Book · in order

Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere in Order

Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere is a shared universe spanning the Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, and standalone novels. There is no single "correct" order, but two paths dominate: strict publication order and the widely endorsed recommended reading order.

Why this order?

There is genuinely no single "right" way to start the Cosmere, and that is the most important thing to understand before you pick up a book. The novels are designed to be read in multiple sequences, with several valid entry points. Brandon Sanderson himself has named the original Mistborn trilogy, Elantris, and Warbreaker as good places to begin, and the community is split between them. If you want momentum and a tight, complete trilogy, start with Mistborn Era 1. If you prefer a single standalone before committing, Elantris or Warbreaker both work.

Publication order and recommended order diverge in a few telling places, which is why we list both. Reading by release date (Elantris 2005, then Mistborn, then Warbreaker, then the Stormlight and Wax & Wayne books interleaved) mirrors how longtime fans actually experienced the universe and how the author's craft visibly matured. The recommended order instead groups the series so you read each one straight through, and it deliberately slots Warbreaker before The Way of Kings because Warbreaker plants subtle character and magic-system seeds that pay off in Stormlight without spoiling anything.

The interconnection is the whole point of the Cosmere, but it is mostly background early on. The standalone novels and the "Secret Projects" (Tress of the Emerald Sea, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, The Sunlit Man) reward existing Cosmere knowledge, so they generally land better later, with The Sunlit Man in particular being best saved until after you've read more of the universe. The recurring traveler Hoid appears across nearly every book, and the deeper cross-series payoffs accelerate once you reach the back half of the Stormlight Archive.

Our default is publication order because it is the safest, most spoiler-free path and requires no decisions. But if you specifically want the smoothest series-by-series experience with the strongest Stormlight setup, switch to the recommended order. Both finish at the same place with Wind and Truth (2024), the midpoint capstone of the ten-book Stormlight Archive.

Timeline 2005–2024

Every release plotted by year — taller stacks mean more that year. Hover a marker for the title.

Where to play it today

Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.

Cameos & crossovers

Characters from The Cosmere who also show up elsewhere — see the full character atlas →

Hoid

Cosmere's immortal worldhopper; appears across nearly every Sanderson series as the secret connective thread.

Also in Mistborn The Stormlight Archive

Frequently asked questions

How many Cosmere books are there?

As of 2026 there are 14 mainline Cosmere novels plus several novellas. This list covers the 19 core entries fans usually mean: Elantris, the Mistborn Era 1 trilogy, Warbreaker, the five published Stormlight Archive novels, the four Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne) novels, the three Secret Project novels, and two key novellas. The universe is planned to span dozens more books.

Where should I start reading the Cosmere?

The most common recommendation is Mistborn: The Final Empire, because it is a self-contained trilogy with a satisfying arc. Elantris and Warbreaker are also author-endorsed standalone starting points. Avoid starting with the Secret Projects or The Sunlit Man, which reward prior Cosmere knowledge.

Does the Cosmere have to be read in order?

No. Each series stands largely on its own, so you can read Mistborn, Stormlight, Elantris, and Warbreaker in different sequences. The cross-series 'Cosmere' connections are mostly background early on and become more rewarding the more you've read, which is why we offer both a publication and a recommended order.

What is the difference between publication order and recommended order?

Publication order follows release dates and is fully spoiler-safe. The recommended order groups each series so you read it straight through, and it places Warbreaker before The Way of Kings because Warbreaker sets up character and magic-system details that enhance the Stormlight Archive.

Is Wind and Truth the end of the Stormlight Archive?

No. Wind and Truth (2024) is Book 5 and the midpoint finale of the planned ten-book Stormlight Archive. It closes the first major arc; a second set of five books is planned for the future.