Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward series has grown well beyond the original four novels. What began as Spensa Nightshade’s dream of becoming a fighter pilot has expanded into a much larger science-fiction universe filled with alien civilizations, mysterious cytonic powers, dangerous space battles, and an entire cast of characters whose stories continue beyond Spensa’s original adventure.
And now, the universe is getting even bigger with Blightfall, the first novel in the new Riftwake trilogy by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson.
That raises an obvious question for readers: Where does Blightfall fit in the Skyward reading order?
The short answer is simple: Read Blightfall after Defiant.
But if you want the complete experience, including the Skyward Flight novellas, there is a slightly more detailed reading order worth following.
Here is everything you need to know about the Skyward books in order, where Blightfall belongs, and what the future of the Cytoverse looks like.
Skyward Books in Order
For readers who want the complete story in the recommended narrative order, read the books like this:
The three novellas—Sunreach, ReDawn, and Evershore—are also collected together in Skyward Flight: The Collection.
Sanderson previously explained that the intended reading sequence was Book 1, Book 2, the first two novellas, Book 3, the third novella, and Book 4. He also noted that readers who want a simpler experience can read all three novellas after Starsight or around Cytonic without seriously hurting the story.
After completing Defiant, readers can move directly into Blightfall, which launches the sequel trilogy known as Riftwake.
1. Skyward
The adventure begins with Skyward, the first novel in Brandon Sanderson’s science-fiction series.
Spensa Nightshade has spent her entire life dreaming of becoming a pilot. Humanity is trapped on the planet Detritus and regularly attacked by mysterious alien fighters known as the Krell. Becoming a pilot is one of the highest honors a person can achieve.
Unfortunately, Spensa carries the reputation of her father.
Her father was a pilot who supposedly deserted during battle, leaving Spensa branded as the daughter of a coward. Despite the prejudice surrounding her family, she refuses to abandon her dream.
Things become even more complicated when she discovers an abandoned starfighter unlike anything she has encountered before.
Skyward establishes Spensa, the Defiant Defense Force, Skyward Flight, and many of the mysteries that eventually become central to the larger Cytoverse. Sanderson describes the premise as essentially a story about a girl determined to become a pilot in a world constantly threatened by alien attack.
For anyone wondering where to start the Skyward series, this is unquestionably the beginning.
2. Starsight
Starsight dramatically expands the scope of the series.
After the events of Skyward, Spensa begins learning that the conflict surrounding Detritus is much larger than she realized. Humanity is only one small piece of an enormous galactic society controlled by an organization known as the Superiority.
Spensa eventually travels beyond Detritus and becomes immersed in a world filled with alien species, advanced technology, political alliances, and secrets surrounding humanity’s past.
The novel also pushes the mysteries surrounding cytonics and the terrifying Delvers much further.
While Skyward feels heavily influenced by flight-school stories, Starsight transforms the series into a much broader space opera.
It also establishes several characters and ideas that remain important throughout the rest of the series.
3. Sunreach
This is where the reading order gets slightly more complicated.
Sunreach is the first of the three Skyward Flight novellas written by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson.
Instead of following Spensa, the novella focuses primarily on FM and the members of Skyward Flight who remain behind on Detritus.
The story takes place after Starsight and explores what is happening with the DDF while Spensa is occupied elsewhere.
Among the biggest developments is the growing importance of the Taynix, the strange creatures that become crucial to understanding hyperdrive technology.
Sanderson’s official site specifically recommends reading FM’s story between Starsight and Cytonic.
4. ReDawn
The second Skyward Flight novella shifts the spotlight to Alanik.
Readers first meet Alanik during the events surrounding Starsight, but ReDawn gives her a much larger role.
The story explores her homeworld and its complicated relationship with the Superiority while also bringing characters such as Jorgen and FM deeper into the wider galactic conflict.
Like Sunreach, ReDawn takes place between Starsight and Cytonic.
This novella becomes particularly important for readers planning to continue into Blightfall, because the sequel series places much greater emphasis on members of Skyward Flight rather than focusing exclusively on Spensa.
5. Cytonic
The third main Skyward novel returns the focus to Spensa.
By this point in the series, her mysterious abilities have become impossible to ignore.
Spensa travels into the strange realm known as the Nowhere, where she searches for answers about cytonics, the Delvers, and the forces affecting the galaxy.
As a result, Cytonic feels different from the first two novels.
While Skyward emphasized pilot training and Starsight explored galactic politics, Cytonic dives heavily into the stranger mythology behind Sanderson’s universe.
At the same time, important events are happening back home without Spensa—which is why the Skyward Flight novellas are useful companion stories.
6. Evershore
Evershore is the third and final Skyward Flight novella.
This time, Jorgen takes center stage.
With Spensa still away, Jorgen and the rest of Skyward Flight must deal with the growing conflict against the Superiority while also confronting Jorgen’s increasingly unpredictable cytonic abilities.
The story overlaps with the period covered in Cytonic. Sanderson has described the novellas as showing what the rest of the team is doing while Spensa’s adventure unfolds elsewhere.
For the cleanest narrative progression, read Evershore after Cytonic and before Defiant.
7. Defiant
Defiant is the fourth and final novel in Spensa’s original Skyward series.
After returning from the Nowhere, Spensa must bring together everything she has discovered about cytonics, the Delvers, and the Superiority.
At the same time, Skyward Flight has been continuing the fight without her and building alliances that could determine the future of humanity.
The result is the culmination of the storyline that began with Skyward.
Sanderson has explicitly described Defiant as the final book of the original Skyward series.
But importantly, Defiant is not the end of the Cytoverse.
That is where Blightfall comes in.
8. Blightfall
Blightfall is the next novel to read after Defiant.
It launches Riftwake, a sequel trilogy set in the same universe and continuing the adventures of Skyward Flight.
The novel is written by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson and is scheduled for publication on September 1, 2026 in the United States. Penguin Random House lists the book at 496 pages and describes it as the first installment in a new trilogy following Skyward Flight.
Instead of making Spensa the primary focus again, Blightfall puts members of Skyward Flight at the center of the story.
After decades of warfare, humanity is finally free from its previous situation on Detritus. The DDF begins searching for other isolated human settlements scattered across the galaxy.
Arturo Mendez and Skyward Flight are assigned to escort diplomats attempting to make contact with one of those settlements.
Their destination is a mysterious planet known as Blightfall.
The mission is supposed to be straightforward.
Naturally, it isn’t.
The planet is covered by enormous invasive forests and surrounded by mysterious debris. Shortly after arriving, Skyward Flight discovers that the human settlement they were sent to contact may be hiding dangerous secrets.
Sanderson’s official website describes Blightfall as the beginning of a new high-flying trilogy centered on Skyward Flight.
Where Does Blightfall Fit in the Skyward Series?
The easiest way to think about the series is that Defiant ends one era and Blightfall begins another.
The original series is:
Skyward → Starsight → Cytonic → Defiant
The companion novellas expand events between Books 2 and 4.
Then comes:
Blightfall → Riftwake Book 2 → Riftwake Book 3
So while some retailers may label Blightfall in ways that make it appear like another numbered Skyward novel, it is better understood as Riftwake Book 1, the beginning of the sequel trilogy.
Sanderson confirmed that the follow-up series was officially named Riftwake after previously being developed under the name Skyward Legacy.
Do You Need to Read Skyward Flight Before Blightfall?
Technically, the main four novels give you the central Spensa storyline.
But readers planning to continue into Blightfall should strongly consider reading the Skyward Flight novellas.
There is a simple reason for that: Riftwake focuses much more heavily on the characters introduced and developed outside Spensa’s perspective.
Characters such as Arturo, Jorgen, FM, and Alanik become much more important once the universe moves beyond Spensa’s original story.
The novellas give those characters additional development while explaining important events occurring during Spensa’s absence.
The easiest option is to buy Skyward Flight: The Collection, which combines:
- Sunreach
- ReDawn
- Evershore
If your main goal is simply to catch up before Blightfall, reading the collection sometime after Starsight and before Defiant works well.
Can You Read Blightfall Without Reading Skyward?
The publisher has positioned Blightfall so that new readers can potentially understand its central adventure, but longtime readers will get much more from the story if they already know Skyward Flight and the history of the Cytoverse.
For the best experience, start with Skyward.
The original books establish the DDF, the Superiority, cytonics, the Taynix, and the relationships between the pilots who eventually become central to Riftwake.
Starting with Blightfall may be possible, but it means skipping a significant amount of character development and world-building.
What About Defending Elysium?
Readers exploring every corner of the Cytoverse may also come across Brandon Sanderson’s novella Defending Elysium.
It is an older story set in the same broader universe and takes place long before Spensa’s adventures.
Sanderson’s official short-fiction collection Tailored Realities identifies Defending Elysium as being from the world of Skyward.
However, it is not required reading for the main series.
Think of it as bonus material for readers who want more Cytoverse lore rather than another numbered entry in the Skyward reading order.
For first-time readers, I would save it until after you are already familiar with the universe.
Is Blightfall Skyward Book 5?
Not exactly.
Calling Blightfall Skyward Book 5 is understandable because it continues the same universe after Defiant. Some international listings have even used Skyward-related numbering.
But officially, Sanderson’s website categorizes Blightfall as Book 1 of Riftwake.
The distinction matters because the focus of the story is changing.
The first four Skyward novels primarily tell Spensa’s story.
Riftwake continues the universe while shifting more attention toward Skyward Flight and the galaxy humanity must navigate after the original conflict.
For search purposes, readers may encounter both descriptions, but Riftwake Book 1 is the clearest designation.
How Many Riftwake Books Will There Be?
Riftwake is planned as a trilogy.
Sanderson confirmed that the follow-up would consist of three books, with Janci Patterson taking a major role in continuing the Cytoverse. By the end of 2025, Sanderson said he had already read the second novel and that an outline existed for the third and final book.
His projected publishing schedule placed Riftwake Book 2 in summer 2027, although future publication dates can always change.
That means the larger saga is far from finished even though Spensa’s original four-book arc concluded with Defiant.
The Simplest Skyward Reading Order
If all of these novellas and sequel-series names feel confusing, there are two easy ways to approach the books.
For the complete reading experience, use:
Skyward → Starsight → Sunreach → ReDawn → Cytonic → Evershore → Defiant → Blightfall
For the simplified main-novel reading order, use:
Skyward → Starsight → Cytonic → Defiant → Blightfall
The complete order is preferable, especially once you reach Riftwake, because the novellas spend much more time with the pilots who continue into the sequel series.
Conclusion: Where Should You Read Blightfall?
For anyone trying to figure out where Blightfall belongs in the Skyward series, the answer is straightforward:
Read Blightfall after Defiant.
Defiant finishes Spensa’s original four-book saga, while Blightfall begins a new chapter of the Cytoverse through the Riftwake trilogy.
Readers who want the fullest experience should also make time for Sunreach, ReDawn, and Evershore. Those novellas turn several supporting members of Skyward Flight into much more developed characters, making them particularly useful before the focus shifts toward the team in Blightfall.
What started with one teenager determined to become a pilot has gradually turned into one of Brandon Sanderson’s biggest non-Cosmere universes.
And with Riftwake beginning, the story of Skyward Flight is nowhere near finished.
FAQ
Is Blightfall Skyward Book 5?
Blightfall continues the story after Defiant, but it is officially the first book in the Riftwake sequel trilogy rather than the fifth numbered Skyward novel.
Should I read Skyward Flight before Blightfall?
Yes, if possible. The Skyward Flight novellas develop characters who become increasingly important as the story moves into Riftwake.
What book comes after Defiant?
Blightfall comes after Defiant and begins the Riftwake trilogy.
How many Skyward books are there?
The original Skyward storyline contains four main novels: Skyward, Starsight, Cytonic, and Defiant. Three companion novellas are collected as Skyward Flight, and the story continues with the three-book Riftwake sequel series beginning with Blightfall.
Is Riftwake a sequel to Skyward?
Yes. Riftwake is the sequel trilogy to Skyward and continues the Cytoverse after the events of Defiant.
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