Forgotten Stories Books & Writing Guide

Below you will find all 39 Forgotten Stories books in the current catalog, with Ink and Ink Shard costs, unlock requirements, passives, and stat bonuses. Start with the writing and signing steps, compare a few useful early picks, then use the illustrated catalog to plan the Books you want next.

---

How to Write Books in Forgotten Stories

When studying Forgotten Stories books, WRITE in the lobby uses Ink Shards to make a Book easier to unlock on future runs. SIGN during a run uses Ink to learn that Book. Follow the step-by-step book writing guide for the full process; use this page to compare Books and pick the ones you want.

Spotlight: Priority Forgotten Stories Books to Unlock First

While every build benefits from tailored choices, these Forgotten Stories books are useful starting points for support, damage, and survival:

Small Sea (Support & Debuff Cleansing Core)

• Lobby WRITE Cost: 200 Ink Shards
• In-Run SIGN Cost: 100 Ink
• Unwritten Requirement: Reach 10 Order Affinity & 10 Water Affinity
• Written Requirement: Reach 7 Order Affinity & 7 Water Affinity
• Granted Spell: Cleansing Waters
• Stat Bonuses: +5% Outgoing Healing, +5% Water Damage

Small Sea is an excellent support pick among Forgotten Stories books. It grants the indispensable spell Cleansing Waters, which restores party hit points and reduces negative status stacks. On a critical cast, Cleansing Waters completely strips lethal conditions such as Infection, Deepwound, and Venomed (detailed in our Healing & Status Effects Guide). In high-tier co-op expeditions, having at least one party member run 7 Order and 7 Water to cast Cleansing Waters will save countless runs from devastating damage-over-time wipes.

---

Hailreign Chronicles (Cryomancy & Crowd Control)

• Lobby WRITE Cost: 200 Ink Shards
• In-Run SIGN Cost: 100 Ink
• Unwritten Requirement: Reach 15 Wind Affinity & 10 Water Affinity
• Written Requirement: Reach 12 Wind Affinity & 7 Water Affinity
• Granted Spells: Blizzard & Icicle
• Innate Passive: Water and Wind type attacks have a 65% chance to inflict Chilled.
• Stat Bonuses: +5% Wind Damage, +5% Water Damage

Want Forgotten Stories books that hit a whole enemy group? Hailreign Chronicles gives Wind/Water casters Blizzard and Icicle. Its signature spell, Blizzard, strikes the battlefield 5 times (6 on critical cast), shredding multiple enemy postures and health bars simultaneously. Combined with its 65% innate Chilled proc on all Water and Wind attacks, Hailreign Chronicles consistently delays enemy action turns, giving your team immense initiative advantage throughout lengthy encounters.

---

Elemental Knowledge (Universal Spellcaster Baseline)

• Lobby WRITE Cost: 60 Ink Shards
• In-Run SIGN Cost: 30 Ink
• Unwritten Requirement: Cast a Critical Elemental Spell
• Written Requirement: Unlocked on spawn (Spawn-Ready)
• Innate Passive: All elemental damage gains +1 PEN (Penetration).
• Stat Bonuses: +2.5% Elemental Damage

At just 60 Ink Shards in the lobby, Elemental Knowledge is one of the most accessible Forgotten Stories books for early runs. The flat +1 penetration helps your spells get through elemental defenses, while its instant spawn availability means every caster character can sign it immediately upon entering an expedition.

---

Undying Heart (Second Chance Life Insurance)

• Lobby WRITE Cost: 150 Ink Shards
• In-Run SIGN Cost: 75 Ink
• Unwritten Requirement: Win a battle with 20% or less remaining health
• Written Requirement: Unlocked on spawn (Spawn-Ready)
• Innate Passive: Once per battle, taking a mortal hit sets your health to 1 instead of downing or defeating you.
• Stat Bonuses: +2 Max Health

Undying Heart is one of the defensive Forgotten Stories books when a boss hit catches you out. The passive leaves you at 1 HP instead of letting that mortal hit down or defeat you, once per battle. You still need to survive follow-up attacks, so plan how you or an ally will heal when you can next act.

---

Arts of Infusion (Elemental Spellblade Enchants)

• Lobby WRITE Cost: 200 Ink Shards
• In-Run SIGN Cost: 100 Ink
• Unwritten Requirement: Reach 10 Order Affinity and 5 in Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind Affinity
• Written Requirement: Reach 7 Order Affinity and 4 in Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind Affinity
• Granted Spells: Fire Infusion, Water Infusion, Earth Infusion, Wind Infusion
• Stat Bonuses: +2% Resilience, +2.5% Elemental Damage

For spellblade and battlemage builds, Arts of Infusion ranks among essential Forgotten Stories books. It grants dedicated weapon enchantment spells for the four primary elemental forces: Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. Enchanting your blades, blunts, or light weapons allows physical strikes to apply elemental ailments, trigger status combos like steam explosions with Ablaze targets, and take advantage of elemental weapon damage.

---

Abigails Diary (Aggressive Claw Brawler Sustain)

• Lobby WRITE Cost: 300 Ink Shards
• In-Run SIGN Cost: 150 Ink
• Unwritten Requirement: Defeat 10 enemies using claw skills AND defeat Abigail (by any method)
• Written Requirement: Defeat 5 enemies using claws
• Granted Action: Killthirst (applies Killthirst +4 to self)
• Stat Bonuses: +1% Lifesteal, +2.5% Physical Damage

Tailor-made for aggressive frontline brawlers, Abigail's Diary is one of the martial Forgotten Stories books rewarding continuous pressure. The granted action, Killthirst, buffs your damage output while the innate +1% lifesteal helps restore health during drawn-out battles. Fulfilling the unwritten requirement requires defeating 10 mobs specifically with claw skills alongside felling the Abigail encounter, but written runs reduce the task to 5 simple claw kills.

---

Chaostatic (Chain Lightning Burst Magic)

• Lobby WRITE Cost: 200 Ink Shards
• In-Run SIGN Cost: 100 Ink
• Unwritten Requirement: Reach 15 Chaos Affinity & 10 Earth Affinity
• Written Requirement: Reach 12 Chaos Affinity & 7 Earth Affinity
• Granted Spell: Skystruck
• Stat Bonuses: +5% Chaos Damage, +5% Earth Damage

Chaostatic is a spell-focused choice among Forgotten Stories books, unlocking Chaos Chain and Skystruck. Chaos Chain deals Chaos damage and applies Chaostatic +3, or +4 on a critical cast. Follow with Skystruck to hit enemies carrying Chaostatic. The same Book gives you both parts of the combination.

---

En Garde (Medium Weapon Defensive Stance)

• Lobby WRITE Cost: 100 Ink Shards
• In-Run SIGN Cost: 50 Ink
• Unwritten Requirement: Reach 10 Medium Weapon Mastery
• Written Requirement: Reach 7 Medium Weapon Mastery
• Innate Passive: Start battle with Counter +2 and Fortified +2.
• Stat Bonuses: +2% Blunt Resistance, +2% Slash Resistance, +1% Physical Damage

En Garde stands out among Forgotten Stories books for medium-weapon defense. Fortified adds defense, while Counter retaliates with a reduced-damage basic attack after an enemy finishes a close-range attack. You get both effects at the start of battle without first setting up a stance.

---

Complete Directory: All 39 Forgotten Stories Books

Compare all 39 Forgotten Stories books by role below. Each illustrated entry includes lobby WRITE costs, in-run SIGN costs, unlock requirements, and the benefits to plan around.

1. Spell & Magic Codices (14 Books)

These Forgotten Stories books grant active elemental spells or magical actions that broaden your spellbook options. All 14 magic codices feature reduced thresholds once written in the lobby Library.

Compare Forgotten Stories books: requirements and bonuses

Book Name	WRITE Cost (Shards)	SIGN Cost (Ink)	Unwritten Requirement	Written Requirement	Granted Spells / Actions	Stat Modifiers
Arts of Infusion	200	100	10 Order, 5 Fire, Water, Earth, Wind	7 Order, 4 Fire, Water, Earth, Wind	Spells: Fire, Water, Earth & Wind Infusion	+2% Resilience, +2.5% Elemental Dmg
Binary Codex	300	150	15 Chaos Affinity, Defeat Supreme Chaos Rumiel	12 Chaos Affinity	Action: Summon Mirage Eye (Turret applies Mirage Eye +5)	+1 Max Runes, +5% Chaos Dmg, +5% Chaos Res
Bloodwired Tome	300	150	15 Void, 10 Order, Defeat Carcass & Carnage	12 Void, 7 Order	Spell: Bloodwire	-30% Outgoing/Incoming Healing, -5 Max HP, -20% Order Res
Boiling Blood	200	100	10 Water, 10 Void, 10 Fire Affinity	7 Water, 7 Void, 7 Fire Affinity	Spell: Veinmelt	+5% Fire Dmg, +5% Void Dmg, -40% In/Out Healing, -20% Order Res
Chaostatic	200	100	15 Chaos, 10 Earth Affinity	12 Chaos, 7 Earth Affinity	Spells: Chaos Chain + Skystruck	+5% Chaos Dmg, +5% Earth Dmg
Hailreign Chronicles	200	100	15 Wind, 10 Water Affinity	12 Wind, 7 Water Affinity	Spells: Blizzard, Icicle; 65% Chilled on Wind/Water hits	+5% Wind Dmg, +5% Water Dmg
Living Garden	200	100	10 Earth/Order, 5 Water/Wind, Defeat Aggrovant	7 Earth/Order, 4 Water/Wind	Spells: Bloom, Fragrance	+10% Outgoing Healing, -20% Incoming Healing
Mana Veil	150	75	15 Order Affinity, Heal anyone 10 times	12 Order Affinity	Action: Conjure Barrier (Applies Barrier +4)	+1 Max Mana, +2% Elemental Dmg
My Brutal Inferno	200	100	10 Chaos, 10 Fire Affinity	7 Chaos, 7 Fire Affinity	Action: Raging Flames (Applies Raging Flame to self)	+5% Fire Dmg/Res, +3 Max HP, -30% Water Dmg/Res
Pressure Chamber	200	100	10 Fire, 10 Water Affinity	7 Fire, 7 Water Affinity	Spell: Boiling Burst; Water hits consume Ablaze for AoE steam	+2.5% Fire Dmg, +2.5% Water Dmg
Small Sea	200	100	10 Order, 10 Water Affinity	7 Order, 7 Water Affinity	Spell: Cleansing Waters	+5% Outgoing Healing, +5% Water Dmg
Terraformer	150	75	10 Earth, 10 Order Affinity	7 Earth, 7 Order Affinity	Spell: Earth Mantle	+5% Earth Dmg, +5% Earth Res
Unstoppable Wind	200	100	10 Wind Affinity, 10 Weapon Mastery	7 Wind Affinity, 7 Weapon Mastery	Spell: Gustwalker	+5% Wind Dmg, +0.05 Speed
War Crematory	200	100	10 Void, 10 Fire Affinity	7 Void, 7 Fire Affinity	Spell: Cursed Incineration	+2.5% Void/Fire Dmg, -40% In/Out Healing, -40% Order Res

---

2. Martial & Weapon Mastery Codices (9 Books)

These Forgotten Stories books enhance melee weapon damage, improve parry and counter mechanics, or grant specialized martial combat actions.

Compare Forgotten Stories books: requirements and bonuses

Book Name	WRITE Cost (Shards)	SIGN Cost (Ink)	Unwritten Requirement	Written Requirement	Granted Passives / Stances	Stat Modifiers
Abigails Diary	300	150	10 Claw skill kills, Defeat Abigail (any method)	5 Claw kills	Action: Killthirst (Applies Killthirst +4)	+1% Lifesteal, +2.5% Physical Dmg
Blademaster	60	30	Land a Critical Hit with Slashing attack	Unlocked on spawn	Slash attacks gain +1 PEN	+2.5% Physical Dmg
Brutal Combat	60	30	Land a Critical Hit with Blunt attack	Unlocked on spawn	Blunt attacks gain +1 PEN	+2.5% Physical Dmg
Combat Tricks	150	75	10 Weapon Masteries, Dodge 10 attacks	7 Weapon Masteries	Action: Preparation (Applies Swift +2, Empowered +2)	+2% Physical Dmg, +1 Max Stamina
Counterblade	100	50	Perform 5 counters in total	Unlocked on spawn	Counters have a 20% chance to Critical	+1% Blunt Res, +1% Slash Res
Counterweight	100	50	Reach 10 Heavy Weapon Mastery	Reach 7 Heavy Weapon Mastery	Parrying 5 attacks grants +1 Counter stack with 2H weapons	+2% Physical Dmg, +2% Slash/Blunt Res
En Garde	100	50	Reach 10 Medium Weapon Mastery	Reach 7 Medium Weapon Mastery	Start battle with Counter +2 and Fortified +2	+2% Slash/Blunt Res, +1% Physical Dmg
Hidden Blade	100	50	10 Light Weapon Mastery, Counter 5 times	Reach 7 Light Weapon Mastery	Counter all attacks with Light Weapons without stacks (-60% counter dmg)	+0.05 Speed, +2% Physical Dmg
True Strength	200	100	Defeat boss with punch & punch boss 10 times with single arm	Unlocked on spawn	Punch deals +40% dmg to bosses (+15% with Cestus)	+3 Max HP, +5% Resilience, +3% Slash/Blunt Res

---

3. Utility, Survival & Attribute Codices (16 Books)

These Forgotten Stories books provide survival passives, speed enhancements, resource recovery, and exploration advantages.

Compare Forgotten Stories books: requirements and bonuses

Book Name	WRITE Cost (Shards)	SIGN Cost (Ink)	Unwritten Requirement	Written Requirement	Granted Passives / Mechanics	Stat Modifiers
Adrenaline	100	50	Get inflicted with Deepwound	Unlocked on spawn	+2 Defense points below 50% HP; regen +1 extra stamina/turn	+2 Max HP, +2% Resilience
Advantage	100	50	Reach 3 Total Turns off Speed	Unlocked on spawn	Start battle with +1 Swift stack	+0.05 Speed
Bodybuilding	100	50	Reach 15 Physique	Reach 12 Physique	Resilience check prevents limb loss (scales at 3x Resilience)	+2.5% Phys Dmg, +1 Defense, +2 Max Stamina, -30% Elem Dmg, -3 Max Mana
Camping Guide	100	50	Explore 50 tiles and 3 biomes in 1 game	Unlocked on spawn	Aftermath restores +30% HP/Stamina/Mana; party map travel -10% time	+1 Max Stamina, +3% Resilience
Cauldron Vessel	150	75	Inflicted with 5 unique debuffs	Unlocked on spawn	Gain +1 Defense Point for every 2 debuffs on self	+1 Max HP, +5% Resilience
Elemental Knowledge	60	30	Cast a Critical Elemental Spell	Unlocked on spawn	All elemental damage gains +1 PEN	+2.5% Elemental Dmg
How to Hate	150	75	Defeat an enemy charmed by you	Unlocked on spawn	Charmed targets take +10% dmg (consumes 1 charm stack/hit)	+2% Resilience
Narcissist & Perfectionist	150	75	Complete 3 Critical QTEs in a row	Unlocked on spawn	Perfectionist increases weapon-attack damage by +5% per stack up to a maximum of 3 stacks and grants a flat +1 Stamina Regen while the effect is active (does not scale per stack). Taking damage or failing to land a critical strike immediately clears all stacks. Additionally, suffering a hit inflicts +10% incoming damage for each stack held prior to the hit.	-10% Block Red., -1% Def, +2% Luck, +2% Res
Reflections	100	50	Meditate twice in a row	Unlocked on spawn	Meditate restores +2 extra mana, but inflicts Vulnerable +2	+1 Max Mana, +1% Elemental Dmg
Road to Success	60	30	Fail 3 QTEs	Unlocked on spawn	Failed QTEs reduce stamina penalty cost by 1	+5% Luck
Stonewhisperers Guide	60	30	Mine 10 ores with 5 Runesight	Gain 5 Runesight	-20% Empty tile rate; 35% chance to instantly shatter stone nodes	+5% Luck
Strong Minded	100	50	Meditate at max Mana	Unlocked on spawn	Meditating grants Resilient +2 if you have no current stacks	+1 Max Runes, +3% Resilience
The Beauty of Flora	60	30	Gather ingredient from moving tile	Unlocked on spawn	+30% chance of finding ingredients while traveling	+5% Incoming Healing
The Joker	100	50	Taunt same enemy twice	Unlocked on spawn	Distraction skill inflicts Rage +2 to target	+1% Elemental Dmg, +1% Physical Dmg
Undying Heart	150	75	Win battle at <=20% HP	Unlocked on spawn	Mortal hit sets HP to 1 once per battle instead of death/down	+2 Max HP
Vampire	150	75	10 Void Affinity, Lifesteal 20 HP total	7 Void Affinity	Weapon hits have a chance to grant +1 Bloodthirst stack	+2% Lifesteal, -20% Fire/Order Res

---

Planning Your Forgotten Stories Books Build

Choose Forgotten Stories books around your main weapon, desired spells, and the benefits your party needs. The stat locks guide helps keep affinities available for their requirements. If you need help with the two currencies or spawn-ready Books, see how to write and sign Books.

Frequently Asked Questions About Forgotten Stories Books

How do I write books in Forgotten Stories, and where is the Library?

To write books permanently, return to the game lobby between expeditions and enter the Library. Inside the Library interface, you spend Ink Shards (earned by completing or leaving runs) to WRITE books into your account catalog. This either makes the book spawn-ready or slashes its in-run requirements for all future adventures.

Can I learn and sign an unwritten book during an active run without visiting the lobby?

Yes. Meet the unwritten Book's unlock objective, then use SIGN and pay its in-run Ink cost. Lobby writing is useful for future runs, but you do not need to write a Book there first to learn it during the current run.

Do I keep my signed books after dying or finishing an expedition?

No. Signing Forgotten Stories books with temporary in-run Ink activates stats, passives, and spells only for that expedition. Any Book you WRITE in the lobby Library with permanent Ink Shards remains recorded on your profile, easing or removing requirements for subsequent runs.

Do I lose my Ink Shards if I leave the game?

The game FAQ says you still receive your earned shards when leaving, dead or alive. Use Ink Shards for lobby writing and Ink for signing Books during a run; they serve different parts of your progression.

Which Forgotten Stories books should I sign first during a run?

Plan your signed Forgotten Stories books around available in-run Ink and each Book’s unlock requirements. Prioritize the damage bonuses, defensive passives, or spells that support your current build before paying to SIGN another Book.

Why doesn't Stonewhisperers Guide unlock on spawn like other 60-shard books?

Among lobby-written Forgotten Stories books, Stonewhisperers Guide costs 60 Ink Shards to reduce its requirement from "Mine 10 ores with 5 Runesight" to simply "Gain 5 Runesight." Because it still requires 5 Runesight in-run, it is a reduced-threshold Book rather than spawn-ready.

Can Cleansing Waters from Small Sea revive a dead teammate?

No. Cleansing Waters from Small Sea—one of the restorative Forgotten Stories books—heals living allies and purges Infection, Deepwound, and Venomed on critical casts. It cannot revive the dead. The Forgotten Stories revive guide covers current survival mechanics.

---

Sources: the Forgotten Stories Trello and Inheritance and Books FAQ. Updated September 7, 2026.