Mistborn Author Brandon Sanderson has become one of the most celebrated names in contemporary fantasy, with his best novels falling into this genre. Since his debut novel Elantris was released in 2005, Sanderson rose to international prominence and acclaim through book series II Mistborn And The Stormlight ArchiveBoth of them are part of a larger fictional universe called the Cosmir. 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 stories literature has ever seen.
Brandon Sanderson has a massive following online due to his podcast, YouTube channel and website, where he is appreciated for his transparency about his progress on his books. He is constantly praised for his writing speed, having released four complete novels in 2023 through his Secret Projects Kickstarter campaign. His next novel will be The Stormlight Archive Book 5, titled Wind and truthWhich will be released in December 2024, marking the end of the first arc of his sprawling epic fantasy series. Until then, there are some great reads to catch up on.
15
Legion
A novella brimming with intriguing concepts
Brandon Sanderson’s 2012 novel Legion Stands out as something of an anomaly among his highly acclaimed bibliography, though not for negative reasons. first of all, Legion is shorter than most of Sanderson’s other works, and this has led many of his fanbase to embrace it as a quick way to access his celebrated and unique writing style. Compared to his long novels in series II Mistborn And The Stormlight Archives, The novella-length Legion Feels incredibly digestible.
The other reason this novella stands out is that unlike the overwhelming majority of Brandon Sanderson books, Legion is set in the real world (albeit with, of course, a mystical fantasy twist). The history of Legion And its sequels focus on Stephen Leeds, an investigator with the unique ability to conjure various hallucinated “personae” that help him with his cases (and, often, to avoid 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.
14
The rhythmicist
Sanderson’s take on young adult fantasy
Just like Legion Stands out among the best Brandon Sanderson novels, partly because it is a break from the author’s typical work, the same can be said for 2013. The rhythmicist. The first volume in a planned series, The rhythmist is a full blown steampunk adventure aimed at a teen audience. Seeing Sanderson try his hand at YA fiction is definitely worth a read, and the author doesn’t struggle to make his ideas more digestible for younger readers.
While the pacing of The rhythmicist Sometimes criticized for spending a little too long on its world-building, it is nevertheless an exciting read, especially for fans who are of an age that may see them struggling with some of his heavier volumes such as those of the Mistborn Or The Stormlight Archives. Like many of the authors other books, the setting of The rhythmicist is also worth exploring, and Sanderson creates a lot of interesting concepts in his uniquely paced and cog-filled steampunk world.
13
Steelheart
The first novel in the Reckoners series
Legion It may be noteworthy for being set in the real world, but this is not the only novel of Brandon Sanderson among his best works that is used as a foundation for building a fantastic world. But, while Legion Simply adding self-contained dashes of the fantastic and unexplained to the modern world as readers know it, the YA superhero novels of The calculations Series bends reality much more liberally. 2013s pride, The first novel in The calculations 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) who is now under the tyrannical rule of the titular epic, Steelheart. Sanderson uses the first The calculations novel to fully immerse readers in its unique superpowered dystopia, and despite its YA, it can get incredibly dark. like Legion And the rhythmic, The calculations The novels feel somewhat detached from Brandon Sanderson’s more well-known works, but that doesn’t detract from them in any way, and Steelheart It remains an incredibly worthwhile read and a highlight of the author’s bibliography.
12
Elantris
Sanderson’s first published novel
2005s Elantris represents Brandon Sanderson’s big break as an author, and it remains one of his best books to date. 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 epics and thrilling high-fantasy adventures is evident with every turn of the page, and it’s easy to see how the writer behind Elantris was the matured and refined Brandon Sanderson behind series like The Stormlight Archive.
However, even without the historical significance of being the first of all Brandon Sanderson’s novels, Elantris Still stands in itself, anyway and enjoy reading and one of the best works of the author. The novel was well received by critics when it was published, 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-creator Sanderson has yet to write a sequel to alantris, Although he published a short story and novel in the same world.
11
The Well of Ascension
An integral chapter in the Missborn saga
In some ways, ranking each Brandon Sanderson book can be difficult, as so many of his individual books are part of a wider series. Of all the series Sanderson has created, however, Mistborn Holds a special place in the hearts of many readers, and so many fantasy fans have discovered him. 2007s The Well of Ascension is the second one Mistborn Book to be released. Although it may not be as highly regarded as some others Mistborn Stories, such as 2006’s The Last Empire or 2008s the hero of ages, It 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 is not as accessible as some of the author’s other books. However, that 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 ties together perfectly. The Last 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).
10
War breaker
Warbreaker is one of Sanderson’s best standalone fantasy novels
War breaker is one of Sanderson’s earlier novels that doesn’t get enough credit. Although not directly part of any of his main series, the book is part of the Cosmer universe and has direct ties to events in The Stormlight ArchiveMaking it a must-read for any fans of the saga. As for War breaker In itself, it has many of the qualities that Sanderson stories are known for: Compelling magic, riveting pacing and excellent charactersWith the benefit of being compact in a one-off installment.
War breaker 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 planned a follow-up novella and sequels, War breaker is a self-contained narrative, making it one of the most accessible arcs to enjoy from start to finish in Sanderson’s world. It boasts a 4.3 reader score on GoodReads, which is on the lower end compared to novels in The Stormlight Archive But still an impressive number overall. War breaker is not quite as well-developed as Sanderson’s larger series, as his greatest skills are in long-term plotting and slow-burning character arcsBut it’s still a very enjoyable read.
The Lost Metal aptly concludes Mistborn Era 2
generally, Mistborn Era 2 is not as strong a series as the original Mistborn Trilogy, however The Lost Metal Squeeze into Sanderson’s best novels, and prove once again how effective the author is with endings. Despite being a four-book series, Mistborn The novels of Era 2 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 cosmic world.
The Lost Metal is a rewarding conclusion to Era 2Who has his thoughts on the four-book saga. The mixture 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’s not Bees The bands of grief That Steris really shines, and it’s not until The Lost Metal That Wayne and Marassi prove their worth in Sanderson’s pantheon of great protagonists. The book has a well-deserved 4.48 GoodReads score, but Era 2 is not as ultimately satisfying.
Related
8
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Tress is the perfect novel for first-time Sanderson readers
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 jumps out as one of the author’s best standalone books since there’s plenty for first-time readers to enjoy, even though it has a lot of cosmic 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 storiesWith some of the deep personal stories in the author’s diary. Sanderson’s stories continue to advance fantasy with modern elements, however tres Returns to the whimsical fairy tale roots of the genre, resulting in an incredibly emotional experience.
7
Bringer
Oathbringer is the weakest Stormlight Archive Book (but it’s still great)
Although Bringer Is the weakest in the series, it’s immense praise to give each volume of The Stormlight Archive series, as it is widely regarded as Brandon Sanderson’s magnum opus. As for BringerThe book’s 4.62 score on GoodReads is still pretty high, but it’s tied for the lowest in the series. it Suffering from pacing issues, with characters like Kaladin and Shallan underutilized compared to the other volumes. Overall, it has the worst use of the ensemble cast, but it still has incredibly high points worth noting.
Dalinar Kholin is perhaps Brandon Sanderson’s masterpiece characterwith his bow otbringer 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 confirms his status as one of the greatest heroes in the cosmos. His arc is truly a spectacle, filled with unforgettable moments.
6
Rhythm of war
Rhythm of War is the most emotional Stormight Archive installment yet
Rhythm of war is the last novel in The Stormlight Archive series, and it shares otbringer s 4.62 score on GoodReads. The two novels are a toss-up, as a condensed explanation might 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 celebration moments Which the other three novels in the series 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 these aspects Bringer Struggling with, using almost every character to their best and elevated figures like Navani and Venli. In a fantasy epic that delves into the psychological aspects of its character, Rhythm of war See characters like Kaladin, Shallan and more experience some of the series’ most intense internal strugglesResolving carefully constructed aspects of their history. The book has some of the deepest emotional arcs in Sanderson’s universe, and it deserves its praise.
Related
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 is no better example than this The hero of ageswho completed the first arc of the Mistborn Series. The novel has a 4.54 score on GoodReads, which is actually the highest of the seven books Mistborn saga, and much of the credit for that goes to how impactful the ending was on modern fantasy audiences. The Mistborn Trilogy is Sanderson’s most widely-read work; therefore, 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 serve as a perfect blueprint for Sanderson’s slow-burn, character-driven model of storytelling. Over many novels. The third Mistborn The book also has a compelling mystery aspect and some of the series’ most hard-hitting plot twists, but it falls short of The Last Empire Due to having a less compelling antagonist and less interesting stories with supporting characters. Still, it’s hard to dismiss the visceral impact of the trilogy’s ending.
4
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
Yumi is Sanderson’s most unique artistic novel
For many reasons Tress of the Emerald Sea is so successful Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is even more notable despite its less wide reading. This is another Cosmer installment that doesn’t require experience with previous novels, but is very rewarding to those who have paid close attention. The book Combines Sanderson’s interests, incorporating elements of fantasy and Japanese mediamaking it another of his most individual reads.
With a 4.48 GoodReads score, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter Has the highest audience rating 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 is vivid and artistic, which makes it one of the most impressive literary experiences of the cosmos. It doesn’t have the epic action/adventure feel of The Stormlight ArchiveBut it proves Sanderson’s versatility as a writer.
3
The Last Empire
The Last Empire perfectly introduced the Mistborn series
The Last Empire is the best Mistborn book and Brandon Sanderson’s best work outside of The Stormlight Archive. It perfectly sets up the world of Escadriel 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 Wynn, lovable supporting characters, a villain with more to him than meets the eye, and A riveting mystery that makes it impossible to put the book down.
The Last Empire is able to present the reader with a complex, deep form of magic that comes with built-in dramatic elements and does so without obscuring the narrative.
In terms of pacing and constant tension, The Last 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 is a huge reason for the success of this book. The Last Empire is able to present the reader with a complex, deep form of magic that comes with built-in dramatic elements and does so without obscuring the narrative. Not to mention, nearly two decades later, the Lord Ruler is still one of the Cosmer’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 is to The Stormlight Archive like The Last Empire is to Mistborn. It is the book that grips readers in a Enthralling, magical new world with properties so unlike real life, but somehow gives 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 most dangerous jobs in the Althi army, but it also introduces readers to other leading heroes like Shallan and Dalinar.
The Stormlight Archive’s The first volume comes in at just over 1,000 pages, but it’s still the simplest and lightest read in the series. The way of kings Grade introduces the audience to the world of Rocher, but comparatively, it is a small piece of a much grander puzzle that is still only beginning to unfold. Sanderson planned ten novels for the series, with the material growing heavier in each one. This allows Book 1 to stand out as the most fun, engaging novel of the series with its lowest stakes.
Related
1
Words of brilliance
Words of Radiance is Sanderson’s masterpiece
If The Stormlight Archive is Sanderson’s magnum opus, Words of brilliance is widely agreed to be his greatest novel. The 2014 novel has by far its highest GoodReads score, with a ridiculously impressive 4.76 rating. The second novel is still not 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 brilliance Teas their relationships.
Friendships and romantic interests slowly form throughout the novel as the main characters begin to find their goals together. Rosher’s magic system is more thorough, and supporting figures like Muash, Elhokr and Amarm really start to shine, 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.