Cosmere Reading Order Guide
By Brandon Sanderson · 25 books
The complete guide to reading Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere universe in the right order. Covers Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, Elantris, Warbreaker, and all novellas.
What is the Cosmere?
The Cosmere is a shared universe created by Brandon Sanderson that connects most of his adult fantasy novels. Each series takes place on a different planet with its own unique magic system, but they share an underlying cosmology, recurring characters, and a larger overarching story. You don't need to catch every connection to enjoy individual series — but reading in the right order makes the experience much richer.
Recommended reading order (publication)
For first-time readers, publication order is the best approach. Sanderson wrote each book assuming readers might not have read his other works, so publication order gives you the smoothest experience while naturally revealing cross-series connections.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elantris Standalone. A solid introduction to Sanderson's style. | 2005 |
| 2 | Mistborn: The Final Empire Start of the original Mistborn trilogy. Many fans' favorite entry point. | 2006 |
| 3 | The Well of Ascension | 2007 |
| 4 | The Hero of Ages Completes the original Mistborn trilogy. | 2008 |
| 5 | Warbreaker Standalone. Read before Stormlight for important connections. | 2009 |
| 6 | The Way of Kings Start of The Stormlight Archive — Sanderson's magnum opus. | 2010 |
| 7 | The Alloy of Law Mistborn Era 2 begins. Set 300 years after Era 1. | 2011 |
| 8 | Words of Radiance | 2014 |
| 9 | Shadows of Self | 2015 |
| 10 | The Bands of Mourning | 2016 |
| 11 | Oathbringer | 2017 |
| 12 | Rhythm of War | 2020 |
| 13 | The Lost Metal Completes Mistborn Era 2. | 2022 |
| 14 | Tress of the Emerald Sea Secret Project #1. Lighter in tone. | 2023 |
| 15 | Yumi and the Nightmare Painter | 2023 |
| 16 | The Sunlit Man Best read after Stormlight books. | 2023 |
| 17 | Wind and Truth Stormlight Archive book 5. | 2024 |
Where to start
If you want the best single entry point, start with Mistborn: The Final Empire. It's a complete, satisfying story that showcases Sanderson's magic system design in a tightly plotted heist narrative. If you prefer epic fantasy, jump straight to The Way of Kings — but be prepared for a 1,000-page commitment. Elantris works if you want a quick standalone test before diving deeper.
What about the novellas?
Sanderson has written several Cosmere novellas and short stories collected in Arcanum Unbounded. These are best read after finishing the series they connect to. The Emperor's Soul can be read anytime (it's loosely tied to Elantris). Edgedancer should be read between Words of Radiance and Oathbringer. Dawnshard goes between Oathbringer and Rhythm of War. Secret History should be read after The Bands of Mourning.
Can I read each series independently?
Yes. Each Cosmere series is designed to stand alone. Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, Elantris, and Warbreaker can each be enjoyed without reading the others. The connections between series are Easter eggs and worldbuilding details that reward dedicated readers — they're not required to follow the plot of any individual series.