Some know him for his intricate magic systems. Others recognize him as an author reinventing the speculative genre with his unique touch. To? us, however, Brandon Sanderson is simply one of this generation's greatest storytellers.

I use the word "great" but perhaps the more accurate adjective would be "prolific." Since starting his career with the release of Elantris in 2005, now almost two decades ago, Sanderson has written dozens of fantasy novels, most of them critically acclaimed hits, and there's no sign of him s?topping any time soon.

Whether it be The Stormlight Archive, an epic high-stakes fantasy tale taking place on an exotic planet, Mistborn, one of the best reinventions of the steampunk subgenre, or any number of the other standalone stories and novels in Cosmere and beyond, Sanderson has left his mark in the literary tradition of the 21st century. And while the prospects of picking up these books may be daunting at first due to their sheer scale, here we've decided to rank some of the best of them to give you a glimpse into Cosmere and how it's been r??eceived by readers over the years.

These are the t??op 10 Brandon Sanderson books, ranked from wors??t to best.

15. Skyward (Skyward #1)

I sometimes think of the Skyward series as Brandon Sanderson slowly preparing himself to approach the upcoming third and fourth Mistborn eras, which are supposed to depict the modern and futuristic space periods, respectively. Skyward is a fast-paced character-driven sci-fi story that, unlike many of Sanderson's other books, is aimed at a young adult audience. You follow Spensa, a girl with a fiery spirit who lives on a planet constantly beset by invasion from a race of aliens. Spensa wants to train to become a pilot, but her family's past has turned her into something of an outcast in society. Skyward is dyn?amic, easy to read, and full of intense action. Sanderson should definitely write more science fiction.

14. Rhythm of War (Stormlight #4)

To say that Rhythm of War is the weakest entry in The Stormlight Archive series would be to severely undersell some of its surging strengths (pun intended), but at the same time, we can’t help but notice that the fourth book only exists to bridge the gap between the first three books and the fifth and final one in the first arc, which came out a couple of weeks ago under the title of Wind and Truth. There are many moments that I loved in Rhythm of War, bu?t at 1200+ pages, this was the longest installment in the serie??s thus far, and the longest book Sanderson has ever written.

That is, until Wind and Truth came along and raised the bar by adding a?nother couple hundred pages. If th?is book was, say, 300 pages shorter, then it might have turned into one of my favorite fantasy books. But expecting Sanderson to write fewer words is like asking the sun to take a day off.

13. The Lost Metal (Mistborn #7)

Concluding the story of Wax and Wayne, whose adventures comprised the second Mistborn era set hundreds of years after the trials of Vin and Elend, The Lost Metal is one of the most emotional stories Sanderson has written. The humor and heart that defined much of the so-called Wax & Wayne saga is still there, but the stakes have never been higher for the planet Scadrial, and beyond that, the Cosmere as a whole. The ending is satisfying and the character resolutions are emotionally fulfilling, but what sets the second Mistborn era as well as The Lost Metal apart is its expansive lore-building, finally bringing many worlds from across the Cosmere, including The Stormlight Archive and elusive concepts such as perpendicularities and world-hopping to ?the fore.

12. Tress of the Emerald Sea

Reading through Sanderson's Cosmere is not just daunting for its sheer volume, but the fact that many of these large-scale epic stories tend to wear you down over time. For these people, the best way to retain their lifeline to Sanderson's writing but avoid burn-out is approaching books like Tress of the Emerald Sea; lighter, whimsical, less chunky, and overall, more palatable and charming. Sanderson published this as part of his Secret Projects but he originally wrote it as a gift to his wife. T?he story follows Tress, who leaves her idyllic life to save her kidnapped lost interest, once again told by Hoid. Though unlike most of his other fanciful tales, this one truly occur?red in the larger Cosmere.

11. Warbreaker

While most Brandon Sanderson series stand on their own feet and rarely include references to other worlds, and then very opaque, Warbreaker is one of those novels that can help you make sense of the larger Cosmere, especially The Stormlight Archive. In fact, some characters from Warbreaker do appear on Roshar, even if under a different guise. Warbreaker is full of action and compelling character arcs, but perhaps the best part about this well-known and acclaimed standalone is the fact that you get to explore a magic system unlike any other the author has develo??ped, full of magic and colors and the enigmatic type of ?energy known as BioChromatic Breath.

10. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

At its heart, the story of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a celebration of art and creativity. This is one of the books Sanderson released as part of his Secret Projects initiative, now considered the most successful Kickstarter campaign in history. The story is told from the perspective of Hoid, a famous Worldhopper in the Cosmere that appears in most Sanderson works like The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn. This time, Hoid (or Wit, as he's otherwise known) is telling us t??he story of Yumi??, a powerful spirit binder, and Nikaro, a nightmare painter, taking place on the planet Komashi, which has been inspired by East Asian cultures.

The idea of using art as magic, the intricacies of dual worldbuilding for our two protagonists, and the beautiful illustrations in Yumi all turn it into one of Brandon Sanderson's best publi??cations to this day.

9. The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)

Ash fell from the sky, and so began Brandon Sanderson’s journey from a modest fantasy enthusiast to the greatest voice in the genre. The Final Empire may not be the author’s first published work, but it remains, even after all these years, th?e best gateway into Cosmere and the epic works that comprise it. We follow the tale of a group of disgruntled, wrathful slaves known as skaa, who are attempting to overthrow the tyrannical god emperor of their world.

The tale follows the street girl Vin, distrustful and apprehensive, who gets recruited by Kelsier, a charismatic con artist, into his burgeoning group of rebellious skaa. The world of Mistborn is unique, both in storytelling and aesthetic. There are mysteries to discern, secrets to uncover, and a dozen colorful characters to fall in love with. Even Brandon Sanderson himself says that the best way to start on the Cosmere journey is to pick up the first Mistborn trilogy, consisting of The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages.

8. Oathbringer (Stormlight #3)

Every Stormlight Archive book has a fundamental premise that defines that particular installment. With Oathbringer, Sanderson attempted to see if he could subvert expectations in a way that he has never done before. And no, I’m not talking about the game-changing twist about the fight for Roshar at the end of this book. Oathbringer focuses on one of the main characters, Dalinar Kholin, and shows us his past in a raw, unfiltered light. You get to see how the famed and feared Blackthorn managed to forge an empire through blood and savagery, and how this man whom everyone once disavowed for his wicked ways became one of the most respectable and honorable people in the entire Cosmere. The story of Dalinar’s fall and redemption achieves something that few fantasy books in history have managed to pull off, and perhaps none as successfully as Sanderson’s Oathbringer.

7. The Emperor’s Soul

Brandon Sanderson is known for writing chunky fantasy novels that easily push past 1000 pages. He is known for his elaborate plots, extremely complex magic systems, intricate lore and worldbuilding, and ambitious, series-spanning character arcs. And yet, one of the best stories Sanderson has ever written was a novella that came out in 2012, titled The Emperor’s Soul. This is not a story that needs foreknowle???dge to understand.

This isn’t a tale embedded in the tangled web of the so-called Cosmere universe. The Emperor’s Soul is the thought-provoking, compelling tale of a thief named Shai, who gets tasked with forging a new soul for the brain-dead emperor and is given 100 days to accomplish this gargantuan undertaking. Reading The Emperor’s Soul will only take you th??e better part of an afternoon, but the experience will stay with you for weeks if not months. If you want an easy gateway into the brain of Brandon Sanderson, then picking up this novella is your best bet.

6. Words of Radiance (Stormlight #2)

Many in the fandom would put Words of Radiance, the second book in The Stormlight Archive, above the first one. The storylines are more compact, the main characters finally begin to interact with each other in earnest, and the overall worldbuilding is less ambiguous, not to mention that iconic scenes like “the duel�turn Words of Radiance not only into one of the best books Sanderson has written, but one of the best fantasy books of all time. (The sequel is usually ranked in the top three on ??Goodreads�Best Books of All Time list.)

All of these statements are true in their own way, and I would’ve agreed with them, except for the fact that The Way of Kings is still objectively more significant for the way it sets up the story and the world in such a seamless manner. That being said, Words of Radiance is still pretty epic, its scenes remaining a comfort read whenever I prowl through the Bran??don Sanderson se??ction of my library.

5. The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3)

When people think about Brandon Sanderson, their minds immediately latch onto The Stormlight Archive because of how massively epic it is. The first Mistborn era, however, consisting of the first trilogy beginning with The Final Empire, continuing with The Well of Ascension, and ending with The Hero of Ages, truly cemented Sanderson’s name as one of the greats in the genre. Even now, after all these years, I still think the first Mistborn trilogy has the most well-thought-out narrative out of all of Sanderson’s books. The joy of reading those first two books and coming up with two dozen questions, only to have them all answered or hinted at through The Hero of Ages is an experience you’re not likely to forget. This is one of those few times in a book series where reading the final b??ook and the story’s ending won’t leave you wanting more??.

4. The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time #12)

Brandon Sanderson is the kind of author to finish another person’s book series and still manage to do an absolutely brilliant and praiseworthy job. It’s strange to think that out of all the books Sanderson has written, and there are a great many of them—most critically acclaimed�em>The Gathering Storm is still among my favorites. Sure, the world of The Wheel of Time was created by Robert Jordan. Granted, these are not Sanderson’s own characters that he spins on this grand tapestry. And yes, Sanderson had a rough outline for where the series was supposed to be headed thanks to the notes Jordan left behind before his death, but it’s still somewhat absurd for a relative?ly nameless author to come in and write the next entry in a book series that has tens of millions of fans all around the world.

I love The Wheel of Time, and I love Robert Jordan, but my favorite book in the series is The Gathering Storm. That I think should tell you?? all you need to know about what Sander??son has accomplished with this novel.

3. The Way of Kings (Stormlight #1)

Sanderson refers to The Stormlight Archive series as his burgeoning magnum opus. While the prolific novelist never takes a break from writing a new story, Stormlight was always going to be his genre-defining masterpiece. And as far as debuts go, The Way of Kings knocked it out of the park in every regard, serving as a perfect primer into the spiraling and exotic world of Roshar, on whose soil the old gods are waging a battle that no mortal being can yet fathom. The Way of Kings is? epic, extensive, ambitious, heartbreaking, and just about everything that fantasy readers want in a big story. This was also the book that introduced everyone to iconic characters like Kaladi??n Stormblessed, Dalinar Kholin, and Shallan Davar, who are now each, in their own way, archetypal in the overarching speculative landscape.

2. A Memory of Light (Wheel of Time #14)

For the final book in Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series, Brandon Sanderson brings all of his literary and storytelling chops to bear down on the story of Rand al’Thor, and the continent embroiled in a devastating conflict with the greatest enemy of humanity. As one of the most ambitious works of high fantasy fiction, a lot was riding on the success of A Memory of Light. We all know how painstakingly difficult it is to come up with a decent ending for any great ??story, and that was doubly true for The Wheel of Time since its author had passed away. Brandon Sanderson, however, managed to do the impossible by not only giving fans a satisfying conclusion but turning the prophesied Tarmon Gai’don �The Last Battle �into one of the most epic spectacles that you’ll ever experience in the world of novels.

1. Wind and Truth (Stormlight #5)

It has been over two decades since Brandon Sanderson conceived The Stormlight Archive series. The first book came out in 2010, and now, after 14 years, we've finally come to the end of the journey... well, sort of. Wind and Truth officially brings the first major arc of the series to a close. Think of it like Avengers: Infinity War or Avengers: Endgame, where our cast of characters come together to wage a final battle against the being tha??t wants to enslave their entire world,?? for reasons that even the most ardent Cosmere fans have not been able to figure out.

There are questions to be answered, mysteries to be unveiled, and character arcs to come to a satisfying conclusion. On paper, Wind and Truth is far from the best book Brandon Sanderson has written, but we still have to admire the man for his sheer dedication to this ambitious and complex narrative. The fact that Sanderson wrote a roughly rewarding ending to his magnum opus is something that few other contemporary storytellers manage to do. For that reason, Wind and Truth is arguably his greatest accomplishment to date.

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Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere is arguably the most ambitious interconnected fantasy universe out there, and since these books have been decades in the?? making,?? it’s not surprising to find that they vary in quality.

Indeed, books like The Way of Kings and The Final Empire are separated by more than just a star system within th??is fictional world. Sanderson’s writing has undergone massive shifts over the years, usually for the better, and his storytelling chops get more and more intricate as we move forward in what can only be called epic fantasy’s equivalent of the MCU.

Note that this isn’t a Cosmere reading order recommendation, nor an absolutely objective ranking of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere novels �if that would even be possible. This is an overview of Sanderson’s two-decade career, highlighting how the aspiring fantasy author has evolved into a maestro of the genre and what those developments have entailed. Here follows every major release in t?he Cosmere, ranked from worst to best.

21. Elantris

Elantris was the first-published Brandon Sanderson novel. Taking place in the titular city of Elantris, this debut book revolves around an ensemble of humans turned into demigods, with the ability to live forever and heal whatever ill afflicts normal people. But disaster strikes when an unknown curse befalls Elantris and turns its populace into a host of the undead, unable to die and always in pain. Elantris is very inventive in terms of worldbuilding, but Sanderson’s prose is very rough. To this day, I t??hink Sanderson’s first novel remains his worst, and should in no way be considered a gateway into his Cosmere.

20. Dawnshard

Dawnshard is a Stormlight Archive spinoff centering around Rysn. It takes place after Oathbringer (the third Stormlight book) and as such should be read after that book. Fan-favorite characters like Lopen and Navani Kholin appear in this novella, but I personally never found the Rysn interludes in the main Stormlight Archive all that compelling, ??and certainly not enough to wa?rrant a novella of her own.

19. White Sand

White Sand is a series of graphic novels taking place in the desert world of Taldain. It features a unique magic system that involves sand, with the story following a Sand Master named Kenton. The White Sand world can serve as a great palate cleanser, especially after reading Sanderson’s chunkier novels like The Stormlight Archive that easily go above 1000 pages.

18. Edgedancer

Now if there ever was a character needing a novella of her own, it would be Lift. The odd Reshi who consumes food and turns it into Investiture to slide her way to mischief is one of the best comic relief heroes in the entire Cosmere. Edgedancer takes place after Words of Radiance (the second Stormlight book) and feat?ures Lift as the main character. It’s certainly not among Sanderson’s best works, but who cares about that when you’ve got Lift running, or rather, sliding loo??se in a story of her own?

17. Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection

Arcanum Unbounded is a must-have for Cosmere stans because it includes a host of shorts and novellas detailing what happens in the backdrop of some of these main stories. The Eleventh Metal and Secret History are both part of this anthology book, and they give readers more insight into what went down behind the scenes in the original Mistborn trilogy.

16. The Alloy of Law (Wax & Wayne #1)

Taking place many years after the first trilogy, The Alloy of Law thrusts readers into the second Mistborn era, this time in a steampunk setting, and introduces them to Wax and Wayne. Given how brilliantly The Final Empire sets up the Mistborn world, a lot of readers were partially underwhelmed by how The Alloy of Law picked up the narrative?. But then again, you can’t always expect Sanderson to write acclaimed page-turners. After ?all, even the Brando Sando machine is prone to churning out mediocre books every now and again.

15. The Sunlit Man

The fourth Secret Project from Sanderson’s most-backed Kickstarter campaign of all time, The Sunlit Man takes place in the space age of the Cosmere, more than ten-thousand years following the Shattering of Adonalsium. It follows the story of a person named Nomad, who has gained immortality and is escaping a mercenary band called the Night Brigade by ho??pping between Cosmere worlds. But there’s more to this Nomad person than meets the eye, and learning his true identity will leave you utterly flabbergasted.

14. Shadows of Self (Wax & Wayne #2)

Shadows of Self is the second book in the Wax & Wayne series, continuing to chronicle the adventures of its titular characters in the world of Scadrial. Shadows of Self is a huge improvement over Alloy of Law and actually set??s up an interesting narrative for the next two sequels. It a??lso marks the first time where we see how technology and magic interact within the Cosmere narrative.

13. Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive #4)

The fourth Stormlight Novel entertained a painfully sluggish pace and featured a ton of filler subplots. That’s not to say Rhythm of War isn’t important or any good. In fact, if this book had been 300-400 pages shorter, I would’ve loved every second of reading it. But as it stands, Rhythm of War is probably the weakest novel in Sanderson’s?? so-called Magnum Opus.

12. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

The story takes place on the planet Komashi, where the shard of Virtuosity has shattered herself. Our favorite world-hopper and storyteller Hoid is trapped on Komashi, and he tells readers the story of Yumi, a highly powerful individual in this world, and Nikaro, who is a nightmare painter contracted by the government to stop the nightmares released from the Shroud. The epic factor takes a back seat for this particular outing, because Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is, at its heart, a romantic story.

11. The Lost Metal (Wax & Wayne #4)

The Lost Metal brought the story of Waxillium Ladrian and Wayne to a satisfying conclusion. While you’d generally be hard-pressed to rank any of the Wax & Wayne books higher than the first Mistborn era, the end of this saga will bring you to tears, and that is a testament to Sanderson’s ability to write compelling characters and interesting narratives, even if at times it m??ight feel like things can’t possi?bly come so neatly together.

10. The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)

The first book in the Mistborn trilogy and the story that made Sanderson’s name, The Final Empire takes readers to the planet Scadrial, where a tyrannical god-emperor called the Lord Ruler is presiding over a world on the brink of catastrophe. The Final Empire tells the tale of a band of misfit rebels as they try to bring together the slave class to topple this invincible, immortal god-emperor. Many fans and Sanderson himself recommend The Final Empire as an entry point into the Cosmere narrative.

9. The Bands of Mourning (Wax & Wayne #3)

As mentioned earlier, the second Mistborn era, more commonly known as the Wax & Wayne series, fails to soar to the same heights as the original trilogy, but there’s an exception to this rule, and that exception is The Bands of Mourning. There’s much brilliant character work underlying this second-to-last chapter in the story, and the events that lead up to the finale will leave you enthralled. Every Brandon Sanderson fan should read the second Mistborn era, if for nothing besides experiencing the sheer awesomeness of The Bands of Mourning and The Lost Metal.

8. Tress of the Emerald Sea

Tress of the Emerald Sea was the first Secret Project to be released following Sanderson’s Kickstarter campaign. The novel started as a personal gift to Sanderson’s wife, but when the book was finished and read by her, she convinced Sanderson to release it. Now, Tress of the Emerald Sea is among the author’s best published novels, with many fans even putting it in their top 5 Cosmere list. Hoid is back, and this time he tells a story that took place in years long past. Tress of the Emerald Sea is intimate, heartfelt, sincere, and a great read overall, even if you don’t understand the obvious Cosmere references sprinkled through??out the book.

7. The Emperor’s Soul

The Emperor’s Soul won the Hugo Award for best novella in 2013.? This short story revolves around a thief named Shai, who gets caught during her latest hustle. Shai also practices magical forgery, which is convenient for her in this?? case, because the emperor has been left brain-dead following an assassination attempt. The monarch’s advisors petition Shai to forge a new soul for the emperor and earn her freedom. Shai and Gaotona, one of the emperor’s advisors, research his life and try to understand where a man of ideals went wrong, all in an attempt to reconstruct his soul in 100 days.

6. The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2)

While The Well of Ascension is not an action-heavy book, it does pack a lot of philosophical dilemmas into its narrative. How do people tackle the socio-economic problems of an empire that is steadily burning in the fires of greed and hatred? Is there a case to be made for democracy? What does it mean to pick up the mantle of a leader? And the best thing about The Well of Ascension is the mind-numbing twist at the end of the book. I’ve been bamboozled by stories and books and narratives more times than I can count, but the second Mistborn book will always hav??e a special place in my heart.

5. Warbreaker

Sanderson is one of the most prolific writers alive, but despite publishing more than 30 novels, he’s still mostly known for a select few. Warbreaker is one of them, detailing the story of two sister princesses, Vivenna and Siri, when they get embroiled in a political conflict between their nation of Idris and the rival kingdom of Hallandren. Warbreaker also marks the debut of a prominent Stormlight character and has been well-received by fans and critics alike. And the best part? You can head over to Sanderson's official website right now and read Warbreaker for free.

4. Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive #3)

The third Stormlight Novel centers around the origin story of one of the protagonists, Dalinar Kholin, a.k.a. Blackthorn. It also includes the biggest battle against the Voidbringers as the Knights Radiant come together to thwart their assault on one of the Rosharan countries. If we consider The Stormlight Archive to be first and foremost a book about moral philosophy, then Oathbringer is where that point reaches a powerful crescendo.

3. The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3)

The culmination of the first Mistborn era happens in The Hero of Ages. Having learned the buried truth about their world, Vin, Elend, and the rest of the gang have to race against the most primordial force in existence to save Scadrial from devastation. The Hero of Ages is a great book, and beyond that, a testament to Brandon Sanderson’s ability to weave a very complex narrative together. Almost every plot thread from the trilogy has a satisfying payoff in The Hero of Ages, and every character finds their resolution to one degree or another by the end of the book. Mistborn certainly ha?s its ups and downs, but read all three books and you begin to u??nderstand why people often bring up its name when talking about the best fantasy books in history.

2. Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive #2)

The second Stormlight Archive book continues Kaladin Stormblessed’s story in the war camps. Shallan Davar is also joining the frontlines to investigate the Voidbringers, while Dalinar Kholin struggles to form an alliance with the Highprinces and defeat the Parshendi once and for all. Things come to a head when the Alethi plan a decisive offensive against the Parshendi, little knowing that the strange marbled creatures have plans of their own. No matter how far Sanderson goes, Words of Radiance will remain one of his best books. (It might interest you to know Words of Radiance is also the highest-rated book on Goodreads, followed by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Leigh Bardugo’s Crooked Kingdom.)

1. The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive #1)

I have zero doubts that The Way of Kings is a literary achievement that will be studied many years from now. Setting up one of the most ambitious and imaginative fantasy worlds ever attempted, The Way of Kings came out in 2010 and began The Stormlight Archive in earnest, introducing us to unforgettable characters like Kaladin Stormblessed, Shallan Davar, and Dalinar Kholin. Kaladin’s character arc and backstory, Dalinar’s struggles with his unsettling visions, the trials of Bridge Four, and ultimately, the build-up to the final battle on the Shattered Plains and its aftermath, are all a masterclass in superb storytelling. The Way of Kings is, without a doub??t, Sanderson’s crowning achievement as a fantasy author.

Forthcoming works set in the Cosmere

The next Stormlight book is coming out on December 6, 2024. Titled Wind and Truth, this fifth installment will conclude the first Stormlight arc. Sanderson will follow that up with another secret project called Isles of the Emberdark. Then we’ll be off to the third Mistborn era, set in the?? post-industrial period, equivalent to our own 1980s.

After we're finished with the third Mistborn series, Cosmere stans can expect to see one or two sequels for Elantris, followed by the second Stormlight Archive arc, spanning another five books. Sanderson will probably release a couple of spinoff novels and novellas along the way too, and then, the entire Cosmere will come together for a definitive conclusion in the fourth science fiction-themed Mistborn era.

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