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Series · fantasy
The Stormlight Archive
The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson has 5 known books (7 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with The Way of Kings (2010). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Wind and Truth.
- Books
- 5 known books (5 novels + 2 novellas)
- Published
- 7
- First published
- 2010
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Fantasy
- Last checked
Start here: The Way of Kings (2010) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The Way of Kings
The Way of Kings is the book that opens Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive, published in August 2010 at 1,008 pages. It's the natural place to begin the series, which continues with Words of Radiance and is planned to run to ten novels across two five-book arcs.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Way of Kings - Book 2:
Words of Radiance
Words of Radiance is the second novel in The Stormlight Archive, written by Brandon Sanderson and published in March 2014 at 1,088 pages. It follows The Way of Kings and precedes the interstitial novella Edgedancer in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Words of Radiance - Book 3:
Edgedancer
Edgedancer is a 249-page novella in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive, published in October 2017. It sits between the main-sequence novels Words of Radiance and Oathbringer in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Edgedancer - Book 4:
Oathbringer
Oathbringer is the third main-sequence novel in The Stormlight Archive, written by Brandon Sanderson and published in November 2017 at 1,248 pages. It follows the novella Edgedancer and precedes another interstitial novella, Dawnshard.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Oathbringer - Book 5:
Dawnshard
Dawnshard is a 227-page novella in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive, published in November 2020. It sits between Oathbringer and Rhythm of War in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dawnshard - Book 6:
Rhythm of War
Rhythm of War is the fourth main-sequence novel in The Stormlight Archive, written by Brandon Sanderson and published in November 2020 at 1,136 pages. It follows the novella Dawnshard and precedes Wind and Truth, which closes out the series' first five-book arc.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Rhythm of War - Book 7:
Wind and Truth
Wind and Truth is the fifth novel in The Stormlight Archive, written by Brandon Sanderson and published in December 2024 at 1,376 pages. It follows Rhythm of War and concludes the series' first five-book arc; the second arc's opening volume has no announced title or date, as Sanderson has stated he plans to write Mistborn Era Three first.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Wind and Truth
Our shelf-tested path for first-time readers.
- Book 1:
The Way of Kings
The Way of Kings is the book that opens Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive, published in August 2010 at 1,008 pages. It's the natural place to begin the series, which continues with Words of Radiance and is planned to run to ten novels across two five-book arcs.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Way of Kings - Book 2:
Words of Radiance
Words of Radiance is the second novel in The Stormlight Archive, written by Brandon Sanderson and published in March 2014 at 1,088 pages. It follows The Way of Kings and precedes the interstitial novella Edgedancer in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Words of Radiance - Book 3:
Edgedancer
Edgedancer is a 249-page novella in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive, published in October 2017. It sits between the main-sequence novels Words of Radiance and Oathbringer in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Edgedancer - Book 4:
Oathbringer
Oathbringer is the third main-sequence novel in The Stormlight Archive, written by Brandon Sanderson and published in November 2017 at 1,248 pages. It follows the novella Edgedancer and precedes another interstitial novella, Dawnshard.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Oathbringer - Book 5:
Dawnshard
Dawnshard is a 227-page novella in Brandon Sanderson's The Stormlight Archive, published in November 2020. It sits between Oathbringer and Rhythm of War in the reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dawnshard - Book 6:
Rhythm of War
Rhythm of War is the fourth main-sequence novel in The Stormlight Archive, written by Brandon Sanderson and published in November 2020 at 1,136 pages. It follows the novella Dawnshard and precedes Wind and Truth, which closes out the series' first five-book arc.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Rhythm of War - Book 7:
Wind and Truth
Wind and Truth is the fifth novel in The Stormlight Archive, written by Brandon Sanderson and published in December 2024 at 1,376 pages. It follows Rhythm of War and concludes the series' first five-book arc; the second arc's opening volume has no announced title or date, as Sanderson has stated he plans to write Mistborn Era Three first.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Wind and Truth
About The Stormlight Archive
The Stormlight Archive is Brandon Sanderson's flagship epic, set on Roshar — a world scoured by apocalyptic highstorms, where plants retract like anemones, armies war over gemstones that hold the storms' light, and ten legendary orders of Knights Radiant fell into ruin so long ago that their powers have passed into myth. The Way of Kings (2010) braids three lives together: Kaladin, a surgeon's son turned enslaved bridge-runner who refuses to let his men die; Shallan, a scholar whose scholarship is a front for desperate theft; and Dalinar, a warlord haunted by visions commanding him to 'unite them'.
What begins as war epic becomes something stranger and bigger: the return of an ancient enemy, the rediscovery of the Radiants' oaths — each sworn ideal a step of genuinely moving character growth — and some of fantasy's most acclaimed treatments of depression, trauma and leadership. Sanderson's signature is rigorous magic and avalanche endings, and every volume delivers both at doorstop length.
Five novels are published — The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Oathbringer, Rhythm of War and Wind and Truth (2024), which closes the series' first major arc — plus two interlude novellas, Edgedancer and Dawnshard. The Archive also sits at the centre of Sanderson's connected Cosmere universe, quietly linking to Mistborn, Elantris and Warbreaker.
Frequently asked questions
How many Stormlight Archive books are there?
Five novels so far — The Way of Kings (2010), Words of Radiance (2014), Oathbringer (2017), Rhythm of War (2020) and Wind and Truth (2024) — plus the novellas Edgedancer and Dawnshard. The series is planned as ten novels in two five-book arcs.
What order should I read The Stormlight Archive in?
Publication order, with the novellas slotted in: Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Edgedancer, Oathbringer, Dawnshard, Rhythm of War, Wind and Truth. The novellas are optional but recommended before the books that follow them.
When is Stormlight book 6 coming out?
No title or date has been announced. Wind and Truth (December 2024) ended the first five-book arc, and Brandon Sanderson has said he plans to write the next Mistborn trilogy (Era Three, targeted from around 2028) before returning to Roshar, putting book six in the early 2030s.
Do I need to read other Cosmere books before Stormlight?
No — The Way of Kings works as a first Sanderson book. Reading Mistborn Era One and Warbreaker beforehand adds fun connections (several crossover characters appear), but nothing essential to the plot.
Are Edgedancer and Dawnshard required reading?
Not strictly, but they're worthwhile: Edgedancer (read after Words of Radiance) follows Lift and sets up Oathbringer; Dawnshard (read after Oathbringer) covers a voyage whose consequences echo through Rhythm of War and beyond.
If you like The Stormlight Archive
Reading order last verified .