How Many Stormlight Archive Books Are There?
5 books published — the first arc (Books 1–5) is complete as of 2024. Sanderson has planned 10 books total. The second arc (Books 6–10) is unwritten but planned.
Complete Reading Order
| # | Title | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Way of Kings | 2010 | Published |
| 2 | Words of Radiance | 2014 | Published |
| 2.5 | Edgedancer (novella) | 2017 | Published |
| 3 | Oathbringer | 2017 | Published |
| 3.5 | Dawnshard (novella) | 2020 | Published |
| 4 | Rhythm of War | 2020 | Published |
| 5 | Wind and Truth | 2024 | Published |
| 6–10 | Arc 2 — Titles TBD | TBD | Unwritten |
Novellas placement: Read Edgedancer after Words of Radiance and before Oathbringer. Read Dawnshard after Oathbringer and before Rhythm of War. Both are optional but enhance the main story.
Is Stormlight Archive Safe to Start?
Yes. The first arc (Books 1–5) tells a complete story — it has a satisfying conclusion even though the overall 10-book narrative continues. You won't be left on a cliffhanger at the end of Book 5.
The wait for Arc 2 will be several years, but the first arc is self-contained enough that most readers feel complete after Book 5 rather than frustrated.
Stormlight in the Cosmere
Stormlight Archive takes place on the planet Roshar, one of many worlds in Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere shared universe. Reading Mistborn first is often recommended (it introduces Cosmere-wide concepts in a more accessible format) but is not required.
| Series | Planet | Good first read? |
|---|---|---|
| Mistborn (Era 1) | Scadrial | Yes — shorter, faster, great intro |
| Stormlight Archive | Roshar | Yes — but much longer |
| Warbreaker | Nalthis | Good Cosmere intro standalone |
| Elantris | Sel | Older Sanderson, lower stakes |
Start with The Way of Kings — it's long (1,000 pages) but one of the most rewarding fantasy novels of the past decade.
View on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Stormlight Archive Book 1?
The Way of Kings is approximately 1,000 pages (~383,000 words) — one of the longest debut novels in epic fantasy. The subsequent books are similarly sized. Plan for 40–50 hours of reading per book.
Is Stormlight Archive worth starting with unfinished Arc 2?
Yes. Arc 1 (Books 1–5) is a complete story. It ends satisfyingly. You won't feel cheated waiting for Arc 2 the way you might waiting for an open-ended series like Kingkiller Chronicle.
What order should I read Cosmere books?
See our full Cosmere reading order guide for a detailed breakdown of publication vs internal reading order, what's optional vs essential, and where the crossover connections appear.