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Quick answer: If you loved Rhythm of War, read the earlier Stormlight books, then try Mistborn: The Final Empire, The Wheel of Time, The Black Prism and The Fifth Season. All offer large casts, careful magic and epic plots.
Rhythm of War is the fourth Stormlight Archive book, a large epic by Brandon Sanderson. Readers who finish it often look for more big fantasy with deep magic and long stories. The picks below range from Sanderson's other worlds to rival epic fantasy. All are real, in-print books, and most are long.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | series starters |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | Sanderson's best-loved series |
| Elantris | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | standalone Sanderson |
| Warbreaker | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | self-contained fantasy |
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Adult | long journeys |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | lyrical fantasy |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Adult | complex worlds |
| The Black Prism | Brent Weeks | Adult | magic-system fans |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | heist fantasy |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | grimdark fans |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Adult | political intrigue |
| The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | Adult | dark military fantasy |
| The Dragon's Path | Daniel Abraham | Adult | politics and economics |
| The Fifth Season | N.K. Jemisin | Adult | award-winning fantasy |
| Oathbringer | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | catching up on the series |
1. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The first Stormlight Archive book introduces Kaladin, Shallan and Dalinar. Start here if you haven't read the earlier books.
Best for: series starters.
2. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A thief joins a crew to topple a godlike ruler, using metal-based magic. Fast, with a clever heist plot.
Best for: Sanderson's best-loved series.
3. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
A fallen city of cursed people and a prince cast into it. Sanderson's first novel, with fine worldbuilding.
Best for: standalone Sanderson.
4. Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Two sisters, a god king and a magic based on color. Standalone and quick to read.
Best for: self-contained fantasy.
5. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Rand al'Thor leaves his village in a vast, long-running quest. The model for modern epic fantasy.
Best for: long journeys.
6. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells the story of his life. Lyrical and character-driven.
Best for: lyrical fantasy.
7. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The first Malazan book plunges into an empire at war. Dense and rewarding.
Best for: complex worlds.
8. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
A color-based magic system and a ruler with a secret. Fast and clever.
Best for: magic-system fans.
9. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A gang of thieves in a canal city plot elaborate cons. Funny and dark.
Best for: heist fantasy.
10. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Grim humor, flawed heroes and brutal fights. First of the First Law trilogy.
Best for: grimdark fans.
11. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble houses fight for the Iron Throne. Political and violent.
Best for: political intrigue.
12. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
A war orphan enters a military academy and unleashes dangerous power. Dark and ambitious.
Best for: dark military fantasy.
13. The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham
A soldier, a banker and a noble caught in rival schemes. Grounded and character-driven.
Best for: politics and economics.
14. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
A world suffering catastrophic seasons and a woman with earth-shaking powers. Inventive and moving.
Best for: award-winning fantasy.
15. Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
The third Stormlight book, read before Rhythm of War if you missed it. Big revelations and war.
Best for: catching up on the series.
How to Choose
If you want more Sanderson, read Mistborn or Warbreaker. For similar epics, choose Wheel of Time or Malazan. For lighter reads, choose The Lies of Locke Lamora. For grim fantasy, The Blade Itself. For a unique world, The Fifth Season. Give each epic enough time. Most of these series take hundreds of pages to build momentum, and the payoff comes later. If you feel stalled, switch to a standalone like Elantris or Warbreaker for a break. Maps and online glossaries can help with complex worlds like Malazan and Wheel of Time. For an easier path into epic fantasy, pick one of the shorter entries first, such as Elantris, Warbreaker or The Lies of Locke Lamora. Once you know you enjoy the style, take on longer series like Wheel of Time or Malazan.
Related: 15 Books Like The Poppy War You’ll Love: Dark Military Fantasy and Brutal War · The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read the earlier books?
Yes. The Stormlight Archive builds on each volume, so start with The Way of Kings.
How many Stormlight Archive books are there?
Five main novels have been published so far, with more planned.
Is Mistborn better to start with than Stormlight?
Mistborn is shorter and faster. Many readers use it as their entry into Sanderson.
Are these books long?
Yes. Several run over 800 pages.
Which is the best standalone?
Elantris and Warbreaker are single novels by Sanderson.
Who wrote Rhythm of War?
Brandon Sanderson published it in 2020 as the fourth book of The Stormlight Archive.
What comes after Rhythm of War?
Wind and Truth, the fifth Stormlight book, followed it.
Is Mistborn connected to Stormlight?
Yes, loosely, through Sanderson's Cosmere, but you can read each series on its own.
What if I want a shorter fantasy?
Try Warbreaker, Elantris or The Lies of Locke Lamora.