Epic fantasy
Words of Radiance
The second Stormlight Archive novel. A war on a broken, storm-swept plain and the fates of a soldier, a scholar and a warlord are told in alternating, deeply interior chapters.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2014
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 1088
- Format
- Book 2 of 5 in The Stormlight Archive
Read this if you want a huge, immersive fantasy where character arcs and worldbuilding are equally important.
Skip this if you have not read The Way of Kings, or you have little patience for 1,000-page books.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about Words of Radiance
- What is Words of Radiance about?
- The second Stormlight Archive novel. A war on a broken, storm-swept plain and the fates of a soldier, a scholar and a warlord are told in alternating, deeply interior chapters.
- Who should read Words of Radiance?
- Read it if you want a huge, immersive fantasy where character arcs and worldbuilding are equally important. Skip it if you have not read The Way of Kings, or you have little patience for 1,000-page books.
- How long and how fast is Words of Radiance?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 1088 pages, first published in 2014.
- Does Words of Radiance have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, War, Death.
- Can I borrow Words of Radiance for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Words of Radiance; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Words of Radiance?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Wise Man's Fear, The Priory of the Orange Tree, A Clash of Kings.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Words of Radiance
-
The Wise Man's Fear
Also a long, immersive middle chapter in a larger saga, with a heavy emphasis on craft and magic.
-
The Priory of the Orange Tree A standalone epic of similar scale, with dragons, queens and an intricate multi-country world.
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A Clash of Kings
A sequel of comparable heft in which a vast cast, factions and a war structure the story.
Epic fantasy
