Fourth Wing vs Throne of Glass: Which Should You Read First?
Fourth Wing and Throne of Glass are both romantasy series with deadly heroines and high stakes, but they appeal to different readers. Choose Fourth Wing if you want dragons, romance, fast pacing, and a newer BookTok fantasy series. Choose Throne of Glass if you want a longer fantasy commitment, deeper worldbuilding, and a completed Sarah J. Maas series. If you want the fastest, most addictive entry point, start with Fourth Wing. If you want the bigger fantasy journey, start with Throne of Glass.
Side by side
| The Empyrean (Fourth Wing) | Throne of Glass | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3 books (5 planned) | 8 books (complete) |
| Starting age | Adult from page one | Starts YA, becomes adult by book 3 |
| Heroine | Violet Sorrengail, physically fragile but strategic | Celaena Sardothien, the most feared assassin in the world |
| Romance | One primary love interest | Multiple love interests across the series |
| Setting | Dragon-rider military academy | Assassin competition, then epic fantasy war |
| Scope | Focused (one academy, one war) | Sprawling (multiple continents, many POVs) |
| Best entry point | Fourth Wing | Throne of Glass (book 1) |
| Author | Rebecca Yarros | Sarah J. Maas |
Start with Throne of Glass if you want an 8-book epic with a YA-to-adult transition and the most ambitious worldbuilding Maas has done. Start with Fourth Wing if you want adult romantasy from page one with tighter pacing and fewer books to commit to.
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Frequently asked questions
Start with Fourth Wing if you want fast, adult romantasy with dragons. Start with Throne of Glass if you want a longer YA-to-adult epic. Most readers enjoy both, so pick the one that matches your current mood.
Both are romantasy with deadly female protagonists, enemies-to-lovers tension, and high fantasy settings. Fourth Wing is faster, more adult, and set in a dragon-rider academy. Throne of Glass is longer, starts YA, and has deeper worldbuilding across 8 books.
Fourth Wing. It hooks most readers by chapter two. Throne of Glass takes longer to build momentum, with the series really catching fire around Crown of Midnight (book 2).
Throne of Glass is 8 books (complete). Fourth Wing is 3 books so far with 5 planned. Throne of Glass is the bigger commitment.
Try A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (connected to the Maas universe), From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, or The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen.