The Stormlight Archive Books in Order
The Stormlight Archive is Brandon Sanderson's epic fantasy series set on Roshar, a storm-ravaged world where massive hurricanes fuel the magic system. The story follows warriors, scholars, and slaves as they rediscover the lost magic of the legendary Knights Radiant while facing an ancient enemy's return.
Known for its incredible worldbuilding, complex magic based on ideals and oaths, and exploration of mental health themes, the series features multiple viewpoint characters including the depressed soldier Kaladin, the secretive scholar Shallan, and the honorable warlord Dalinar. With books regularly exceeding 1,000 pages, it's Sanderson's most ambitious work and a cornerstone of his Cosmere universe.
The series is planned for ten books split into two five-book arcs, with the first arc now complete (The Way of Kings through Wind and Truth). Perfect for readers who love detailed magic systems, morally complex characters, and epic-scale storytelling.
The Way of Kings
On the storm-swept world of Roshar, where war has raged for decades on the Shattered Plains, a slave named Kaladin fights for survival in brutal bridge crews while discovering he possesses mysterious powers. Brightlord Dalinar Kholin, uncle to the king and renowned warrior, finds his sanity questioned as he experiences vivid visions during the magical highstorms that may hold the key to ending the war or herald the world's destruction. Across the continent, young Shallan desperately schemes to steal from the heretical scholar Jasnah Kholin, though her theft may uncover secrets that reshape everything about their world. As ancient evils stir and whispers speak of the legendary Knights Radiant returning, these three unlikely heroes must navigate a world where magical swords cut through souls, massive crustaceans serve as islands, and spirits bond with humans to grant incredible abilities. The Way of Kings launches an epic tale of war, magic, and honor on a scale rarely attempted in fantasy, introducing readers to one of the most alien and fascinating worlds ever created.
Published: 2010
Words of Radiance
The war on the Shattered Plains escalates as hidden enemies reveal themselves and the boundaries between honor and survival blur beyond recognition. Shallan Davar races toward the war camps carrying secrets that could change the course of the conflict, but the dangerous truths she's uncovered pale beside the mysteries of her own past and the supernatural abilities she can no longer deny. Her arrival sets in motion events that will test every oath sworn and every loyalty claimed as the very forces of nature seem to turn against humanity. Political intrigue collides with cosmic horror as the characters face impossible choices that will define not just their own fates, but the destiny of their entire world. Ancient magics awaken, legendary weapons reveal their true purpose, and the line between hero and villain becomes increasingly difficult to draw. Words of Radiance delivers spectacular action sequences, devastating reveals, and character development that redefines what epic fantasy can achieve while building toward a climax that will leave readers breathless.
Published: 2014
Edgedancer (2.5 optional novella)
Lift has spent years using her strange powers to slip through cracks and steal food, convinced that staying the same age forever makes her awesome. But when she arrives in the city of Yeddaw, she discovers a darkness lurking beneath its bronze streets and a killer who seems to share her supernatural abilities. What starts as a simple quest for the city's famous pancakes becomes a race against time as Lift must choose between her carefree life and protecting those who cannot protect themselves. With her spren companion Wyndle reluctantly in tow, Lift navigates a city preparing for war while hunting a murderer who targets the forgotten and helpless. Her unique perspective on the world and irreverent attitude toward authority make her investigation anything but conventional. Edgedancer showcases a different side of Roshar through the eyes of its most unconventional Radiant, blending humor with heart as a girl who claims she never changes discovers that growing up might be the most awesome thing of all.
Published: 2017
Oathbringer
The world has changed. Ancient enemies have returned, legendary cities have been rediscovered, and the mystical Knights Radiant walk the land once more, though their reemergence may herald salvation or doom. Dalinar Kholin must unite the fractured nations of Roshar against an enemy that has planned for millennia, but the blood-soaked shadows of his past threaten to destroy everything he's trying to build. Through haunting flashbacks, the Blackthorn's brutal history unfolds, revealing how a monster became a man seeking redemption. As armies clash and gods scheme, our heroes journey to the legendary tower city of Urithiru and the mysterious realm of Shadesmar, where thoughts become reality and the rules of physics bend to alien logic. Personal demons prove as dangerous as ancient evils when the characters must confront their deepest failures and greatest fears. Oathbringer expands the scope of the series to cosmic proportions while maintaining the intimate character focus that makes every victory earned and every loss devastating.
Published: 2018
Dawnshard (3.5 optional novella)
Rysn Ftori has always dreamed of adventure despite being confined to a wheelchair after a trading accident left her paralyzed. When she receives an opportunity to sail to the mythical island of Akinah in search of a legendary treasure, she eagerly accepts, unaware that forces across Roshar desperately want to keep the island's secrets buried. Accompanied by Lopen and other members of Bridge Four, Rysn must navigate treacherous seas, ancient protections, and her own limitations to uncover what might be the key to Roshar's survival. The expedition to Akinah reveals wonders and horrors in equal measure as the team encounters impossible creatures, lost civilizations, and magic that predates human memory. Rysn's journey becomes one of both external discovery and internal transformation as she grapples with powers she never asked for and responsibilities that could reshape the world. Dawnshard expands the mythology of Roshar while telling an intimate story about disability, determination, and the courage to accept gifts that come with terrible prices.
Published: 2020
Rhythm of War
A year has passed since the Battle of Thaylen Field, and a new kind of war has begun, one fought with scientific discovery as much as supernatural powers. As enemies develop terrifying new technologies that threaten to neutralize the Knights Radiant's abilities, our heroes must adapt or perish. The action splits between a desperate mission to the isolated nation of Shinovar, political intrigue among the world's leaders, and a claustrophobic occupation that turns the tower city of Urithiru into a lethal trap. Mental health, scientific progress, and the nature of identity take center stage as characters grapple with depression, addiction, and trauma while fighting for the fate of their world. The collision between ancient magic and new technology creates opportunities and horrors in equal measure, while long-buried secrets about the true nature of Roshar's gods and magic threaten to shatter every assumption. Rhythm of War combines the intimacy of a psychological thriller with the scope of epic fantasy, pushing characters to their absolute limits.
Published: 2020
Wind and Truth
Ten days remain before the fate of Roshar and the entire Cosmere will be decided in a contest of champions between the forces of honor and the god of hatred. As the clock ticks down, every major character faces their ultimate test: Kaladin ventures into the mysterious realm of Shinovar on a desperate mission, Shallan unravels a conspiracy that spans worlds, and Dalinar prepares for a confrontation that will determine whether humanity has a future at all. The stakes have never been higher, and every secret, hidden truth, and careful plan will collide in a convergence of unimaginable scope. The climactic finale of The Stormlight Archive's first arc delivers on every promise made across thousands of pages, weaving together plot threads, character arcs, and cosmological mysteries into a conclusion both satisfying and revolutionary. Wind and Truth serves as both an ending and a beginning, closing one chapter of Roshar's history while setting the stage for even greater conflicts to come. This is Brandon Sanderson at his absolute best, crafting a finale that rewards patient readers while redefining what's possible in epic fantasy.
Published: 2024
Cosmere Reading Guide
A comprehensive guide to Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere Universe
The Cosmere Reading Order: A Complete Guide to Brandon Sanderson's Universe
Last updated: July 2025
Series Overview
The Cosmere has over 20 published books across multiple series, with another 20+ planned.
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere is the most ambitious connected fantasy universe in modern literature—think Marvel Cinematic Universe but for epic fantasy books. Each series takes place on different planets within the same universe, sharing an underlying magic system and featuring subtle (and increasingly less subtle) crossovers between worlds.
The main reading order challenge is the sheer complexity of interconnections. Unlike a simple series, the Cosmere spans multiple planets, magic systems, and timelines. Readers debate whether to prioritize publication order, internal chronology, or thematic connections. With books like The Sunlit Man jumping thousands of years into the future and Mistborn: Secret History revealing behind-the-scenes events, the "correct" order depends entirely on what experience you want.
The Cosmere is ongoing with massive expansion planned. Wind and Truth (Stormlight Archive book 5) was released December 2024, concluding the first arc. Upcoming releases include Isles of the Emberdark (2025), Mistborn Era 3: Ghostbloods trilogy (late 2020s), and Elantris sequels.
Reading Order Complexity Level: COMPLEX - Interconnected universe with debates
Quick Answer (The Reading Order at a Glance)
For first-time readers, here's the recommended Cosmere reading order:
- Mistborn: The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- The Way of Kings
- Words of Radiance
- Edgedancer (novella)
- Oathbringer
- Dawnshard (novella)
- Rhythm of War
- Wind and Truth
- Warbreaker
- The Emperor's Soul (novella)
- Elantris
- Mistborn: The Alloy of Law
- Shadows of Self
- The Bands of Mourning
- Mistborn: Secret History (novella)
- The Lost Metal
- Tress of the Emerald Sea
- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
- The Sunlit Man
Why this order? It balances accessibility with connection payoffs—starting with the most beginner-friendly series while building toward the increasingly interconnected later books.
Why Reading Order Matters
Reading order in the Cosmere matters more than in most fantasy universes, but perhaps not in the way you'd expect.
First, the connections between series grow exponentially as you progress. Early books like Mistborn and Elantris stand almost entirely alone, while later entries like The Lost Metal and The Sunlit Man feature explicit crossovers that assume knowledge of multiple series. Reading out of order won't necessarily spoil major plot points, but you'll miss the "aha!" moments when characters or concepts from one world appear in another.
Second, Sanderson designed the Cosmere to reward rereaders. The mysterious character Hoid appears in nearly every book, but his significance only becomes clear once you've read enough to piece together the larger puzzle. Magic systems that seem unique to each world actually follow underlying rules that become apparent through comparison.
Finally, publication order roughly follows Sanderson's own evolution as a writer. Starting with later, more polished works might make earlier books feel disappointing, while beginning with Elantris (his debut) means experiencing his growth alongside the universe's expansion.
Complete Reading Order Options
Publication Order
The purist approach, following Sanderson's releases:
- Elantris (2005)
- Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)
- The Well of Ascension (2007)
- The Hero of Ages (2008)
- Warbreaker (2009)
- The Way of Kings (2010)
- The Alloy of Law (2011)
- The Emperor's Soul (2012)
- Words of Radiance (2014)
- Sixth of the Dusk (2014)
- Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell (2015)
- Shadows of Self (2015)
- The Bands of Mourning (2016)
- Edgedancer (2016)
- Oathbringer (2017)
- Dawnshard (2020)
- Rhythm of War (2020)
- The Lost Metal (2022)
- Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)
- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (2023)
- The Sunlit Man (2023)
- Wind and Truth (2024)
Recommended First-Timer Order (Series Groupings)
This approach reads complete series together for narrative satisfaction:
Start with Mistborn Era 1:
- The Final Empire → The Well of Ascension → The Hero of Ages
Then Stormlight Archive (with novellas):
- The Way of Kings → Words of Radiance → Edgedancer → Oathbringer → Dawnshard → Rhythm of War → Wind and Truth
Standalone/Preparation Books:
- Warbreaker → The Emperor's Soul → Elantris
Mistborn Era 2 (with Secret History):
- The Alloy of Law → Shadows of Self → The Bands of Mourning → Secret History → The Lost Metal
Secret Projects:
- Tress of the Emerald Sea → Yumi and the Nightmare Painter → The Sunlit Man
Remaining Novellas:
- Sixth of the Dusk → Shadows for Silence
Cosmere-Aware Order (Maximum Connections)
For those who want every reference to land perfectly:
- Elantris (introduces worldhopping concept)
- The Emperor's Soul (same world, introduces Seons)
- Mistborn Era 1 (trilogy)
- Warbreaker (critical for Stormlight)
- Stormlight 1-5 (with novellas in publication order)
- Mistborn Era 2 books 1-3
- Mistborn: Secret History
- The Lost Metal
- Sixth of the Dusk
- Shadows for Silence
- Secret Projects in order
Individual Book Summaries
Mistborn Era 1
The Final Empire: A thief named Vin discovers magical powers and joins a crew planning to rob and overthrow the immortal emperor. This heist fantasy introduces Allomancy (metal-based magic) and sets up major Cosmere concepts about gods and power.
The Well of Ascension: Political intrigue dominates as our heroes try to establish a new government while multiple armies besiege their city. Character development takes center stage, though the pacing slows compared to book one.
The Hero of Ages: The apocalyptic conclusion reveals the true nature of the world's gods and magic. This book's ending has massive implications for the entire Cosmere, introducing concepts that appear throughout later series.
The Stormlight Archive
The Way of Kings: Sanderson's epic fantasy masterpiece introduces Roshar, a storm-ravaged world where magical swords and armor make warriors nearly invincible. Multiple viewpoints including depressed soldier Kaladin and scholarly Shallan weave together across 1,000+ pages.
Words of Radiance: Shallan takes center focus as ancient magics return to the world. Features one of fantasy's great climactic sequences and introduces important crossover elements from Warbreaker.
Edgedancer: Lift, a thirteen-year-old thief with strange powers, gets her own adventure between books. Essential for understanding certain plot points in Oathbringer.
Oathbringer: Dalinar's past is revealed through flashbacks while the world unites against an ancient enemy. The Cosmere connections become explicit, with major crossovers and revelations about the universe's structure.
Dawnshard: Rysn, a minor character from earlier books, sails to a mysterious island and discovers an ancient weapon. Required reading before Rhythm of War for full context.
Rhythm of War: Science and magic collide as characters discover the fundamental laws underlying Roshar's magic. Features the most extensive Cosmere crossovers yet, including direct connections to Mistborn.
Wind and Truth: The climactic finale of Stormlight's first arc, with the fate of the entire Cosmere hanging in the balance. Major character destinies are resolved while setting up the future of the universe.
Standalone Cosmere Works
Elantris: Sanderson's debut follows a prince afflicted with a magical disease that transforms him into a living corpse. The magic system based on drawing symbols showcases Sanderson's innovative approach to fantasy.
Warbreaker: Two sisters deal with arranged marriages, gods who returned from death, and a sentient sword that really wants to destroy evil. Critical reading before Stormlight Archive due to character crossovers.
The Emperor's Soul: This Hugo Award-winning novella features magical forgery that can rewrite object histories. Considered one of Sanderson's best works despite its brevity.
Mistborn Era 2
The Alloy of Law: 300 years after Era 1, the Western-inspired sequel features lawman Wax using Allomancy and guns to fight crime in an industrializing world.
Shadows of Self: A shapeshifting killer threatens the city while Wax confronts his past. The Cosmere connections deepen with hints about the broader universe.
The Bands of Mourning: A search for mythical artifacts leads to trains, airships, and revelations about the Southern Continent. Sets up massive implications for the Cosmere's future.
Mistborn: Secret History: A companion novella revealing what really happened during Era 1. Contains major spoilers but essential Cosmere lore—read after Bands of Mourning.
The Lost Metal: The Era 2 finale features interdimensional threats and explicit Cosmere crossovers, including appearances by characters from other series.
Secret Projects
Tress of the Emerald Sea: A lighthearted fairy tale narrated by Hoid about a girl who sails seas made of spores to rescue her love. Most accessible Secret Project for newcomers.
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter: Two people from different worlds swap bodies and must solve each other's problems. Features significant Cosmere lore despite its standalone nature.
The Sunlit Man: Set thousands of years in the future, a character from earlier books runs from planet to planet. Requires extensive Cosmere knowledge for full appreciation.
Common Questions FAQ
Can I start with The Stormlight Archive instead of Mistborn?
Yes, but it's not recommended. Stormlight books are 1,000+ pages each and slower-paced than Mistborn. However, if you prefer epic fantasy to heist stories, starting with The Way of Kings works fine—just read Warbreaker before Words of Radiance.
What is the Cosmere collection Arcanum Unbounded?
A collection containing most Cosmere novellas plus essays about each world. Best read after completing most series, as the essays contain spoilers. The stories themselves fit better when read in their suggested positions.
Do I need to read everything to understand individual series?
No. Each series stands alone narratively. Cosmere connections are bonuses, not requirements. However, later books (especially post-2020) assume more Cosmere knowledge.
What about White Sand?
The graphic novel adaptation is canonical but not essential. The prose version will eventually be released. Most readers skip it without missing anything crucial.
Should I read Mistborn Era 2 before finishing Stormlight?
Either approach works. Era 2 is complete while Stormlight's second arc won't begin until 2031+. Reading Era 2 earlier means certain Stormlight references land better.
Is there a reading order for maximum emotional impact?
Read Mistborn: Secret History immediately after The Hero of Ages for the biggest emotional punch, but this spoils elements of Era 2. There's no perfect answer—choose based on your preferences.
Reading Tips
The Cosmere rewards attention to detail. Keep notes on mysterious characters, unexplained phenomena, and strange quotes. That random storyteller or beggar might be more important than they appear.
What to expect: Complex magic systems with scientific rules, detailed worldbuilding, avalanche endings where everything comes together, and increasingly connected storylines. Books range from 300-page novellas to 1,200-page epics.
Managing the complexity: Don't stress about catching every connection on your first read. The Cosmere community loves discussing theories and explaining references. The 17th Shard forums and Coppermind wiki provide spoiler-marked resources for deeper dives.
Consider Sanderson's own advice: "Start with Mistborn or Elantris if you're a fantasy reader, Steelheart or Skyward if you're not." Remember that his non-Cosmere works like Skyward and The Rithmatist are excellent but completely separate.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey. The Cosmere's beauty lies not in solving its mysteries but in experiencing diverse worlds united by hope, determination, and the idea that broken people can still choose to be heroes.
Ready to begin your Cosmere journey? Start with [Mistborn: The Final Empire →] and prepare for an adventure spanning worlds, millennia, and the fundamental forces of creation itself!