Read every series in the right order
The Cosmere Books in Chronological Order – Complete Reading Guide
Table of Contents
The Cosmere Books in Chronological Order is a journey through one of the most ambitious interconnected universes in modern fantasy. Created by Brandon Sanderson, the Cosmere weaves together epic sagas like The Stormlight Archive, Mistborn, Elantris, and Warbreaker into a single mythos.
At its heart lies the shattering of a godlike force called Adonalsium, whose fragments—known as the Shards—scattered across multiple worlds. These shards shape each planet’s unique magic systems and cultures, tying together dozens of books, novellas, and graphic novels into a hidden epic.
Whether you’re diving in through Mistborn’s heists, Stormlight Archive’s epic battles, or the quieter brilliance of Elantris, this guide will walk you through the chronological order, publication order, timelines, and companion works so you can chart your course through the Cosmere.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Number of Works | 20+ published (novels, novellas, graphic novels, anthologies) |
| Projected Length | 40+ books planned |
| First Published | Elantris (2005) |
| Reading Difficulty | Moderate to Advanced (dense lore, complex systems) |
| Primary Genres | Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sci-Fi blend |
| Content Warnings | Violence, death, political intrigue, war themes |
| Media Adaptations | Film & TV rights (Cosmere licensed by DMG Entertainment); board games, RPGs, card games |
| Ideal Age Range | 14+ (YA readers can start with Mistborn; adult fans thrive in Stormlight Archive) |
About the Book Series
The Cosmere isn’t a single series, but an interconnected metaverse of stories. Each major saga is self-contained, but characters, artifacts, and even gods cross over between worlds.
At its core, the Cosmere is built on:
- Shardworlds: planets shaped by the sixteen Shards of Adonalsium.
- Worldhoppers: characters (like the enigmatic Hoid) who move between these worlds.
- Realmatic Theory: the shared metaphysical backbone of magic, split into Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual Realms.
The “Big Three” pillars of the Cosmere are:
- Mistborn Saga – (Mistborn Books in Chronological Order – Complete Reading Guide link)
- Stormlight Archive – (The Stormlight Archive Books in Chronological Order – Complete Reading Guide link)
- Elantris & Warbreaker – standalone novels that anchor the wider mythos.
Add to this White Sand, Tress of the Emerald Sea, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, The Sunlit Man, and novellas collected in Arcanum Unbounded, and you have a living, breathing multiverse in progress.
The Cosmere Books at a Glance
| Title | Series | Planet | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elantris (2005) | Elantris | Sel | Amazon |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006) | Mistborn Era 1 | Scadrial | Amazon |
| The Well of Ascension (2007) | Mistborn Era 1 | Scadrial | Amazon |
| The Hero of Ages (2008) | Mistborn Era 1 | Scadrial | Amazon |
| Warbreaker (2009) | Standalone | Nalthis | Amazon |
| The Way of Kings (2010) | Stormlight Archive | Roshar | Amazon |
| The Alloy of Law (2011) | Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne) | Scadrial | Amazon |
| Words of Radiance (2014) | Stormlight Archive | Roshar | Amazon |
| Shadows of Self (2015) | Mistborn Era 2 | Scadrial | Amazon |
| Bands of Mourning (2016) | Mistborn Era 2 | Scadrial | Amazon |
| Arcanum Unbounded (2016) | Anthology | Multiple | Amazon |
| Oathbringer (2017) | Stormlight Archive | Roshar | Amazon |
| Rhythm of War (2020) | Stormlight Archive | Roshar | Amazon |
| The Lost Metal (2022) | Mistborn Era 2 | Scadrial | Amazon |
| Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023) | Standalone | Lumar | Amazon |
| Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (2023) | Standalone | Komashi | Amazon |
| The Sunlit Man (2023) | Standalone | Canticle | Amazon |
| Wind and Truth (2024) | Stormlight Archive | Roshar | Amazon |
The Cosmere Books in Chronological Order
Here’s the Cosmere timeline in-universe:
Dragonsteel (Unpublished)
Planned origin saga about Adonalsium’s shattering and Hoid’s backstory.
White Sand (Graphic Novels)
Set on the desert planet Taldain, exploring Sand Mastery.
Elantris (2005)
The story of Raoden, Sarene, and Hrathen in the fallen city of Elantris.
The Emperor’s Soul (2012)
A novella on Sel about forgery and art, deeply tied to Elantris.
Mistborn Era 1 (2006–2008
- The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
A heist-turned-apocalypse saga where Allomancy reshapes history.
👉 Read our full guide: Mistborn Books in Chronological Order.
Warbreaker (2009)
Introduces Awakening and the magic of BioChromatic Breath.
Stormlight Archive (2010–Present)
Spanning The Way of Kings through Wind and Truth, this 10-book saga anchors Roshar and the Knights Radiant.
👉 Full guide here: The Stormlight Archive Books in Chronological Order.
Mistborn Era 2 (2011–2022)
The Wax & Wayne books, a mix of western, detective noir, and steampunk.
👉 Full guide here: Wax and Wayne Books in Chronological Order.
Secret Projects (2023)
Tress of the Emerald Sea, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, The Sunlit Man expand the Cosmere into new Shardworlds.
Mistborn Era 3 (Upcoming)
1980s-tech level Scadrial, planned after Stormlight Archive Book 5.
Elantris Sequels, Warbreaker Sequel, Dragonsteel, Mistborn Era 4
Future projects that will tie the epic together.
Series Timeline & Character Development
The Cosmere spans 6,000+ years from the Shattering to the events of Stormlight Archive and beyond. Character threads like Hoid’s mysterious interventions, the rise of the Knights Radiant, and Scadrial’s evolution from medieval to modern mirror the scope of an epic history.
Sanderson also uses parallel arcs:
- Mistborn explores societal progress.
- Stormlight handles divine conflict.
- Standalones (Elantris, Warbreaker, Tress) enrich the lore.
Novels Sorted in Order of In-Universe Events
- Dragonsteel (future)
- White Sand
- Elantris + The Hope of Elantris
- The Emperor’s Soul
- Mistborn Era 1 + Secret History
- Warbreaker
- Stormlight Archive (first arc)
- Mistborn Era 2
- Stormlight Archive (second arc)
- Mistborn Era 3
- Tress, Yumi, Sunlit Man
- Sixth of the Dusk / Isles of the Emberdark
- Mistborn Era 4 (final saga)
Novels Sorted in Order of Publication
- Elantris (2005)
- Mistborn Era 1 (2006–2008)
- Warbreaker (2009)
- The Way of Kings (2010)
- Mistborn Era 2 (2011–2022)
- Stormlight Archive (2014–2024)
- Arcanum Unbounded (2016)
- Secret Projects (2023)
Companion Works, Editions & Formats
- Arcanum Unbounded – collects novellas like Edgedancer, Shadows for Silence, Mistborn: Secret History.
- White Sand – full omnibus graphic novel.
- Mistborn: House War – cooperative board game.
- Mistborn RPG & Deckbuilding Game – expand the universe through roleplay.
- Special Editions – Dragonsteel leatherbounds, collector’s hardcovers, signed editions.
- Audiobooks – narrated by Michael Kramer & Kate Reading, beloved for their immersive style.
Why Should You Read the Cosmere?
So why dive into such a sprawling, multi-decade project? Three reasons:
- It’s the Hidden Epic of Our Time
Like Asimov’s Foundation or Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, the Cosmere rewards long-term investment. Standalones dazzle, but together they tell a meta-story centuries in the making. - Magic Systems with Logic
Sanderson is famous for “hard magic systems” with rules and limits. The Cosmere takes this further: each world has unique mechanics (Allomancy, Surgebinding, Awakening) but all connect through Realmatic Theory. - Characters that Cross Worlds
The thrill of spotting Hoid or realizing a god in one novel influences events in another makes the Cosmere addictive. - A Living Universe Still Growing
Sanderson has confirmed 40+ books. Reading now lets you grow alongside the saga, speculate, and spot easter eggs before the grand finales.
If you love epic stories where everything eventually connects, there is truly nothing like the Cosmere.
Why Read The Cosmere Books in Chronological Order?
Reading the Cosmere Books in Chronological Order gives you:
- The hidden epic revealed gradually.
- Easter eggs that click later (Hoid, Shards, crossovers).
- A consistent evolution of magic systems across worlds.
- Easier entry to sprawling sagas like Stormlight by anchoring in simpler novels (Elantris, Mistborn).
Author Spotlight: Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is the #1 New York Times bestselling author behind the Cosmere. Known for his intricate magic systems, sprawling worldbuilding, and prolific output, he has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
Notable highlights:
- Completed Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time.
- Launched the most successful Kickstarter in publishing history (Secret Projects).
- Balances massive series (Stormlight Archive) with standalones (Tress of the Emerald Sea).
Media Adaptations
- Films & TV: Rights to the Cosmere optioned by DMG Entertainment; Mistborn: The Final Empire screenplay in development.
- Games: Mistborn: House War (board game), Mistborn Deckbuilding Game (2024).
- Video Games: Mistborn: Birthright (cancelled), but crossover with Fortnite (2021).
- VR/Mods: The Way of Kings: Escape the Shattered Plains VR; Crusader Kings III mod.
FAQs
Do I have to read every book to understand the Cosmere?
No. Each series stands alone, but reading widely enriches the hidden epic.
Which Cosmere book to start with?
Most start with Mistborn: The Final Empire. Others prefer Stormlight Archive if they love epic doorstopper fantasy.
Is there a true chronological reading order?
Yes, but Sanderson suggests reading by publication order for the smoothest experience.
Why is it called the Cosmere?
The name comes from Sanderson’s desire to create a “cosmic metaverse.” Cosmere literally means “universe of order” — a term that reflects its shared cosmology, Realmatic theory, and consistent magic rules.
How many Cosmere books will there be?
At least 40+, with Mistborn and Stormlight forming the spine.
Is Hoid important?
Extremely. He appears across nearly every saga as a connective thread.
Conclusion & Further Reading
The Cosmere Books in Chronological Order guide is your roadmap to one of fantasy’s most daring universes. Whether you begin with the revolutionary spark of Mistborn, the sweeping storms of Roshar, or the standalone brilliance of Elantris, every path connects.
Want to go deeper? Explore our dedicated guides:
