A Court of Thorns and Roses Paperback Box Set (5 books)
Sarah J. Maas
by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien is an infamous assassin languishing in the brutal salt mines of Endovier when she is offered a desperate bargain. The Crown Prince of Adarlan summons her to the glass castle, proposing a ruthless competition: survive a gauntlet of twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors to become the King’s Champion. Victory promises freedom, but failure means death at the hands of a tyrant whose reign has systematically extinguished magic across the continent.
As Celaena navigates the lethal politics of the court, she discovers that the king’s malice is merely a shroud for an ancient, encroaching darkness. Her journey evolves from a fight for personal survival into a desperate quest to reclaim a lost heritage and protect a world on the brink of erasure. Caught between the duty she owes to the throne and the burgeoning rebellion within her, Celaena must confront the ghosts of her past to forge a future for her people.
Bound by shifting loyalties and forbidden connections, she discovers that her own identity carries the weight of a kingdom. In this sweeping epic, the line between hero and villain blurs as the stakes expand from a single tournament to the fate of all existence.
Michele GoodingAbsolute Must Read!!! This Series has it All!!!
"One of the best book series I have ever read, on a level with the Lord of the Rings. This series has it all, fantasy, magic, quests, romance, fairies, princesses, assassins, epic battles, major character growth, plot twists, multiple worlds, it even has aliens!!! I could not put this series down & I bet you won't be able too either! Worth every penny & this is series is a part of my permanent library now...if I ever get it back, I think it's on to the 7th or 8th person to borrow it at this point. ["
January 22, 2026 Verified Purchase
Amazon CustomerOne of the best series I’ve read in a while
"Took a break from leisurely reading due to long hours in school and/or work. Came across Throne of Glass on tiktok but mostly ignored it until I came across a physical copy in 2023, at a bookstore in Estes Park, Colorado. It led me to meeting a wonderful friend who raved about the series. Although I stopped reading after book 2 due to scheduling issues, I returned to start the series anew a few weeks ago, opting for the ebook versions (although I highly recommend buying the physical ones too) so that I could read easier on the go. I have been reaching out to her every step of the way with my theories, thoughts, and reactions and although she read them way back when they were first being published, she felt she was reliving them right alongside me. Writing this now as I just finished up Kingdom of Ash with tears on my face (I read Assassin’s Blade as the third book in this series which I definitely recommend), it was so well written! All the characters are so well fleshed out, you’re hooked from the beginning to the end. I love looking for clues and foreshadowing and Sarah J. Maas was just so good at proper twists with proper clues that even if you had an idea, you still didn’t get the whole picture or doubted right along with the characters of the book and were equally as shocked when events would unfold. Please take some time to read this series and sit with its message and storyline. You won’t regret it. To a better world! ["
October 26, 2025 Verified Purchase
Noel4/5 - loved the series but could have been a little longer with more action.
"Best books: Assassins Blade Heir of Fire Queen of Shadows Empire of Storms Kingdom of Ash Boring/frustrating books: Throne of Glass Crown of Midnight Tower of Dawn General Plot for the Beginning of Series: Celaena Sordothien is Adarlan’s best assassin. After a series of misfortune befalls her, she ends up a slave in the salt mines of Endovier. Dorian Havillard frees Celaena with the catch that she will be his champion in the trials to see who becomes the king’s assassin. Her freedom and her life lie on the line as her competitors are out to get her and those around her. If she passes the trials, she is free with a three years service as an assassin. If she fails, she gets sent back to the salt mines for the rest of her life. The secrets of the glass castle call to her and have her uncover not only her lost legacy but also the future of Adarlan. How should it be read: Assassin’s Blade/Throne of Glass/ Crown of Midnight - as one book. Heir of Fire (Assassin’s Blade may also be read again or before Queen of Shadows as the events of Assassin’s Blade bring back many characters and unresolved storylines.) Queen of Shadows. Empire of Storms/Tower of Dawn - as one book. Tandem read. Alternate chapter. Reading Order for EOS/TOD Tandem Read: Empire of storms - Chapters 1-13 Tower of dawn - Chapters 1-2 - chapter 2 mentions something that happens in chapters 1-13 of Empire of Storms Empire of Storms - Chapters 14-18 (leaves on cliffhanger) Tower of Dawn - Chapters 3-4 (chaol wonders about character in cliffhanger high suits the wording in a different context.) Empire of storms - Chapter 19 TOD Chapter 5.6.7 EŌS Chapter 20.21.22.23 TOD Chapter 8.9.10. EŌS chapter 24.25. ToD chapter 11. 12.13. 14.15.16 EŌS chapter 26.27. TOD chapter 17.18.19.20.21.22. 23. 24. 25. EOS chapter 28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40.41.42.43.43. 44.45.46.47.48. TOD chapter 26.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.38.39.40. EOS Chapters 49.50.51.52.53.54.55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61.62. 63.64.65.66.67.68.69.70.71.72.73.74.75 TOD Chapters 41.42.43.44.45.46.47.48.49.50.51.52.53.54.55.56.57. 58.59.60.61.62.63.64.65.66.67.68.69. Kingdom of Ash - 1058 pages. Summaries for all of the books: Throne of Glass/Crown of Midnight - one story arc that builds the foundation for the main story. This story is about Caelenas rise after she has fallen from grace. She is rebuilding her reputation as the continents best assassin. She is still growing up and maturing. She starts off really immature and by the end of the second book she has grown significantly and will do anything to stop evil from disrupting Erilea. Heir of Fire - More characters come in to play and Celaena is learning how to use her abilities. Conflicts that were built in throne of glass/crown of midnight are built upon and elevated. We start exploring more of Erilea instead of just staying in rifthold. Mythical creatures are introduced. Subplots are put in place. The Assassins Blade - it is a prequel to throne of glass but it should be read as a sort of prologue to Queen of Shadows, Tower of Dawn, and Empire of Storms. Characters reappear from these short stories. You really see Caelena flourish as an assassin. This is the story of how Caelena fell from grace and we get to learn more about who the broke person we met at the beginning of the series in throne of glass is and why she was so angry and combative in throne of glass. Queen of Shadows - is a revenge story. Demons that caelena has been ignoring from the assassins blade and her past, are coming back to haunt her and she must now face them in this novel. Caelena goes full force and is scheming and playing a game of chess as the stakes in her survival are at the highest. Empire of Storms/ Tower of Dawn - these two books happen at the same time and should be read in tandem. They both are about Celaena and her friends recovering from the events of Queen of Shadows but also recovering from the events of the previous four novels, how they move on from this point, all while building an army against the looming darkness that is engulfing Erilea. Kingdom of Ash - the final installment to the Celaena’s story. Celaena and friends have to find the last Wyrdkey and forge the lock. Also, Celaena must defeat Maeve, Erawan, and their armies. ["
July 13, 2023 Verified Purchase
Amazon CustomerNO SPOILERS fabulous fantasy series
"If you want a fabulous fantasy story about some very complicated characters with great development arcs, you're in the right place! Great series. I ripped through the whole thing in a little over a week. Personally, I do NOT recommend reading the prequel in between books 2 and 3 (which I think is actually recommended by the author). I did not, and I thought it was great. The prequel gives you the backstories of several supporting characters that pop up later in the series, but I thought it was much more fun to read the series and then go back to read the backstories later. There was also zero chance of me being willing to put down the main plot after book 2 and reading backstories for a while. Although SJM is known for her "spicy" writing, there is actually very little explicit smut (which is good in my opinion, phrases like "throbbing member" make me laugh and cringe, I can't do it). If you're looking for maximum smut, this is not it. "Empire of Storms" probably has the majority of the smutty scenes -- definitely the most explicit descriptions out of any of the books. Most of the other books have some steamy romance, but generally end before clothing comes off. ["
February 11, 2025 Verified Purchase
Sarah J. Maas
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Sarah J. Maas