Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere Explained: Books Reading Order & Shared Universe Connections

by

Good news for fantasy readers! Brandon Sanderson’s complex and interconnected Cosmere universe is finally being adapted for the screen, which is thrilling for those familiar with his many books. However, it’s a huge undertaking. Sanderson has written a vast number of novels, and the connections between them can be surprising. Plus, not all of his books take place in the same universe, making the adaptation even more challenging. Even dedicated fans might find it difficult to follow all the storylines.

If you’re new to Brandon Sanderson’s books, it can be tough to know where to begin. While many have heard of series like The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn, understanding how they all connect isn’t easy. The relationships between his different books aren’t obvious, so we’re here to explain the Cosmere – what it is, which books are included, and the reading order Sanderson recommends. With adaptations now in the works, now is the perfect time to dive in!

What Is the Cosmere? Brandon Sanderson’s Fantasy Universe Explained

Let’s start with an explanation of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere. Think of it like the Marvel or DC Universe, but existing in book form. The Cosmere is a collection of Sanderson’s stories – novels, shorter stories, and even graphic novels – all connected and taking place on different planets within the same universe. Each story can be enjoyed on its own, but they’re all part of a bigger picture. As Sanderson himself puts it on his website:

As a longtime reader of Brandon Sanderson’s work, I’ve always been fascinated by the intricate connections between his Cosmere novels. What really sets them apart is a shared foundation – a single creation story and a consistent set of rules governing magic across all these worlds. It’s not a simple system to grasp – I certainly can’t sum it up in a single sentence – but it is possible to trace how all the different magical systems connect, based on this overarching, unifying principle. It’s like there’s a master equation that explains it all, if you can just find the pieces.

Because all these books share a common universe, you’ll find connections between them. Characters often reappear, and there are recurring themes and references. The history of this universe, and the gods within it, play a big role in the overall story. As the author continues to write, these connections may become even clearer. There are already many books to enjoy, which is great timing with the upcoming Apple TV adaptations.

Every Book in the Cosmere & When It Was Published

Currently, Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe includes 18 novels, plus shorter stories, collections, and graphic novels. This expansive fantasy world began with Elantris in 2005, but it’s not the book most readers – or even Sanderson himself – suggest starting with. We’ll discuss the best way to read these books later. Here’s a list of all the Cosmere works, ordered by when they were published.

  • Elantris (2005)
  • Mistborn Era 1 (2006-2008)
    • The Final Empire (2006)
    • The Well of Ascension (2007)
    • The Hero of Ages (2008)
  • Warbreaker (2009)
  • The Stormlight Archive Arc 1 (2010-2024)
    • The Way of Kings (2010)
    • Words of Radiance (2014)
    • Oathbringer (2017)
    • Dawnshard [Novella] (2020)
    • Rhythm of War (2020)
    • Wind and Truth (2024)
  • Mistborn Era 2 (2011-2022)
    • The Alloy of Law (2011)
    • Shadows of Self (2015)
    • The Bands of Mourning (2016)
    • The Lost Metal (2022)
  • White Sand [Graphic Novels] (2016-2019)
    • White Sand Vol. 1 (2016)
    • White Sand Vol. 2 (2018)
    • White Sand Vol. 3 (2019)
    • White Sand Omnibus (2024)
  • Arcanum Unbounded [Story Collection] (2016)
  • Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)
  • Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (2023)
  • The Sunlit Man (2023)
  • Isles of the Emberdark (2025)

While you can read Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere books in order of their release, it’s not the best approach. If you try, pay attention to when each book came out, particularly during the publication of The Stormlight Archive and the later Mistborn books, as they were released around the same time.

The Cosmere Reading Order Brandon Sanderson Recommends

If you’re wondering the best way to read Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere books, you’re in luck! Sanderson himself has shared his recommendation on his YouTube channel, and who better to ask than the author who created this whole universe? While his suggested order isn’t strict—you have some flexibility in the middle—he recommends starting with the first Mistborn trilogy, then reading two of his best standalone novels.

  • The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)
  • The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2)
  • The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3)
  • Warbreaker
  • Tress of the Emerald Sea

Sanderson then recommends starting his epic series, The Stormlight Archive. Because it’s a long series, he suggests reading other books in between installments to avoid burnout. He advises readers to try either the second Mistborn series or one of his standalone novels. Elantris and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter are good options that can be enjoyed at any time.

The Mistborn books 4 through 6 are flexible in terms of reading order, but it’s best to read The Lost Metal after you finish Rhythm of War, even though Brandon Sanderson doesn’t specifically say so. He recommends reading The Sunlit Man after the fourth Stormlight Archive book. While he hasn’t given guidance on White Sand, most readers suggest reading it before Rhythm of War. And since Isles of the Emberdark is the most recent release, save that one for last.

Okay, so diving into Arcanum Unbounded, you don’t have to read everything in order, which is great. But Brandon Sanderson does suggest a couple of key reads. He really wants you to finish Words of Radiance before tackling Edgedancer, which is included in this collection. And if you’ve gotten through Oathbringer, definitely read Dawnshard next – it’s a standalone novella, but important. One more thing – while he doesn’t explicitly say it, I’d recommend checking out Mistborn: Secret History after you finish The Bands of Mourning. Thankfully, that one’s also tucked inside Arcanum Unbounded.

Considering everything we’ve discussed, here’s a suggested order for reading the rest of the Cosmere books. Feel free to adjust it based on your preferences and the notes provided.

  • The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive #1)
  • Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive #2)
  • Edgedancer (Novella in Arcanum Unbounded)
  • Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive #3)
  • Dawnshard (Novella)
  • The Alloy of Law (Mistborn #4)
  • Shadows of Self (Mistborn #5)
  • The Bands of Mourning (Mistborn #6)
  • Mistborn: Secret History (Novella in Arcanum Unbounded)
  • Elantris
  • Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
  • White Sand
  • Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive #4)
  • The Lost Metal (Mistborn #7)
  • The Sunlit Man
  • Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive #5)
  • Isles of the Emberdark

Future Books Planned for the Cosmere

Honestly, trying to wrap my head around everything in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere is a bit overwhelming – and I’m definitely not the only one! But even with all that already, it’s not finished yet. He’s planning even more books, including continuing the stories in both Mistborn and Stormlight Archive, which is incredibly exciting.

While most of Brandon Sanderson’s future Cosmere books don’t have confirmed release dates, he frequently discusses them. The next book, The Fires of December, featuring the character Hoid, is planned for release later this year. The first book in the new Mistborn era is currently expected in 2028. However, Sanderson mentioned that his work on adapting his books for other media might cause some delays.

The author has plans to continue the stories of Warbreaker and Elantris, write more books in the Stormlight Archive series, and turn the White Sand graphic novels into a traditional novel. He’s also hinted at other projects for 2025, but emphasizes that these aren’t guaranteed. For now, here’s what readers can definitely look forward to:

  • The Fires of December (2026)
  • Mistborn Era 3: Ghostbloods (2028)
  • Elantris 2 & 3
  • A Warbreaker sequel
  • White Sand novel
  • The Stormlight Archive Arc 2

Which Cosmere Books Are Being Adapted for the Screen?

The Cosmere series is extensive, making a full adaptation a huge undertaking – it’s unclear if Apple TV will be able to cover everything. However, Apple TV appears to own the rights to the entire Cosmere universe, meaning they could potentially adapt any of Brandon Sanderson’s books within it.

As expected, the first two projects in development are based on Brandon Sanderson’s popular novels, Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive. Details are still limited, but The Hollywood Reporter says Apple intends to make Mistborn into a series of movies. The Stormlight Archive, due to its length and scope, will be adapted as a TV show. This approach seems perfect – Mistborn lends itself well to the big screen, and Stormlight is better suited for a longer-form television format. Fans of Sanderson’s work have a lot to be excited about!

Interested in Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe? If you’ve started reading, or are thinking about it, we’d love to hear your thoughts and recommend a good reading order! Share your opinions and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum.

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/10-upcoming-fantasy-movies-based-on-books-we-cant-wait-to-see/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-30 05:45