How to use this page
- Pick the checkpoint below that matches where you are in Stormlight.
- Optional items are clearly labeled. You can skip them on a first pass and come back later.
- The recommended path below shows the full spoiler-free sequence in one place.
Choose your checkpoint
Keep reading Stormlight
You do not need any side reads yet. If you want a detour later, Warbreaker is the best choice.
See the full path →Read Warbreaker now
This is the best time to read Warbreaker. Then Edgedancer (optional) and Oathbringer.
Warbreaker timing guide →Consider Dawnshard
Dawnshard is optional but recommended. Read it before Rhythm of War for the best fit.
Novella guidance →What comes next?
Mistborn Era 1 is the most rewarding next step if you have not read it yet.
After Stormlight →Recommended Stormlight-first path
Best for readers who want the best Cosmere experience with minimal backtracking.
- The Way of Kings Amazon
- Words of Radiance Amazon
- Warbreaker (strongly recommended) Amazon
- Edgedancer (optional novella) Amazon
- Oathbringer Amazon
- Dawnshard (optional novella) Amazon
- Rhythm of War Amazon
- Wind and Truth Amazon
- The Sunlit Man (optional standalone, best here) Amazon
After Stormlight, see the section below for what to read next.
Novella guidance
The novellas are optional on a first pass. If you like extra context, they are worth reading at these points:
Edgedancer
Short novella. Fits naturally before Oathbringer. Optional but recommended.
AmazonDawnshard
Short novella. Best read before Rhythm of War for the added context it provides.
AmazonIf you want the simplest approach: read Stormlight main books only, read Warbreaker at the checkpoint above, and come back for novellas later if you want more.
What to read after Stormlight
Finished the published Stormlight books and want the most rewarding next Cosmere steps?
Best next series
- Mistborn Era 1, if you have not read it
- Mistborn Era 2, after Era 1
Best standalones
- Warbreaker, if you skipped it earlier
- Elantris
- The Emperor's Soul
- Tress of the Emerald Sea
- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
- The Sunlit Man
Short fiction entry points
- Sixth of the Dusk
- Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
- Arcanum Unbounded, story by story
Want deep connections?
Follow the completionist path on the main reading order page, then circle back for a reread.
Completionist path →FAQ
Do I have to read Mistborn before Stormlight?
No. Stormlight works on its own. Mistborn is recommended after because it expands your Cosmere context and is a great next step.
Will I be confused if I skip Warbreaker?
No. You can still enjoy Stormlight fully. Warbreaker is recommended because it adds satisfying context when certain characters or concepts appear in later books.
Is this page spoiler-free?
Yes. All recommendations avoid plot details and major reveals.