Brandon Sanderson Reading Order

6 books (2007–2022)

Start with Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians, the first of 6 books in the Alcatraz series.

#	Title
1	Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians 2007Buy 🇺🇸
2	Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones 2008Buy 🇺🇸
3	Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia 2009Buy 🇺🇸
4	Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens 2010Buy 🇺🇸
5	The Dark Talent 2016Buy 🇺🇸
6	Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians(With: Janci Patterson) 2022Buy 🇺🇸

12 books (2013–2026)

Start with Dangerous Women, the first of 12 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Dangerous Women 2013Buy 🇺🇸
2	Lightspeed Magazine, Issue 35, April 2013 2013Buy 🇺🇸
3	Tor.com: Selected Original Fiction, 2008-2012 2013Buy 🇺🇸
4	Writing Fantasy Heroes 2013Buy 🇺🇸
5	Shadows Beneath 2014Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2014 Edition 2014Buy 🇺🇸
7	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2015 Edition 2015Buy 🇺🇸
8	Dragon Writers 2016Buy 🇺🇸
9	Unfettered II: New Tales By Masters of Fantasy 2016Buy 🇺🇸
10	Galactic Empires 2017Buy 🇺🇸
11	Unfettered III: New Tales By Masters of Fantasy 2019Buy 🇺🇸
12	For Glory and Honor 2026Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (2016–2016)

#	Title
1	Arcanum Unbounded 2016Buy 🇺🇸

2 books (2014–2015)

Start with Sixth of the Dusk. Publication and chronological order differ — publication order is recommended for first-time readers.

26 books (1998–2025)

Start with White Sand. Publication and chronological order differ — publication order is recommended for first-time readers.

#	Title
1	White Sand 1998Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Way of Kings Prime 2002Buy 🇺🇸
3	Elantris 2005Buy 🇺🇸
4	The Final Empire 2006Buy 🇺🇸
5	The Hope of Elantris 2006Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Well of Ascension 2007Buy 🇺🇸
7	The Hero of Ages 2008Buy 🇺🇸
8	Warbreaker 2009Buy 🇺🇸
9	The Way of Kings 2010Buy 🇺🇸
10	The Alloy of Law 2011Buy 🇺🇸
11	The Emperor's Soul 2012Buy 🇺🇸
12	Words of Radiance 2014Buy 🇺🇸
13	Shadows of Self 2015Buy 🇺🇸
14	Edgedancer 2016Buy 🇺🇸
15	The Bands of Mourning 2016Buy 🇺🇸
16	Oathbringer 2017Buy 🇺🇸
17	Dawnshard 2020Buy 🇺🇸
18	Rhythm of War 2020Buy 🇺🇸
19	Secret History 2022Buy 🇺🇸
20	The Lost Metal 2022Buy 🇺🇸
21	The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England 2023Buy 🇺🇸
22	The Sunlit Man 2023Buy 🇺🇸
23	Tress of the Emerald Sea 2023Buy 🇺🇸
24	Yumi and the Nightmare Painter 2023Buy 🇺🇸
25	Wind and Truth 2024Buy 🇺🇸
26	Isles of the Emberdark 2025Buy 🇺🇸

2 books (2021–2023)

Start with Dark One, Book 1 and read in order.

3 books (2005–2012)

Start with Elantris and read in order.

#	Title
1	Elantris 2005Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Hope of Elantris 2006Buy 🇺🇸
3	The Emperor's Soul 2012Buy 🇺🇸

3 books (2012–2023)

Start with H.A.R.R.E.: Heuristic Algorithm and Reasoning Response Engine(With: Ethan Skarstedt) and read in order.

2 books (2011–2013)

Start with Awakening and read in order.

41 books (1985–2025)

Start with L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 1, the first of 41 books in the L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future series.

#	Title
1	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 1 1985Buy 🇺🇸
2	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 2 1986Buy 🇺🇸
3	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 3 1987Buy 🇺🇸
4	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 4 1988Buy 🇺🇸
5	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 5 1989Buy 🇺🇸
6	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 6 1990Buy 🇺🇸
7	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 7 1991Buy 🇺🇸
8	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 8 1992Buy 🇺🇸
9	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future9 1993Buy 🇺🇸
10	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 10 1994Buy 🇺🇸
11	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 11 1995Buy 🇺🇸
12	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 12 1996Buy 🇺🇸
13	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 13 1997Buy 🇺🇸
14	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 14 1998Buy 🇺🇸
15	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 15 1999Buy 🇺🇸
16	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 16 2000Buy 🇺🇸
17	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 17 2001Buy 🇺🇸
18	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 18 2002Buy 🇺🇸
19	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 19 2002Buy 🇺🇸
20	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 20 2004Buy 🇺🇸
21	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 21 2005Buy 🇺🇸
22	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 22 2006Buy 🇺🇸
23	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 23 2007Buy 🇺🇸
24	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 24 2008Buy 🇺🇸
25	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 25 2009Buy 🇺🇸
26	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 26 2010Buy 🇺🇸
27	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 27 2011Buy 🇺🇸
28	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 28 2012Buy 🇺🇸
29	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 29 2013Buy 🇺🇸
30	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 30 2014Buy 🇺🇸
31	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 31 2015Buy 🇺🇸
32	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 32 2016Buy 🇺🇸
33	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 33 2017Buy 🇺🇸
34	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 34 2018Buy 🇺🇸
35	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 35 2019Buy 🇺🇸
36	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 36 2020Buy 🇺🇸
37	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 37 2021Buy 🇺🇸
38	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 38 2022Buy 🇺🇸
39	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 39 2023Buy 🇺🇸
40	L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future 40 2024Buy 🇺🇸
41	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 41 2025Buy 🇺🇸

4 books (2012–2022)

Start with Legion, the first of 4 books in the Legion series.

#	Title
1	Legion 2012Buy 🇺🇸
2	Skin Deep 2014Buy 🇺🇸
3	Lies of the Beholder 2018Buy 🇺🇸
4	Stephen Leeds: Death and Faxes 2022Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (2018–2018)

#	Title
1	The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds 2018Buy 🇺🇸

17 books (1994–2023)

Start with Arena(By: William R. Forstchen), the first of 17 books in the Magic: The Gathering series.

#	Title
1	Arena(By: William R. Forstchen) 1994Buy 🇺🇸
2	Whispering Woods(By: Clayton Emery) 1994Buy 🇺🇸
3	Final Sacrifice(By: Clayton Emery) 1995Buy 🇺🇸
4	Shattered Chains(By: Clayton Emery) 1995Buy 🇺🇸
5	The Cursed Land(By: Teri McLaren) 1995Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Prodigal Sorcerer(By: Mark Sumner) 1995Buy 🇺🇸
7	And Peace Shall Sleep(By: Sonia Orin Lyris) 1996Buy 🇺🇸
8	Ashes of the Sun(By: Hanovi Braddock) 1996Buy 🇺🇸
9	Dark Legacy(By: Robert Vardeman) 1996Buy 🇺🇸
10	Song of Time(By: Teri McLaren) 1996Buy 🇺🇸
11	The Planeswalkers' Guide to Alara(By: Doug Beyer,Jenna Helland) 2008Buy 🇺🇸
12	Alara Unbroken(By: Doug Beyer) 2009Buy 🇺🇸
13	Zendikar: In the Teeth of Akoum(By: Brook Steingass) 2010Buy 🇺🇸
14	Scars of Mirrodin: The Quest for Karn(By: Robert B. Wintermute) 2011Buy 🇺🇸
15	Children of the Nameless 2018Buy 🇺🇸
16	Throne of Eldraine(By: Kate Elliott) 2019Buy 🇺🇸
17	Magic: The Gathering: The Official Cookbook(By: Jenna Helland,Victoria Rosenthal) 2023Buy 🇺🇸

8 books (2006–2022)

Start with The Final Empire, the first of 8 books in the Mistborn series.

#	Title
1	The Final Empire 2006Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Well of Ascension 2007Buy 🇺🇸
3	The Hero of Ages 2008Buy 🇺🇸
4	The Alloy of Law 2011Buy 🇺🇸
5	Shadows of Self 2015Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Bands of Mourning 2016Buy 🇺🇸
7	Secret History 2022Buy 🇺🇸
8	The Lost Metal 2022Buy 🇺🇸

2 books (2019–2019)

Start with Oathbringer Part One and read in order.

#	Title
1	Oathbringer Part One 2019Buy 🇺🇸
2	Oathbringer Part Two 2019Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (2024–2024)

#	Title
1	The Most Boring Book Ever 2024Buy 🇺🇸

4 books (2013–2016)

Start with Mitosis, the first of 4 books in the Reckoners series.

#	Title
1	Mitosis 2013Buy 🇺🇸
2	Steelheart 2013Buy 🇺🇸
3	Firefight 2015Buy 🇺🇸
4	Calamity 2016Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (2026–2026)

5 books (2023–2025)

Start with The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, the first of 5 books in the Secret Projects series.

#	Title
1	The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England 2023Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Sunlit Man 2023Buy 🇺🇸
3	Tress of the Emerald Sea 2023Buy 🇺🇸
4	Yumi and the Nightmare Painter 2023Buy 🇺🇸
5	Isles of the Emberdark 2025Buy 🇺🇸

10 books (1994–2023)

Start with Centrifugal, the first of 10 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

#	Title
1	Centrifugal 1994Buy 🇺🇸
2	Dragonsteel 2001Buy 🇺🇸
3	Firstborn 2008Buy 🇺🇸
4	I Hate Dragons 2010Buy 🇺🇸
5	H.A.R.R.E.: Heuristic Algorithm and Reasoning Response Engine(With: Ethan Skarstedt) 2012Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Eleventh Metal 2012Buy 🇺🇸
7	Dreamer 2014Buy 🇺🇸
8	Perfect State 2015Buy 🇺🇸
9	The Stormlight Archive Pocket Companion 2016Buy 🇺🇸
10	Long Chills and Case Dough 2023Buy 🇺🇸

5 books (2013–2025)

Start with Firstborn & Defending Elysium, the first of 5 books in the Short Story Collections series.

#	Title
1	Firstborn & Defending Elysium 2013Buy 🇺🇸
2	Legion and The Emperor's Soul 2013Buy 🇺🇸
3	Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell; Perfect State 2015Buy 🇺🇸
4	Brandon Sanderson's Fantasy Firsts 2017Buy 🇺🇸
5	Tailored Realities 2025Buy 🇺🇸

4 books (2018–2023)

Start with Skyward, the first of 4 books in the Skyward series.

#	Title
1	Skyward 2018Buy 🇺🇸
2	Starsight 2019Buy 🇺🇸
3	Cytonic 2021Buy 🇺🇸
4	Defiant 2023Buy 🇺🇸

5 books (2021–2021)

Start with Defending Elysium, the first of 5 books in the Skyward Short Stories/Novellas series.

6 books (1998–2020)

Start with White Sand, the first of 6 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	White Sand 1998Buy 🇺🇸
2	Dragonsteel Prime 1999Buy 🇺🇸
3	Warbreaker 2009Buy 🇺🇸
4	The Rithmatist 2013Buy 🇺🇸
5	Snapshot 2017Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Original(With: Mary Robinette Kowal) 2020Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (2026–2026)

1 book (2021–2021)

8 books (2002–2024)

Start with The Way of Kings Prime, the first of 8 books in the The Stormlight Archive series.

#	Title
1	The Way of Kings Prime 2002Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Way of Kings 2010Buy 🇺🇸
3	Words of Radiance 2014Buy 🇺🇸
4	Edgedancer 2016Buy 🇺🇸
5	Oathbringer 2017Buy 🇺🇸
6	Dawnshard 2020Buy 🇺🇸
7	Rhythm of War 2020Buy 🇺🇸
8	Wind and Truth 2024Buy 🇺🇸

15 books (1990–2012)

Start with The Eye of the World(By: Robert Jordan), the first of 15 books in the The Wheel of Time series.

#	Title
1	The Eye of the World(By: Robert Jordan) 1990Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Great Hunt(By: Robert Jordan) 1990Buy 🇺🇸
3	The Dragon Reborn(By: Robert Jordan) 1991Buy 🇺🇸
4	The Shadow Rising(By: Robert Jordan) 1992Buy 🇺🇸
5	The Fires of Heaven(By: Robert Jordan) 1993Buy 🇺🇸
6	Lord of Chaos(By: Robert Jordan) 1994Buy 🇺🇸
7	A Crown of Swords(By: Robert Jordan) 1996Buy 🇺🇸
8	The Path of Daggers(By: Robert Jordan) 1998Buy 🇺🇸
9	Winter's Heart(By: Robert Jordan) 2000Buy 🇺🇸
10	Crossroads of Twilight(By: Robert Jordan) 2003Buy 🇺🇸
11	New Spring(By: Robert Jordan) 2004Buy 🇺🇸
12	Knife of Dreams(By: Robert Jordan) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
13	The Gathering Storm 2009Buy 🇺🇸
14	Towers of Midnight 2010Buy 🇺🇸
15	A Memory of Light 2012Buy 🇺🇸

15 books (2010–2024)

Start with The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2010 Edition, the first of 15 books in the The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror series.

#	Title
1	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2010 Edition 2010Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2011 Edition 2011Buy 🇺🇸
3	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror, 2012 Edition 2012Buy 🇺🇸
4	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2013 Edition 2013Buy 🇺🇸
5	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2014 Edition 2014Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2015 Edition 2015Buy 🇺🇸
7	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2016 Edition 2016Buy 🇺🇸
8	The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2017 Edition 2017Buy 🇺🇸
9	The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2018 Edition 2018Buy 🇺🇸
10	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, 2019 Edition 2020Buy 🇺🇸
11	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, Volume 1 2020Buy 🇺🇸
12	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, Volume 2 2021Buy 🇺🇸
13	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror, Volume 3 2022Buy 🇺🇸
14	The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, Volume 4 2023Buy 🇺🇸
15	The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, Volume 5 2024Buy 🇺🇸

3 books (2009–2012)

Start with What the Storm Means and read in order.

3 books (2016–2019)

Start with White Sand Volume 1 and read in order.

#	Title
1	White Sand Volume 1 2016Buy 🇺🇸
2	White Sand Volume 2 2017Buy 🇺🇸
3	White Sand Volume 3 2019Buy 🇺🇸