Start in flight school
Begin with Skyward, then follow the main novels in order and add the companion collection after Starsight or Cytonic.
Book Series · 4 Books
Skyward Books
In order from Skyward to Defiant.
Brandon Sanderson's young-adult science-fiction series follows Spensa, a determined would-be pilot trying to protect humanity while uncovering the truth about her father, her world, and her unusual connection to the stars.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Skyward Books
Read the four Spensa novels in order: Skyward, Starsight, Cytonic, and Defiant. Together they form the completed main sequence.
Skyward Flight collects Sunreach, ReDawn, and Evershore, three companion novellas about Spensa's teammates. For the closest chronology, read the first two after Starsight and Evershore alongside or just after Cytonic; readers who prefer a simpler path can read the whole collection after Cytonic and before Defiant.
Sources: Brandon Sanderson's official Skyward order, Official Skyward Flight novella guide.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The books contain frequent aerial battles, military training, weapons, crashes, imprisonment, injuries, and character deaths. Spensa and other young pilots face grief, prejudice, propaganda, wartime pressure, and threats capable of destroying entire populations.
Humor, friendships, unusual aliens, and fast-paced adventure keep the tone accessible, but fear, sacrifice, and the cost of war remain important throughout. There is light romance, without explicit sexual content.
Where to start
Where Should My Teen Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$2089
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2018
Skyward
A determined girl uncovers a secret that could help her become a pilot in a war-torn world.
510 pages· 132,447 words· Est. 12.5 hour read
$21.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In a world besieged by alien forces, Spensa dreams of becoming a pilot, a hero like her father. But his mysterious desertion casts a shadow over her ambitions. As she battles prejudice and doubt, Spensa stumbles upon a hidden relic that might just change her fate. Can she defy the odds and claim the skies, or will her father's legacy hold her back? Discover the secrets of the stars and the truth behind her father's betrayal in this thrilling adventure where courage and destiny collide.
In reading order
Skyward Series
4 books · Published 2018–2023
#1
Sale price
$2089
Skyward
Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2018
A determined girl uncovers a secret that could help her become a pilot in a war-torn world.
#2
Sale price
$2089
Starsight
Chapter Book · Ages 12–+ · 2019
A pilot uncovers terrifying truths about her world and her father's past.
#3
Sale price
$1899
Cytonic
Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2021
A pilot must uncover her true nature to stop a galaxy-wide war.
#4
Sale price
$2089
Defiant
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2023
A girl must confront cosmic threats and her own powers to save the galaxy.
Companion novella collection
What Is Skyward Flight?
1 book · Published 2022
Three stories follow FM, Alanik, and Jorgen while Spensa is away. They connect Starsight, Cytonic, and Defiant but do not count as a fifth main novel.
Sale price
$1398
Skyward Flight
Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2022
Can humanity escape Detritus and defy the Galactic Superiority's grip?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Skyward series?
There are 4 books in the Skyward series. It began with Skyward in 2018, and the newest book, Defiant, was published in 2023.
What order should you read the Skyward books in?
Start with Skyward and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #4.
What ages are the Skyward books best for?
The series is best for ages 12–17, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring Skyward to life.
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