Exploring the Cosmere Universe: Reading Order

The world of the Cosmere, created by Brandon Sanderson, is incredibly rich and complex. It consists of multiple planets, each with its own unique magic system and history.

Overview of the Cosmere

The Cosmere currently includes 16 novels, 6 novellas, 3 short stories, and 1 graphic novel.

The Planets of the Cosmere

Scadrial – The setting of the Mistborn series. Magic here is derived from metals, granting different abilities to practitioners.

Roshar – The world of The Stormlight Archive. Known for its massive highstorms, enchanted Shardblades, and Shardplate, which make warriors nearly invincible.

Taldain – Featured in White Sand. Magic is drawn from a special type of sand, and the powerful Sand Masters manipulate it on a sun-scorched desert planet.

Nalthis – The setting of Warbreaker. Magic allows Awakeners to breathe life into objects, with BioChromatic Breath being the key resource for magical abilities.

Sel – The world of Elantris, where magic is tied to the city of Elantris and its intricate symbol-based system.

Reading Order Options

There are four main ways to approach reading the Cosmere books:

1. By Release Date
2. By Series Order
3. Chronological Order (contains spoilers; recommended for re-reads)
4. Brandon Sanderson’s Recommended Order

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Reading by Release Date

Elantris

• Elantris (2005)
• The Hope of Elantris (2006, found in Arcanum Unbounded)

Mistborn

• Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)
• The Well of Ascension (2007)
• The Hero of Ages (2008)

Standalone Novel

• Warbreaker (2009)

The Stormlight Archive

• The Way of Kings (2010)

Mistborn: Era II

• The Alloy of Law (2011)
• The Eleventh Metal (2012, in Arcanum Unbounded)
• Shadows of Self (2015)
• The Bands of Mourning (2016)
• Mistborn: Secret History (2016, in Arcanum Unbounded)

The Stormlight Archive Continuation

• Words of Radiance (2014)
• Edgedancer (2016, in Arcanum Unbounded)
• Oathbringer (2017)
• Dawnshard (2020)
• Rhythm of War (2020)

Other Cosmere Works

• White Sand (2016, graphic novel)
• Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)
• Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (2023)
• The Sunlit Man (2023)
• White Sand Omnibus (2023)

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Reading by Series Order

Elantris

• Elantris
• The Hope of Elantris
• The Emperor’s Soul

Mistborn: Era I

• The Final Empire
• The Well of Ascension
• The Hero of Ages

Mistborn: Era II

• The Alloy of Law
• The Eleventh Metal
• Shadows of Self
• The Bands of Mourning
• The Lost Metal

Standalone Works

• Warbreaker
• Sixth of the Dusk (in Arcanum Unbounded)
• Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell (in Arcanum Unbounded)

The Stormlight Archive

• The Way of Kings
• Words of Radiance
• Edgedancer
• Oathbringer
• Dawnshard
• Rhythm of War

White Sand

• White Sand
• White Sand Omnibus

Other Works

• Tress of the Emerald Sea
• Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
• The Sunlit Man

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Chronological Reading Order (contains spoilers; best for re-reads)

1. White Sand
2. Elantris
3. The Emperor’s Soul
4. Mistborn: The Eleventh Metal
5. Mistborn: The Final Empire
6. Mistborn: Secret History
7. The Well of Ascension
8. The Hero of Ages
9. Warbreaker
10. Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
11. The Stormlight Archive (up to Rhythm of War)
12. Mistborn: Era II (The Alloy of Law – The Lost Metal)
13. Sixth of the Dusk
14. Tress of the Emerald Sea
15. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
16. The Sunlit Man

Recommended Reading Order by Brandon Sanderson

First and foremost, he does not recommend reading the books in order of publication. Although Elantris was his first published book, he prefers that you start with Mistborn.

Start with:

• Mistborn: The Final Empire
• Mistborn: The Well of Ascension
• Mistborn: The Hero of Ages

Then you can move on to:

• Warbreaker
• The Sunlit Man
• The Way of Kings (Book One of The Stormlight Archive)

After that, you can continue with Mistborn Era II. Keep in mind that these books contain spoilers for the original Mistborn trilogy.

• Mistborn: Wax and Wayne #1 – The Alloy of Law
• Mistborn: Wax and Wayne #2 – Shadows of Self
• Mistborn: Wax and Wayne #3 – The Bands of Mourning
• Mistborn: Wax and Wayne #4 – The Lost Metal

Or you can explore some of the standalone works:

• Elantris
• Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

Suggested Placement of Novellas within The Stormlight Archive:

Brandon Sanderson suggests inserting novellas between Books 2, 3, and 4 of The Stormlight Archive:

• Words of Radiance (Book Two of The Stormlight Archive)
• Edgedancer (from Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection)
• Oathbringer (Book Three of The Stormlight Archive)
• Dawnshard
• Rhythm of War (Book Four of The Stormlight Archive)
• Defiant

After that, you can continue in any order you prefer.

• Wind and Truth
• Read the remaining stories from Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection
• White Sand

Every reader can choose the approach that suits them best. Regardless of the order you decide to follow, I hope you enjoy the Cosmere and that it becomes one of your favorites!