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Warbreaker Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Brandon Sanderson
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Quick Answer

Start Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson with "Warbreaker", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A standalone Cosmere novel exploring the powers of BioChromatic Breath on the world of Nalthis.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Warbreaker"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

Medium Debate

"There is a strong general consensus that a strict reading order is not required, as Brandon Sanderson purportedly views the Cosmere connections as 'easter egg type stuff' that do not hinder the enjoyment of individual plots. Most readers recommend starting with the highly-loved books like Mistborn or Stormlight. Warbreaker is highly praised as a refreshing, compelling stand-alone novel."

Key Reddit Advice

Start with the book or series that interests you the most, as the order does not critically matter for plot comprehension. Mistborn is generally recommended over Elantris as a better first entry point. Warbreaker is an excellent choice for an early read because it is a stand-alone novel that resolves its plot quickly.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Warbreaker conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Warbreaker. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Warbreaker" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Warbreaker" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "Warbreaker"Explore all by Brandon Sanderson

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order1 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
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1

Warbreaker

Pub: 2009★ 4

After bursting onto the fantasy scene with his acclaimed debut novel, Elantris, and following up with his blockbuster Mistborn trilogy, Brandon Sanderson proves again that he is today’s leading master of what Tolkien called “secondary creation,” the invention of whole worlds, complete with magics and myths all their own. Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn’t like his job, and the immortal who’s still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.

Curation Note:Although written and designed as a standalone novel, 'Warbreaker' shares a universe ('Cosmere') with other works by the author. Characters (such as Vasher) and key artifacts (like the sword Nightblood) from this novel subsequently appear in books in The Stormlight Archive series.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Warbreaker series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Warbreaker?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Warbreaker" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Brandon Sanderson intended.

Can I read Warbreaker books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Warbreaker universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.