The right way to learn The Stormlight Archive so as earlier than the TV adaptation

It is official — as of late January 2026, Apple TV+ closed on the rights to Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe. If something about Sanderson, that the universe consists of 20-plus works (novels, novellas, and shorter fiction) — which is a large acquisition when you think about Sanderson’s world-building, magic methods, and particularly the gaping gap Sport of Thrones left within the fantasy TV style.

Proper now, Apple TV+ has its sights on two of Sanderson’s most beloved sequence within the Cosmere universe: Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, in movie and TV codecs, respectively. Like several main display adaptation, anticipating followers are speeding to the cabinets to get a head begin on what is going to certainly be an epic fantasy journey.

The Mistborn sequence is comparatively easy relating to studying order, however The Stormlight Archive has a couple of nuances. Whereas the primary 5 principal books within the sequence are all the essential reader wants, there are a couple of different vital novellas and different Cosmere books to think about including to the pile if you’d like each little element Sanderson layered in. And imagine me, there’s lots.

If that is the primary you are listening to of Sanderson’s epic storytelling, this is what The Stormlight Archive is about and what order it’s best to learn it in earlier than Apple TV+ brings it to life.

What’s Stormlight Archive about?

A Brandon Sanderson masterpiece

Brandon Sanderson is a legendary identify in fantasy and world-building. Whereas he is been writing for about 20 years and has revealed 70-plus books, Sanderson was put within the highlight in 2007 when he was chosen to complete The Wheel of Time, a beloved and epic fantasy sequence, after its writer Robert Jordan handed away. Impressed by the primary Mistborn novel, Harriet McDougal (Jordan’s editor and spouse), requested Sanderson to complete her husband’s final installment and wrap up the sequence. In pure Sanderson style, he elected to jot down three extra as an alternative of 1.

Rise to fame apart, The Stormlight Archives follows three principal characters: a healer compelled to surrender his commerce and enter soldier-slavery, a scholar with ulterior motives, and a highprice who needs to convey collectively a damaged kingdom. Dwelling on a war-torn planet affected by monstrous storms and complex magic methods, every character has a component to play within the harmful paths forward of them.

What order must you learn The Stormlight Archive sequence?

It relies on how deep you need to go

There is not a secret “finest” method to learn The Stormlight Archive, regardless of how a lot deliberation you will discover on Reddit. The sequence is one other installment in Sanderson’s epic Cosmere universe, the place all of his intricate fantasy tales happen. As of early 2026, the beloved fantasy writer has completed 20-plus Cosmere books, with loads nonetheless within the works.

Nevertheless, you do not have to learn any of his different sequence to get pleasure from and perceive The Stormlight Archive. Sanderson deliberately wrote every of the Cosmere sequence to face on their very own and never rely on others set in the identical universe, although he does throw in Easter eggs and minor overlaps that enrich the studying expertise. There’s nothing extra rewarding than recognizing a reputation or object reference from one other ebook and turning into the pointing Leonardo DiCaprio meme from As soon as Upon a Time in Hollywood.

If you wish to persist with the fundamentals, the only method to get via The Stormlight Archive is to learn the 5 principal books (thus far) so as:

1. The Means of Kings
2. Phrases of Radiance
3. Oathbringer
4. Rhythm of Battle
5. Wind and Fact

The listing above represents the 5 official principal works of The Stormlight Archive sequence. Sanderson intends to jot down 5 extra to finish its 10-book plan. Nevertheless, he gave his voracious readers much more by publishing two novellas set particularly inside The Stormlight Archive sequence, which may fully enrich the story. This is easy methods to learn the sequence with these layered in:

1. The Means of Kings
2. Phrases of Radiance
3. (Elective) Novella: Edgedancer
4. Oathbringer
5. (Elective) Novella: Dawnshard
6. Rhythm of Battle
7. Wind and Fact

Now, keep in mind what I mentioned about Sanderson writing every sequence with the intention of it standing alone? 20+ books is an intimidating dedication, however it’s true that studying extra of the Cosmere books will broaden your understanding of the magic system, world-building, and basic battle driving every of the sequence.

Under, every Stormlight-Archive-specific ebook or novella is in daring, and the non-compulsory extras are in plain textual content:

1. The Means of Kings
2. (Elective) Warbreaker
3. Phrases of Radiance
4. (Elective) Novella: Edgedancer
5. Oathbringer
6. (Elective) Novella: Dawnshard
7. (Elective) The Mistborn sequence
8. Rhythm of Battle
9. Wind and Fact

Warbreaker is a standalone Cosmere novel that matches properly into The Stormlight Archive sequence between The Means of Kings and Phrases of Radiance. There’s some deliberation on-line that it might probably hurt a reader’s momentum by deviating from the principle storyline so early within the sequence, however quick readers should not discover an excessive amount of of an interruption. In any case, the trade-off is a couple of “Ah, ha!” moments whenever you get again to Phrases of Radiance.

Most readers agree that if you are going to layer in any related addition, Warbreaker makes essentially the most sense. Nevertheless, there’s additionally the choice so as to add within the Mistborn sequence earlier than Rhythm of Battle, which is a way more intimidating dedication. Mistborn remains to be unfinished, however Sanderson has already written seven principal novels within the sequence, plus a minimum of one devoted novella and different shorter items.

I’d solely advocate layering within the Mistborn sequence if you happen to’re actually craving to know each single element Sanderson had in thoughts when he wrote (and can write) Rhythm of Battle and the books that observe. When you’re the form of reader who cannot get sufficient of Cosmere, you will discover that studying Mistborn earlier than diving again into the principle Stormlight Archive storyline will solely make the sequence richer.

Nevertheless, do not forget that The Stormlight Archive will likely be immensely gratifying, regardless of whether or not you select to stay to the principle works or layer in different books.