The BEST Cosmere Reading Order (Spoiler Free)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
- The Cosmere has A LOT of books. This can make starting it feel confusing, but don't worry, I've read through it all and put together the BEST Cosmere reading order to allow you to start your Cosmere journey with confidence. Following this reading order will allow you to build your Cosmere knowledge at the right pace and will ensure you get the big reveals and connections at the right times to avoid spoilers. Hope you enjoy!
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Time Stamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:47 - Mistborn Era 1
2:22 - Elantris
3:44 - The Emperor’s Soul
4:10 - Warbreaker
4:41 - White Sand
5:53 - The Stormlight Archive
6:47 - Sixth of the Dusk
7:19 - More Stormlight Archive
8:40 - Mistborn Era 2
10:28 - Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
11:03 - Tress of the Emerald Sea
11:34 - Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
11:57 - The Sunlit Man
Artist Attribution
----------------------------
Isaac Stewart - Cosmere Constellation
Francis Goeltner - MIstborn Falling Ash Scene
Lamaery - Mistborn Mists, Mistborn Vin, Tress 2
gar_leyva - Mistborn Lord Ruler, Painter
Ben McSweeney - Nobles and Skaa
Dealunart - Kelsier
Julio Cesar Oliveira Rocha - Rebellion
Robin COSTET - Elantris City
Shuravf - Elantrian, Shai
u/Oroborus_ - Ruined Elantris
merulu - Cursed Elantrians
Hannah Nasirpour - Elantrian Protagonists
Johanna Rupprecht - Shai Room
zoethatcher_art - Warbreaker Sisters
Bryan Mark Taylor - Warbreaker Rival City
llsnart - God King
Dan dos Santos - Warbreaker last photo
ModelManntastic - Sandmaster
Julius Gopez - Surprise Attack Sandmasters
botanicaxu - Khriss and Kenton
GoodName - Roshar Continent
Sakina Minnis - Highstorm
Miguel Sastre - Stormlight War
Artur Mosca - Kaladin
vargasni - Dalinar
Michael Whelan - Shallan
Connor Chamberlain - Island, Forest,
Kekai Kotaki - Solitary Trapper
Kevin Keele - Wax, Silence
geryss - Wax
SpiralofDragon - Silence
Caio Santos - Tress 1
Howard Lyon - Tress and Charlie, Tress steering ship, Sorceress Island
Aliya Chen - Yumi in tree, Yumi and Painter
Diego Lopez - The Sunlit Man
Errand Souza - Sunlit picture 2, 3, and 4
pbfanart - Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania Poster
If I missed any artists, please reach out and let me know.
Stock Images and stock footage from Mixkit, pixabay, and pngwing
Music Used
-------------------
Relaxing Green Nature (slowed version) by David Fesliyan
Elven Forest by David Renda (Fesliyan Studios)
Reading Order:
*1) Mistborn Era 1:*
- The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- The Scadrian System Essay (found in Arcanum Unbounded)
- Eleventh Metal (short story found in Arcanum Unbounded)
*2) Elantris and Related Stories:*
- Elantris
- The Selish System Essay (found in Arcanum Unbounded)
- The Hope of Elantris (short story found in Arcanum Unbounded)
- The Emperor’s Soul (novella found in Arcanum Unbounded)
*3) Warbreaker*
*4) White Sand* (Either graphic novel, audiobook, or free prose *not completely canon):
- Vol. 1
- Vol. 2
- Vol. 3
- The Taldain System Essay (found in Arcanum Unbounded)
*5) The Stormlight Archive:*
- The Way of Kings
- Sixth of the Dusk (novella found in Arcanum Unbounded) (Not Stormlight related, but read it here to pick up on later connections)
- The Drominad System Essay (found in Arcanum Unbounded) (Not Stormlight related, but read it here)
- Words of Radiance
- Edgedancer (novella found in Arcanum Unbounded)
- The Rosharan System Essay (found in Arcanum Unbounded)
- Oathbringer
- Dawnshard (novella)
- Rhythm of War
- _Horneater (novella, likely won’t be released until 2025)_
- _Knights of Wind and Truth (release date December 6, 2024)_
*6) Mistborn Era 2:*
- The Alloy of Law
- Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania (Short Story found in Arcanum Unbounded)
- Shadows of Self
- The Bands of Mourning
- Mistborn: Secret History (novella found in Arcanum Unbounded)
- The Lost Metal
*7) Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell* (novella found in Arcanum Unbounded) (Note: After further considering this list, I think squeezing this and the Threnodite System Essay in sometime before Oathbringer would be a better placement)
*8) The Threnodite System Essay* (found in Arcanum Unbounded)
*9) Tress of the Emerald Sea*
*10) Yumi and the Nightmare Painter*
*11) The Sunlit Man* (Note: In this video: th-cam.com/video/0mC8dsQJK7w/w-d-xo.html Brandon recommended reading this before reading Stormlight 5)
P.S. If you're brand new to the Cosmere, you'll likely find this video helpful: th-cam.com/video/gQKeQIS-4T4/w-d-xo.html
Hi, great video, I would make the order of last books like this: Tress - Sunlit Man - Sixth of the Dusk - Yumi
Hi. That's interesting! Why do you suggest that order?
Hi, nice video! I’ve seen some people recommend reading Sixth of the Dusk after Oathbringer. What are the main differences of reading it before?
Oh also I’ve seen people recommend reading shadows for silence in the forests of hell after the way of kings before words of radiance. I am not sure if this is a timeline thing or if there are any actual references in the books after, since I have only so far read The final Empire, Elantris and warbreaker
Thanks! So, I recommend reading it before Oathbringer because there is actually a reference/connection in Oathbringer that you won't get if you haven't read Sixth of the Dusk. I guess reading Sixth of the Dusk directly after Oathbringer would still allow you to get that reference, just won't understand it in the moment that you read it in Oathbringer
Something I think is really important about reading order is having multiple start points because different people like different things. I think elantris and era 1 mistborn are the two best starters. But warbreaker is also free and can serve to replace elantris for people who don't like action as much
That's a great point. Also, I had no idea Brandon offered Warbreaker for free on his website. That's great to know! Thanks for pointing that out!
This. I started with Stormlight. My best friend started with Yumi. My spouse started with Tress. We have all had amazing experiences, and most reading lists keep people from exploring what they like in the Cosmere. Being told you must read 2 million plus pages to understand a couple Easter eggs in Yumi has kept a LOT of new fans from starting the Cosmere
Great recommendation. Regarding the secret history, I also agree that you should read it after bands of mourning.
Great guide, tnx!
I agree with your placement of Secret history.
Great video! This is very similar to the reading order I am going through, except I read Mistborn Era 2 (except TLM) before starting Stormlight Archive (halfway through TWOK currently). Oh, and I am going to read Warbreaker between TWOK and WOR. I curated my order after much research so I think you've pretty much nailed it here. I have already seen a good amount of Easter Eggs and references to different parts of the Cosmere, even though I've barely scratched the surface of Stormlight Archive.
It's great to hear you're enjoying your Cosmere journey so far! I did a reread of Stormlight back when RoW released, and I read Warbreaker between TWoK and WoR then. It's a good good spot for it, and I almost recommended it that way in my video!
Great video my man, keep it up :3
Thank you!!
On rereads, I've read Warbreaker before Oathbringer and before Words of Radiance. Before Words of Radiance it introduces a character that shows up, and catching the clues is easier. Before Oathbringer it amps up a particular scene, and you catch clues to a different character from Warbreaker.
I read Warbreaker in between WoK and WoR on a re-read before and I agree that it's a pretty good spot for it. Since there isn't currently a novella between those two entries, it fits in pretty well. I haven't tried it between WoR and Oathbringer yet, but maybe I will on another re-read. Thanks for your input!
couldnt agree more with the placement of the secret story!
This is great thank you, you’re the only order I’ve seen that includes everything
Glad it was helpful!
Great video and so glad I found it. I'm currently reading the Mistborn trilogy and Im on The Hero of Ages. Loving it so far. This video will help me know what to read next as I go along. I plan to read everything, but I'm skipping the graphic novels.
Thanks!
That's great to hear! I'm glad you found the video helpful!
Just be aware that a few characters and concepts from the white sands graphic novel pop up in stormlight, mistborn era 2, and some novellas
The definitive prose version of Whitesand will come out in a couple of years. Better to just wait for it.
Great Video!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another dope video
Thank you!
Thanks for the recommendation !! i
Thank you for the info 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
Just finished Mistborn Era 1, I didn't realize how much more there was 😅
Personally, I started with Warbreaker because it is a standalone (at the moment) and free! It was a good way to start if you want to know whether Sanderson's writing style is to your taste or not, as well as a way to get an idea of the type of magic system and worldbuilding he writes. Then I read the corresponding novellas and started Mistborn era 1. After The Final Empire, I read the corresponding novellas. Then I read Elantris + novellas because I wanted a break from Mistborn (I still needed to process that lol). I just finished The Well of Ascension. I'll read The Hero of Ages next and I'll be FINALLY ready for The Way of Kings (which I'm most excited about)! For the rest of the Cosmere, most people have suggested the same reading order as you (except for a few novellas).
I've just gone Mistborn era 1> era 2> now once I finish bands of mourning I'm starting the way of kings, then once I'm caught up with rhythm of war then the last era 2 mistborn book, then if i get time ill read the standalone stuff
Yea, I screwed up my reading order with Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Edgedancer, Warbreaker, rest of Stormlight. Now I’m going through all of Mistborn straight through. But hey, in enjoying and I love the Cosmere
That's actually almost the exact same way I started! Lol. But I didn't read Warbreaker until after oathbringer. There's really no "right" way to start the Cosmere, this list is just the best way I would recommend for a brand new reader 😄
So glad I started early with the Cosmere. I don't really like it when reading turns into a syllabus 😂 For new readers, , don't worry, we're all catching up with Brandon Sanderson.
Imagine how much crazier it will be 10 years from now 😅
Brandon said that White Sand's prose version is going to be his nex work on July 2024, and can, probably, be released on Dragonsteel 2025 convention!
thanks, saved me spending $150 on the graphic novels!
@@lukeb.perrett8036I got them from the library. Zero dollars. 😊
I've been reading the Cosmere in publication order and I think it's a great order for the lore & worldbuilding. A prime example would be Emperor's Souls and Words of Radiance (tho there is a short story between the 2). Emperor's Soul is a deep dive into idea or theme in the Cosmere which gets explored in Words of Radiance from a novice PoV. I also think publication order from Elantris to Way of Kings is also just a great reading order to start out with. The short stories and novellas add some messiness to the order afterwards tho, but they add nice supplements to the worldbuilding & lore. Using the previous example, if one is confused about soulbinding for example, they can read Emperor's Souls for a deep dive on the same concept.
I also it would be to understand the reason why it's a good idea to start with Mistborn. The Mistborn Trilogy is a great and accessible series on its own regardless if you read the rest of Mistborn or the Cosmere. It also sets the foundation for the Cosmere as a whole, giving you the minimum information in the HoA epigraphs to understand the concepts for the rest of the Cosmere. Tho these concepts get explored repeatedly or more thoroughly in other stories too.
If one is committed to reading the Cosmere and doesn't need to be "sold" on it tho, I think Elantris would be the one I'd recommend first. And with the newly added epilogue, it will prime readers to lookout for Hoid. And when they read the Mistborn Trilogy afterwards, they'll notice Hoid and in HoA there's that one scene about Hoids presence/ Vins instincts about him.
I think on my next reread I'm going to go straight publication order.
I have the kindle version of Arcanum Unbounded and it contains the prologue and first chapter of white sand, along with the prose version of just those two chapters, not any more prose than that unfortunately
You can get the full prose version for free by signing up for Brandon's newsletter www.brandonsanderson.com/#signupform
The first newsletter email you get after signing up will have the download link for it. It isn't completely canon though. He's eventually going to officially release an updated prose version that is canon.
Great video! I plan on diving back into the cosmere when vol 5 of stormlight archives is released. I read Elantris 7 or 8 years ago, then Mistborn era 1 4 years ago, not knowing at the time that there even was a Cosmere. I didn't catch any link or reference between the two "series" back then, so my question is, are these connexions more obvious as you read the whole thing?
Thanks! Yeah, Brandon has said before that the connections start out mostly as Easter eggs in the background that readers can pay attention to if they want, but as time goes on, they will be more explicit. That has definitely started happening with the latest released books (i.e., Lost Metal, Tress, Yumi, and Sunlit Man).
Great video! Seeious question.. would it be dumb or not recommended to skip to Stormlight Archives?
I've only read Mistborn Era 1 and don't have enough free time to read everything but Stormlight really has my interest piqued.
Will I be lost if I just read SA?
Is there any books ud highly suggest not skipping?
Thank you! I would for sure recommend reading Warbreaker before Words of Radiance, but the rest aren't as important. This reading order just ensures you'll catch every connection, but you can definitely just read the main entries if that's what you have time for! 🙂
@@ExploringTheCosmere thank you! I'll definitely add that one in then
Hey there are a lot of books I want to read so I was wondering, if I were to read only the Stormlight Archive (since I'm not as interested in Mistborn etc.) would I not be able to understand it well or be caught off guard by things or is it totally workable as a standalone, I just might miss cool but not necessary connections?
Hi, good question! You can definitely read Stormlight as a stand alone series and still understand the story just fine. Most of the connections are pretty minor, but I would encourage you to read Warbreaker in between The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance if you can. That will allow you to learn certain character back stories.
Where does "Mistborn: Secret History" fit in? Or did you say and I missed it? Been following this order and enjoying it. Thanks!
Hi, I recommend reading it after The Bands of Mourning
At the time of release, State of the Sanderson 2023 is out.
The plan for the new prose version of White Sand is to release it in Dec 2025
That's awesome!
I’m one of the people who say that simply saying “read Secret History after Bands of Mourning because there’s a big reveal” instantly spoils what the actual reveal is. It’s literally exactly what you would first expect that happens if someone told you that, so I would actually recommend reading it right after era 1, or not actually finish all of era 1 in one go (like don’t finish the entire trilogy before moving on), and read secret history right before Alloy of Law.
Or make it not obvious you should read it after Bands of Mourning while also showing the cover of the story. Am I the only one who could tell what some of the reveals were based on what people were saying?
I haven't read any Brando Sando books yet and I have no clue what the spoiler is when people say "read Secret History after Bands of Mourning because there’s a big reveal”.
@@Oogrilla then you are completely unspoiled right now. I’d say that by the time you finish the original mistborn trilogy and still have no clue, then you can wait until Bands, I just feel like it is more exciting reading secret history right after the og trilogy.
Is it true that you can start with tress of the emerald sea? some people say that
Yep, i'd say you definitely could. There are some references that will go over your head though.
Tbh you can probably read The Emperor's Soul earlier. It's short and doesn't really have much in the way of spoilers. ALSO it's fantastic and safe for page my favorite cosmere story yet.
hot takeI like the idea of reading wax and wayne series before mistborn era 1. It makes it seem like a prequel, and i found mistborn era 1's characters boring in comparission to era 2. Also I think stormlight archive is better the earlier you read it. The mystery of not knowing all the references to cosmere and offworlders make it so much more fantastical. It makes stormlight feel alot like malazan where its pieced together through intuition and thought.
That's the first time I've heard someone suggests era 2 before era 1 lol interesting. Also, I could definitely see the appeal of having less information when reading stormlight. I'm actually making my way through Malazan (very slowly, been on book two for months) now and I do really like that aspect of not being fed information, it makes the world seem more real in a way
@@ExploringTheCosmere i found book 2 pretty hard to get through. Im on 4 now. Good luck!
I have a BIG bone to pick with the video (nothing related with the order, that is mostly fine).
There are only 3 novellas in the Cosmere. 4 if you are a bit lax with the ~400 too many words that Edgedancer has (I'm not). Secret History and Dawnshard are even longer, and completely on the realm of a novel.
To be clear, the problem here is that there is already an agreement for what a Novella is, it's entirely dependent on word count, and the Sanderson fandom (and maybe Sanderson himself) has chosen to ignore it. To be fair, there isn't a complete agreement on the length… because the lower limit isn't agreed upon (it ranges between 15000 and 20000 words, but the most common definition puts it at 17500 words), the upper limit is set in stone at 40000 words, thought.
That's interesting! I had never looked into the specifics of what makes a novella distinct. Every source I came across online when researching this video called those books novellas. Even Arcanum Unbounded does in the short description at the beginning of the book.
My best guess is that Brandon considers them novellas even though they are a bit longer than the standard definition because his novels are SO long (e.g., the shortest Stormlight novel is over 383,000 words lol). I guess when you're a big enough author, you can break rules from time to time 😅
@@ExploringTheCosmere Or because their scope isn't as big as the one of his longer works. Although that doesn't apply to Secret History, so…
I feel like Shadows of Silence should be put before Stormlight personally
You definitely can. I'd say that one can pretty much be read whenever. Is there a specific connection/foreshadowing your thinking of that makes it fit better before Stormlight?
@@ExploringTheCosmereI think shades/ cognitive shadows should be acknowledged before you read secret history at least, the scene with the Ire is really important and the fact that they’re known about during before the time of Mistborn era 1 makes it seem like, with as much activity on Roshar as there is, they should be known about before reading the super influenced series that Stormlight is. Y’know?
But what about the warbreaker order?
Hi!
4:10 covers Warbreaker
So you're saying having Sunlit Man as your first Cosmere story is not the best way to go about it?
😂 that would sure be something
Or you can be like me, and read The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, then take a break and read Tress...
**MISTBORN TRILOGY SPOILER**
"Sazed frees the shapeshifters...? Oh, the kandra? Wonder how that happens--"
When you have only read "Shadows for Silence..." and then you discover it's at the end of the sequence... 😢
It's actually much more of a Stand alone book than most, just important to read it before Sunlit Man to catch references
@@ExploringTheCosmere Thank for the clarification!
If gods allow I might be up to date by the end of 2024
(I'm just starting the Hero of Ages)
Good luck! I'm on a reread of the whole cosmere right now also just starting Hero of Ages. I'm going to try to get through Rhythm of War before stormlight 5 is released in December
@@ExploringTheCosmere Reread? As much as I love the books so far I don't think I would be rereading them as I already have a huge list of stuff to read from other authors too haha. But yeah have fun too
Sazed is based btw
@@sono_chi_no_sodium_chlorid7635 Yep! I need to brush up on all the stories to be able to make better videos haha
best reading order -> Stormlight first (because its the best), then everything else
That's actually how I started lol. But I think starting with Mistborn is better if you want to catch references/connections tbh
That’s how I started 😁
I started with The Final Empire, then the 4 Stormlight books because I heard Well of Ascension was a slog to go through
I started with mistborn and think it's the best way to start
Yes i love knowing things will never get as good as they once were😂