Already finished Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows and Empire of Storms wondering what comes next? Let’s dive into Empire of Storms — the fifth installment in Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series. If you thought the last book was intense, you’re not ready for the sheer chaos, heartbreak, and jaw-dropping revelations that unfold in this one. Aelin’s journey to reclaim her throne and face Erawan’s rising power reaches new levels of danger, and the alliances she builds (and the sacrifices she makes) will change everything. Buckle up — things are about to get wild.
Fair warning: This is a FULL SPOILER RECAP of the sixth book. If you haven’t read it yet, turn back now unless you’re ready for all the major twists and reveals!
Tower of Dawn Book Recap – Book 6 in Throne of Glass Series
A Desperate Mission
Chaol Westfall’s body is broken. His spine shattered in the battle to free Dorian, leaving him paralyzed and forced to face the brutal truth that he may never walk again. But that’s not the only weight he carries. His soul feels just as broken — haunted by the choices he made, the people he lost, and the kingdom that fell apart on his watch. Now, with Aelin captured and Erawan’s forces growing stronger by the day, Chaol has only one chance to make things right.
He sets sail for the Southern Continent with Nesryn Faliq at his side, tasked with two missions: secure an alliance with the powerful khaganate, and seek out the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in the hope that they can repair his body. But Chaol knows this journey isn’t just about healing his legs — it’s about healing the damage left behind by years of guilt and betrayal.
From the moment they arrive in Antica, the capital of the Southern Continent, the tension is palpable. The khagan, Urus, is cold and calculating, and his five surviving children are just as dangerous. His youngest daughter, Tumelun, recently died under suspicious circumstances, and the khagan’s court is rife with political maneuvering and barely concealed hostility. Chaol’s request for aid in the war against Erawan is met with thinly veiled amusement — why should the khagan risk his armies for a kingdom in ruins? Chaol knows this alliance is slipping through his fingers, and without it, Terrasen and the Northern Continent stand little chance against Erawan’s growing power.
Yrene Towers — The Healer with a Grudge
Chaol is assigned to the care of Yrene Towers, the most gifted healer at the Torre Cesme. Yrene is a young woman with striking golden-brown eyes and a painful past. Her mother was executed by Adarlanian soldiers during the conquest of Fenharrow, leaving Yrene with a hatred for everything tied to Adarlan — and that includes Chaol. From the moment they meet, Yrene’s anger is barely contained beneath her calm exterior.
Yrene doesn’t hide her resentment as she begins the slow and painful process of trying to heal Chaol’s spine. The injury is not just physical — Yrene senses a dark, rotting energy within him, a poison laced with dark magic that resists her touch. Chaol meets her coldness with his own steel-edged frustration. He hates being vulnerable, hates being reliant on Yrene’s care, and every failed session leaves him feeling more broken and hopeless.
But as the days pass, something shifts. Yrene sees the man beneath the bitterness — the weight of guilt he carries for Dorian, for Aelin, for the lives lost under his command. And Chaol begins to see Yrene’s strength — not just her magic, but her quiet resilience and the kindness she tries so hard to bury beneath her anger. Slowly, healing begins — not just of Chaol’s body, but of his fractured soul.
Nesryn and Sartaq
While Chaol struggles through his recovery, Nesryn feels more adrift than ever. She came to Antica to help secure an alliance — but as Yrene and Chaol grow closer, Nesryn begins to feel like an outsider. Seeking purpose, she joins Sartaq, the khagan’s second-born son and commander of the legendary ruk riders. Sartaq invites Nesryn to fly with him to the mountains where the ruk riders are based — a journey that quickly becomes more dangerous than expected.
High in the mountains, Nesryn and Sartaq stumble upon a terrifying discovery: a nest of Valg-infested spiders. The spiders recognize Sartaq as a descendant of the Fae and reveal a chilling truth — Maeve is not just a queen of the Fae. She is a Valg Queen, the original bride of the Valg King who crossed over into this world centuries ago. The spiders claim that Maeve’s true goal is to use the Wyrdkeys to open a permanent portal to the demon realm.
Sartaq and Nesryn barely escape the nest, but the danger brings them closer together. Sartaq kisses Nesryn, admitting that he’s wanted her from the moment they met. Nesryn, feeling a sense of belonging for the first time in her life, begins to let her guard down.
Uncovering the Poison
Back in Antica, Yrene begins to uncover a dark secret at the heart of the khagan’s court. The darkness inside Chaol’s spine is Valg magic — and it’s not random. Erawan planted this magic in Chaol’s body as a way to weaken him and the king he serves. But that’s not all. Yrene realizes that the same darkness is present within the khagan’s palace.
The death of Tumelun wasn’t an accident. She was murdered — by someone under the control of the Valg. The truth is finally revealed when Duva, the khagan’s seemingly quiet and sweet daughter, attacks Yrene with dark magic during a royal gathering. Duva is possessed by a Valg demon — a pawn planted by Erawan to infiltrate the khagan’s court.
As Duva unleashes her dark magic, Yrene shields the court with her own power. But Duva’s magic is too strong. Chaol throws himself in front of Yrene, taking a near-fatal blow to the back. Yrene draws on every ounce of her power to fight off Duva’s attack, expelling the demon and saving the khagan’s family. But Chaol is dying, and Yrene knows that healing him will require a permanent sacrifice.
The Sacrifice
Yrene places her hands on Chaol’s chest and channels her magic into him. She rebuilds the pathways in his spine — but the dark magic resists her at every turn. Yrene’s power begins to unravel. In a desperate act of sacrifice, Yrene binds her magic to Chaol’s life.
If Chaol dies, Yrene’s magic will die with him.
Chaol wakes to find himself whole — his legs strong beneath him, his body healed. But Yrene is collapsed beside him, barely breathing. Chaol realizes what she’s done — tied her life to his — and he swears that he will protect her for as long as he breathes.
Sartaq’s Choice
After the battle, Sartaq returns to the khagan’s court with Nesryn. Inspired by his bravery and the threat of the Valg, the khagan names Sartaq as his heir. Sartaq immediately pledges his support to Chaol and promises that the ruk riders will fight beside Aelin in the war.
Love and Loyalty
Chaol and Yrene’s relationship deepens after the battle. Chaol, no longer broken, asks Yrene to marry him — not because she healed him, but because he loves her strength, her fire, and the way she saved him in every possible way. Yrene says yes, and they marry in a quiet ceremony overlooking the sea.
Nesryn and Sartaq’s bond also grows stronger. Nesryn finally feels like she’s found a place where she belongs — not just with Sartaq, but among the ruk riders and the people of the Southern Continent.
Final Moments
As they sail toward Terrasen, Chaol and Yrene stand at the bow of the ship. Chaol rests his hand on Yrene’s stomach — Yrene is pregnant with their first child. Yrene tells him that she feels the life growing inside her — hope for a future beyond war.
Chaol looks toward the horizon, knowing that war is coming — but for the first time in years, he’s not afraid. He’s no longer running from his past. He’s ready to fight — with Yrene at his side.
Interested what happened next? Check our book recap for Kingdom of Ash.
Where the key characters are at the end of Empire of Storms:
Captured by Maeve, being taken to Doranelle.
Healed, married to Yrene, preparing to fight Erawan.
Planning with Manon and Elide to fight Erawan and Maeve.
Leading a mission to rescue Aelin.
Preparing to defend Terrasen alongside Lysandra.
Embracing her Crochan heritage, preparing to lead the witches.
Impersonating Aelin to protect Terrasen.
Determined to help save Aelin and bring down Erawan.
Revealed as a Valg Queen; has Aelin imprisoned.
Growing in power, preparing to unleash his forces on Terrasen.
In love with Sartaq, preparing to lead the ruk riders.
Wracked with guilt; determined to help Rowan.
Healed Chaol, permanently tied to him, returning to war.
Named heir, pledged to join Aelin’s war.
Survived the battle with Duva and remains loyal to his family. Supports Sartaq as heir but stays in Antica to protect the khaganate.
Remains at court but is now politically aligned with Sartaq. Planning to support the war effort through political strategy.
Coldly neutral about the war; stays behind in Antica but will likely influence political maneuvering from the shadows.
Free of the Valg, staying at the khagan’s court.
Convinced of the threat posed by Erawan, he agrees to lend his armies to Aelin’s cause. He names Sartaq as his heir.
Interested what happened next? Check our book recap for Kingdom of Ash.
Books in the Throne of Glass Series:
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