Brandon Sanderson is one of the most prolific and consistent fantasy authors writing today. With over 20 novels published in his shared Cosmere universe alone — plus standalone works, co-authored projects, and the completion of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time — deciding where to start can feel overwhelming.
This guide ranks the best Brandon Sanderson books to read in 2025, organized by what kind of reader you are. Whether you want to start with his most accessible work, his most epic, or the single best entry point to the Cosmere, there is a clear answer for each.
The Best Brandon Sanderson Books: Quick Rankings
- The Way of Kings — Best overall; Sanderson at maximum ambition
- Mistborn: The Final Empire — Best standalone entry point; perfect for newcomers
- Words of Radiance — Best sequel; many consider it the series peak
- The Name of the Wind — Wait, wrong author. Back to Sanderson:
- Warbreaker — Most underrated; free to read on Sanderson’s website
- Oathbringer — Best Dalinar book; most emotionally ambitious
- The Final Empire (Mistborn Era 1) — Best magic system in the Cosmere
- Wind and Truth — Best arc conclusion; Stormlight book 5
- Rhythm of War — Most divisive; loved by some, frustrating for others
- Elantris — Weakest Cosmere novel; fine as a completionist read
Best Brandon Sanderson Book for Newcomers: Mistborn: The Final Empire
If you have never read Sanderson before, Mistborn: The Final Empire is the correct starting point. At roughly 650 pages, it is significantly shorter than the Stormlight Archive books. It has a contained, satisfying plot that does not require reading sequels. And it demonstrates Sanderson’s greatest strength — his magic systems — through Allomancy: a system where magical powers come from swallowing and burning metals.
The premise is clean: the Dark Lord won a thousand years ago. He rules an oppressive empire over ash-covered skies and enslaved populations. A group of thieves plans a heist to overthrow him. That summary does not do the book justice — the magic, the characters, and the ending are all exceptional — but it gives you a sense of why it works as an entry point. It is a fantasy novel, not a fantasy universe commitment.
Get Mistborn: The Final Empire on Amazon →
Best Brandon Sanderson Book Overall: The Way of Kings
For readers who are ready to commit, The Way of Kings is the best book Sanderson has written. It is also the hardest to recommend to newcomers because it is 1,007 pages, the first of five door-stopper novels, and intentionally slow in its first 200 pages as it builds the alien world of Roshar.
But for readers who push through that opening, what follows is some of the best epic fantasy ever written. The three narrative threads — Kaladin enslaved in Bridge Four, Shallan plotting in Kharbranth, and Dalinar haunted by visions of an ancient past — converge in a conclusion that ranks among the most satisfying in modern fantasy.
The Way of Kings is the book that turns readers into Sanderson fanatics. No other book in his catalog does what this one does.
Get The Way of Kings on Amazon →
Listen on Audible (45 hours) →
Most Underrated Sanderson Book: Warbreaker
Warbreaker is the Cosmere novel that most Sanderson fans discover too late. It features one of his most original magic systems — BioChromatic Breath, where color and the investment of a person’s life energy into objects animates them — and two of his best female protagonists: Siri and Vivenna, sisters from a small kingdom caught in a political trap.
Warbreaker is also important for Stormlight Archive readers: a character from Warbreaker appears in Oathbringer in a way that rewards readers who have encountered them before. Reading Warbreaker before starting the Stormlight Archive third book significantly enhances that experience.
Bonus: Brandon Sanderson has made the full text of Warbreaker available for free on his website. It is the most accessible free entry point to the Cosmere.
Best Sanderson Series: Stormlight Archive vs. Mistborn
The two major Sanderson series attract different readers:
Read Mistborn if: You want a faster pace, a tighter plot, and a series you can complete in a reasonable timeframe. Mistborn Era 1 (three books) is self-contained and finishes in under 2,000 pages combined. The magic is elegant and the heist plot is endlessly satisfying.
Read Stormlight if: You love world-building, do not mind long books, want the most emotionally ambitious fantasy being written today, and are prepared to invest in a saga that will take years to complete — and years more for Sanderson to finish. The Stormlight Archive is larger, slower, and more rewarding.
Many readers do both: Mistborn first as a proof-of-concept, then Stormlight when they are ready for the full commitment. For a detailed comparison, see our Stormlight vs. Mistborn guide.
Complete Brandon Sanderson Reading Order (Cosmere)
If you want to read the full Cosmere in a way that maximizes the cross-series connections and revelations, the recommended order is:
- Elantris (standalone, low priority — completionist read)
- Mistborn: The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- Warbreaker ← Read before Oathbringer
- The Way of Kings
- Words of Radiance
- Edgedancer (novella)
- Oathbringer
- Dawnshard (novella)
- Rhythm of War
- Wind and Truth
Best Sanderson Books for Specific Readers
Best for audiobook listeners
Any Stormlight Archive book narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. The combination of their performances with Sanderson’s extended action sequences makes the audiobooks genuinely cinematic. At 40-57 hours per book, they are exceptional commute companions. Start the audiobooks on Audible →
Best for readers new to fantasy
Mistborn: The Final Empire. It has genre-familiar elements (thieves, an evil empire, a chosen one subverted) executed with unusual craft. It does not require prior fantasy reading to follow.
Best for fans of Game of Thrones
The Way of Kings. The political complexity, multiple POV structure, and willingness to challenge heroes match Game of Thrones’ appeal — but without the nihilism. Sanderson’s world is dark but not grimdark.
Best for teenage readers
Sanderson’s Reckoners series (Steelheart) or his Skyward series. Both are YA-adjacent, faster-paced, and excellent introductions to his writing before tackling the full Cosmere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Brandon Sanderson book to start with?
Mistborn: The Final Empire for newcomers to Sanderson or to fantasy. The Way of Kings for readers who are ready to commit to the best the genre has to offer.
Do Brandon Sanderson’s books need to be read in order?
Each major series (Stormlight Archive, Mistborn) must be read in order within that series. The Cosmere books can largely be read independently, though there are rewards for reading them in a specific sequence. The Stormlight Archive reading order guide covers this in detail.
How many books has Brandon Sanderson written?
As of 2025, Sanderson has published over 30 novels, including 20+ set in the Cosmere universe. He is one of the fastest-producing authors in the history of the fantasy genre at this level of quality.
Is Mistborn or Stormlight better?
Different strengths. Mistborn is tighter, faster, and more accessible. Stormlight is larger, more ambitious, and ultimately more rewarding for readers who invest in it. Most fans who read both consider the Stormlight Archive to be Sanderson’s masterwork.
The Way of Kings is the perfect entry point. Available in print, Kindle, and audiobook.
The Stormlight Archive audiobooks — narrated by Michael Kramer & Kate Reading — are 40–57 hours each. The best use of a commute in fantasy history.
