Sanderson
The Way of Kings
✦
The Stormlight Archive
Brandon Sanderson - 5 books
Sanderson's other major series. Bigger scope, denser, but the same magic system quality.
epic fantasySee reading order→
Series - Books in order
Mistborn books in order
by Brandon Sanderson - 7 books - 2006-2022 - Updated June 2026
Mistborn is Brandon Sanderson's most accessible fantasy series. Era 1 is a classic trilogy about overthrowing a tyrant god-king. Era 2 is a western-inspired sequel set 300 years later. Both have unique, rule-based magic systems.
Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire
✦
1
Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire
✦
1
Start with this book
Most readers should start with Mistborn: The Final Empire. It gives you the cleanest entry point before continuing through the full series order.Read on KindleListen on Audible
Buy on Amazon7 books - read in publication order
Show orderPublication order
Contains affiliate links| # | Book | Published | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mistborn: The Final Empire Mistborn: The Final EmpireStart | 2006 | 4.4 | |
| 2 | The Well of Ascension The Well of Ascension | 2007 | 4.3 | |
| 3 | The Hero of Ages The Hero of Ages | 2008 | 4.4 | |
| 4 | The Alloy of Law The Alloy of Law | 2011 | 4.1 | |
| 5 | The Lost Metal The Lost Metal | 2022 | 4.3 |
Showing 5 of 7 - the openers plus the key entries. See the full 7-book list →
Our recommended reading order
Start with Mistborn: The Final Empire. Read Era 1 (books 1-3) first. Era 2 (books 4-7) is lighter in tone and set 300 years later. Both eras connect to the larger Cosmere.
Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire
✦
Best book to start with
Mistborn: The Final Empire
Book #1, and still the best on-ramp. It sets up everything that makes this series work.
Similar series
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Sanderson
Mistborn: The Final Empire
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Cosmere
Brandon Sanderson - 20 books
The full Sanderson reading order spanning all his connected series.
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Frequently asked questions
Era 1: The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages. Then Era 2: The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, The Bands of Mourning, The Lost Metal.
No, but it is recommended. Mistborn is shorter and easier, making it a better entry point to Sanderson.
Yes. Both Mistborn and Stormlight Archive exist in the same connected universe called the Cosmere.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026