The Cosmere is a vast and interconnected universe created by author Brandon Sanderson, spanning multiple books, novellas, and short stories. Each story is set in a different world, but they all share a common mythology and overarching narrative, with characters and events from one story often having an impact on another.
The reading order for the Cosmere can be confusing, as some books and stories can be read in any order, while others have specific prerequisites. In this guide, we will provide a recommended reading order for those who want to dive into the Cosmere and experience the full depth and complexity of Sanderson’s epic world-building.
Summary
Here is a comprehensive reading order for the Cosmere:
- Elantris (2005)
- The Emperor’s Soul (2012)
- Mistborn Era 1:
a. Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)
b. Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (2007)
c. Mistborn: The Hero of Ages(2008) - Warbreaker (2009)
- Mistborn Era 2:
a. The Alloy of Law (2011)
b. Shadows of Self (2015)
c. The Bands of Mourning (2016) - Storm light Archive:
a. The Way of Kings (2010)
b. Words of Radiance (2014)
c. Edge Dancer (Novella) (2016)
d. Oathbringer (2017)
e. Dawnshard (Novella) (2020)
f. The Rhythm of War (2020)
In addition to these books, there are also short stories and novellas that are part of the Cosmere, which can be read at any time. This reading order provides a chronological order of events within the Cosmere.
What Is The Cosmere?
The Cosmere is an overarching universe that connects many of Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy novels and series, including Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, Warbreaker, Elantris, and many others. Each of these works is set on a different planet, with unique magic systems, cultures, and characters, but they all share a common cosmology, history, and mythology.
The connections between these stories are often subtle and require careful attention from the reader, but they add depth and richness to Sanderson’s world-building.
If you’re interested in diving into the Cosmere, you might be wondering where to start. Should you read the books in publication order, or is there a better way to approach them? In this article, we’ll explore several different reading orders for the Cosmere, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Whether you’re a first-time reader or a seasoned Sanderson fan, we hope to help you navigate this complex and fascinating universe.
Cosmere Reading Order by Publication
The publication order of the Cosmere is the order in which the books were released by the author. While this order is not strictly chronological, it is the order in which Sanderson wrote and intended for the books to be read.
Elantris (2005)
Elantris is Sanderson’s debut novel and the first book set in the Cosmere. It takes place on the planet Sel and explores the consequences of a failed magic system known as the Shaod. The story follows a prince named Raoden who is struck by the Shaod and sent to the city of Elantris, where he discovers a world of political intrigue, magic, and corruption.
Elantris is a standalone novel and can be read independently.
Mistborn Era 1 (2006-2008)
The first Mistborn trilogy consists of three books: The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. The series takes place on the planet Scadrial and follows a group of rebels as they attempt to overthrow a tyrannical ruler known as the Lord Ruler.
Quick Fact: The books feature a unique magic system involving metals and focus on themes of rebellion, sacrifice, and redemption. Mistborn Era 1 is a complete trilogy and can be read independently of Sanderson’s other works.
Warbreaker (2009)
Warbreaker is a standalone novel set on the planet Nalthis. It explores a complex magic system involving Breath, the power of the soul, and features a princess, gods, and political intrigue. The story follows two sisters, Siri and Vivenna, who are sent to the neighboring kingdom of Hallandren as part of a political marriage.
The book explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the nature of divinity.
The Way of Kings (2010)
The Way of Kings is the first book in the Stormlight Archive series and takes place on the planet Roshar. It follows several different characters as they navigate a world torn apart by war, magic, and ancient conflicts. The book features a detailed magic system involving gemstones and focuses on themes of leadership, honor, and justice.
The Alloy of Law (2011)
The Alloy of Law is a standalone novel set in the Mistborn world but takes place 300 years after the events of the first trilogy. It follows a lawman named Waxillium Ladrian as he returns to the city of Elendel to investigate a series of crimes. The book features a combination of Western and fantasy elements and explores themes of law and justice in a rapidly changing world.
Words of Radiance (2014)
Words of Radiance is the second book in the Stormlight Archive series and continues the story from where The Way of Kings left off. It follows the same group of characters as they continue to fight against the forces of evil and unravel the mysteries of their world.
The book features a detailed magic system, and epic battles, and explores themes of leadership, trauma, and redemption.
Shadows of Self (2015)
Shadows of Self is the second book in the Mistborn Era 2 series, which takes place several hundred years after the events of the first trilogy. It follows Waxillium Ladrian as he investigates a series of crimes that threaten to destabilize the city of Elendel.
The book features a combination of detective and fantasy elements and explores themes of justice, corruption, and power.
Bands of Mourning (2016)
Bands of Mourning is the third book in the Mistborn Era 2 series and continues the story from where Shadows of Self left off. It follows Waxillium Ladrian as he searches for a mythical artifact known as the Bands of Mourning, which are said to grant their wearer immense power.
Quick Fact: The book features a combination of adventure and fantasy elements and explores themes of power, legacy, and the nature of humanity.
Oathbringer (2017)
Oathbringer is the third book in the Stormlight Archive series and continues the story from where Words of Radiance left off. It follows the same group of characters as they continue to fight against the forces of evil and unravel the mysteries of their world.
The book features a detailed magic system, and epic battles, and explores themes of trauma, leadership, and redemption.
The Rhythm of War (2020)
The Rhythm of War is the fourth book in the Stormlight Archive series and continues the story from where Oathbringer left off. It follows the same group of characters as they continue to fight against the forces of evil and unravel the mysteries of their world.
The book features a detailed magic system, and epic battles, and explores themes of trauma, leadership, and the cost of power.
Overall, reading the Cosmere in publication order allows readers to experience the development of Sanderson’s writing and world-building over time. It also allows readers to pick up on references and connections between the different series and standalone novels. However, each book and series can also be read independently and enjoyed on their own
Cosmere Reading Order by Series
If you’re a fan of Brandon Sanderson’s work, you may have heard of The Cosmere, a vast interconnected universe that spans multiple series and standalone novels. One of the most common questions among readers new to the Cosmere is which order to read the books in. While there is no one right answer, reading by series is a popular option.
This approach allows readers to fully immerse themselves in each world and follow the development of characters and themes throughout each series.
Mistborn
The Mistborn series is the first series set in the Cosmere and consists of three books: Mistborn: The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. The series follows a group of rebels as they try to overthrow an oppressive government and features a detailed magic system and exploration of themes such as power and tyranny.
Elantris
Elantris is a standalone novel set in the world of Sel and follows the story of a prince who is cursed to live in a city of the undead. The book explores themes such as redemption, faith, and the power of love.
Warbreaker
Warbreaker is a standalone novel set in the world of Nalthis and follows two sisters as they navigate political intrigue and the use of magical beings known as Awakeners. The book explores themes such as sacrifice, duty, and the nature of divinity.
Stormlight Archive
The Stormlight Archive is Sanderson’s epic fantasy series set in the world of Roshar and currently consists of four books: The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Oathbringer, and Rhythm of War. The series follows a diverse cast of characters as they fight against the forces of evil and unravel the mysteries of their world.
The series features a detailed magic system and exploration of themes such as leadership, trauma, and redemption.
Reading the Cosmere by series allows readers to fully immerse themselves in each world and follow the development of characters and themes throughout each series. Each series can also be read independently, but reading them in order allows for a deeper understanding of the Cosmere as a whole.
The Cosmere in Chronological Order
If you’re interested in exploring the Cosmere, one of the most common questions is which order to read the books in. While reading by publication or by series are both valid options, some readers prefer to read the books in chronological order.
This approach can provide a deeper understanding of Cosmere’s timeline and how different events and characters connect across the various books and series.
White Sand
White Sand is a graphic novel trilogy set on the planet Taldain and follows the story of a sand master named Kenton as he tries to prevent a war between the two major factions in his world. The events of White Sand take place roughly 300 years before the events of Elantris.
Elantris
Elantris is a standalone novel set in the world of Sel and follows the story of a prince who is cursed to live in a city of the undead. The events of Elantris take place approximately 10 years before the events of Mistborn.
Mistborn Era 1
The Mistborn Era 1 trilogy consists of Mistborn: The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. The series follows a group of rebels as they try to overthrow an oppressive government and features a detailed magic system and exploration of themes such as power and tyranny.
The events of Mistborn Era 1 take place roughly 1000 years after the events of White Sand.
Warbreaker
Warbreaker is a standalone novel set in the world of Nalthis and follows two sisters as they navigate political intrigue and the use of magical beings known as Awakeners. The events of Warbreaker take place concurrently with the Eve characters as they fight against the forces of evil and unravel the mysteries of their world.
The events of The Stormlight Archive take place several thousand years after the events of Mistborn Era 1.
Reading the Cosmere in Chronological Order can provide a unique perspective on the timeline of events in the Cosmere and how they relate to each other. While this approach can be rewarding, it’s important to note that the books were not necessarily written in chronological order and may be best appreciated by reading in other orders as well.
Wrapping Up
Cosmere is a vast and intricate universe created by Brandon Sanderson, spanning multiple books, novellas, and short stories. While each story is self-contained, they all share a common mythology and overarching narrative, with characters and events from one story often having an impact on another.
The recommended reading order we’ve provided takes into account the best way to experience the full depth and complexity of Sanderson’s epic world-building, while also ensuring a smooth transition between books and series.
Whether you’re a seasoned Cosmere reader or just starting out, following this reading order will provide a rewarding and immersive experience.