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Skyward (The Cytoverse) Reading Order.

Quick Answer

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.

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Official Verdict

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

Low Debate

"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."

Key Reddit Advice

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.

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.

Curator's Strategy

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

Publication Reading Order5 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.
Best Start Here
1

Skyward

Pub: 2018

Spensa Nightshade dreams of becoming a pilot like her father, a legendary hero who vanished in battle. Facing prejudice, a mysterious alien threat, and the secrets of her own past, she enrolls in the flight school on the planet Detritus, determined to prove herself and uncover the truth about the war that has ravaged her world.

2

Sunreach

Pub: 2021Optional4.22

Plot details hidden until you finish "Skyward".

From #1 bestselling author Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson comes the first of three Skyward series novellas, each told from the perspective of a different member of the team back on Detritus. Read FM's story between Starsight and Cytonic. When a planet-destroying Delver suddenly appears in the sky of Detritus and vanishes just as suddenly, FM knows that the last free human society got lucky. Her Skyward Flight companion, Spensa, figured out how to draw this Delver away, but it won’t be so easy next time. The forces of the Galactic Superiority will be back—and if the Defiant Defense Force can’t figure out a way to escape the planet, humanity’s destruction is only a matter of time. Spensa’s mission to infiltrate the Superiority unveiled the secret to their hyperdrives—a cytonic slug species called the Taynix. Now FM’s flightleader, Jorgen, has found a large group of Taynix hiding in the caverns far below Detritus’s surface. FM and Jorgen must work together with the engineer Rig to awaken the mysterious alien Alanik and unlock the powers of the Taynix, or humanity will be trapped. With Spensa’s friend Minister Cuna of the Superiority stranded at the outpost of Sunreach, they need to figure out how to rescue her—or the Superiority government will be in the sole clutches of those who want to wipe out Detritus once and for all.

3

Redawn

Pub: 2022Optional

Plot details hidden until you finish "Sunreach".

A bold new adventure promising a startling shift in reality, where heroes fight to bring light back to a perpetually shadowed world.

4

Cytonic

Pub: 2021

Plot details hidden until you finish "Redawn".

From the number one New York Times best-selling author of the Reckoners series, the Mistborn trilogy, and the Stormlight Archive comes the third book in an epic series about a girl who will travel beyond the stars to save the world she loves from destruction. Spensa’s life as a Defiant Defense Force pilot has been far from ordinary. She proved herself one of the best starfighters in the human enclave of Detritus, and she saved her people from extermination at the hands of the Krell - the enigmatic alien species that has been holding them captive for decades. What’s more, she traveled light-years from home as an undercover spy to infiltrate the Superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home. Now, the Superiority - the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life - has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa’s seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator. Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it. And maybe, if she’s able to figure out what she is, she could be more than just another pilot in this unfolding war. She could save the galaxy. The only way she can discover what she really is, though, is to leave behind all she knows and enter the Nowhere. A place from which few ever return. To have courage means facing fear. And this mission is terrifying. ©2021 Dragonsteel Entertainment LLC (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

5

Evershore

Pub: 2021Optional4.67

Plot details hidden until you finish "Cytonic".

From #1 bestselling author Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson comes the final of three Skyward series novellas, each told from the perspective of a different member of the team back on Detritus. Listen to Jorgen's story along with Cytonic. With the government of Detritus in disarray because of Superiority treachery, and with Spensa still away on her mission in the Nowhere, Jorgen must work together with the alien Alanik to pick up the pieces. They intercept a strange transmission from the planet Evershore and its Kitsen inhabitants, who say they have some of Jorgen’s people and want to return them—but can the Kitsen be trusted? And can Jorgen learn to master his increasingly erratic cytonic powers before they spiral out of control and destroy all hope of forming an alliance against the Superiority? Praise for Skyward An Instant New York Times Bestseller A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year • "Startling revelations and stakes-raising implications . . . Sanderson plainly had a ball with this nonstop, highflying opener, and readers will too." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review • "With this action-packed trilogy opener, Sanderson offers up a resourceful, fearless heroine and a memorable cast." —Publishers Weekly, starred review • "It is impossible to turn the pages fast enough." —Booklist

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Frequently Asked Questions

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.