Empire of Storms
Here's what we found in Empire of Storms. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.
Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Empire of Storms
Empire of Storms is the fifth installment in Sarah J. Maas's popular Throne of Glass fantasy series, continuing the epic saga of Aelin Galathynius, a queen without a throne, as she endeavors to unite allies and confront a formidable dark king and his monstrous forces. The book deepens the intricate world-building and character development, merging political intrigue with magical combat and intense personal journeys. Targeted towards a New Adult audience rather than Young Adult, this volume is known for a significant increase in mature content, including explicit romantic relationships, graphic violence, and strong language, distinguishing it from earlier, less explicit books in the series. Parents should be aware of these intensified themes when considering its appropriateness for readers.
Things to Consider
Violence
The book contains graphic and frequent descriptions of violence, including brutal battles, detailed injuries, and widespread destruction. Characters engage in lethal combat with various weapons and magic, leading to significant bloodshed and death. Torture and severe physical harm are also depicted.
Aelin uses her magic to burn several Valg soldiers to ash and battles a soldier controlled by Erawan until only a Wyrdstone heart remains. The Ironteeth witches attack Rifthold, resulting in hundreds of deaths and the city's destruction, while Manon and Dorian engage in lethal combat with Yellowlegs witches. Maeve threatens to cut Elide's throat and orders Aelin to be stripped and whipped.
Romance and Sexual Content
Empire of Storms features explicit and detailed descriptions of sexual encounters, marking a significant increase in graphic content compared to earlier books in the series. These scenes include specific physical details and intimate acts between multiple characters. There are also references to past sexual violence and prostitution.
Profanity
The book includes frequent and strong profanity, with various offensive words and expletives used throughout the dialogue and narrative. This includes common swear words and more derogatory terms, as well as religiously-tinged oaths used as curses within the fantasy context.
Witchcraft & Occult
Witchcraft and occult themes are central to the narrative, deeply integrated into the world's magic system and conflict. The story features various magical creatures, powerful spellcasting, dark rituals, and demonic entities. Characters actively use and confront magic, which can be both benevolent and destructive, with significant supernatural consequences.
Scary & Intense Content
Empire of Storms features highly intense and potentially frightening content, including brutal battles, psychological manipulation, torture, and life-threatening situations. The narrative involves monstrous entities, graphic injuries, and a pervasive sense of dread and danger, contributing to a dark atmosphere.
Would these 5 concerns matter to your family?
Get a report based on your values — not generic ratings.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
17+ (New Adult). This recommendation is based on the book's explicit and detailed sexual content, graphic depictions of violence and gore, frequent strong profanity, and mature themes of war, torture, and psychological manipulation. Multiple sources, including parental reviews and content guides, describe a significant escalation in mature content compared to earlier books in the series, making it unsuitable for younger adolescent readers.
Good to Know
Parents should be aware that *Empire of Storms* represents a significant shift in content maturity compared to earlier books in the Throne of Glass series. While prior installments might have been considered Young Adult, this book (and subsequent ones in the series) venture firmly into New Adult territory with explicit sexual scenes, graphic violence, and intense mature themes. Readers transitioning from earlier books should be prepared for this increased intensity. The book is the fifth in a long series, and skipping earlier volumes would result in a lack of context for the plot and character development.
What are you reading next?
Screen any title in seconds — even ones no one else has reviewed.
No credit card required — join hundreds of families