Editors Reads Verdict
The penultimate act of the main saga, *Empire of Storms* sprawls across continents and delivers some of the most shocking reversals in the series. The world-building reaches its apex, and the final pages set up an ending that left readers devastated — and desperate for the next book.
What We Loved
- The world-building reaches its apex — the full scope of the Throne of Glass universe becomes visible here
- Manon Blackbeak and the Thirteen Witches remain among Maas's finest creations, with their arc reaching a genuine turning point
- The connection between the Throne of Glass and ACOTAR worlds becomes explicit, rewarding readers of both series
- The ending delivers one of the most emotionally devastating cliffhangers in the series
Minor Drawbacks
- The 700-page length with multiple simultaneous threads demands full series investment — casual readers will be lost
- The romance payoffs, while earned, occupy considerable page real estate in a book with urgent plot stakes
- New readers are entirely excluded — this is the fifth book in a long series with no on-ramp
Key Takeaways
- → Aelin's plan has always been larger and more sacrificial than anyone around her knew — the gap between her public and private knowledge is a recurring theme
- → The cost of power and alliance-building in epic fantasy is personal — every favour owed diminishes sovereignty
- → Maas's interconnected universe rewards long-term investment across series in ways single-series stories cannot achieve
- → The witches arc demonstrates that villains with genuine codes of honour are more compelling than those without
- → Betrayal lands hardest when it comes from those with the most cause to be loyal
| Author | Sarah J. Maas |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Bloomsbury USA |
| Pages | 693 |
| Published | September 6, 2016 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy |
Empire of Storms Review
Empire of Storms is the fifth book in the Throne of Glass series and the penultimate volume of the main storyline — with Tower of Dawn running parallel before the finale. By this point, Maas has constructed one of the most intricate fantasy worlds in contemporary young adult and adult crossover fiction, and this book is where the full scope becomes visible.
Aelin Galathynius is racing against time: she needs three keys to seal the Wyrdgate and prevent the Valg from completing their invasion. The quest takes her across the map — to Skull’s Bay, to Eyllwe, to the ruins of ancient civilisations — while Manon Blackbeak’s arc reaches a turning point that recontextualises her entire character journey.
What works: The mythology deepens in satisfying ways. The connection between the Throne of Glass world and the ACOTAR world becomes explicit here in a way that rewards readers of both series. The romance developments — long-simmering — pay off in ways that feel earned. Manon and the Thirteen Witches remain among Maas’s best creations.
What to expect: The pacing is demanding — this is a 700-page book with multiple major threads running simultaneously. The ending is genuinely shocking and lands with real emotional weight.
The cliffhanger: Empire of Storms ends on one of the most devastating cliffhangers in the series. Readers going in cold should know that Tower of Dawn is not a sequel but a parallel volume, and both should be read before A Kingdom of Ash.
Verdict: Essential for series fans. The world has grown too large and too intricate for casual readers, but for those committed, this is Maas operating at full capacity.
Reading Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Empire of Storms" about?
Aelin races to gather allies and the keys to an ancient power that could seal the portal allowing the Valg to invade her world — while Manon Blackbeak discovers truths about herself that will shatter the life she has always known.
What are the key takeaways from "Empire of Storms"?
Aelin's plan has always been larger and more sacrificial than anyone around her knew — the gap between her public and private knowledge is a recurring theme The cost of power and alliance-building in epic fantasy is personal — every favour owed diminishes sovereignty Maas's interconnected universe rewards long-term investment across series in ways single-series stories cannot achieve The witches arc demonstrates that villains with genuine codes of honour are more compelling than those without Betrayal lands hardest when it comes from those with the most cause to be loyal
Is "Empire of Storms" worth reading?
The penultimate act of the main saga, *Empire of Storms* sprawls across continents and delivers some of the most shocking reversals in the series. The world-building reaches its apex, and the final pages set up an ending that left readers devastated — and desperate for the next book.
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