Brandon Sanderson Reading Order
Start with The Final Empire (Mistborn #1). It's the best entry point: self-contained, gripping, and teaches you how the Cosmere works without overwhelming you. After that, the path below is the community consensus for new readers.
Where to Start: 4 Entry Points
Mistborn #1. Heist plot, brilliant magic, accessible world. ~650 pages. Most-recommended first Sanderson book.
Stormlight #1. Bigger, longer (1,000 pages), more ambitious. Best if you're ready to commit fully.
~600 pages, self-contained. Excellent Cosmere introduction. Also important context for Stormlight later.
Same recommendation — Mistborn is YA-adjacent in readability but adult in scope. The Reckoners series is also good for younger readers new to Sanderson.
Recommended Cosmere Reading Order
This is the community-consensus order for first-time Cosmere readers — balancing story quality, crossover payoff, and logical progression.
| Order | Book | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Final Empire | Mistborn Era 1 #1 | Complete trilogy |
| 2 | The Well of Ascension | Mistborn Era 1 #2 | Complete trilogy |
| 3 | The Hero of Ages | Mistborn Era 1 #3 | Complete trilogy |
| 4 | Warbreaker | Standalone | Standalone |
| 5 | The Way of Kings | Stormlight #1 | Arc 1 complete |
| 6 | Words of Radiance | Stormlight #2 | Arc 1 complete |
| 6.5 | Edgedancer (novella) | Stormlight | Complete |
| 7 | Oathbringer | Stormlight #3 | Arc 1 complete |
| 7.5 | Dawnshard (novella) | Stormlight | Complete |
| 8 | Rhythm of War | Stormlight #4 | Arc 1 complete |
| 8.5 | Mistborn: Secret History | Mistborn Era 1 | Read after Era 1 |
| 9 | The Alloy of Law | Mistborn Era 2 #1 | Complete |
| 10 | Shadows of Self | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Complete |
| 11 | The Bands of Mourning | Mistborn Era 2 #3 | Complete |
| 12 | The Lost Metal | Mistborn Era 2 #4 | Complete |
| 13 | Wind and Truth | Stormlight #5 | Arc 1 finale |
Why Warbreaker before Stormlight 2? Warbreaker introduces a character who appears in Words of Radiance. Reading it first adds significant context. It's optional — but most fans recommend it at this point in the order.
Outside the Cosmere
Sanderson has written several books outside the Cosmere shared universe:
| Series | Books | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Reckoners | 3 books, complete | YA sci-fi. Superheroes turned villains. Great entry for younger readers. |
| The Stormlight Archive (non-Cosmere) | — | All Stormlight is Cosmere. |
| Skyward | 4 books, complete | YA sci-fi. Humanity fighting aliens, fighter pilot protagonist. |
| The Wheel of Time (finale) | 3 books | Sanderson completed Robert Jordan's series. Read WoT Books 1–11 first. |
| Alcatraz | 6 books, complete | Middle-grade comedy fantasy. Very different from Cosmere. |
Elantris and White Sand
Elantris (2005) is Sanderson's first novel — set on the Cosmere world of Sel. Weaker than his later work but Cosmere-completionists read it. Place it anywhere in the order; it has no crossover requirements.
White Sand is a graphic novel trilogy set on Taldain. It exists in Cosmere canon but is lower priority for most readers. Read last, if at all.
Ready to start? Begin with The Final Empire. If you like it, you'll read everything else on this list.
View on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to read all the Cosmere books?
At average reading pace (~300 pages/hour), the Cosmere as listed above is roughly 200–250 hours of reading. Most dedicated readers spread it across 1–3 years.
Is the Cosmere finished?
No. Sanderson has outlined a 10-book Stormlight Archive (5 published), future Mistborn eras, and other series yet to be written. Completing the Cosmere as planned is projected to take decades. But each series arc is self-contained — you won't be left hanging.
Can I skip Elantris and White Sand?
Yes. Both are officially Cosmere but have minimal crossover connections to the major series. Most new readers skip or save them for after completing the main order above.