Brandon Sanderson books in order
American fantasy writer
- Born
- 1975
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 69
- Series
- 10
Brandon Sanderson has published 52 novels, 11 novellas, 1 short story collection and 5 other books, beginning with Elantris (2005). The 10 series include Mistborn (8 books, starting with Mistborn: The Final Empire), The Stormlight Archive (7 books, starting with The Way of Kings) and Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (6 books, starting with Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians). The best-known is Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006). The latest is Blightfall (2026).
Updated September 2026
Mistborn books in order (8)Series page
Reading order: 1 Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006) · 2 Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (2007) · 3 Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (2008) · 4 Mistborn: The Alloy of Law (2011) · 5 Mistborn: Shadows of Self (2015) · 6 Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning (2016) · 7 Mistborn: The Lost Metal (2022) · Mistborn: Secret History (2016)
- 1.
Mistborn: The Final Empire (Jul 2006)
- 2.
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (Aug 2007)
- 3.
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (Oct 2008)
- 4.
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law (Nov 2011)
- 5.
Mistborn: Shadows of Self (Oct 2015)
- 6.
Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning (Jan 2016)
- 7.
Mistborn: The Lost Metal (Nov 2022)
Mistborn: Secret History (Jan 2016)
The Stormlight Archive books in order (7)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Way of Kings (2010) · 2 Words of Radiance (2014) · 2.5 Edgedancer (2016) · 3 Oathbringer (2017) · 3.5 Dawnshard (2020) · 4 Rhythm of War (2020) · 5 Wind and Truth (2024)
- 1.
The Way of Kings (Aug 2010)
- 2.
Words of Radiance (Mar 2014)
- 2.5.
Edgedancer (2016)
- 3.
Oathbringer (Nov 2017)
- 3.5.
Dawnshard (2020)
- 4.
Rhythm of War (Nov 2020)
- 5.
Wind and Truth (Dec 2024)
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians books in order (6)Series page
Reading order: 1 Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (2007) · 2 Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones (2008) · 3 Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia (2009) · 4 Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens (2010) · 5 Alcatraz Versus the Dark Talent (2016) · Bastille Vs. the Evil Librarians (2022)
- 1.
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (Oct 2007)
- 2.
Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones (Nov 2008)
- 3.
Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia (2009)
- 4.
Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens (Dec 2010)
- 5.
Alcatraz Versus the Dark Talent (Sep 2016)
Bastille Vs. the Evil Librarians (Sep 2022)
Cosmere books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 Elantris (2005) · 2 Warbreaker (2009) · 3 The Sunlit Man (2023) · 4 Isles of the Emberdark (2025) · Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)
- 1.
Elantris (Apr 2005)
- 2.
Warbreaker (Jun 2009)
- 3.
The Sunlit Man (2023)
- 4.
Isles of the Emberdark (2025)
Tress of the Emerald Sea (Jan 2023)
The Reckoners books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 Steelheart (2013) · 1.5 Mitosis (2013) · 2 Firefight (2015) · 3 Calamity (2016) · 4 Lux (2021)
- 1.
Steelheart (Sep 2013)
- 1.5.
Mitosis (Dec 2013)
- 2.
Firefight (Jan 2015)
- 3.
Calamity (Feb 2016)
- 4.
Lux (2021)
The Wheel of Time books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 12 The Gathering Storm (2009) · 13 Towers of Midnight (2010) · 14 A Memory of Light (2013)
- 12.
The Gathering Storm (Oct 2009), with Robert Jordan
- 13.
Towers of Midnight (Nov 2010), with Robert Jordan
- 14.
A Memory of Light (Jan 2013), with Robert Jordan
Legion books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Legion (2012) · 2 Legion: Skin Deep (2014) · 3 Legion: Lies of the Beholder (2018)
- 1.
Legion (Aug 2012)
- 2.
Legion: Skin Deep (Nov 2014)
- 3.
Legion: Lies of the Beholder (Sep 2018)
Skyward books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Skyward (2018) · 2 Starsight (2019) · 3 Cytonic (2021)
- 1.
Skyward (2018)
- 2.
Starsight (Nov 2019)
- 3.
Cytonic (Nov 2021)
Infinity Blade books in order (2)
Reading order: 1 Infinity Blade: Awakening (2011) · 2 Infinity Blade: Redemption (2013)
- 1.
Infinity Blade: Awakening (Oct 2011)
- 2.
Infinity Blade: Redemption (Sep 2013)
Where to start with Brandon Sanderson
Start here
Mistborn: The Final Empire
Brandon Sanderson's most-read book and the first of the 8 Mistborn books.
Highest rated
Words of Radiance
Rated 4.7 out of 5 by 96 readers.
Shortest way in
The Emperor's Soul
One of the most-read, at about 180 pages.
Standalone novels in order
The Rithmatist (2013)
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell (2015)
Fantasy Firsts: (the Way of Kings, Mistborn: The Final Empire, Rithmatist, Alcatraz Vs. the Evil Librarians) (2017)
Isimsiz'in Cocuklari (2018)
Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne Series (2018)
Oathbringer Part Two (2018)
The Way of Kings, Part One (2020)
Evershore (2021)
Sunreach (2021)
Rhythm of War Part Two (2022)
Skyward Flight: The Collection (2022)
Defiant (2023)
Long Chills and Case Dough (2023)
Scarlet Circus (2023)
Songs of the Dead (Jun 2026)
Blightfall (Sep 2026)
Novellas in order
The Emperor's Soul (Oct 2012)
Perfect State (Mar 2015)
Snapshot (Feb 2017)
Short story collections in order
Tailored Realities (Dec 2025)
Other books in order
By Grace and Banners Fallen (2012)
The Stormlight Archive (2016)
The Original (2020)
ReDawn (2021)
The Fires of December (2026)
About Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Winn Sanderson is an American author of high fantasy, science fiction, and young adult books. His best known novels include the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive, which are set in the "Cosmere", a fictional universe. Outside of the Cosmere, he has written several young adult and juvenile series including The Reckoners, the Skyward series, and the Alcatraz series. He is also known for finishing author Robert Jordan's high fantasy series The Wheel of Time. Sanderson has created two graphic novels, White Sand and Dark One.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Brandon Sanderson FAQ
- How many books has Brandon Sanderson written?
- Brandon Sanderson has published 52 novels, 11 novellas, 1 short story collection and 5 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Brandon Sanderson's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Mistborn with Mistborn: The Final Empire, The Stormlight Archive with The Way of Kings and Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians with Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Brandon Sanderson's latest book?
- Blightfall (2026).
- What is Brandon Sanderson's most famous book?
- Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006) is Brandon Sanderson's most widely read book.
- Are Brandon Sanderson's books connected?
- 44 books belong to 10 series (Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians and Cosmere); the other 25 books stand alone.
Authors like Brandon Sanderson
Stephen King
Also writes fantasy and science fiction
George R. R. Martin
Also writes science fiction and fantasy
Neil Gaiman
Also writes fantasy and science fiction
Suzanne Collins
Also writes fantasy and young adult
Christopher Paolini
Also writes fantasy and science fiction
Robert A. Heinlein
Also wrote science fiction and young adult
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.