I have devoured every single book in print in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe (as of December 1st, 2025), and each one feels like its own masterpiece. Despite this, The Stormlight Archive stands out to me, and the author himself, as the crown jewel in the crown that is the Cosmere. With the shortest book (Way of Kings) being about 1,000 pages long (depending on the print size) and the longest being the newest installment (Wind and Truth) at 1,329 pages (again, depending on the edition), the length is the biggest downside, but also the main reason for the series’ triumph. The length gives Sanderson an unbelievable amount of time to develop the saga and characters, but can still lead to what some fans call “Sanderstorms,” in which loads of information and action occurs right at the end. An extra tidbit is that each book in the series is titled after a fictional book within the world of Roshar.

The first book in the series is The Way of Kings (published 2010), a 1,008 page volume that introduces Kaladin and Shallan as main characters, diving into aspects such as depression, betrayal, and war. This comes with a large group of supporting cast while revealing information about each character methodically and meticulously throughout the 88 chapters (including prelude, prologue, interludes, and epilogue). While this book is mostly world and character development, the reader is introduced to the world of Roshar and its infamous Highstorms. Small tidbits of information about the supporting characters and other people not even mentioned yet are sprinkled throughout the story. This is the magic of Sanderson: even if the sound of “1,000 page introduction” doesn’t sound appealing, it is still one of the better books in the series purely because of all of the lore that is sewn into The Cosmere.

The second book in the series is Words of Radiance (published 2014), which is widely considered to be the best book in the series. It has garnered a whopping 4.76 stars on Goodreads with over 381,000 5-star reviews. Words of Radiance (WoR) really starts to pick up speed in the series and is a story I have reread at least 5 times, despite the 1,080 pages. Despite knowing everything that comes next, I still find myself unable to put the book down and absolutely love how the story remains engaging and brings a climax to even the second of the planned 10 books. Building mainly on Shallan’s character, the book also develops characters outside of those two, gaining affection and distaste from the reader.

The third book in the saga is Oathbringer (published 2017) and follows up on the insanity that is WoR. If you haven’t noticed the pattern yet, each book focuses on the evolution of one specific character, typically through designated flashback chapters. While the book does not quite maintain the hype of its predecessor, it introduces Sanderson’s sense of humor. I haven’t read this book in over eight months, and still I remember the majority of the jokes from OB. Oathbringer provides much-needed context on the background of a character (I’m not sure if I can say who without spoiling something), and is pretty much the most important part of this book, along with a large buildup to Rythm of War.

Rhythm of War is the fourth tome in the series (published in 2020) and sets into motion the climax of the first Arc. That’s right, after almost 4.5 thousand pages, you’re standing at the threshold of the END OF THE BEGINNING, and it’s absolutely worth it. RoW brings all of book three to a head and leads into the last published book in the series, Wind and Truth (published 2024). Also called Knights of Wind and Truth, the 1,329-page behemoth and largest book in the series gives an epic end to the wild ride that is Arc One. With the slowest build-up in the whole series (which is saying something since that’s essentially what Way of Kings is), Wind and Truth awards every bit of work put in earlier in the series with references and an unbelievable ending that is worth the FIRST 800 PAGES OF BUILDUP. Yes. You can do it. I did it three times. It’s still the second best book in the series despite this, and is extremely rewarding to complete.

Not only are the books good, but the fanbase is also amazing. There is a whole Wikipedia-like page called The Coppermind (a reference to Mistborn) which gives details on characters that are difficult to pick up on in the books, although, while running the risk of spoilers. There is also a Reddit copycat called 17th Shard, at which users debate possible theories and fun brain workouts related to the cosmere. The people on The 17th Shard are so welcoming, and it just goes to show how kind the fanbase is. 

All that being said, I cannot recommend this series enough. Even though the books are long, they stay new, fresh, and are not repetitive in the slightest. If you aren’t sure about such a large commitment to even finish one book, I suggest trying out Sanderson’s Mistborn series, which is much shorter but still amazing. Although it may seem daunting, it is worth the work. From the teachers asking if you picked the biggest book you could find, to the grandmas trying to figure out if it’s the bible, to flexing on your friends, The Archive is a gold mine of self-accomplishment and enjoyment. The crazy realism with which Sanderson writes about depression and victory in the same book is undeniable. While some people think that the biggest downside is the length, the real drawback for fans is the expected release date of book six being in 2032. Yikes.