Stormlight Archive Reading Order: Where to Start and What Comes Next
The Stormlight Archive is Brandon Sanderson's magnum opus — a planned ten-book epic set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar. The series follows multiple protagonists across a world where ancient knights have returned, gods walk among men, and a conflict that ended millennia ago is about to begin again. Reading order matters here because each book builds heavily on what came before, and the two novellas (Edgedancer and Dawnshard) add context that makes the main novels land harder. Whether you're a first-time Sanderson reader or a veteran Cosmere explorer, this guide tells you exactly where to start, what you can skip, and what you absolutely cannot miss. The first five-book arc is now complete with the release of Wind and Truth in November 2024 — there has never been a better time to start.
Quick Stats
Author
Brandon Sanderson
Books in Series
5 main + 2 novellas
Status
Arc 1 Complete (2024)
Genre
Epic Fantasy
Avg. Length
~1,000 pages per book
The Complete Stormlight Archive Reading Order
- 1
The Way of Kings
Book 1 — Best starting point
Four interwoven storylines — a soldier, a scholar, a thief, and a highprince — converge on a storm-ravaged world at the edge of a long-forgotten war. The foundation of everything that follows.
Note: Best starting point. Slow build in the first quarter but rewards patience enormously.
- 2
Words of Radiance
Book 2
The scope of the series expands dramatically as the secrets of the ancient Knights Radiant come to light. The ending is widely considered one of the best in modern epic fantasy.
- 3
Edgedancer
Novella 2.5
A short novella following Lift, a minor character from Words of Radiance, on a mission through a city on the verge of collapse. Provides important context for Oathbringer.
Note: Short novella — can be skipped on a first read, but recommended before Oathbringer.
- 4
Oathbringer
Book 3
The war against the Voidbringers escalates as ancient secrets are finally revealed. Dalinar's backstory is the emotional core — devastating and brilliantly constructed.
- 5
Dawnshard
Novella 3.5
A short novella featuring Rysn and Lopen on a voyage to a mysterious island. Sets up events and reveals that pay off significantly in Rhythm of War.
Note: Short novella — recommended before Rhythm of War.
Hardcover gift edition — no paperback exists.
Buy on Amazon - 6
Rhythm of War
Book 4
The war moves to a new front as the history of spren and Fused is explored in depth. The longest book in the series and the most ambitious in scope.
- 7
Wind and Truth
Book 5 — Published November 2024
The conclusion of the first arc. Every thread built across four previous novels and two novellas converges in what Sanderson has described as the most important book in his career.
Note: Completes the first five-book arc.
Paperback available September 2026.
Buy on Amazon
Do You Need to Read the Cosmere First?
No. The Stormlight Archive is a completely self-contained reading experience. You will not be lost if you start here without having read Mistborn, Warbreaker, Elantris, or any other book in Sanderson's interconnected Cosmere universe. Roshar has its own history, its own magic systems, and its own cast of characters — everything you need is explained within the series itself.
That said, if you have read other Cosmere books, Stormlight becomes a richer experience. You'll recognize recurring characters, understand the larger cosmological framework, and catch connections that casual readers will miss. Warbreaker in particular has a direct character connection to Stormlight. But this is bonus depth, not required homework. Start here and circle back to the broader Cosmere whenever you're ready. Visit our Brandon Sanderson author page for a full guide to the Cosmere reading order.
Who Is the Stormlight Archive For?
Stormlight is built for Track A readers — the ones who want to disappear into a world for months, who love magic systems with internal logic and rules, who want stories where the payoff in Book 4 was quietly set up in Book 1. If you loved Wheel of Time, Name of the Wind, or Gardens of the Moon, you already know what kind of reader you are. This is your series. The world-building is extraordinary in its depth, from the physics of highstorms to the politics of warcamp hierarchies to the history of the Knights Radiant.
It also rewards readers who want long, committed series over standalone reads. There are no filler books here — each volume advances the plot, develops the characters, and expands the world in ways that feel earned. The emotional beats in Oathbringer in particular hit with a force that only five hundred pages of setup can produce. If you are prepared to invest, few series in the genre return that investment as consistently as the Stormlight Archive.