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Cosmere Reading Order
Read All the Cosmere Books in Order
Read Cosmere Books in Order
- The Final Empire (Mistborn) (2006)
Buy on Amazon - The Well Of Ascension (Mistborn) (2007)
Buy on Amazon - The Hero Of Ages (Mistborn) (2008)
Buy on Amazon - The Way Of Kings (Stormlight Archive) (2010)
Buy on Amazon - Warbreaker (Cosmere Standalones) (2009)
Buy on Amazon - Words Of Radiance (Stormlight Archive) (2014)
Buy on Amazon - Elantris (Cosmere Standalones) (2005)
Buy on Amazon - Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection (2016)
Buy on Amazon - Edgedancer (Stormlight Archive) (2016)
(Included in Arcanum Unbounded)
Buy on Amazon - Oathbringer (Stormlight Archive) (2017)
Buy on Amazon - Dawnshard (Stormlight Archive) (2020)
Buy on Amazon - White Sand (Graphic Novels) (2016)
Buy on Amazon - Rhythm Of War (Stormlight Archive) (2020)
Buy on Amazon - The Alloy Of Law (Mistborn) (2011)
Buy on Amazon - Shadows Of Self (Mistborn) (2015)
Buy on Amazon - The Bands Of Mourning (Mistborn) (2016)
Buy on Amazon - The Lost Metal (Mistborn) (2022)
Buy on Amazon - Tress Of The Emerald Sea (Cosmere Standalones) (2023)
Buy on Amazon - Yumi And The Nightmare Painter (Cosmere Standalones) (2023)
Buy on Amazon - Wind And Truth (Stormlight Archive) (2024)
Buy on Amazon - The Sunlit Man (Cosmere Standalones) (2023)
Buy on Amazon - Isles Of The Emberdark (Cosmere Standalones)
Buy on Amazon
Note: Publication years may differ, as this reading order list prioritizes the best reading experience over release dates.
About Cosmere Series
The Cosmere is an expansive shared fantasy universe created by Brandon Sanderson, connecting multiple epic fantasy series and standalone novels within a single overarching narrative framework. Although many of the books take place on different planets with unique magic systems and cultures, they all exist within the same cosmological setting and share subtle links that gradually reveal a larger story.
The Cosmere began with Elantris (2005), Sanderson’s debut novel, which introduced readers to a richly imagined world shaped by magical transformation and political intrigue. While the book stands on its own as a complete story, it also establishes elements that connect to the broader Cosmere mythology. Sanderson later expanded this universe through multiple series, most notably Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive.
Reading the Cosmere books in publication order allows readers to experience the universe the way it gradually unfolded over time. Each new release introduces another piece of the puzzle, expanding the mythology while revealing hidden connections between characters, worlds, and magical systems.
One of the most accessible entry points into the Cosmere is the Mistborn series, beginning with Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006). Set in a world ruled by a seemingly immortal tyrant, the series introduces a distinctive magic system based on metals and elemental abilities. The trilogy follows a group of rebels attempting to overthrow an oppressive regime, while later books revisit the same world centuries later in a new technological era.
Another cornerstone of the Cosmere is The Stormlight Archive, a massive epic fantasy series beginning with The Way of Kings (2010). Set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar, these novels explore war, ancient magic, and the rediscovery of powerful orders of warriors known as the Knights Radiant. The series features an enormous cast of characters and complex world-building, making it one of Sanderson’s most ambitious projects.
What distinguishes the Cosmere from many other fantasy universes is the underlying structure that links its stories together. Each major series takes place on a different planet within the same star system, and many of the magic systems originate from a shared cosmic event known as the Shattering of Adonalsium. Fragments of this primordial power—known as Shards—are held by individuals who influence the development of entire worlds.
As readers progress through the books, subtle crossovers begin to appear. Characters from one series occasionally show up in another, sometimes in disguise or under different identities. One recurring figure is Hoid, a mysterious traveler who appears throughout multiple Cosmere stories while pursuing his own hidden agenda.
Sanderson carefully designed the Cosmere so that individual series remain accessible on their own while still contributing to a much larger narrative. Readers can enjoy Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, Warbreaker, or Elantris independently, but those who follow the books in publication order often notice the gradually expanding connections between them.
In addition to the main novels, the Cosmere also includes novellas and short stories collected in Arcanum Unbounded, which provide deeper insights into various worlds and events within the universe. These shorter works often fill in gaps between major installments or explore characters who play smaller but significant roles in the overarching story.
Across multiple series and decades of storytelling, the Cosmere has grown into one of the most detailed shared universes in modern fantasy literature. Each new book expands the mythology while adding new perspectives on the interconnected worlds that make up Sanderson’s ambitious fictional cosmos.
Series: Cosmere