Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere can look intimidating from the outside. It includes multiple fantasy series, standalone novels, novellas, short stories, graphic novels and characters who occasionally appear on worlds far from home. New readers often assume they need a complicated chart before opening their first book.
Fortunately, the Cosmere is much easier to enter than it appears.
Most of its series tell complete stories on their own. You can begin with Mistborn, The Way of Kings, Elantris, Warbreaker or even The Emperor’s Soul without studying the wider universe first. Sanderson’s own beginner’s guide names all five as possible starting points and says the individual series should be read sequentially, but the series themselves do not have one mandatory order.
Still, some books reveal more of the shared universe than others. Reading them in a carefully chosen order can protect major surprises and make the crossovers much more satisfying. This guide offers the best Cosmere reading order for a first-time reader, followed by the order for every individual series.
What Is the Cosmere?
The Cosmere is the shared fictional universe in which many of Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy and science-fiction stories take place. Mistborn unfolds on Scadrial, The Stormlight Archive takes place primarily on Roshar, and Warbreaker is set on Nalthis, but all three worlds belong to the same universe.
Each planet has its own cultures, conflicts and form of magic. Beneath those differences, however, the magic systems operate according to shared principles. Certain characters can also travel between worlds. Early connections often appear as background details or Easter eggs, while later novels make the larger Cosmere increasingly important.
Sanderson has compared the concept to an interconnected cinematic universe, although most of the books remain focused on their own worlds and central characters. His general rule is that stories involving Earth are not part of the Cosmere. That excludes series such as The Reckoners, Skyward, Alcatraz, The Rithmatist and Sanderson’s Wheel of Time novels.
The Best Cosmere Reading Order for Beginners
This is not a strict chronological timeline. It is a spoiler-conscious order designed to introduce the major worlds gradually, preserve important reveals and make later crossovers easier to recognize.
Phase One: Begin With Mistborn
- Mistborn: The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- “The Eleventh Metal” in Arcanum Unbounded
The original Mistborn trilogy is the best entry point for most fantasy readers. It introduces Sanderson’s detailed approach to magic through Allomancy, tells a complete story and gives readers their first meaningful look at the forces operating behind the Cosmere.
“The Eleventh Metal” is a short prequel about Kelsier. It can technically be read before The Final Empire, but it works better after the trilogy, when the reader already understands the character and the magic system.
Do not read Mistborn: Secret History yet if you want to preserve every reveal. It contains major spoilers for the original trilogy and a smaller but notable connection to The Bands of Mourning.
Phase Two: Explore the Early Standalones
- Elantris
- “The Hope of Elantris” in Arcanum Unbounded
- The Emperor’s Soul in Arcanum Unbounded
- Warbreaker
- White Sand Omnibus
These books expand the Cosmere beyond Scadrial without requiring a long commitment to another series.
Read “The Hope of Elantris” after Elantris because the short story takes place during the novel’s climax. The Emperor’s Soul is set elsewhere on the same planet, Sel, and largely stands alone. It is also one of the shortest and strongest possible introductions for anyone who wants to sample Sanderson before beginning a full novel.
Warbreaker is especially useful before The Stormlight Archive. It is not required, but several characters and objects from Nalthis become relevant on Roshar. The connections become more obvious as Stormlight progresses.
The White Sand Omnibus is the simplest way to read the graphic-novel story. It collects the complete adventure and introduces Taldain as well as Khriss, an important scholar of the wider Cosmere. Readers do not need to buy the three original volumes separately if they have the omnibus.
Phase Three: Enter the Stormlight Archive
The Way of Kings begins Sanderson’s largest series. It can be a starting point for experienced epic-fantasy readers, but reading the earlier books first makes several background appearances more meaningful.
The order of the first three main Stormlight novels is straightforward. The important detail is to place Edgedancerbetween Words of Radiance and Oathbringer. The novella follows Lift and explains developments that matter when she and other characters return in the third novel. Edgedancer is available separately and in Arcanum Unbounded; readers only need one version.
Phase Four: Read Mistborn Era Two
- The Alloy of Law
- “Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania” in Arcanum Unbounded
- Shadows of Self
- The Bands of Mourning
- Mistborn: Secret History in Arcanum Unbounded
Mistborn Era Two begins roughly three centuries after the original trilogy. Scadrial has advanced into an age of trains, firearms, electric lights and early skyscrapers, while Allomancy and Feruchemy remain part of everyday life.
“Allomancer Jak” is an optional in-world adventure that fits naturally after The Alloy of Law. The four Wax and Wayne novels must otherwise be read in publication order.
The safest first-read placement for Secret History is after The Bands of Mourning. Sanderson’s official description warns that the novella contains huge spoilers for the original trilogy and minor spoilers for The Bands of Mourning. Some fans prefer reading it immediately after The Hero of Ages because its events overlap with Era One, but waiting preserves the intended mystery in Bands.
Phase Five: Return to Roshar
Dawnshard takes place between Oathbringer and Rhythm of War. It follows Rysn and the Lopen on an expedition to Akinah and contains information with consequences far beyond Roshar.
After Rhythm of War, return to Scadrial for The Lost Metal, the conclusion to Mistborn Era Two. This is where the shared universe becomes much more visible. Earlier Cosmere books are no longer useful only for spotting tiny Easter eggs; knowledge of other worlds and magic systems directly enriches the story.
Phase Six: Read the Cosmere Standalones and Later Stormlight Books
- “Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell” in Arcanum Unbounded
- Tress of the Emerald Sea
- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
- The Sunlit Man
- Wind and Truth
- Isles of the Emberdark
“Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell” is a dark standalone novella set on Threnody. It can be read much earlier, but placing it here keeps its world fresh before later space-age Cosmere developments.
Tress of the Emerald Sea and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter are standalone adventures narrated by Hoid. Either can be read earlier, especially by readers who want a lighter starting point, but both contain references that become more rewarding after the major series.
The Sunlit Man takes place in the Cosmere’s future and follows a character with deep ties to The Stormlight Archive. It should ideally be read after Rhythm of War. Reading it before Wind and Truth also follows publication order and lets some of its mysteries remain intriguing rather than immediately explained.
Wind and Truth is the fifth Stormlight novel and the conclusion to the series’ first major arc. It should not be treated as the ending of the entire Stormlight Archive: Sanderson plans a second five-book arc after a time gap.
Save Isles of the Emberdark for close to the end. The novel expands the story first published as “Sixth of the Dusk” and takes place in the far-future, spacefaring era of the Cosmere. It can still be enjoyed as an adventure, but its many connections make it feel like a reward for readers who already know the major worlds.
The original “Sixth of the Dusk” novella is incorporated into and expanded within Isles of the Emberdark, so new readers do not have to read both. Completionists can read the shorter version in Arcanum Unbounded before the novel to compare them.
Where Does The Fires of December Fit?
The Fires of December is a new standalone Cosmere novel scheduled for commercial publication in December 2026. Sanderson groups it with Tress of the Emerald Sea and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter under the informal “Hoid’s Travails” banner because all three are told in Hoid’s voice.
According to Sanderson, those novels do not have numbered positions and can be read in any order. The Fires of December occurs before Tress and Yumi chronologically, although Hoid tells its story later. Once it is available, readers can place it alongside those two books in Phase Six without disrupting the larger order.
Every Cosmere Series in Order
Mistborn Era One
- Mistborn: The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- Mistborn: Secret History — companion novella; best saved until after The Bands of Mourning on a first read
Mistborn Era Two: Wax and Wayne
Mistborn Era Three, commonly called the Ghostbloods sequence during development, is expected to begin in 2028. It is not part of the currently published reading order.
The Stormlight Archive
- The Way of Kings
- Words of Radiance
- Edgedancer — novella
- Oathbringer
- Dawnshard — novella
- Rhythm of War
- Wind and Truth
The main novels are officially numbered one through five; the two novellas fit between them. The series is planned as ten main novels divided into two five-book arcs.
Sel Stories
The Emperor’s Soul shares a planet with Elantris but tells a separate story in a different region. Its placement after Elantris is convenient rather than essential.
Hoid’s Travails
Sanderson says these stories can be read in any order.
What Is Included in Arcanum Unbounded?
Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection is the most efficient way to collect many of the novellas and short stories. It includes:
- “The Hope of Elantris”
- “The Eleventh Metal”
- The Emperor’s Soul
- “Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania”
- A White Sand excerpt
- “Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell”
- “Sixth of the Dusk”
- Mistborn: Secret History
- Edgedancer
The collection also includes essays and illustrations about several planetary systems. Pay attention to the spoiler warnings printed before individual stories. Do not simply read the collection from beginning to end when starting the Cosmere.
Dawnshard and the later standalone novels are not included in Arcanum Unbounded.
Can You Read the Cosmere in Publication Order?
Yes. Publication order is a completely valid way to experience the Cosmere and naturally reveals the universe in roughly the same sequence longtime readers discovered it. It is especially appealing to readers who do not mind moving frequently between series.
The recommended order above modifies publication order mainly to keep complete story arcs together and reduce the amount of jumping between worlds. It also places Secret History after The Bands of Mourning, where its additional spoiler warning matters most.
Should You Read the Cosmere in Chronological Order?
Chronological order is not recommended for a first reading. The Cosmere timeline spans enormous periods, and the precise placement of every story is not always stated in the novels. Some future-set books are deliberately written for readers who already recognize older worlds, characters and magic systems.
A chronological list would place White Sand very early and books such as The Sunlit Man and Isles of the Emberdarkmuch later. That may be interesting for a reread, but it does not create the clearest introduction or preserve every narrative reveal.
What Is the Best First Cosmere Book?
For most readers, the best first Cosmere book is Mistborn: The Final Empire. It delivers a complete-feeling fantasy adventure, introduces one of Sanderson’s most famous magic systems and leads directly into a finished trilogy.
Readers can choose a different doorway based on taste:
- Start with The Way of Kings if you already love enormous epic-fantasy series.
- Start with Warbreaker if you want romance, political intrigue and a colorful standalone story.
- Start with The Emperor’s Soul if you want a short, low-commitment introduction.
- Start with Tress of the Emerald Sea if you want a whimsical adventure with a fairy-tale voice.
- Start with Elantris if you want a standalone centered on mystery, politics and a broken magical city.
Do You Have to Read Every Cosmere Book?
No. A reader can finish the original Mistborn trilogy without touching Stormlight, or read the first five Stormlight books without completing every standalone. The shared-universe connections add context rather than serving as an entrance exam.
The simplest approach is to choose the story that sounds most exciting and read its series in order. If the larger Cosmere catches your interest, use the phases above to decide where to travel next.
Final Thoughts on the Cosmere Reading Order
The best Cosmere reading order is the one that keeps you excited to continue. There is no need to delay a book you desperately want to read because a chart says three other novels must come first.
For readers who want the most satisfying balance of accessibility, spoiler protection and crossover payoffs, begin with Mistborn Era One, explore Elantris and Warbreaker, enter The Stormlight Archive, and save the most heavily connected future-set novels for later. Once the different worlds begin to overlap, the scale of Sanderson’s project becomes part of the fun, and every reread reveals another secret hiding in plain sight.
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