Yes, Tower of Dawn Is Banned!
ISBN: 9781681195773
Tower of Dawn is the sixth book in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series, but it takes a sharp detour from the main action. Chaol Westfall, the former captain of the guard left paralyzed from the waist down, travels to Antica to seek healing from the Torre Cesme and secure a military alliance. There he meets Yrene Towers, a healer whose backstory connects to earlier events in the series. The novel is slower and more character-driven than its predecessors, focusing on Chaol’s physical and emotional recovery, his romance with Yrene, and the political intrigue of the southern continent.
Tower of Dawn was challenged 13 times in the 2024-2025 PEN America data, with bans across Florida, Iowa, and Tennessee school districts. Like every Maas title, the objections center on sexual content and violence. The book represents disability in a way that’s rare in fantasy fiction, showing Chaol grappling with his paralysis without reducing him to an inspirational narrative. That this specific entry keeps landing on ban lists, alongside every other Maas book, suggests that the challenges are less about individual content concerns and more about a systematic sweep of an author’s entire catalog.
Why Was It Banned?
Where Was It Banned?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tower of Dawn banned?
Yes, Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas has been banned or challenged in 18 documented instances across 3 states in the United States, including Florida, Iowa, Tennessee. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.
Why was Tower of Dawn banned?
Tower of Dawn has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Sexual Content, Violence. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.
Where is Tower of Dawn banned?
As of 2025, Tower of Dawn has been banned or challenged in Florida, Iowa, Tennessee. Notable bans include Hillsborough County Public Schools (2025), St. John's County School District (2025), Union County School District (2025).