How Many Mistborn Books Are There?
7 Mistborn novels total — 3 in Era 1 (the original trilogy) and 4 in Era 2 (the Wax & Wayne series, completed in 2022). Era 3 is planned but unwritten. All are by Brandon Sanderson.
Era 1: The Original Trilogy
Era 1 is set in a dying world under an immortal Lord Ruler. It's where the Mistborn magic system — Allomancy — is introduced. Read these first, in order.
| # | Title | Year | Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Final Empire | 2006 | Era 1 |
| 2 | The Well of Ascension | 2007 | Era 1 |
| 3 | The Hero of Ages | 2008 | Era 1 |
Also in Era 1: The Eleventh Metal (short story, 2012) and Mistborn: Secret History (novella, 2016) are set in Era 1. Read Secret History after The Hero of Ages — it spoils the whole trilogy.
Era 2: Wax & Wayne Series
Set 300 years after Era 1 in a Victorian/wild-west Scadrial. A new cast, same magic rules. The series is complete as of 2022.
| # | Title | Year | Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | The Alloy of Law | 2011 | Era 2 |
| 5 | Shadows of Self | 2015 | Era 2 |
| 6 | The Bands of Mourning | 2016 | Era 2 |
| 7 | The Lost Metal | 2022 | Era 2 |
Is Mistborn Part of the Cosmere?
Yes. Mistborn is one of many series set in Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere — a shared universe of worlds connected by an overarching cosmic narrative. You don't need to read any other Cosmere books first, but fans who've read Stormlight Archive or Warbreaker will catch extra cross-world connections in Era 2.
Cosmere reading tip: Warbreaker is a standalone novel that's technically optional but strongly recommended before reading the second half of Stormlight Archive. It has a minor but meaningful connection to Mistborn Era 2 as well.
Era 3 and Era 4: What's Coming?
Sanderson has publicly outlined a four-era plan for Mistborn. Era 3 is planned as a 1980s-style thriller set on Scadrial; Era 4 will be a science-fiction story set in Scadrial's future. Neither has been started yet. Sanderson has said Era 3 will likely come after he finishes Stormlight Archive.
Where to Start
New to Sanderson: Start with The Final Empire (Book 1). It's one of the best first-fantasy-novel recommendations out there — the magic system is inventive, the pacing is tight, and the heist premise hooks you immediately.
Already read Stormlight: Era 2 reads differently from Era 1 — lighter, faster, more fun. The Alloy of Law is a good palate cleanser between Stormlight books.
Start with The Final Empire — the best entry point into Mistborn and one of Sanderson's best books.
View on Amazon →Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mistborn finished?
Era 1 and Era 2 are both complete. Era 3 (planned but unwritten) will come after Sanderson finishes other Cosmere projects. The series is safe to start — you won't be left hanging.
Do I need to read Era 1 before Era 2?
Yes. Era 2 spoils major Era 1 events and builds on the world and magic rules established in the original trilogy. The Alloy of Law even has a brief prologue that assumes you know what happened.
How long is Mistborn Era 1?
About 1,000 pages per book. All three Era 1 novels are substantial — expect 30–50 hours of reading total for the trilogy. Era 2 books are shorter (~350 pages each).
Is Mistborn connected to Stormlight Archive?
Yes, both are part of the Cosmere. There are crossover characters (Hoid appears in both) and cosmic-level plot threads that connect across all Cosmere books, though each series is fully self-contained.