The Stormlight Archive Books in Chronological Order – Complete Reading Guide

The Stormlight Archive books in chronological order represent one of the most ambitious undertakings in modern fantasy. Brandon Sanderson has described it as his “love letter to the epic fantasy genre,” and at five volumes (with ten planned), it’s already a cornerstone of the Cosmere universe.

Set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar, the series combines intense character journeys, world-shaking wars, inventive magic systems, and profound philosophical themes. Readers will encounter ancient orders of magical knights, gods and demigods, political intrigue, and mysteries that connect to the wider Cosmere.

If Mistborn is a sleek heist-fantasy trilogy, The Stormlight Archive is the sprawling cathedral of Sanderson’s career — vast, ambitious, and unforgettable.

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Number of Volumes Planned	10 main books (two 5-book arcs)
Current Books Released	5 novels + 2 novellas
Average Page Count	1,000+ pages per main book
Total Word Count (so far)	~2.2 million words
Estimated Read Time	200–250 hours (at 250 WPM)
Genre	Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Difficulty	Advanced (dense worldbuilding & themes)
Content Warnings	War, slavery, PTSD, depression, political intrigue
Ideal Age Range	16+
Media Adaptations	Film/TV rights optioned; VR game and board game exist

About The Stormlight Archive Book Series

The Stormlight Archive takes place on Roshar, a land battered by massive magical storms. Human and non-human cultures have adapted to survive, from retractable grass to crab-like beasts. The series revolves around the return of the Voidbringers, ancient enemies once thought banished, and the rebirth of the Knights Radiant, magical warriors who once protected humanity.

Central characters include:

• Kaladin Stormblessed – a former slave who discovers powers as a Windrunner.
• Dalinar Kholin – a highprince and warlord plagued by visions.
• Shallan Davar – a scholar and Lightweaver hiding a dangerous past.
• Szeth-son-son-Vallano – the Assassin in White, bound to kill against his will.

Themes include leadership, morality, trauma, faith, and the nature of power. At its core, the series asks: What does it mean to protect?

The Stormlight Archive Books at a Glance

Book	Year	Amazon Link
The Way of Kings	2010	Buy on Amazon
Words of Radiance	2014	Buy on Amazon
Edgedancer (novella)	2016	Buy on Amazon
Oathbringer	2017	Buy on Amazon
Dawnshard (novella)	2020	Buy on Amazon
Rhythm of War	2020	Buy on Amazon
Wind and Truth	2024	Buy on Amazon

The Stormlight Archive Books in Chronological Order

The Way of Kings (2010)

The saga begins on Roshar, a storm-battered world shaped by tempests so fierce that even plants and animals have adapted to survive them. In this sweeping first installment, we meet Kaladin, once a healer, now a broken slave condemned to the battlefield. His journey from despair to leadership forms the emotional core of the novel, as he discovers a bond with the spren Syl and begins walking the path of the Windrunners.

Meanwhile, Highprince Dalinar Kholin struggles with troubling visions that call him to unite the fractured Alethi kingdom. His quest for unity clashes with a violent legacy that earned him the name “Blackthorn.” Across the sea, Shallan Davar apprentices under the scholar Jasnah Kholin with a hidden agenda of her own, only to uncover a dangerous connection to the ancient Knights Radiant.

The war on the Shattered Plains becomes a crucible where the destinies of these characters begin to intertwine. The book establishes not just the world of Roshar but the oaths and ideals that will come to define the Radiants.

Words of Radiance (2014)

The story deepens in the second volume, expanding both the scope of the conflict and the inner struggles of its heroes. Kaladin rises to command the king’s bodyguard, but protecting Elhokar and Dalinar forces him to confront lingering hatred for lighteyes and to decide what kind of leader he will become. Shallan journeys to the Shattered Plains, where her gifts as a Lightweaver grow stronger even as she hides her true past.

At the same time, the infamous assassin Szeth returns to the forefront, his Honorblade carving a bloody path across Roshar’s ruling class. Dalinar faces mounting political intrigue while trying to act on his visions of ancient times. All the while, the ever-present threat of the Parshendi builds toward a cataclysm that will shake Roshar forever.

This installment is remembered for one of Sanderson’s most breathtaking climaxes, a moment that crystallizes the Radiants’ return and transforms the series into an epic of destiny.

Edgedancer (Novella, 2016)

Though shorter, this tale is essential to the Stormlight tapestry. It follows Lift, a mischievous orphan with an irrepressible appetite and an extraordinary gift as an Edgedancer. Her journey takes her far from the Shattered Plains, into quieter corners of Roshar where the chaos of war feels distant but the shadow of the Voidbringers still looms.

Lift’s perspective adds warmth and humor, but her importance to the broader saga should not be underestimated. Her powers and her bond with the spren Wyndle will ripple into later volumes, making this novella far more than a side story.

Oathbringer (2017)

The third main novel turns its spotlight on Dalinar Kholin. Once feared as a ruthless general, Dalinar now wrestles with the bloody truth of his past while striving to unite humanity against an impending Desolation. His visions and his conscience lead him into direct confrontation with Odium, the god of hatred himself.

Elsewhere, Kaladin wrestles with empathy for the singers, newly awakened from slavery and now fighting as enemies. Shallan struggles with her fractured identities, losing herself in masks even as she becomes more crucial to the Radiants’ resurgence. Szeth, after years of bloody service, begins to chart a new course under the Skybreakers.

The Everstorm rages across Roshar, reshaping the world and making it clear that the age of peace is over. With its devastating revelations and grand confrontations, Oathbringer represents a true turning point for the series.

Dawnshard (Novella, 2020)

Set between Oathbringer and Rhythm of War, this novella shifts focus to Rysn Ftori, a ship captain confined by disability, and her irrepressible companion Lopen. Their expedition to the mysterious island of Akinah reveals the existence of the Dawnshards—ancient commands of creation that hold unimaginable power.

Though more contained than the main novels, Dawnshard is rich in Cosmere significance. It expands the map of Roshar, introduces hidden corners of lore, and demonstrates Sanderson’s commitment to showing that even “smaller” characters have roles to play in the fate of worlds.

Rhythm of War (2020)

The fourth main entry brings war, scholarship, and personal struggle into uneasy collision. Navani Kholin emerges as a central figure, leading scientific breakthroughs in fabrial technology while facing the manipulations of an enemy scholar who mirrors her intellect. Kaladin, haunted by trauma, steps away from the battlefield and confronts his greatest enemy: despair. Shallan delves deeper into the secretive Ghostbloods, even as her identities threaten to consume her. Venli, a singer Radiant, offers a powerful counterpoint as she navigates loyalty, guilt, and the possibility of redemption for her people.

Themes of mental health, the price of innovation, and the fragile bond between humans and spren run throughout the book. With its blend of war epic and intimate character study, Rhythm of War sets the board for the series’ first great climax.

Wind and Truth (2024)

The fifth book concludes the first arc of the Stormlight Archive in spectacular fashion. Dalinar Kholin, now both statesman and Radiant, challenges Odium to a contest of champions, gambling the future of Roshar on a single confrontation. Taravangian’s shocking ascension to Odium’s mantle complicates everything, as the rules of the game shift under humanity’s feet.

All the storylines converge here: Kaladin journeys to Shinovar alongside Szeth, facing external foes and inner demons alike. Shallan confronts the true nature of the Ghostbloods, while Renarin and Rlain unearth secrets tied to the ancient Unmade. Navani seeks salvation in the mysteries of the Spiritual Realm, even as war consumes the land.

Epic in scope and deeply personal in its resolutions, Wind and Truth delivers both closure and new mysteries, cementing the Stormlight Archive as one of fantasy’s most ambitious undertakings.

Series Timeline & Character Development

Unlike most fantasy sagas, The Stormlight Archive is split into two arcs: Books 1–5 (completed in 2024), and Books 6–10 (planned).

• Kaladin: His arc explores depression, leadership, and resilience. From slave to Radiant commander.
• Dalinar: A warlord turned reluctant peacemaker, haunted by his bloody past. His bond with the Stormfather reshapes Roshar’s future.
• Shallan: A scholar and artist wrestling with identity and trauma. Her journey into multiple personas adds unique psychological depth.
• Szeth: Once a weapon, Szeth becomes central to the ultimate fate of Shinovar and Odium’s rise.
• Navani: From supporting player to central innovator, she leads Roshar into a magical-technical renaissance.

The timeline escalates from localized conflicts on the Shattered Plains (Books 1–2) → global Desolation (Books 3–4) → Cosmere-wide stakes (Book 5).

Novels Sorted by In-Universe Events

1. The Way of Kings
2. Words of Radiance
3. Edgedancer
4. Oathbringer
5. Dawnshard
6. Rhythm of War
7. Wind and Truth

Novels Sorted by Publication Order

1. The Way of Kings (2010)
2. Words of Radiance (2014)
3. Edgedancer (2016)
4. Oathbringer (2017)
5. Dawnshard (2020)
6. Rhythm of War (2020)
7. Wind and Truth (2024)

Companion Works

• Novellas: Edgedancer and Dawnshard (essential between arcs).
• Arcanum Unbounded: Collects Edgedancer with other Cosmere works.
• Board Game: Call to Adventure: Stormlight expansion (2020).
• RPG: Cosmere Roleplaying Game (2025 Kickstarter phenomenon).
• VR Game: Escape the Shattered Plains (2018).

Editions & Formats

• Hardcovers: Tor standard + Dragonsteel deluxe editions.
• Mass Market Paperbacks: More affordable, portable versions.
• Audiobooks: Narrated by Michael Kramer & Kate Reading (beloved by fans).
• GraphicAudio: Full-cast dramatizations with sound design.

Why Read The Stormlight Archive Books in Chronological Order

Reading The Stormlight Archive books in chronological order ensures you catch every layer of foreshadowing, novella tie-ins, and character arcs. Sanderson meticulously plants seeds that pay off volumes later — skipping order risks missing the full emotional and narrative payoff.

Author Spotlight: Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is one of the most prolific and beloved fantasy authors alive today. With more than 40 million books sold, he is best known for:

• Mistborn Saga (multiple eras)
• The Stormlight Archive (his magnum opus)
• Completing The Wheel of Time for Robert Jordan
• Launching the most successful Kickstarter in publishing history (2022 Secret Projects)

Sanderson teaches writing at BYU, shares lectures online for free, and is revered for his intricate magic systems, satisfying endings, and dedication to fans.

Media Adaptations

• Film/TV: DMG Entertainment optioned Cosmere rights (2016). The Way of Kings movie was announced, but rights have since reverted to Sanderson. Future adaptations are expected under Dragonsteel.
• VR Game: Escape the Shattered Plains (2018).
• Board Game: Call to Adventure: Stormlight expansion (2020).
• RPG: Cosmere Roleplaying Game (2025 Kickstarter record-breaker).

FAQs about The Stormlight Archive Books in Chronological Order

Conclusion

The Stormlight Archive books in chronological order are more than novels; they are an epic journey into one of fantasy’s most ambitious universes. From Kaladin’s struggle with depression to Dalinar’s quest for redemption, Shallan’s fractured identity, and the looming threat of Odium, this saga delivers scale, heart, and unforgettable magic.

Which Stormlight book or character has stayed with you the most? Share your ranking in the comments and explore our other Mistborn Books in Chronological Order or Wax and Wayne Books in Chronological Order for the complete journey.