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How to Start Reading Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere: The Ultimate Guide

Welcome to the Cosmere, You Brave Soul

Oren Cohen

Oren Cohen

— 5 min read
How to Start Reading Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere: The Ultimate Guide
Image: 17th Shard.

So you’ve heard about Brandon Sanderson, the guy who finished The Wheel of Time, writes like a machine, and has a cult following of fantasy fans. You heard whispers of interconnected worlds, insanely detailed magic systems, and a recurring mystery man named Hoid. Welcome to the Cosmere.

This guide is your one-stop shop for how to dive into it without getting lost, overwhelmed, or spoiled.

What Is the Cosmere? (And Why Should You Care?)

The Cosmere is a shared universe that spans across many of Sanderson's novels and series. Think of it like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but for fantasy books. Each book or series stands alone, but there’s a hidden thread connecting them all—through world mechanics, gods, magic, and characters.

Key points:

  • Interconnected worlds: Each series takes place on a different planet in the same universe.
  • Recurring characters: Certain characters (like Hoid) appear across different series.
  • Investiture: The magic systems across the Cosmere stem from the same source, though they manifest differently.

Why should you care? Because Sanderson's worldbuilding is insane. If you're into fantasy that rewards attention to detail, the Cosmere is your playground.

Key Cosmere Series (And Their Vibes)

Mistborn Era 1

  • Vibe: Heist + rebellion + epic war.
  • Magic: Alomancy — eating metals gives you powers (e.g., flight, telekinesis, emotional influence, etc.).
  • Books:
    • The Final Empire
    • The Well of Ascension
    • The Hero of Ages

Mistborn Era 2 (Set ~300 years later)

  • Vibe: Steampunk Western.
  • Magic: Evolution of Alomancy - New allomantic powers, new tech for harnessing them.
  • Books:
    • The Alloy of Law
    • Shadows of Self
    • The Bands of Mourning
    • The Lost Metal

Stormlight Archive

  • Vibe: Massive epic fantasy. Big feels big stakes. It could be hard to get into if you're unprepared to read books with 1000+ pages.
  • Magic:
    • Surgebinding - You can fly if you get a spirit bestie and get over your trauma.
    • Shardblades - unique swords that act more deadly than regular swords.
  • Books:
    • The Way of Kings
    • Words of Radiance
    • Oathbringer
    • Rhythm of War
    • Wind and Truth

Warbreaker

  • Vibe: Color-based magic, gods, politics, sass.
  • Magic: BioChromatic Breath - Make objects come alive and do your bidding.
  • Books: Just one so far — Warbreaker.

Elantris

  • Vibe: Fallen gods, political intrigue, city of the damned.
  • Magic: AonDor (symbol-based magic) - Draw runes in the air to invoke magic.
  • Books:
    • Elantris
    • Two sequels coming over the next five years.
  • Note: The Book "The Emperor's Soul" is not a direct sequel to Elantris, even though it happens in the same world.

Tress of the Emerald Sea & Secret Projects

  • Vibe: Fairytale adventure with meta Cosmere hints.
  • Books:
    • Tress of the Emerald Sea
    • Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
    • The Sunlit Man (Not for beginners).
  • Note: Brandon suggested that Tress of The Emerald Sea as a starting point is a good idea.

Arcanum Unbounded

  • Vibe: Short stories + novellas from across the Cosmere.
  • Note: Read after some main books for max impact.

The Beginner Path (Safe and Epic)

  1. Mistborn Era 1
  2. Warbreaker
  3. Stormlight Archive

Pros: Eases you in. You get Sanderson’s style and magic systems before the big leagues.

The Chronological Completionist (Timeline Nerds)

  • Elantris
  • Hope of Elantris (short story)
  • The Emperor's Soul (novella)
  • Mistborn Era 1
  • Secret History (after Mistborn Era 1)
  • Mistborn Era 2
  • Warbreaker
  • Stormlight Archive
  • Secret Projects

Pros: Internal chronology. You’re a lore goblin.

The Thematic Explorer (No Rush, Just Vibes)

Jump around. Pick what sounds fun. Each book stands alone, but you'll spot Easter eggs.

The Stormlight Stanner (Jump In the Deep End)

Start with The Way of Kings if you’re ready to commit to 1,000+ page epics and be emotionally wrecked.

If You Want More Specific Starting Points

A good breakdown of books that are good starting points vs. books best saved for later.

Good Entry Points to The Cosmere

  1. Mistborn Era 1
  2. Elantris
  3. Warbreaker
  4. Tress of the Emerald Sea
  5. The Emperor's Soul

Books Best Saved For Later

  1. Stormlight Archive
  2. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
  3. (Some of) Arcanum Unbounded
  4. The Sunlit Man

What About Arcanum Unbounded?

It’s a collection of short stories and novellas from different parts of the Cosmere. Some of these are best read after you’ve experienced the main series they relate to.

Suggested timing:

  • Read after Mistborn Era 1, Era 2, and Stormlight Book 2.
  • Don’t read Mistborn: Secret History until you’ve finished Mistborn Era 1.

FAQs About Starting the Cosmere

  • Do I need to read in publication order? No, but it helps. Sanderson builds in layers.
  • Will I miss out if I don’t read them all? Nope. Each series works solo. But the more you read, the more you see the puzzle come together.
  • Are the books interconnected or standalone? Both. Self-contained stories in a bigger universe.
  • Is this like the MCU? Kind of, but smarter and with magic systems that actually make sense.

Cosmere Reading Tips (From a Veteran Sanderfan)

  • Don’t overthink it. Just start.
  • Pay attention to recurring names like Hoid.
  • Keep a wiki handy if you wanna go deep (Coppermind.net).
  • The Stormlight Archive gets better with each book.
  • Be patient. The payoff is massive.

Where to Buy / Read the Books

  • Available in print, ebook, and audio (Michael Kramer and Kate Reading are elite narrators).
  • Check Amazon, your local bookstore, or libraries.
  • Audiobooks: Audible, Scribd, or Libby.
  • Support Sanderson directly via Dragonsteel books if you’re hardcore.

Conclusion: Ready to Enter the Cosmere?

You’re about to start one of the most rewarding journeys in modern fantasy. Whether you start with Mistborn or Stormlight, you’re stepping into a universe that’s still unfolding. Welcome to the Cosmere.

I want to thank the community on r/Cosmere subreddit who helped shape this article! Share your cosmere journey on there because the community is so welcoming and fantastic!

Drop a comment with your starting point or your favorite Sanderson book, and let’s nerd out together!

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