Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere is the most complex reading order problem in modern fantasy — not because any single book is hard to follow, but because there are 20+ interconnected works, including novellas that must be read at specific points or they spoil the books around them. This guide gives you the definitive order and tells you exactly where every novella fits.
Quick Reference: Recommended Cosmere Reading Order
- The Final Empire — Mistborn Era 1, Book 1 (2006)
- The Well of Ascension — Mistborn Era 1, Book 2 (2007)
- The Hero of Ages — Mistborn Era 1, Book 3 (2008)
- Mistborn: Secret History — NOVELLA — read here, after Era 1
- The Way of Kings — Stormlight Archive, Book 1 (2010)
- Words of Radiance — Stormlight Archive, Book 2 (2014)
- Edgedancer — NOVELLA — read here, before Oathbringer
- Oathbringer — Stormlight Archive, Book 3 (2017)
- The Alloy of Law — Mistborn Era 2, Book 1 (2011)
- Shadows of Self — Mistborn Era 2, Book 2 (2015)
- The Bands of Mourning — Mistborn Era 2, Book 3 (2016)
- Dawnshard — NOVELLA — read here, before Rhythm of War
- Rhythm of War — Stormlight Archive, Book 4 (2020)
- The Lost Metal — Mistborn Era 2, Book 4 (2022)
- Wind and Truth — Stormlight Archive, Book 5 (2024)
Mistborn Reading Order
The Mistborn series has two distinct eras set 300 years apart. Start with Era 1 — it is a complete story on its own, and the magic system (Allomancy) is introduced from scratch.
Mistborn Era 1 — The Original Trilogy:
- The Final Empire (2006)
- The Well of Ascension (2007)
- The Hero of Ages (2008)
Where does Secret History fit? Mistborn: Secret History is a novella that runs parallel to the events of Era 1, told from a hidden perspective. Read it immediately after The Hero of Ages — before starting Era 2. Reading it mid-Era 2 spoils a major reveal. Reading it before Era 1 destroys the ending of the trilogy. There is only one correct position.
Mistborn Era 2 — The Wax and Wayne Series:
- The Alloy of Law (2011)
- Shadows of Self (2015)
- The Bands of Mourning (2016)
- The Lost Metal (2022)
View our full Mistborn reading order and Brandon Sanderson author page.
Stormlight Archive Reading Order
The Stormlight Archive is Sanderson's most ambitious project — a planned 10-book series set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar. Two novellas are not optional:
Where does Edgedancer fit? Edgedancer follows a character (Lift) whose storyline in Oathbringer directly continues from this novella. Read it between Words of Radiance and Oathbringer. Reading it afterward creates a continuity gap mid-Oathbringer that is jarring and avoidable.
Where does Dawnshard fit? Dawnshard sets up events in Rhythm of War. Read it between Oathbringer and Rhythm of War.
- The Way of Kings (2010)
- Words of Radiance (2014)
- Edgedancer (novella, 2016) — read here
- Oathbringer (2017)
- Dawnshard (novella, 2020) — read here
- Rhythm of War (2020)
- Wind and Truth (2024)
What Is the Cosmere?
The Cosmere is Sanderson's shared universe connecting Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, Elantris, Warbreaker, and other series. A recurring character named Hoid appears in every Cosmere book. The connections are Easter eggs for dedicated readers — you do not need to understand the Cosmere to follow any individual series. But once you have read both Mistborn Era 1 and The Way of Kings, you will start to notice them.
The Verdict: Where Should You Start?
New to Sanderson: start with Mistborn: The Final Empire. It is the cleanest entry point, the trilogy is complete, and it gives you the foundational Cosmere knowledge that makes everything else richer. After the trilogy, read Secret History, then move to The Way of Kings.
Browse our complete Brandon Sanderson reading order database for every series, novella, and Cosmere connection mapped out in full.