You're standing at the edge of a cliff. Specifically, the cliffhanger at the end of Empire of Storms. If you’ve been hanging around the Sarah J. Maas fandom for more than five minutes, you’ve heard the warnings. People talk about the "tandem read" like it’s a rite of passage, a secret handshake, or maybe just a survival tactic.
Look, I’ll be honest with you. The first time I saw the Throne of Glass tandem reading guide, I thought it was for people with way too much time on their hands. Two massive hardcovers? Switching back and forth every few chapters? It sounded like a recipe for a headache.
But then I realized why everyone was doing it. Basically, Empire of Storms (Book 5) and Tower of Dawn (Book 6) happen at the exact same time. While Aelin and her crew are causing absolute chaos in Erilea, Chaol Westfall is on a completely different continent—the Southern Continent—trying to heal and find allies.
If you read them in the order they were published, you finish Empire of Storms on a heart-shattering note, only to be "demoted" back in time to follow Chaol for 600+ pages. For some, that’s a total vibe killer. For others, it’s a necessary breather.
Why Do People Even Bother with the Tandem Read?
It’s mostly about the pacing. SJM (Sarah J. Maas) is a master of the slow burn, but Tower of Dawn is a very different animal than the high-octane war drama of Empire of Storms.
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Some readers find Chaol... difficult. You know what I mean. He’s a polarizing character. If you’re already a bit "meh" about him, trying to sit through an entire book of his internal monologue while Aelin’s fate is literally hanging in the balance can feel like pulling teeth.
The Throne of Glass tandem reading guide fixes this by weaving the two stories together. You get a few chapters of the epic war, then a few chapters of the political mystery in Antica. It feels like one giant, 1,400-page masterpiece instead of two separate journeys.
Honestly, it’s also about the spoilers. There are things revealed in Tower of Dawn that carry way more weight if you’ve just seen the corresponding event in Empire of Storms. The timelines overlap so perfectly that it’s almost like they were meant to be read this way.
How to Actually Do the Tandem Read Without Losing Your Mind
You need a plan. You can't just wing it. If you try to swap books whenever you feel like it, you’re going to hit a major spoiler or lose track of who is where.
Most people use the famous "JennaClarek" guide, which has become the gold standard in the community. You’ll want to grab some sticky notes or those little transparent tabs. Tab your books before you start. It makes the flow so much smoother.
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The Breakdown (Generally Speaking)
You’ll start with Empire of Storms. You read the "Nightfall" prologue and the first five chapters. Then, you put the book down. I know, it’s hard. You pick up Tower of Dawn and read Chapter 1.
Then it’s back to Aelin for Chapters 6, 7, and 8. Then back to Chaol for Chapters 2 and 3.
It sounds frantic. It’s not. Once you get into the rhythm, it feels like a TV show jumping between different groups of characters. You get used to the "Meanwhile, in the Southern Continent..." transitions.
One thing to watch out for: The ending. Do NOT finish Empire of Storms before you’ve reached the near-end of Tower of Dawn. There is a specific point—usually around Chapter 58 of Tower of Dawn—where you need to pause and finish the rest of Empire of Storms.
Is it Hard to Keep Track?
Kinda. But also, not really. The characters are so distinct that you won't confuse Rowan Whitethorn with Sartaq. The settings are also night and day. One is all salt spray and warships; the other is a lush, sprawling city built into mountains with giant birds.
If you’re a digital reader, this is actually a bit easier. You can just swap files on your Kindle. But there’s something undeniably cool about having two chunky books open on your lap at once.
The Cases for Reading Separately
I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a second. There are plenty of purists who think the Throne of Glass tandem reading guide is a mistake.
Tower of Dawn is a beautiful book. It’s a healing journey. It’s about trauma, disability, and finding worth when everything you thought defined you is gone. When you tandem read, some of that quiet, emotional growth gets drowned out by the "pew-pew" magic and explosions of the other book.
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Also, the author didn't write it as a tandem read. She published them a year apart. There is a specific "intended" experience of feeling that frustration and distance from the main plot, which mirrors what Chaol is feeling. He feels sidelined. By reading his book alone, you feel sidelined too. It’s immersive.
But let’s be real. Most of us are impatient. We want the answers now.
Technical Tips for a Successful Tandem Journey
- The Tab Method: Use two different colors of tabs. Color A for "Stop here and switch to EoS." Color B for "Stop here and switch to ToD."
- The Bookmark Strategy: If you don't want to mess up your pages with glue, just keep a printed checklist inside the cover of each book.
- The Audio Warning: If you’re an audiobook listener, tandem reading is a nightmare. Unless you have two different devices and a lot of patience, I’d suggest just doing the publication order.
What Really Happens if You Skip Tower of Dawn?
Don't. Just don't.
Every year, some poor soul on Reddit asks if they can skip Book 6 because they "don't like Chaol." This is a massive mistake. Tower of Dawn introduces characters and world-building elements that are 100% essential for the finale, Kingdom of Ash.
If you skip it, you will be utterly confused when certain people show up in the final battle. You'll miss out on the lore about the Valg and the healers that literally changes the entire context of the war.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Read
If you’re ready to dive in, here is exactly what you should do right now:
- Audit your shelf. Make sure you have both Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn physically in front of you. You don't want to reach a "switch" point and realize your copy of the other book is still in the mail.
- Print the checklist. Search for the JennaClarek tandem guide—it’s the most widely accepted one. Print it out or save it to your phone’s home screen.
- Set the mood. These books are long. Like, together they are longer than some entire trilogies. Clear your schedule.
- Give Chaol a chance. Even if you hated him in Queen of Shadows, go in with an open mind. His growth in the Southern Continent is some of SJM’s best character work.
The Throne of Glass tandem reading guide isn't just a gimmick; for many, it’s the only way to experience the middle of this series without burning out. Whether you choose to weave them together or take them one by one, just make sure you savor the ride. You only get to read this series for the first time once.