Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series is one of the most popular modern fantasy sagas, but figuring out the Mistborn book order can be a little confusing for new readers. The series spans multiple eras, includes several novellas and short stories, and is also connected to Sanderson’s much larger Cosmere universe.
Fortunately, reading Mistborn is much easier than it initially appears. Most readers should begin with the original trilogy, continue into the Wax and Wayne books, and save the supplementary stories for the appropriate points along the way.
Whether you are discovering Brandon Sanderson for the first time or preparing for a reread, here is the complete Mistborn reading order, including both published books and the upcoming Mistborn Era 3.
Mistborn Books in Order
For readers who simply want the main novels, this is the best Mistborn book order to follow:
Mistborn Era 1: The Original Trilogy
Mistborn Era 2: Wax and Wayne
Sanderson’s official website lists The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, The Bands of Mourning, and The Lost Metal as the four Wax and Wayne books, with The Lost Metal serving as the conclusion to the second Mistborn saga.
There are also several important Mistborn short stories and novellas, including The Eleventh Metal, Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania, and Mistborn: Secret History. All three are collected in Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection.
The Best Mistborn Reading Order for First-Time Readers
If this is your first time reading the series, I recommend the following order:
- Mistborn: The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- The Alloy of Law
- Shadows of Self
- The Bands of Mourning
- Mistborn: Secret History
- The Lost Metal
You can read The Eleventh Metal after finishing the original trilogy and Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania once you have started Era 2.
This order keeps most of Sanderson’s major reveals intact while allowing Secret History to have the biggest possible impact.
Mistborn Era 1: The Original Trilogy
The original Mistborn trilogy is where every new reader should begin.
Sanderson introduces readers to Scadrial, a world where ash falls from the sky and a seemingly immortal ruler known as the Lord Ruler has controlled society for a thousand years.
But a group of rebels believes his reign can finally be ended.
1. Mistborn: The Final Empire
Mistborn: The Final Empire is the first book in the series and the perfect introduction to Sanderson’s world.
The novel follows Vin, a young street thief who discovers that she is a Mistborn, an exceptionally powerful Allomancer capable of using every Allomantic metal.
She soon becomes part of a crew led by Kelsier, a legendary thief who has an almost impossible plan: overthrow the Lord Ruler.
The Final Empire introduces the magic system, characters, politics, and mysteries that drive the entire trilogy.
If you have never read Brandon Sanderson before, this is also one of the best places to start with his work.
2. The Well of Ascension
The Well of Ascension picks up after the dramatic events of the first novel.
Instead of simply repeating the formula of The Final Empire, Sanderson turns his attention toward the consequences of revolution. Winning a rebellion is one thing. Building a functioning society afterward is much harder.
Vin and the other characters must deal with political instability, invading armies, mysterious forces, and questions surrounding the legendary Well of Ascension.
It is a slower and more politically focused novel than its predecessor, but many of its mysteries become essential to understanding the trilogy’s incredible ending.
3. The Hero of Ages
The Hero of Ages concludes the original Mistborn trilogy.
By this point, many of the mysteries Sanderson has been building since the opening chapters of The Final Empire begin falling into place.
That makes The Hero of Ages one of the most satisfying conclusions to any modern fantasy trilogy.
Readers should absolutely avoid looking up major characters, events, or Mistborn lore before finishing this book. Even seemingly harmless searches can reveal enormous spoilers.
Sanderson’s official Mistborn page treats these three novels as the original trilogy, with Mistborn: Secret History listed as a companion story rather than a replacement for any of the main novels.
Mistborn Era 2: Wax and Wayne
After finishing The Hero of Ages, the Mistborn series jumps forward roughly 300 years.
Scadrial has changed dramatically.
Technology has advanced. Railroads, guns, electricity, and skyscrapers now exist alongside Allomancy and Feruchemy.
Sanderson’s official description of The Alloy of Law places Era 2 approximately three centuries after the original trilogy.
That change makes the Wax and Wayne books feel very different from the original trilogy. Instead of traditional epic fantasy, Era 2 blends fantasy with westerns, detective fiction, action, and eventually much larger Cosmere ideas.
4. The Alloy of Law
The Alloy of Law introduces Waxillium Ladrian, better known as Wax.
After spending years working as a lawman in the dangerous Roughs, Wax returns to the city of Elendel following a family tragedy.
He quickly discovers that life among wealthy nobles can be every bit as dangerous as the frontier.
The book is shorter and lighter than the original trilogy and initially feels almost like a standalone adventure.
Don’t let that fool you.
The events introduced here eventually become part of a much bigger story.
5. Shadows of Self
Shadows of Self expands the scope of Wax and Wayne’s story.
Political tensions, religious conflict, crime, and terrorism threaten Elendel, forcing Wax to investigate a conspiracy that becomes much more personal than he expects.
This is also where Era 2 starts developing a much stronger connection to the mythology established in the original trilogy.
6. The Bands of Mourning
The Bands of Mourning is where the second era begins revealing some of its biggest secrets.
Wax and his companions search for the legendary Bands of Mourning, metalminds supposedly connected to one of the most powerful figures in Scadrial’s history.
The novel significantly expands what readers know about the world.
And once you finish it, there is one important detour I recommend making.
When Should You Read Mistborn: Secret History?
Read Mistborn: Secret History after The Bands of Mourning if you want the most spoiler-conscious reading experience.
This is one of the most debated questions surrounding the Mistborn reading order.
Secret History takes place alongside events from the original trilogy and reveals what was happening behind the scenes.
Sanderson warns that the novella contains major spoilers for all three books in the original trilogy as well as minor spoilers for The Bands of Mourning.
When Secret History was originally released alongside The Bands of Mourning, Sanderson also advised readers to finish Bands of Mourning before reading the novella.
For that reason, my preferred reading order is:
The Hero of Ages → The Alloy of Law → Shadows of Self → The Bands of Mourning → Secret History → The Lost Metal
However, there is another option.
Can You Read Secret History After The Hero of Ages?
Yes.
Some readers prefer reading Secret History immediately after The Hero of Ages because the events and characters from the original trilogy are still fresh in their minds.
That order works especially well during a reread.
But first-time readers who want to preserve Sanderson’s intended surprises should wait until after The Bands of Mourning.
7. The Lost Metal
The Lost Metal is the fourth and final Wax and Wayne novel.
It brings many of the storylines from Era 2 to a conclusion while dramatically increasing the series’ connections to Sanderson’s larger Cosmere universe.
Readers who have only read Mistborn can still follow the main story, but anyone familiar with Sanderson’s other Cosmere books will notice a lot more.
The official Mistborn site describes The Lost Metal as the final volume of the second Mistborn saga.
Where Does The Eleventh Metal Fit in the Mistborn Order?
The Eleventh Metal is a prequel short story centered on Kelsier.
You technically can read it before The Final Empire, but I don’t recommend doing that.
Read the main novel first so you can experience Sanderson’s introduction to Kelsier and the Mistborn world as originally intended.
A good place for The Eleventh Metal is:
After The Final Empire or after The Hero of Ages.
The story is included in Arcanum Unbounded.
When Should You Read Allomancer Jak?
Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania is another Mistborn story included in Arcanum Unbounded.
It takes place during the Era 2 period.
Unlike Secret History, it isn’t essential to understanding the main plot. Think of it as bonus material for readers who want to spend more time exploring Scadrial.
I would read it sometime after The Alloy of Law.
Complete Mistborn Reading Order Including Short Stories
If you want to read everything, this is the order I recommend:
- Mistborn: The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- The Eleventh Metal
- The Alloy of Law
- Shadows of Self
- Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania
- The Bands of Mourning
- Mistborn: Secret History
- The Lost Metal
This gives you a relatively spoiler-safe journey through the currently completed portions of the Mistborn saga.
What Is Mistborn Era 3?
The Mistborn saga isn’t finished.
Sanderson is currently working on Mistborn Era 3, titled Ghostbloods.
Unlike Wax and Wayne, which takes place in a setting inspired by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ghostbloods will move Scadrial much further forward technologically.
Sanderson has said that Era 3 takes place roughly 50 years after Era 2 and has an analogue to the 1980s and early computer age.
As of 2026, the planned trilogy is:
- Ghostbloods Book 1 — projected December 2028
- Ghostbloods Book 2 — projected December 2029
- Ghostbloods Book 3 — projected December 2030
Sanderson’s December 2025 State of the Sanderson maintained those projected release windows. These dates are still plans rather than guaranteed publication dates and could change.
Sanderson is taking an unusual approach to the trilogy by working on the books before the first one is published, allowing him and his team to improve continuity throughout all three novels.
That means readers beginning Mistborn today have plenty of books to enjoy before Era 3 arrives.
Do You Need to Read the Cosmere Before Mistborn?
No.
You absolutely do not need to read The Stormlight Archive, Elantris, Warbreaker, or any other Cosmere series before starting Mistborn.
Mistborn: The Final Empire is designed to work as the beginning of its own story.
In fact, Mistborn is one of the best introductions to the Cosmere because it teaches readers many of Sanderson’s storytelling techniques without requiring knowledge of his other novels.
The larger connections become increasingly important later, particularly in Secret History and The Lost Metal.
But don’t turn the Cosmere into homework.
Start with Mistborn and explore the other books if the larger universe interests you.
How Many Mistborn Books Are There?
There are currently seven main published Mistborn novels:
- Three novels in Mistborn Era 1
- Four novels in Mistborn Era 2
There are also several shorter Mistborn works, most notably Mistborn: Secret History, The Eleventh Metal, and Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania.
Sanderson also plans three Ghostbloods novels for Mistborn Era 3, with the first currently projected for December 2028.
Should You Read Mistborn?
You definitely should read Mistbron.
Few fantasy series evolve as dramatically as Mistborn. What begins as an epic fantasy story about overthrowing an immortal ruler eventually becomes a saga about how civilizations, religions, technology, and magic evolve over centuries.
And Sanderson’s Allomancy remains one of the most creative and satisfying magic systems in modern fantasy.
The original trilogy alone makes Mistborn worth reading, but seeing how Scadrial changes between Era 1 and Era 2 makes the larger series even more fascinating.
If you’re looking for an epic fantasy series filled with memorable characters, detailed worldbuilding, intricate magic systems, mysteries, and Sanderson’s trademark twists, Mistborn deserves a spot near the top of your reading list.
Just remember the easiest rule for the Mistborn books in order:
Start with The Final Empire, finish the original trilogy, move on to Wax and Wayne, and read Secret History after The Bands of Mourning if you want to avoid its biggest spoilers.
There is always another secret.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Mistborn Book Order
What is the first Mistborn book?
The first Mistborn novel is Mistborn: The Final Empire. It begins the original trilogy and should be the starting point for first-time readers.
What are the first three Mistborn books in order?
The original trilogy is:
- Mistborn: The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
Should I read Mistborn Era 1 before Era 2?
Yes. Era 2 takes place hundreds of years after Era 1 and frequently references characters, events, religions, and revelations from the original trilogy.
When should I read Mistborn: Secret History?
For first-time readers, I recommend reading Mistborn: Secret History after The Bands of Mourning. It contains major spoilers for the original trilogy and minor spoilers for Bands of Mourning.
Is Wax and Wayne Mistborn Era 2?
Yes. The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, The Bands of Mourning, and The Lost Metal make up Mistborn Era 2, commonly called the Wax and Wayne series.
Is Mistborn Era 3 coming?
Yes. Mistborn Era 3 is called Ghostbloods. The first book is currently projected for December 2028, followed by books two and three in December 2029 and December 2030 respectively.
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