The main epic
Begin with The Way of Kings. If the reader wants every published side story, add the two novellas at the points described above.
Book Series · 5 Books
The Stormlight Archive Books
In order from The Way of Kings to Wind and Truth.
An adult epic fantasy about soldiers, scholars, rulers, and Knights Radiant confronting war and ancient powers on the storm-battered world of Roshar.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Stormlight Archive
Read The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Oathbringer, Rhythm of War, and Wind and Truth in numbered order. Wind and Truth completes the first five-book half of the larger planned story.
For the fullest reading order, add Edgedancer after Words of Radiance and Dawnshard after Oathbringer. These shorter stories add character and world context, but they remain separate from the five numbered novels.
Sources: Macmillan's official Stormlight Archive series, Brandon Sanderson's official Stormlight guide.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
These very long adult novels include warfare, slavery, battlefield deaths and injuries, assassination, torture, executions, grief, addiction, depression, trauma, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and discussion of genocide. The series treats mental health and recovery seriously, but its intensity, dense worldbuilding, and books exceeding a thousand pages suit persistent older teens and adults best.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$2469
Book #1 · Chapter Book · 2010
The Way of Kings
In a storm-ravaged world, a slave, a commander, and a scholar uncover ancient secrets that could change everything.
1007 pages· 383,389 words
$25.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In the storm-battered world of Roshar, Kaladin, a fallen soldier turned slave, fights to protect his men in a senseless war. Meanwhile, Brightlord Dalinar is haunted by visions of the past, questioning his sanity and the fate of his people. Across the sea, Shallan, a young scholar with hidden motives, seeks forbidden knowledge that could unravel the mysteries of the Knights Radiant. As their paths converge, ancient secrets and mystical powers resurface, threatening to reshape their world. Can they uncover the truth before it's too late?
In reading order
The Stormlight Archive Series
5 books · Published 2010–2024
#1
Sale price
$2469
The Way of Kings
Chapter Book · 2010
In a storm-ravaged world, a slave, a commander, and a scholar uncover ancient secrets that could change everything.
#2
Sale price
$2659
Words of Radiance
Chapter Book · 2014
A bodyguard with hidden powers faces an assassin targeting rulers, while a scholar seeks secrets to prevent a looming apocalypse.
#3
Sale price
$2659
Oathbringer
Chapter Book · 2017
A storm awakens ancient foes, threatening humanity's survival. Can unity overcome past sins?
#4
Sale price
$2469
Rhythm of War
Chapter Book · 2020
A brutal war rages as betrayal looms and ancient secrets threaten to unravel the Knights Radiant's strength.
Sale price
$3799
Wind and Truth
Chapter Book · 2024
A contest of champions decides Roshar's fate as chaos reigns.
Shorter companion stories
The Stormlight Novellas
2 books · Published 2016–2020
Edgedancer follows Lift between books 2 and 3; Dawnshard follows Rysn between books 3 and 4. They add context without changing the five-novel count.
Sale price
$1348
Edgedancer
Chapter Book · 2016
A young Knight Radiant defies an executioner to protect the powerless.
Sale price
$1248
Dawnshard
Chapter Book · 2020
A perilous sea voyage to a storm-shrouded island holds secrets that could save or doom the world.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Stormlight Archive series?
There are 5 books in the Stormlight Archive series. It began with The Way of Kings in 2010, and the newest book, Wind and Truth, was published in 2024.
What order should you read the Stormlight Archive books in?
Start with The Way of Kings and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #5.
Which Stormlight Archive book is the longest?
Wind and Truth is the longest book in the series at 493,492 words (1344 pages).
Which Stormlight Archive book is the shortest?
The Way of Kings (Book #1) is the shortest at 383,389 words (1007 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring The Stormlight Archive to life.
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