Every Brandon Sanderson Book, Ranked

Mistborn author Brandon Sanderson has become one of the most celebrated names in contemporary fantasy, with his best novels falling in that genre. Since his debut novel Elantris was released in 2005, Sanderson has risen to international prominence and acclaim through book series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, both of which are part of a grander fictional universe called the Cosmere. His various series and standalone novels are connected by Easter eggs and world-hopping characters, making his Cosmere project one of the most ambitious and expansive overarching narratives that literature has ever seen.

Brandon Sanderson authored the final three books of The Wheel of Time series, but this list will stick with novels that are fully his creations.

Brandon Sanderson has a massive following online due to his podcast, YouTube channel, and website, where he's appreciated for his transparency regarding his progress on his books. He's constantly praised for his writing speed, having released four entire novels in 2023 through his Secret Projects Kickstarter campaign. With his latest book, Winds and Truth, now released, many fans will be interested in looking back at his entire bibliography.

20 The Alloy Of Law

The Awkward Introduction Of The Wax And Wayne Saga

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The new era of the Mistborn saga was introduced with The Alloy of Law, taking place hundreds of years after the original trilogy. The Alloy of Law has the difficult task of establishing this new world for the next four novels of the Wax and Wayne series to take place in which is decidedly different from the one introduced in the Mistborn trilogy. Taking audiences out of the dark ages of the first era, the story now takes place in a modern, steampunk society.

While it is interesting to see the story evolve in this way, the setting is unfortunately the highlight of the story. While Brandon Sanderson is usually very effective with his characters, Wax and Wayne don't make for very compelling protagonists to kick things off. It is ultimately an awkward introduction to the lesser follow-up series that puts things off on the wrong foot despite the potential of the setting.

19 Legion

A Novella Brimming With Intriguing Concepts

Brandon Sanderson's 2012 novella Legion stands out as something of an anomaly among his highly acclaimed bibliography, though it's not for negative reasons. Firstly, Legion is shorter than most of Sanderson's other works, and this has led to many of his fanbase embracing it as a quicker way to access his celebrated and unique writing style. Compared to his lengthy novels in series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archives, the novella-length Legion feels incredibly digestible.

The other reason the novella stands out is that, unlike the overwhelming majority of Brandon Sanderson's books, Legion is set in the real world (albeit with, of course, a mystical fantasy twist). The story of Legion and its sequels focuses on Stephen Leeds, an investigator with the unique ability to conjure various hallucinated "personae" that help him with his cases (and, often, to evade the many researchers hunting him down). It's definitely unique among Brandon Sanderson novels, and thoroughly recommended to fans who want to experience the writer experimenting with a more grounded setting than his usual epic high-fantasy worlds.

18 The Rithmatist

Sanderson's Take On Young Adult Fantasy

Just as Legion stands out among the best Brandon Sanderson novels partly because it's a break from the author's typical work, the same can be said for 2013's The Rithmatist. The first volume in a planned series, The Rithmatist is a fully blown Steampunk adventure aimed at a teen audience. Seeing Sanderson try his hand at YA fiction is definitely worth the read, and the author doesn't struggle to make his ideas more digestible for younger readers.

The Rithmatist was nominated for Best Fiction for YA at the BFYA awards, and the audiobook was nominated for the Fantasy Category Audie Award.

While the pacing of The Rithmatist is sometimes criticized for spending a little too long on its worldbuilding, it's nevertheless an exhilarating read, especially for those fans who are at an age that may see them struggling with some of his heavier volumes like those of the Mistborn or The Stormlight Archives. Like many of the author's other books, the setting of The Rithmatist is also worth exploring, and Sanderson creates a lot of interesting concepts in his unique gear and cog-filled steampunk world.

17 Steelheart

The First Novel In The Reckoners Series

Legion may be noteworthy for being set in the real world, but it's not the only Brandon Sanderson novel among his best works that's used reality as a foundation for building a fantastical world. However, while Legion simply adds self-contained dashes of the fantastical and unexplained to the modern world as readers know it, the YA superhero novels of The Reckoners series bend reality much more liberally. 2013's Steelheart, the first novel in The Reckoners series, takes readers to an America forever changed by the emergence of humans with extraordinary abilities known as "epics".

The novel focuses on David, a young boy living in Newcago (formerly Chicago) that's now under the tyrannical rule of the titular Epic, Steelheart. Sanderson uses the first The Reckoners novel to fully immerse readers in his unique superpowered dystopia, and despite it being YA, it can get incredibly dark. Like Legion and The Rithmatist, The Reckoners novels feel somewhat detached from Brandon Sanderson's more well-known works, but this doesn't detract from them in any way, and Steelheart remains an incredibly worthwhile read and a highlight of the author's bibliography.

16 Shadows Of Self

An Improved Second Installment In The Mistborn 2 Series

Shadows of Self is the second novel in the second era of Mistborn novels, following The Alloys of Law. Like the first book, Shadows of Self has a lot of growing pains in getting the new series and its world underway, but it is also a vast improvement over the first novel. It feels as though Sanderson is gaining his footing in this world with the world-building providing a lot more excitement and some pivotal developments to the larger universe that will please fans.

The characters remain a little hit-or-miss, with Sanderson still struggling to define them as truly layered figures in the story.

The characters remain a little hit-or-miss, with Sanderson still struggling to define them as truly layered figures in the story. However, the main characters do begin to take shape a little more in this story and Sanderson starts to have fun with them. Alas, in terms of the more lighthearted aspects of the book, the humor can often be the most difficult thing to overcome with the dialogue feeling particularly forced when going for a laugh.

15 Elantris

Sanderson's First Published Novel

2005's Elantris represents Brandon Sanderson's big break as an author, and it remains one of his best books so far. In some ways, the incentive for established Brandon Sanderson fans to want to read Elantris is obvious. As his first published novel, it will always hold a significant place in his bibliography. What's more, the author's talent for crafting epic and thrilling high-fantasy adventures is evident with every turn of the page, and it's easy to see how the writer behind Elantris went on to become the matured and refined Brandon Sanderson behind series like The Stormlight Archive.

However, even without the historical significance of being the first all of Brandon Sanderson's novels, Elantris still stands in its own right, both as and enjoyable read and one of the author's best works. The novel went down well with critics when it released, with notable praise being given to the surprisingly strong world-building skills that then-new author Sanderson would soon become known for. Interestingly, the series-creating Sanderson has yet to write a sequel to Elantris, though he did release a short story and novella in the same world.

14 The Bands Of Mourning

The Mistborn 2 Saga Is Elevated With Memorable Characters

The Bands of Mourning is the third and penultimate book in the Mistborn 2 series which is part of the issue with the story. In many ways, the book feels like it only serves to set up the more interesting ending to the story. However, The Bands of Mourning also stands out from the previous books in this series, making several improvements on the shortcomings of the Mistborn 2 series thus far.

However, the real standout is the character of Steris who steals the show after being rather forgettable before.

While Wax and Wayne made for lackluster characters in the initial books, Sanderson seems to be more tuned into the characters this time around, making them a lot more likable and avoiding the caricature aspects that plagued the first two books. However, the real standout is the character of Steris who steals the show after being rather forgettable before. In the end, it is a turning point for the Mistborn 2 series, proving that it is far from a failure.

13 The Sunlit Man

The Final Secret Projects Book

THE SUNLIT MAN by Kudriaken

The Sunlit Man was the final book released as part of Sanderson's Secret Projects Kickstarter campaign. The success of the campaign was a testament to how beloved the author is as it became the most successful Kickstarter campaign of all time. However, that legacy is perhaps remembered more than the actual final installment in this self-publishing era of Sanderson's career.

The Sunlit Man feels like something specifically created for die-hard Sanderson fans, which also means that it can be a little inaccessible to anyone else. He does not feel the need to fill in any blanks or give typical resolutions as he is just taking his dedicated fans on a journey. However, there are some special aspects to the story, including the character of Nomad who has been compared to the titular hero from the Mad Max movies.

12 The Well Of Ascension

An Integral Chapter In The Mistborn Saga

In some ways, ranking every Brandon Sanderson book can be difficult, because so many of his individual books are part of the wider series. Of all the series Sanderson has created, however, Mistborn holds a special place in the hearts of many readers, and it's the way that many fantasy fans discovered him. 2007's The Well Of Ascension is the second Mistborn book to be released.

While it may not be as highly regarded as some other Mistborn stories, such as 2006's The Final Empire or 2008's The Hero of Ages, it still remains one of the best books Brandon Sanderson has written. The Well Of Ascension is the second book in the first Mistborn trilogy, so it isn't as accessible as much as some of the author's other books. However, this doesn't change the fact that it's an incredibly gripping and engaging fantasy novel.

What's more, writing the second entry in a trilogy is no easy task, yet Sanderson has created a story that perfectly ties together The Final Empire and The Hero of Ages and, at the same time, also feels like a developed story, rather than just multiple chapters of filler material (a trap many fantasy trilogies unknowingly fall into).

11 Warbreaker

Warbreaker Is One Of Sanderson's Best Standalone Fantasy Novels

WARBREAKER by Dan Dos Santos

Warbreaker is one of Sanderson's earlier novels that doesn't get enough credit. While it's not directly part of any of his main series, the book is part of the Cosmere universe and has direct ties to events in The Stormlight Archive, making it a must-read for any fans of that saga. As for Warbreaker itself, it has many of the qualities that Sanderson stories are known for: compelling magic, riveting pacing, and excellent characters, with the benefit of being compact in a one-off installment.

Warbreaker is a self-contained story, making it one of the most accessible arcs to enjoy from start to finish in Sanderson's world

While Elantris has a follow-up novella and sequels planned, Warbreaker is a self-contained story, making it one of the most accessible arcs to enjoy from start to finish in Sanderson's world. It boasts a 4.3 score from readers on GoodReads, which is on the lower end compared to novels in The Stormlight Archive but still an impressive number overall. Warbreaker isn't quite as well-developed as Sanderson's larger series, as his greatest skills are in long-term plotting and slow-burn character arcs, but it's still a highly enjoyable read.

10 The Lost Metal

The Lost Metal Aptly Concludes Mistborn Era 2

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Overall, Mistborn Era 2 isn't as strong of a series as the original Mistborn trilogy, but The Lost Metal squeezes into Sanderson's best novels, proving once again how effective the author is with endings. Despite being a four-book series, Mistborn Era 2's novels are relatively short, resulting in a lack of certain elements that make Sanderson's long-form novels so powerful. The Lost Metal is the best of the four, especially due to its expanded connectivity with the growing Cosmere world.

Related I Wish Mistborn Era 1 Spent More Time On 1 Tragic Well Of Ascension Storyline There isn’t much I would change about the original Mistborn trilogy, but I wish Era 1 spent a bit more time on one Well of Ascension storyline.

The Lost Metal is a rewarding conclusion to Era 2, which has its lulls throughout the four-book saga. The Alloy of Law is the worst Mistborn book, and it takes some time for the series to really establish itself with character dynamics. Wax has the most time in the spotlight and is compelling throughout, but it isn't until The Bands of Mourning that Steris truly shines, and it isn't until The Lost Metal that Wayne and Marasi prove their worth in Sanderson's pantheon of great protagonists.

The book has a well-deserved 4.48 GoodReads score, but Era 2 isn't as ultimately satisfying.

9 Tress Of The Emerald Sea

Tress Is The Perfect Novel For First-Time Sanderson Readers

TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA by Howard Leon

Tress of the Emerald Sea was the first of Brandon Sanderson's Secret Projects, released in 2023 to his backers and then later to the public. It immediately jumped out as one of the author's best standalone books since there's plenty for first-time readers to enjoy, even though it has plenty of Cosmere Easter Eggs and references. The 2023 fantasy adventure is one of Sanderson's most accessible works, with the author even suggesting it as an ideal entry point to his fantasy universe.

The novel has a 4.41 score on GoodReads, but it earns a higher position than The Lost Metal due to its unique excellence. Tress of the Emerald Sea is one of Sanderson's most vibrant and imaginative stories, with some of the most deeply interpersonal narratives in the author's oeuvre. Sanderson's stories continue to advance fantasy with modern elements, but Tress returns to the genre's whimsical fairy tale roots, resulting in an incredibly emotional experience.

8 Wind And Truth

The Long Yet Thrilling Midpoint Of The Stormlight Archive

Original cover art for Wind and Truth by Michael Whelan

The latest book from Brandon Sanderson has arrived with the fifth book in the planned ten-book series of the Stormlight Archive. The midway point in the series is weighed down in part because of the massive ambition that Sanderson has with this story. The mythology is so dense at this point that even dedicated fans might need to do some homework before reading Wind and Truth. Its length is also daunting, feeling drawn out in some places.

He rewards their dedication with a stirring adventure filled with terrific characters and exciting worldbuilding.

However, that book is also a testament to why so many fans are willing to embark on these long journeys with Sanderson. He rewards their dedication with a stirring adventure filled with terrific characters and exciting worldbuilding. The fantasy action elements of the book are particularly exciting with this first half of the saga ending with a bang that will have fans waiting for more.

7 Oathbringer

Oathbringer Is The Weakest Stormlight Archive Book (But It's Still Great)

OATHBRINGER by Michael Whelan

Though Oathbringer is the weakest in the series, there's immense praise to give each volume of The Stormlight Archive series, as it's widely perceived as Brandon Sanderson's magnum opus. As for Oathbringer, the book's 4.62 score on GoodReads is still pretty high, but it's tied for the lowest in the series. It suffers from pacing issues, with characters like Kaladin and Shallan underutilized compared to the other volumes. Overall, it has the worst usage of the ensemble cast, but it still has incredibly high points worth noting.

Dalinar Kholin is perhaps Brandon Sanderson's masterwork character, with his arc being Oathbringer's standout. Through flashbacks, the novel sees Dalinar at his lowest points, answering long-standing mysteries about his violent past. By the end of the novel, he affirms his status as one of the greatest heroes in the Cosmere. His arc is truly a spectacle, filled with unforgettable moments.

6 Rhythm Of War

Rhythm Of War Is The Most Emotional Stormight Archive Installment

RHYTHM OF WAR by Michael Whelan

Rhythm of War is the most recent novel in The Stormlight Archive series, and it shares Oathbringer's 4.62 score on GoodReads. These two novels are a toss-up, as a condensed explanation could suggest their strengths and weaknesses are directly opposite. While Oathbringer benefits from one commanding character arc, Rhythm of War lacks the hard-hitting, climactic, jump-out-of-the-seat-and-celebrate moments that the other three novels in the series have had.

The book has some of the deepest emotional arcs in Sanderson's universe, and it deserves its praise.

On the other hand, Rhythm of War perfectly handles the aspects Oathbringer struggles with, utilizing practically every character to their best and elevating figures like Navani and Venli. In a fantasy epic that hones in on the psychological aspects of its cast, Rhythm of War sees characters like Kaladin, Shallan, and more experience some of the most profound internal struggles in the series, resolving carefully built aspects of their story. The book has some of the deepest emotional arcs in Sanderson's universe, and it deserves its praise.

5 The Hero Of Ages

The Hero Of Ages Perfectly Concludes Mistborn Era 1

As previously mentioned, Brandon Sanderson knows how to deliver a moving ending, and there's no better example than The Hero of Ages, which concluded the first arc of the Mistborn series. The novel has a 4.54 score on GoodReads, which is actually the highest in the seven-book Mistborn saga, and much of the credit for this goes to how impactful the ending has been on modern fantasy audiences. The Mistborn trilogy is Sanderson's most widely-read work; hence, the conclusion remains in the hearts of audiences over a decade later.

The Hero of Ages proves that a bittersweet fantasy ending can resonate deeply and serves as a perfect blueprint for Sanderson's slow-burn, character-driven model of storytelling across multiple novels. The third Mistborn book also has a compelling mystery aspect and some of the series' most hard-hitting plot twists, but it falls short of The Final Empire due to having a less compelling antagonist and less interesting narratives with supporting characters. Still, it's hard to negate the visceral impact of the trilogy's ending.

4 Yumi And The Nightmare Painter

Yumi Is Sanderson's Most Unique, Artistic Novel

For many of the reasons Tress of the Emerald Sea is so successful, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is even more notable despite being less broadly read. It's another Cosmere installment that doesn't require experience with previous novels but is highly rewarding to those who've paid close attention. The book combines Sanderson's interests, incorporating elements of fantasy and Japanese media, making it another of his most individual reads.

It's vivid and artistic, making it one of the Cosmere's most impressive literary experiences.

With a 4.48 GoodReads score, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter has the highest rating from audiences out of the four Secret Project novels. For readers who love supernatural stories, romance, or anime and manga, the 2023 book is one of Sanderson's most soulful creations. It's vivid and artistic, making it one of the Cosmere's most impressive literary experiences. It may not have the epic action/adventure sensation of The Stormlight Archive, but it proves Sanderson's versatility as a writer.

3 The Final Empire

The Final Empire Perfectly Introduces The Mistborn Series

The Final Empire is the best Mistborn book and Brandon Sanderson's best work outside of The Stormlight Archive. It perfectly sets up the world of Scadrial as a gloomy, atmospheric world with a unique fantasy aesthetic and incorporates many of Sanderson's most notable tropes. There are complex protagonists in Kelsier and Vin, lovable supporting characters, a villain with more to him than what meets the eye, and a riveting mystery that makes it impossible to put the book down.

The Final Empire manages to present readers with a complicated, in-depth form of magic that comes with built-in dramatic elements and does so without obstructing the narrative.

In terms of pacing and constant suspense, The Final Empire is one of Sanderson's crowning achievements. Of course, the Mistborn magic system is one of the author's claims to fame, and it's a huge reason for the book's success. The Final Empire manages to present readers with a complicated, in-depth form of magic that comes with built-in dramatic elements and does so without obstructing the narrative. Not to mention, nearly two decades later, The Lord Ruler is still one of the Cosmere's most unforgettable antagonists.

2 The Way Of Kings

The Way Of Kings Is One Of The Most Fun Fantasy Books Ever Written

THE WAY OF KINGS by Michael Whelan

The Way of Kings is to The Stormlight Archive as The Final Empire is to Mistborn. It's the book that grips readers into an enthralling, magical new world with properties so unlike real life yet somehow provides a sense of familiarity and home. The Way of Kings focuses primarily on Kaladin and his journey with Bridge Four, a group of slaves with one of the riskiest jobs in the Alethi army, but it also introduces readers to other leading heroes like Shallan and Dalinar.

The Stormlight Archive's first volume comes in at just over 1,000 pages, yet it's still the simplest and lightest read in the series. The Way of Kings terrifically introduces audiences to the world of Roshar, but comparatively, it's a small piece of a much grander puzzle that's still only beginning to unfold. Sanderson has ten novels planned for the series, with the material growing heavier in each one. That leaves book 1 to stand out as the series' most fun, engaging novel with its lowest stakes.

Related Mistborn Vs. The Stormlight Archive: Which Brandon Sanderson Fantasy Book Series Is Better Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are pillars of Brandon Sanderson's oeuvre and the Cosmere universe. Here's how they stack up against each other.

1 Words Of Radiance

Words Of Radiance Is Sanderson's Masterwork

WORDS OF RADIANCE by Michael Whelan

If The Stormlight Archive is Sanderson's magnum opus, Words of Radiance is widely agreed to be his greatest novel. The 2014 novel has his highest GoodReads score by far, with a ridiculously impressive 4.76 rating. The sophomore novel still isn't quite as dark and moody as the later installments, but the stakes are heightened as all the main characters come together on the Shattered Plains. While The Way of Kings makes readers fall in love with the individual protagonists, Words of Radiance teases their relationships.

Friendships and romantic interests form slowly throughout the novel as the main characters start to find their purposes together. Roshar's magic system is more thoroughly introduced, and supporting figures like Moash, Elhokar, and Amaram really begin to shine through, creating unpredictable conflicts for the heroes. The arena pit fight and the final battle are some of Brandon Sanderson's greatest action sequences, exceptionally demonstrating how his masterful character work adds to the drama of high-fantasy conflict.