Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive series is one of the best epic fantasy series known, for its intricate world-building, complex characters, and gripping plot. This series has captured the hearts of readers around the world, and if you are looking for The Stormlight Archive reading order to dive into it, you are on the right page!
With four books currently published, a fifth book coming out later this year, and more on the way, figuring out the best order to read them can be daunting.
Thankfully, there is only one option for reading The Stormlight Archive series in order. Brandon Sanderson has made it very easy for fans to get into the series, as the perfect order to read the books is the publication order.
The Stormlight Archive is a series that is not to be missed. With its unique magic system, detailed world-building, and unforgettable characters, it’s no wonder that this series has become one of the most beloved in the fantasy genre.
It is part of the larger Cosmere universe, which connects Sanderson’s other novels and series, telling a much larger plot that will ultimately culminate in his later planned books. With the fifth book about to be released, there’s never been a better time to dive into The Stormlight Archive series and experience the wonder and magic of Roshar for yourself.
How Many Books Are In The Stormlight Archive Series?
The Stormlight Archive is a series of epic fantasy novels by Brandon Sanderson. The series is planned to consist of ten novels, of which four have been published as of 2024, with the fifth book announced to be released in December this year.
So far, there are 7 books written in The Stormlight Archive series – five novels and two novellas!
According to Sanderson, the series will be split into two arcs, each containing five books. The first arc will conclude with the release of the fifth book later this year. Following this, Brandon Sanderson will focus on his other series, mainly the Mistborn Era 3 books, before starting work on the second arc of The Stormlight Archive with the sixth book.
The first novel, The Way of Kings, was published in 2010, and the fourth and latest novel, Rhythm of War, was published in 2020.
Here are all the books published in The Stormlight Archive series so far:
- The Way of Kings (2010)
- Words of Radiance (2014)
- Edgedancer (2016) – Novella
- Oathbringer (2017)
- Dawnshard (2020) – Novella
- Rhythm of War (2020)
- Wind and Truth (Releasing in December 2024)
What’s The Best The Stormlight Archive Reading Order?
The publication order is the best and only way to read The Stormlight Archive series in order. If you plan to read only the books in this series, follow the publication order.
If you plan on reading all the Cosmere books, the reading order will be a bit different. However, that’s nothing to be concerned about if you are a first-time reader. Explore the books in this series, and then you can worry about the other books and series set in the same universe.
So, if you want to start Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series, pick up the first book, The Way of Kings, and read the next novels and novellas in the order they were released. To help you on your reading journey, you can follow the list featuring The Stormlight Archive reading order I mentioned above!
Is The Stormlight Archive Series Finished?
No, The Stormlight Archive series is not finished and won’t be finished for the next several years!
The author has announced that the series will feature 10 books, and he has only released 4 books so far, with two novellas in between.
However, according to the author, this 10-book series will be split into two arcs, each consisting of five books. So, with the fifth book slated to release later this year, the first arc will come to a conclusion.
Also See:
How to Read Throne of Glass in Order?
What is The Stormlight Archive Series About?
The Stormlight Archive series is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy. The books are set in the storm-swept world of Roshar, where the highstorms bring destruction and chaos.
The series features a cast of complex characters, intricate world-building, and an engaging plot that keeps readers hooked from the first page to the last. Each book released so far focuses on one of the main characters and explores their backstory while also moving the main plot forward to culminate into the ultimate conclusion.
There are not just high-octane magic battles, bloody warfare, and intense fight sequences in the series. There’s also political intrigue that sets the story apart from other similar books. Plus, the magic system is unique, with its rules that are strictly followed, and it plays a significant role in the overall plot of the books.
I don’t want to spoil The Stormlight Archive series as a whole, so I’ll add a summary of the first book, The Way of Kings, to give you an idea of what to expect from this epic fantasy series.
“Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.
It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.
One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.
Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.
Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan’s motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.
The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.
Speak again the ancient oaths:
Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.and return to men the Shards they once bore.
The Knights Radiant must stand again.”
More Books Set in the Cosmere:
The Stormlight Archive series is set within Sanderson’s broader Cosmere universe, a shared universe connecting many of his works.
The Cosmere is a unique setting that allows Sanderson to explore different worlds, magic systems, and characters while still maintaining a cohesive narrative. Each book in The Stormlight Archive series adds to the lore and mythology of the Cosmere, making it a must-read for fans of Sanderson’s work.
If you’ve enjoyed reading The Stormlight Archive and want to explore more of the Cosmere universe, you should check out his other novels. Brandon Sanderson has written several other books that take place on different planets in this shared universe.
Here are some of the most notable ones:
- Elantris: Taking place in a world called Sel, the story follows three main characters as they try to uncover the mystery behind the fallen city of Elantris and the strange magical disease that afflicts its inhabitants.
- Mistborn Series: After The Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn series is perhaps Sanderson’s most famous work. It takes place in a world called Scadrial and follows a group of rebels trying to overthrow the oppressive Lord Ruler. The series features an intricate magic system based on metals, and the action scenes are some of the most thrilling you’ll ever read.
- Warbreaker: The story takes place in a world called Nalthis and follows two sisters as they become embroiled in a conflict between two nations. It features a unique magic system based on the manipulation of color, and the characters are some of Sanderson’s most memorable.
- White Sand: Set in a world called Taldain, the story follows a young man named Kenton as he tries to become a Sand Master, a powerful magician who can control the sand on Taldain.
- Arcanum Unbounded: It is a collection of short stories and novellas set in the Cosmere universe. It includes stories from several different worlds, including Scadrial, Roshar, and Sel. Since it is a collection of short stories and novellas, you should read it only after finishing Sanderson’s main series.
- Secret Projects: Brandon Sanderson announced four “secret novels” that he’d written during the Covid pandemic. He released them all in 2023 as part of the “Year of Sanderson.” Three of these novels are set in the Cosmere Universe: Tress of the Emerald Sea, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man.
Brandon Sanderson isn’t done with the Cosmere, and he is only halfway through The Stormlight Archive series, so expect more as this prolific author keeps giving us more novels to read!
When Will the Next Books in The Stormlight Archive Series Come Out?
Brandon Sanderson has announced that The Stormlight Archive will be a ten-book series. As of 2024, four books have been published, with the fifth book, “Wind and Truth,” set to be released later this year. This means that there are still five more books to come in the series.
The release schedule for the remaining books in The Stormlight Archive series is still uncertain, but Brandon Sanderson has confirmed that following the release of the fifth book, which marks the conclusion of the first arc, the series will go on hiatus as he focuses on his other projects.
Starting in 2025, Brandon Sanderson will write all three books in the Mistborn Era 3 series, Ghostbloods Trilogy, and will also work on the Elantris sequels and other projects.
According to the 2023’s State of the Sanderson post, the author has revealed a projected release schedule till 2030, and there’s no new Stormlight Archive book in there. Sanderson hopes to write a novella within this period and release it, but even that’s not certain.
So, for now, you shouldn’t expect a new Stormlight Archive book until at least 2030. However, as the author is known to surprise fans with huge but pleasant updates, things can change anytime, and we might get a new book sooner than expected!
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Stormlight Archive series is a must-read for any fantasy lover. With its intricate world-building, well-developed characters, and epic plot, it’s no wonder why it has gained such a huge following.
Unlike many other book series, the best order to read The Stormlight Archive series is the publication order. Pick the first book and read all the novels and novellas according to their release date. There’s nothing else you need to keep in mind!
Once you are done with the series, or even halfway through, you can consider exploring some of the author’s other series and standalone novels set in the Cosmere Universe.
However, I recommend that you complete all the books in one series before moving on to the rest. So, share The Stormlight Archive reading order with one of your friends and start buddy-reading Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series right now!
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