Empire of Storms is the moment Sarah J. Maas officially graduates the Throne of Glass series from "teen fantasy" to "New Adult" epic. If the previous books were a slow burn of political intrigue and magical training, this one is the explosion—expect graphic romance, brutal wartime violence, and a level of emotional intensity that makes the earlier installments look like a warm-up.
Empire of Storms is the fifth book in the Throne of Glass series, and it marks a major shift in maturity. Sarah J. Maas moves from "fade-to-black" romance to explicit, multi-page sex scenes and significantly ramps up the battlefield brutality. It’s a gripping, high-stakes fantasy for older teens (15+), but it’s a definitive jump in content that parents should be aware of before their kid dives in.
For the first four books, Maas played mostly within the traditional Young Adult boundaries. There was tension, sure, and some heavy themes, but Empire of Storms is where she stops playing nice. This book is widely considered the pivot point where the series moves into "New Adult" territory—a category designed for readers who have outgrown high school drama but aren't quite looking for the tropes of suburban adult fiction.
The stakes are higher because the world is actually ending. The characters aren't just fighting for a throne anymore; they’re fighting against ancient, demonic forces that use psychological torture as a primary weapon. It’s brilliant storytelling, but it’s heavy.
If you’ve heard parents or TikTokers talking about the "spice" in Sarah J. Maas books, this is where it really starts for this specific series. In earlier books, romantic encounters were mostly implied or cut away before things got too descriptive. In Empire of Storms, Maas writes full-length, descriptive sex scenes—most notably between the leads, Aelin and Rowan.
It’s not just "they went into the tent and the sun rose." It’s detailed, multi-page, and focuses heavily on the physical sensations and emotional intensity of the act. For a teen who has been shipping these characters for 2,000 pages, it’s the payoff they’ve been waiting for, but for a parent, it’s the clear signal that the "YA" label is being stretched to its absolute limit.
Beyond the romance, the violence hits a new gear. We aren't just talking about sword fights anymore. This book features:
- Massive naval battles with high body counts and visceral descriptions of injuries.
- Psychological warfare, including characters being forced to witness the torture of loved ones.
- The Valg, which are essentially soul-sucking demons that possess people, leading to body-horror elements and "fates worse than death" scenarios.
The ending of this book is also notoriously brutal. It’s a massive cliffhanger that involves a character being physically and mentally broken in a way that can be genuinely upsetting for sensitive readers. It’s the kind of ending that makes you want to throw the book across the room—not because it’s bad, but because it’s devastating.
Here is a bit of "pro-level" reader intel: Empire of Storms happens at the exact same time as the next book in the series, Tower of Dawn.
Empire of Storms follows the main crew on one continent, while Tower of Dawn follows a side character (Chaol) on a different continent. Because the cliffhanger at the end of Empire is so massive, many fans suggest doing a "tandem read"—switching back and forth between the two books chapter by chapter.
The Screenwise take: Unless your kid is a completionist who loves a project, let them read them one at a time. The tandem read is a logistical nightmare for a casual reader. However, knowing that Tower of Dawn is a "lower-stakes" (and slightly less graphic) breather might help them get through the emotional wreckage of this book.
If your teen is deep in the Maas-verse, they aren't just reading for the plot; they’re reading for the "found family" and the themes of resilience. Instead of asking "is it too sexual?", try these angles:
- The cost of leadership: Aelin has to make some pretty cold-blooded choices in this book. Ask your kid: "Do you think Aelin is becoming a hero or a tyrant? Where is the line?"
- The romance vs. the partnership: Maas writes "mate" bonds that are soul-deep. Ask: "What’s the difference between Aelin and Rowan’s relationship and the ones in the earlier books? Is it just the 'spice,' or is it how they support each other?"
- The cliffhanger: When they finish (and they will likely be in shock), just give them space. They’ll need to talk about the injustice of the ending.
If your teen has reached this level of fantasy and wants more of that "epic world-building with real consequences" vibe, here are a few deeper cuts:
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black: If they like the political maneuvering and the "morally grey" characters, this is the gold standard. It’s less graphic than Maas but just as bitey.
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: This is the natural next step for readers who liked the "New Adult" shift in Empire of Storms. It’s got dragons, a high body count, and even more explicit romance.
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: For the parent who wants the "found family" and heist vibes without the graphic sex scenes. It’s masterfully written and hits that same emotional resonance.
Q: What age is Empire of Storms appropriate for? Most readers and librarians place this at 15 or 16+. While the earlier books in the series can work for 13-year-olds, the jump to graphic sexual content and more intense psychological violence in this volume makes it better suited for older teens.
Q: Is Empire of Storms more "mature" than the previous books? Yes, significantly. It marks the transition from Young Adult to New Adult. The romance moves from suggestive to explicit, and the war themes become much more visceral and grim.
Q: Can my kid skip this book and go to the next one? Absolutely not. This is a core part of the main plot. However, they can read Tower of Dawn (Book 6) before or alongside this one if they want to delay the "big" emotional ending, though reading Empire first is the standard order.
Q: How does the "spice" level compare to A Court of Thorns and Roses? It’s very similar. If you were okay with them reading A Court of Mist and Fury, they’ve already seen this level of content. If Throne of Glass is their first SJM series, just know this is the book where it catches up to her other famous series.
Empire of Storms is a fantastic, high-octane fantasy novel, but it’s the point of no return for the series' maturity level. If your kid is already four books in, they’re likely hooked—just be ready for some "big kid" conversations about relationships and the darker side of epic war.
- Check out our best books for kids list for more age-appropriate fantasy.
- Explore our digital guide for high schoolers to see how other media scales up in these years.
- Ask our chatbot for a custom reading list
