HomeCompareThe Way of Kings vs Empire of Storms

The Way of Kings vs Empire of Storms

A side-by-side mood, spice, and trope comparison to help you pick your next read.

The Way of Kings cover

The Way of Kings

by Brandon Sanderson

Epic FantasyHigh FantasyAdult Fantasy
🌶️ 1/5
Spice
1007
Pages
4.65
Rating
VS
Empire of Storms cover

Empire of Storms

by Sarah J. Maas

YA FantasyFantasy RomanceEpic Fantasy
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
Spice
693
Pages
4.63
Rating
Mood Bars

Head-to-Head Comparison

The Way of Kings (left) vs Empire of Storms (right)
10%
Romance
55%
100%
Fantasy
85%
60%
Pacing
100%
60%
Darkness
80%
Shared DNA

What They Have in Common

Epic Fantasy Found Family
Key Differences

Where They Diverge

  • The Way of Kings is milder (1/5 vs 3/5)
  • Empire of Storms is shorter (693p vs 1007p)
  • The Way of Kings leans more Epic & Immersive, Found Family
  • Empire of Storms leans more Epic Adventure, Dark & Intense

The Verdict

Read The Way of Kings if you want a epic & immersive, found family vibe and high fantasy. Read Empire of Storms if you want more heat and a quicker read and a epic adventure, dark & intense vibe and ya fantasy.

FAQ

The Way of Kings vs Empire of Storms — Questions

It depends on what you're craving. The Way of Kings leans more epic & immersive and found family, while Empire of Storms is more epic adventure and dark & intense. Both are worth reading.

Empire of Storms is spicier at 3/5 compared to 1/5.

If you want something longer to start, go with Empire of Storms at 693 pages. Otherwise, pick whichever mood appeals more right now.

Yes — they share Epic Fantasy DNA. But they diverge in mood and heat level, which is why readers often compare them.

Look for books that blend Epic & Immersive with Epic Adventure. Check our mood pages for more curated picks.

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How these profiles are built

Every Sort By Cravings profile is written after a full read-through — not scraped from publisher blurbs. We cross-reference BookTok discussions, Goodreads reviews, and 500+ reader reactions before publishing any mood tag, spice rating, or compatibility note. Read our editorial standards.