The Stormlight Archive Reading Order
Here's the correct Stormlight Archive reading order: every book in the right order, where to start, and answers to common questions.
The Stormlight Archive is Brandon Sanderson's flagship epic fantasy — planned as ten massive volumes, split into two arcs of five. It's the centerpiece of his Cosmere universe, though it reads fine on its own.
Reading Order (Main Books + Novellas)
- The Way of KingsBuy NowAudible2010
- Words of RadianceBuy NowAudible2014
- Edgedancer (novella)Buy NowAudible2016
- OathbringerBuy NowAudible2017
- Dawnshard (novella)Buy NowAudible2020
- Rhythm of WarBuy NowAudible2020
- Wind and TruthBuy NowAudible2024
What Comes Next
Wind and Truth closes the first five-book arc. Sanderson has said the back five will follow after other Cosmere books, with a time skip between arcs. The novellas Edgedancer and Dawnshard are also collected in the Arcanum Unbounded and Dawnshard editions if you'd rather read them separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct Stormlight Archive reading order?
Publication Order, Novellas Slotted In. Read in publication order. The two novellas, Edgedancer and Dawnshard, slot in between the main books and are worth reading in place — Edgedancer after Words of Radiance, Dawnshard after Oathbringer.
Is the Stormlight Archive series finished?
Yes. The first arc ended with Wind and Truth (2024). Brandon Sanderson plans a second five-book arc, with no release date yet.
Do I need to read Mistborn before Stormlight?
No. Stormlight stands on its own. The two share the Cosmere universe and there are small Easter eggs, but no required reading order between them.
Where do the novellas go?
Edgedancer reads best after Words of Radiance (book 2), and Dawnshard after Oathbringer (book 3). Both are short and expand key side characters.
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