand her skills, her reputation, and some of the emotional walls she carries into the main series.
It can also be helpful for readers who dislike jumping backward in time after they have already become invested in a story.
Reading it later
This approach often creates stronger dramatic irony. Once you have spent time with Celaena in the main novels, the novellas can feel more poignant because you already understand what she has endured.
Many readers find that the emotional stakes hit harder when they return to her past after meeting her in the central storyline.
What themes in Assassin’s Blade matter most?
The novellas explore several recurring themes that define the broader series. These are not just action stories; they also examine identity, loyalty, grief, and the cost of survival.
Identity and reinvention
Celaena’s past is central to the book’s meaning. The novellas show a young woman trying to survive in a dangerous world while also shaping the identity she will carry into the future.
Loyalty and betrayal
Trust is fragile throughout the collection. Relationships matter deeply, but they are often tested by power, secrecy, and competing loyalties.
Loss and resilience
The emotional core of the book lies in how characters respond to loss. The stories repeatedly show that strength in this world is not just physical; it is also emotional endurance.
Freedom and control
Like much of Maas’s fantasy, the novellas are interested in who gets to choose their own path. Celaena’s circumstances often limit her options, which makes her moments of agency more meaningful.
How does it compare to the main Throne of Glass novels?
Assassin’s Blade is more episodic than the main novels. Because it is made up of novellas, it moves through several self-contained adventures rather than one long central plot.
The main series is broader in scope, with larger political and fantasy elements. The prequel collection is more intimate, focusing on character formation and key relationships rather than the full expansion of the world.
What readers often notice
- More backstory: It explains the emotional and historical roots of Celaena’s character.
- Different pacing: The novella structure makes it feel quicker and more segmented than the novels.
- Stronger character focus: It is especially useful for readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy.
Who will enjoy reading it at different points?
Different readers may prefer different reading orders based on what they value most in fantasy fiction.
Read it first if you like:
- chronological order
- clear backstory before the main plot
- character-focused fantasy from the start
Read it later if you like:
- discovering the protagonist gradually
- preserving early-series mystery
- strong emotional context for prequel material
If you are new to Sarah J. Maas, the safest general recommendation is to read the first few Throne of Glass books before deciding whether to pause for Assassin’s Blade. That way, you can judge how much you want to know about Celaena’s past before continuing.
Bottom line: the best time to read it
The most common answer to “when to read Assassin’s Blade” is after the first two books in Throne of Glass, or after Heir of Fire if you want maximum emotional impact. But if you prefer a chronological reading experience, starting with it is perfectly reasonable too.
In the end, Assassin’s Blade is designed to deepen the series rather than dictate one rigid order. Choose the placement that best fits how you like to experience fantasy: with mystery first, or with backstory first.
If you’re also mapping out Sarah J. Maas’s wider universe, you may find it helpful to explore how Sarah J. Maas’s books connect or browse what to read if you like Sarah J. Maas.