The Stormlight Archive Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Way of Kings | 2010 | Buy |
| Words of Radiance | 2014 | Buy |
| Edgedancer | 2016 | Buy |
| Oathbringer | 2017 | Buy |
| Dawnshard | 2020 | Buy |
| Rhythm of War | 2020 | Buy |
| Wind and Truth | 2024 | Buy |
Mistborn Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Final Empire | 2006 | Buy |
| The Well of Ascension | 2007 | Buy |
| The Hero of Ages | 2008 | Buy |
| The Alloy of Law | 2011 | Buy |
| Shadows of Self | 2015 | Buy |
| The Bands of Mourning | 2016 | Buy |
| The Lost Metal | 2022 | Buy |
The Wheel of Time Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Eye of the World | 1990 | Buy |
| The Great Hunt | 1990 | Buy |
| The Dragon Reborn | 1991 | Buy |
| The Shadow Rising | 1992 | Buy |
| The Fires of Heaven | 1993 | Buy |
| Lord of Chaos | 1994 | Buy |
| A Crown of Swords | 1996 | Buy |
| The Path of Daggers | 1998 | Buy |
| Winter’s Heart | 2000 | Buy |
| Crossroads of Twilight | 2003 | Buy |
| New Spring | 2004 | Buy |
| Knife of Dreams | 2005 | Buy |
| The Gathering Storm | 2009 | Buy |
| Towers of Midnight | 2010 | Buy |
| A Memory of Light | 2013 | Buy |
Brandon Sanderson writes faster than most authors can outline. He’s published over 20 novels since 2005, plus novellas, short stories, and graphic novels. In 2022, his Kickstarter for four secret novels raised $41 million, breaking crowdfunding records.
Sanderson teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University and posts his lectures online for free. He’s unusually transparent about his writing process, publishing progress bars on his website showing how far along each project is. Readers know exactly when a book will be finished because Sanderson tells them.
His magic systems are famously structured. Where other fantasy authors keep magic mysterious, Sanderson gives it rules and limitations. Mistborn’s Allomancy lets users “burn” metals for different powers. Stormlight’s Surgebinding requires a bond with a sentient spirit. These systems become puzzles that characters solve, often in climactic scenes where everything clicks together.
Sanderson finished Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series after Jordan died in 2007. Harriet Jordan, Robert’s widow and editor, chose Sanderson based on his published novels and a eulogy he’d written. He completed the final three books from Jordan’s notes and recordings, satisfying most fans while admitting he couldn’t perfectly match Jordan’s voice.
Most of Sanderson’s adult fantasy novels are connected through the Cosmere, a shared universe with its own physics and metaphysics. Characters cross over between series. Easter eggs reward careful readers. Sanderson has said he’s building toward a grand finale that will bring the various storylines together.