In December 2025, Brandon Sanderson announced that a new work in The Stormlight Archive series will be published “likely in the next few years.”[15]
Chronological order
The Stormlight Archive books must be read in chronological order, by following this sequence:[5-14]
| Order | Cover | Title | First published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main books | ||||
| 1 |
|
The Way of Kings | 2010[16] | Opens the war on the Shattered Plains and establishes the Radiants’ return. |
| 2 |
|
Words of Radiance | 2014[17] | Moves the series into the new Desolation. |
| 3 |
|
Elsecaller & King Lopen: The First of Alethkar | 2025[18] | A side story featuring Elhokar and Lopen. |
| 4 |
|
Edgedancer | 2017[19] | Bridges events after Words of Radiance. |
| 5 |
|
Oathbringer | 2017[20-22] | Builds on Urithiru, the coalition, and the widening war. |
| 6 |
|
Dawnshard | 2020[23] | Expands the world before the next major conflict. |
| 7 |
|
Rhythm of War | 2020[24-26] | Continues the war, Urithiru storyline, and the approach to Odium’s contest. |
| 8 |
|
Wind and Truth | 2024[27-29] | Resolves the first major arc’s central contest. |
| Companion books | ||||
| 1 |
|
The Stormlight Archive: A Pocket Companion to The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance | 2016[4] | A reference guide covering the first two novels. |
| 2 |
|
The Way of Kings Prime | 2020[30] | An alternate version of The Way of Kings. |
Publication order
For first-time readers, the chronological order is the best approach. However, the publication order is useful for completionists who want to read every title in the order of publication. The trade-off is that it places companion and alternate-version material among the story volumes, which will interrupt the narrative flow for a first-time reader.[5-14]
Therefore, The Stormlight Archive books may be read in publication order, by following this sequence:[1-4]
| Order | Cover | Title | First published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Way of Kings | 2010[16] | The canonical starting point. |
| 2 |
|
Words of Radiance | 2014[17] | The second major story volume. |
| 3 |
|
The Stormlight Archive: A Pocket Companion to The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance | 2016[4] | A guide to the first two books. |
| 4 |
|
Edgedancer | 2017[19] | A shorter narrative bridge. |
| 5 |
|
Oathbringer | 2017[20-22] | The next major story volume. |
| 6 |
|
Dawnshard | 2020[23] | A side expedition. |
| 7 |
|
Rhythm of War | 2020[24-26] | The fourth large continuation. |
| 8 |
|
The Way of Kings Prime | 2020[30] | An alternate version. |
| 9 |
|
Wind and Truth | 2024[27-29] | The next major continuation. |
| 10 |
|
Elsecaller & King Lopen: The First of Alethkar | 2025[18] | A side story. |
Works in sequence
The core reading experience consists of the main continuous sequence and shorter works that fit clearly between major installments: The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Edgedancer, Oathbringer, Dawnshard, Rhythm of War, and Wind and Truth. These books carry or support the central narrative path.[5-6][8-12]
The supplementary works—The Stormlight Archive: A Pocket Companion to The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance, The Way of Kings Prime, and Elsecaller & King Lopen: The First of Alethkar—expand, summarize, reframe, or sit beside the main sequence rather than serving as the default path for a first reading. All three may be skipped without affecting a reader’s understanding of the main storyline, though they provide additional context.[7][13-14]
The pocket companion is a retrospective guide to the first two books. The Way of Kings Prime is an alternate version of The Way of Kings. Elsecaller & King Lopen: The First of Alethkar is a side story focused on Elhokar and Lopen.[7][13-14]
Main books
The core novels form the backbone of The Stormlight Archive, each building on the events of the previous installment. These books follow the central characters and the escalating conflict across Roshar, making them essential for understanding the overarching story.[5-12]
1. The Way of Kings
The Way of Kings (2010)[16] introduces Roshar as a storm-battered world shaped by ancient oaths, Shardblades, highstorms, spren, and rigid social divisions. It establishes the Shattered Plains war, Kaladin’s fall into slavery and rise within Bridge Four, Shallan’s apprenticeship under Jasnah, and Dalinar’s visions.[5]
This novel also follows Szeth’s assassinations and reveals the first signs that the Knights Radiant and the Desolation are returning.[5]
2. Words of Radiance
Words of Radiance (2014)[17] continues the plotlines opened in The Way of Kings and brings the main characters into closer contact. Kaladin serves Dalinar while struggling with his oaths, Shallan enters the warcamps with Jasnah’s research, Adolin’s role in Alethi politics expands, and the listeners move toward stormform.[6]
This book shifts the series from hidden warnings into an open supernatural and military crisis.[6]
3. Elsecaller & King Lopen: The First of Alethkar
Elsecaller and King Lopen: The First of Alethkar (2025)[18] is a side story that focuses on Elhokar and Lopen. It explores events and character perspectives that run alongside the main narrative, offering additional insight into Alethi politics and the roles of secondary characters.[7]
While not essential to the central storyline, it provides extra context and depth for readers interested in the broader world.[7]
4. Edgedancer
Edgedancer (2017)[19] follows Lift after the events surrounding the Everstorm and focuses on her pursuit by Nale and the Skybreakers. It develops Lift’s Radiant role, clarifies Nale’s response to the Desolation, includes Szeth after his revival, and brings another hidden Radiant into view.[8]
It is shorter than the major novels but bridges the surrounding books.[8]
5. Oathbringer
Oathbringer (2017)[20-22] begins after the discovery of Urithiru and the return of the Everstorm. Dalinar attempts to build a coalition against Odium while confronting his past, Kaladin sees the awakened parshmen as people rather than simple enemies, and Shallan’s identities and responsibilities grow more complex.[9]
This book broadens the conflict beyond the Shattered Plains into a world-scale struggle.[9]
6. Dawnshard
Dawnshard (2020)[23] follows Rysn, Chiri-Chiri, Lopen, Huio, Rushu, Cord, and the crew of the Wandersail on an expedition toward Akinah. It is a side expedition within the main continuity, expanding Aimia, the Sleepless, larkin, Soulcasters, and the hidden Dawnshard.[10]
It is best read after Oathbringer and before Rhythm of War, where the wider war continues.[10]
7. Rhythm of War
Rhythm of War (2020)[24-26] continues the coalition’s war against Odium’s forces and centers much of its action on Urithiru, the Fused occupation, Navani’s discoveries, Kaladin’s crisis, Shallan and Adolin’s mission in Shadesmar, and Venli’s attempt to create another path for singers. This story also explores major developments in Roshar’s magical systems and the shifting balance between humans and singers.[11]
It establishes the contest of champions that gives the next volume its narrative frame.[11]
8. Wind and Truth
Wind and Truth (2024)[27-29] follows the final countdown to Odium’s contest of champions and brings together major threads involving Dalinar, Navani, Kaladin, Szeth, Shallan, Renarin, Rlain, Adolin, Venli, Jasnah, Wit, the Heralds, and the powers behind the war. It depends on the preceding sequence.[12]
Indeed, this book is the culmination of the first large movement of the series.[12]
Companion books
These companion books provide additional context, background information, and expanded perspectives on the main books.[4][30]
1. The Stormlight Archive: A Pocket Companion to The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance
The Stormlight Archive: A Pocket Companion to The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance (2016) was available by signing up to Tor’s newsletter.[4]
The Stormlight Archive: A Pocket Companion to The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance is a reference guide that summarizes characters, locations, and key events from the first two novels. It is designed to help readers revisit or clarify details rather than advance the narrative.[13]
While not part of the story itself, it can be useful to read after Words of Radiance for additional context.[13]
2. The Way of Kings Prime
The Way of Kings Prime (2020)[30] is available on the author’s website.[3] is an alternate version of The Way of Kings, presenting an earlier iteration of the story with different character arcs, plot developments, and worldbuilding elements.[14]
It is not part of the canonical storyline, but it offers insight into the series’ evolution for readers interested in its development.[3]
References
- THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE® SERIES. Brandon Sanderson.
- Elsecaller/King Lopen Story Deck® Double Book. Dragonsteel Books.
- The Way of Kings Prime. Brandon Sanderson.
- Download The Stormlight Archive Pocket Companion. Tor/Forge Blog. Archived.
- The Way of Kings. Tor Books. ISBN: 9780765326355.
- Words of Radiance. Tor Books. ISBN: 9780765326362.
- Elsecaller. Dragonsteel Books. ISBN: 9781938570575.
- Edgedancer. Tor Books. ISBN: 9781250166548.
- Oathbringer. Tor Books. ISBN: 9780765326379.
- Dawnshard. Titan Books. ISBN: 9781803364674.
- Rhythm of War. Tor Books. ISBN: 9780765326386.
- Wind and Truth. Tor Books. ISBN: 9781250319180.
- The Stormlight Archive: A Pocket Companion to The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance. Tor Books.
- The Way of Kings Prime. Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC. ISBN: 9781938570247.
- State of the Sanderson 2025. Brandon Sanderson.
- The Way of Kings. Macmillan Publishers.
- Words of Radiance. Macmillan Publishers.
- Dragonsteel Nexus 2025: New Products, Special Guests & Big Announcements. Dragonsteel Books.
- Edgedancer. Macmillan Publishers.
- Oathbringer. Macmillan Publishers.
- Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. The Orion Publishing Group.
- Oathbringer: The Stormlight Archive Book Three by Brandon Sanderson – Books. Hachette Australia.
- The Way of Kings 10th Anniversary Leatherbound Edition by Dragonsteel Entertainment » New Stormlight Novella Title Reveal. Kickstarter.
- Rhythm of War. Macmillan Publishers.
- Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. The Orion Publishing Group.
- Rhythm of War: The Stormlight Archive Book Four by Brandon Sanderson – Books. Hachette Australia.
- Wind and Truth. Macmillan Publishers.
- Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson. The Orion Publishing Group.
- Wind and Truth: The brand new epic Stormlight Archive novel from the international bestseller by Brandon Sanderson – Books. Hachette Australia.
- The Way of Kings 10th Anniversary Leatherbound Edition by Dragonsteel Entertainment. Kickstarter.