Stormlight Archive: Should You Read The Dawnshard Novella Before Rhythm Of War?

Will you have to read Dawnshard before Rhythm of War?

The reading order of series can be some really tricky stuff. Ideally, authors write their works in chronological order. However, the imagination isn’t always so gracious. Oftentimes, certain in-between stories don’t get written until after, forcing readers to read things out of order. But occasionally, authors plan things just well enough for interquel stories to hit just before mainline entries. This is the case for Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive.

More specifically, this is the case for Dawnshard a new novella that will follow the Thaylen merchant Rysn. In many ways, it feels like the story could be similar to what we got with Edgedancer. That story featured a character named Lift, who was previously seen in the interlude chapters of the previous novels. Then, following Edgedancer, she was finally incorporated into the main story in Oathbringer. 

Dawnshard is set to hit this October, roughly one month before Rhythm of War, the fourth entry in the Stormlight Archive. But will we need to actually read Dawnshard before Rhythm of War? During a recent stream on his YouTube channel, author Brandon Sanderson answered that very question.

RELATED – Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive 5 Will Roughly Mark The Halfway Point Of The Cosmere

“You don’t have to have read [Dawnshard] before [Rhythm of War],” Sanderson said. “It’s not hugely integrated because it’s about Rysn. But there are some things that happen that you’ll get to book 4 and be like, ‘Wait a minute, wait a minute. They’re mentioning a trip to Aimia. What happened there?’ The novella would help you [there]. Then when you get to the Rysn interlude in [book 4], which is a little different from previous Rysn interludes. I wrote it in such a way as to not spoil the novella in case people hadn’t read it yet. So, it’s a very different sort of interlude. But you would appreciate having read the novella when you get to it.”

So, if you’re a completionist, it sounds like Dawnshard is a definite yes. However, if side stories don’t really interest you, it sounds like you can get along fine without it. It is worth noting that Sanderson has yet to actually write the novella, so things could change at the drop of a hat. 

One other cool fact revealed on the livestream is that, in addition to Rysn, the book may feature the perspective of Bridge Four member Lopen.

Are you excited to check out Dawnshard before Rhythm of War? Let us know down below!

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SOURCE: Brandon Sanderson

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