Brandon Sanderson’s novel Mistborn is one of my favorite modern fantasy series. The worlbuidling, magic systems, characters, and plot come together like the perfect recipe.
After reading this novel, I am sure that many people want to find novels and series that make them feel the same way. That is why we will be sharing out list of books like Mistborn that you need to read!
The fantasy genre has evolved over the years but the root elements have mostly stayed the same. Sanderson has etched his name in the genre with incredible novels like Mistborn and Skyward. His writing style is clean and what separates him from other authors is his focus on worldbuilding and building magical systems.
Before reading Mistborn, I hadn’t really read a novel that had an intricate magic system. Other authors have created magical systems but they weren’t as complicated and rule based as Sanderson’s. He is credited for creating the “hard magic” subgenre and it is prevalent in a lot of his books.
While not every book recommendation will have a hard magic system, it will still have amazing worldbuilding. The list includes classic fantasy novels and award winning books You can see the full list below!
Books Like Mistborn
- The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
- Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
- The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
- The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
Sanderson takes everything he perfected in Mistborn and expands it on an epic scale. Set in the storm-ravaged world of Roshar, the series follows multiple characters whose lives intertwine as ancient magic resurfaces and long-buried secrets come to light. Expect deeply logical magic systems, morally complex characters, and jaw-dropping plot twists. If you enjoyed how Sanderson slowly revealed the true nature of Allomancy and the Cosmere, The Stormlight Archive offers that same sense of discovery—only bigger, richer, and more emotionally intense.
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
Foundryside features a brilliant, rule-based magic system that fans of Sanderson will instantly appreciate. In a city controlled by merchant houses that use magical “scriving” to rewrite reality, a thief named Sancia Grado stumbles into a conspiracy that could reshape the world. Like Mistborn, it blends rebellion, class struggle, and ingenious magical mechanics. If you loved watching clever characters exploit the limits of magic to outsmart powerful elites, this book delivers that same thrill.
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
While lighter on structured magic, this novel captures the heist and camaraderie elements that made Mistborn so fun. Locke Lamora is a master thief leading a band of con artists in the canal-filled city of Camorr. The book thrives on sharp dialogue, found-family bonds, and elaborate schemes that constantly go wrong. If your favorite parts of Mistborn were Kelsier’s crew, the planning of impossible jobs, and the constant tension of outsmarting enemies, Locke Lamora will feel like a perfect fit.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
This legendary series helped define modern epic fantasy and strongly influenced Sanderson himself (who later completed the series). It follows a vast cast of characters caught in a cyclical battle between light and darkness, prophecy and free will. Like Mistborn, it explores how power changes people, the burden of destiny, and the slow unveiling of a world’s deep history. If you enjoyed the long-term payoffs, mythic scope, and gradual evolution of characters across multiple books, The Wheel of Time offers an unforgettable journey.
Conclusion
Mistborn is an incredible fantasy series and one that is still ongoing. Sanderson might be the hardest working author out there. But the next novel won’t be released for years. To hold you over, these four novels are our recommendations.
You can also read other novels by Sanderson. Many of his novels take place in the Cosmere universe so you can still feel Mistborn’s presence across many novels.
Which books from this list are you most likely to read? You can’t go wrong with any of these books. While there isn’t another series like Mistborn, these will keep you just as entertained. Until next time, happy reading!
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