Skyward (The Cytoverse)
Reading Order.
Start Skyward (The Cytoverse) by Brandon Sanderson with "Skyward", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.
A young adult military science fiction series following Spensa, a pilot seeking to prove her bravery while humanity struggles for survival against the Krell.
Reader's Guide
This series spans 5 main titles released between 2018 and 2021. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.
Short Answer:
Start with "Skyward"
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.
Community Consensus
"The main Skyward series (often referred to as 'Skyward stuff') is highly recommended and considered superior to Brandon Sanderson's other non-Cosmere science fiction works, such as Snapshot and Perfect State. The novella Defending Elysium is explicitly confirmed to be a canonical part of the overarching Cytoverse setting."
Start with the main Skyward novel series. Defending Elysium is a separate novella confirmed to be set in the Cytoverse, and should be treated as supplemental reading alongside the main series.
At a Glance
- First Book:Skyward
- Latest Book:Evershore
- Timeline:2018 - 2021
Why This Order Is Confusing
Many reading lists for Skyward (The Cytoverse) 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 Skyward (The Cytoverse). 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 "Skyward" 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.
Recommended Reading Order Strategy
The authoritative way to read the "Skyward (The Cytoverse)" 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.
Complete Series Reading Order
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Is it okay to skip books in the Skyward (The Cytoverse) 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 Skyward (The Cytoverse)?
The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Skyward" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Brandon Sanderson intended.
Can I read Skyward (The Cytoverse) 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 Skyward (The Cytoverse) 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.