Brandon Sanderson is a titan in the fantasy genre, renowned for his intricate world-building, gripping plots, and interconnected universes like the Cosmere. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer eager to dive into his epic sagas, navigating his extensive bibliography can feel daunting. This SEO-optimized guide lists Brandon Sanderson’s books in order, grouped by series, with insights to help you decide where to start and what to read next. Let’s explore the worlds of Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, and beyond!
Why Read Brandon Sanderson’s Books in Order?
Sanderson’s works are often interconnected, especially within his Cosmere universe, where different series share subtle links, magic systems, and overarching themes. Reading in publication order or by series can enhance your experience, revealing hidden connections and enriching the narrative. This guide provides a clear path, whether you prefer chronological order, publication order, or a series-specific approach.
Brandon Sanderson Books in Order by Series
Below is a complete list of Brandon Sanderson’s books, organized by series and in publication order within each series, including both Cosmere and non-Cosmere works. The table format provides a clear overview for fans and new readers.
| Series | Book Title | Publication Year | Cosmere? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elantris | Elantris | 2005 | Yes | Standalone novel, Sanderson’s debut. |
| Elantris | The Hope of Elantris | 2006 | Yes | Short story, tied to Elantris. |
| Mistborn Era 1 | The Final Empire | 2006 | Yes | First book of the original Mistborn trilogy. |
| Mistborn Era 1 | The Well of Ascension | 2007 | Yes | Second book of the original trilogy. |
| Mistborn Era 1 | The Hero of Ages | 2008 | Yes | Final book of the original trilogy. |
| Warbreaker | Warbreaker | 2009 | Yes | Standalone novel, free on Sanderson’s website. |
| The Wheel of Time | The Gathering Storm | 2009 | No | Book 12, co-authored with Robert Jordan’s notes. |
| The Stormlight Archive | The Way of Kings | 2010 | Yes | First book of the epic series. |
| The Wheel of Time | Towers of Midnight | 2010 | No | Book 13, co-authored. |
| Mistborn Era 2 | The Alloy of Law | 2011 | Yes | First book of the Wax and Wayne series. |
| The Emperor’s Soul | The Emperor’s Soul | 2012 | Yes | Hugo Award-winning novella. |
| The Wheel of Time | A Memory of Light | 2013 | No | Book 14, series finale, co-authored. |
| The Rithmatist | The Rithmatist | 2013 | No | YA fantasy, standalone (sequel planned). |
| The Reckoners | Steelheart | 2013 | No | First book of the superhero dystopia trilogy. |
| Shadows for Silence | Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell | 2013 | Yes | Cosmere novella. |
| The Stormlight Archive | Words of Radiance | 2014 | Yes | Second book of the series. |
| Sixth of the Dusk | Sixth of the Dusk | 2014 | Yes | Cosmere novella. |
| The Reckoners | Firefight | 2015 | No | Second book of The Reckoners. |
| Mistborn Era 2 | Shadows of Self | 2015 | Yes | Second book of Wax and Wayne. |
| Mistborn | Mistborn: Secret History | 2016 | Yes | Novella, read after The Hero of Ages. |
| Mistborn Era 2 | The Bands of Mourning | 2016 | Yes | Third book of Wax and Wayne. |
| The Stormlight Archive | Edgedancer | 2016 | Yes | Novella, read after Words of Radiance. |
| The Stormlight Archive | Oathbringer | 2017 | Yes | Third book of the series. |
| The Reckoners | Calamity | 2017 | No | Final book of The Reckoners. |
| Skyward | Skyward | 2018 | No | First book of the sci-fi series. |
| Legion | Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds | 2018 | No | Sci-fi novella collection. |
| Skyward | Starsight | 2019 | No | Second book of Skyward. |
| The Stormlight Archive | Dawnshard | 2020 | Yes | Novella, read before Rhythm of War. |
| The Stormlight Archive | Rhythm of War | 2020 | Yes | Fourth book of the series. |
| Skyward | Cytonic | 2021 | No | Third book of Skyward. |
| Mistborn Era 2 | The Lost Metal | 2022 | Yes | Final book of Wax and Wayne. |
| Secret Projects | Tress of the Emerald Sea | 2023 | Yes | Cosmere novel, whimsical tone. |
| Secret Projects | The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England | 2023 | No | Non-Cosmere, sci-fi/fantasy. |
| Secret Projects | Yumi and the Nightmare Painter | 2023 | Yes | Cosmere novel, romantic tone. |
| Skyward | Defiant | 2023 | No | Final book of Skyward. |
| The Stormlight Archive | Wind and Truth | 2024 | Yes | Fifth book, concludes first arc. |
| Secret Projects | Dragonsteel Prime | 2024 | Yes | Loosely tied to Cosmere origins. |
| Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians | Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians | 2007 | No | YA series, Book 1. |
| Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians | The Scrivener’s Bones | 2008 | No | Book 2. |
| Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians | The Knights of Crystallia | 2009 | No | Book 3. |
| Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians | The Shattered Lens | 2010 | No | Book 4. |
| Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians | The Dark Talent | 2016 | No | Book 5. |
| Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians | Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians | 2022 | No | Book 6, series finale. |
Notes:
- Cosmere books are interconnected, with shared themes and characters (e.g., Hoid). Recommended to read Warbreaker before The Stormlight Archive’s Words of Radiance for context.
- The Wheel of Time requires starting with Robert Jordan’s The Eye of the World (1990) for full context.
- Recommended Starting Points: Mistborn: The Final Empire (Cosmere), Skyward (non-Cosmere sci-fi), or The Rithmatist (YA).
- Publication Order Tip: For Cosmere, follow publication order for optimal easter egg discovery (Elantris → Mistborn → Warbreaker → Stormlight).
- Last Updated: September 2025.
The Cosmere Universe: A Brief Overview
The Cosmere is Sanderson’s interconnected fantasy universe, spanning multiple series and standalone novels. Key series include Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, Warbreaker, and The Wheel of Time (co-authored). Below, we’ve organized his books by series, with publication dates and recommended reading paths.
Mistborn Series: Books in Order
The Mistborn series is a great entry point to the Cosmere, blending heist-style storytelling with a unique magic system based on metals. It’s divided into two eras, with additional novellas.
Mistborn Era 1 (The Original Trilogy)
- The Final Empire (2006) – Vin, a street urchin, discovers her Allomantic powers and joins a crew to overthrow a tyrannical ruler.
- The Well of Ascension (2007) – The crew faces new challenges as political intrigue and ancient prophecies unfold.
- The Hero of Ages (2008) – The trilogy’s epic conclusion, tying together the fate of the world and its heroes.
Mistborn Era 2 (The Wax and Wayne Series)
Set centuries after Era 1, this series offers a Western-inspired vibe with advanced technology.
4. The Alloy of Law (2011) – Wax, a lawman, navigates a changing world with new Allomantic abilities.
5. Shadows of Self (2015) – Wax and Wayne tackle crime and uncover deeper conspiracies.
6. The Bands of Mourning (2016) – A quest for a legendary artifact tests the duo’s skills.
7. The Lost Metal (2022) – The explosive finale to Era 2, with major Cosmere connections.
Novella:
- Mistborn: Secret History (2016) – A companion novella to Era 1, best read after The Hero of Ages to avoid spoilers.
Recommended Reading Order: Start with Era 1 (The Final Empire to The Hero of Ages), then read Secret History. Follow with Era 2 (The Alloy of Law to The Lost Metal).
The Stormlight Archive: Books in Order
The Stormlight Archive is Sanderson’s most ambitious series, set on the storm-swept world of Roshar. It’s known for its sprawling cast, deep lore, and complex magic systems.
- The Way of Kings (2010) – Introduces Kaladin, Shallan, and Dalinar in a world ravaged by storms and war.
- Words of Radiance (2014) – The stakes rise as the Knights Radiant reemerge.
- Edgedancer (2016) – A novella focusing on Lift, best read after Words of Radiance.
- Oathbringer (2017) – Dalinar confronts his past as global conflicts escalate.
- Dawnshard (2020) – A novella about Rysn and a mysterious expedition, best read before Rhythm of War.
- Rhythm of War (2020) – The war intensifies, with major Cosmere crossovers.
- Wind and Truth (2024) – The fifth book, concluding the first arc of the series.
Recommended Reading Order: Read in publication order (The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Edgedancer, Oathbringer, Dawnshard, Rhythm of War, Wind and Truth). Novellas are short but crucial for character arcs and Cosmere connections.
Warbreaker: Standalone (for Now)
- Warbreaker (2009) – A standalone Cosmere novel about two princesses, a god-king, and a unique magic system based on Breath.
Note: This is a great standalone read but has ties to The Stormlight Archive. Read it before Words of Radiance for optimal enjoyment.
The Wheel of Time (Co-Authored)
Sanderson completed Robert Jordan’s epic Wheel of Time series after Jordan’s passing.
- The Gathering Storm (2009) – Book 12, co-authored with Jordan’s notes.
- Towers of Midnight (2010) – Book 13, co-authored.
- A Memory of Light (2013) – Book 14, the series finale.
Prequel: New Spring (2004, by Jordan) – Optional but provides backstory.
Recommended Reading Order: Start with Jordan’s The Eye of the World (Book 1) if new to the series, then read Sanderson’s contributions starting with The Gathering Storm.
Other Cosmere Standalones and Novellas
- The Emperor’s Soul (2012) – A Hugo Award-winning novella about a forger with a magical ability to rewrite objects’ histories.
- Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell (2013) – A novella set on a dangerous world, part of the Cosmere.
- Sixth of the Dusk (2014) – A novella about a trapper on a tropical island with magical birds.
- The Hope of Elantris (2006) – A short story tied to Elantris.
- Elantris (2005) – Sanderson’s debut novel, about a cursed city and its fallen gods.
- Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023) – A whimsical Cosmere novel from the Secret Projects series.
- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (2023) – A romantic and artistic Cosmere tale from Secret Projects.
- The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (2023) – A non-Cosmere Secret Projects novel, blending humor and sci-fi.
- Dragonsteel Prime (2024) – A Secret Projects novel, loosely tied to the Cosmere’s origins.
Recommended Reading Order: Elantris and The Emperor’s Soul are great starting points for standalone Cosmere reads. Tress and Yumi can be read anytime but shine after some Cosmere familiarity.
Non-Cosmere Works
Sanderson’s non-Cosmere books are diverse, ranging from YA to sci-fi.
- The Rithmatist (2013) – A YA fantasy about magical chalk drawings.
- Steelheart (2013) – Book 1 of The Reckoners, a superhero dystopia.
- The Skyward Series:
- Skyward (2018) – A sci-fi adventure about a girl training to be a starfighter.
- Starsight (2019)
- Cytonic (2021)
- Defiant (2023)
- Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (2007–2010, 2022) – A humorous YA series (6 books).
- Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds (2018) – A sci-fi novella collection.
Recommended Reading Order: The Rithmatist or Steelheart are excellent for non-Cosmere fans. Skyward is ideal for sci-fi lovers.
Suggested Reading Paths
- New Readers: Start with Mistborn: The Final Empire or Warbreaker (available free on Sanderson’s website).
- Cosmere Enthusiasts: Follow publication order: Elantris (2005), Mistborn (2006–2008), Warbreaker (2009), The Stormlight Archive (2010–2024), and sprinkle in novellas.
- Stormlight Fans: Stick to The Stormlight Archive in order, adding Warbreaker before Words of Radiance.
- Non-Cosmere Fans: Try Skyward or Steelheart for sci-fi, or Alcatraz for humor.
Tips for Enjoying Sanderson’s Books
- Pace Yourself: Sanderson’s books are dense with lore. Take notes or use fan wikis for The Stormlight Archive.
- Look for Easter Eggs: Cosmere novels often feature “Hoid,” a mysterious character linking worlds.
- Join the Community: Check out the 17th Shard forum or X for fan discussions and theories.
- Reread for Depth: Sanderson’s foreshadowing rewards rereading, especially in The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn.
Why Brandon Sanderson’s Books Are a Must-Read
Sanderson’s storytelling combines accessibility with depth, making his books perfect for casual readers and hardcore fantasy fans alike. His magic systems are logical yet imaginative, his characters are relatable, and his plots are packed with twists. Whether you’re drawn to the political intrigue of Mistborn, the epic battles of The Stormlight Archive, or the standalone charm of Warbreaker, there’s something for everyone.
Ready to start? Grab The Final Empire or download Warbreaker for free from Brandon Sanderson’s website. Let us know in the comments which series you’re diving into first or share your favorite Sanderson book!
