Brandon Sanderson’s 15 Best Books, Ranked

0
Brandon Sanderson’s 15 Best Books, Ranked

Mistborn Author Brandon Sanderson has become one of the biggest names in modern fantasy, with some of his best novels in the genre. Since his debut novel Elantris was released in 2005, Sanderson gained international fame and recognition through books such as Mistborn And Stormlight Archiveboth of which are part of a greater fictional universe called the Cosmere. His various series and standalone novels are linked by Easter eggs and characters traveling the world, making his Cosmere project one of the most ambitious and expansive overarching narratives literature has ever seen.

Brandon Sanderson has a huge online following through his podcasts, YouTube channel, and website, where he is valued for his transparency about his writing progress. He is constantly praised for his writing speed, having released as many as four novels in 2023 as part of his Secret Projects Kickstarter campaign. His next novel will be Stormlight Archive book 5 called Wind and truthwhich will be released in December 2024, marking the end of the first arc of his sprawling epic fantasy series. In the meantime, there are some great reads to catch up on.

15

Legion

A novella full of intriguing concepts


Cover of Brandon Sanderson's 2012 novella Legion.

2012 novella by Brandon Sanderson Legion stands out as something of an anomaly among his highly regarded bibliography, although not for negative reasons. Firstly, Legion shorter than most of Sanderson’s other works, and this led many of his fans to embrace it as a faster way to access his famous and unique writing style. Compared to his long novels from series like Mistborn And Stormlight Archives, novella length Legion seems incredibly digestible.

Another reason this novella stands out is that, unlike the vast majority of Brandon Sanderson’s books, Legion The action takes place in the real world (although, of course, with a mystical fantasy overtone). Story Legion and its sequels center on Steven Leeds, an investigator with the unique ability to conjure up various hallucinatory “personas” to aid him in his cases (and, often, evade the numerous investigators pursuing him). This is definitely a unique novel among Brandon Sanderson’s novels and is highly recommended for fans who want to see the writer experiment with a more grounded setting than his usual epic high fantasy worlds.

14

Rithmatist

Sanderson’s take on youth fantasy


Cover of Brandon Sanderson's novel The Rhythmatist

As well as Legion stands out among Brandon Sanderson’s best novels in part because it differs from the author’s typical work, and the same can be said of the 2013 novel. Rithmatist. The first volume of a planned series. Rithmatist is a full-fledged steampunk adventure aimed at a teenage audience. Seeing Sanderson try his hand at young adult fiction is definitely worth a read, and the author makes no effort to make his ideas more understandable for young readers.

While the pace Rithmatist is sometimes criticized for spending too much time on world building, it is nonetheless a fun read, especially for those fans who are of an age where they can see themselves struggling with some of his heavier volumes such like those that were in Mistborn or Stormlight Archives. As in many of the author’s books, the setting Rithmatist is also worth exploring, and Sanderson creates a lot of interesting concepts in his unique equipment and cog-filled steampunk world.

13

Steel Heart

The first novel in the Avengers series


Cover of Brandon Sanderson's novel Heart of Steel

Legion may be notable for being set in the real world, but it is not the only Brandon Sanderson novel among his best works that uses reality as the basis for building a fantasy world. However, while Legion simply adds individual touches of the fantastic and inexplicable to the modern world as readers know it, teen superhero novels Avengers TV series distort reality much more liberally. 2013 Steel Heart, first novel in Avengers the series takes readers to an America forever changed by the emergence of people with extraordinary abilities known as “epics.”

The novel centers on David, a boy living in Newcago (formerly Chicago), who is now under the tyrannical rule of the titular epic, Heart of Steel. Sanderson uses the first Avengers a novel designed to completely immerse readers in its unique super-powered dystopia, and despite being YA, it can get incredibly dark. Like Legion And Rithmatist, Avengers the novels seem a bit out of touch with Brandon Sanderson’s more famous works, but that doesn’t detract from them in any way, and Steel Heart remains an incredibly worthwhile read and a highlight in the author’s bibliography.

12

Elantris

Sanderson’s first published novel


Cover of Brandon Sanderson's novel Elantris

2005s Elantris represents Brandon Sanderson’s big breakthrough as a writer and remains one of his best books. In a way, this is an incentive for avid fans of Brandon Sanderson to want to read Elantris obviously. Being his first published novel, it will always occupy a significant place in his bibliography. Moreover, The author’s talent for creating epic and thrilling high fantasy adventures is evident with every turn of the page, and it’s easy to see how the author behind it Elantris later became the mature and sophisticated Brandon Sanderson, who created such series as The Stormlight Archive.

However, even without the historical significance of being the first of all Brandon Sanderson’s novels, Elantris still stands out as both an enjoyable read and one of the author’s best works. When the novel was released, it was well received by critics, with particular praise given to the surprisingly strong world-building skills for which new author Sanderson soon became known. Interestingly, series creator Sanderson has yet to write a sequel. Elantris, although he published a story and a novella in the same world.

11

Well of Ascension

An integral chapter in the Mistborn saga


Cover of the Well of Ascension, depicting Vin flying through the air with the sword of the Colossus.

In some ways, ranking each of Brandon Sanderson’s books can be difficult since many of his individual books are part of a larger series. However, of all the series created by Sanderson, Mistborn holds a special place in the hearts of many readers, and is how many fantasy fans discovered him. 2007s Well of Ascension this is the second one Mistborn book to be published. Although he may not be as highly regarded as some others Mistborn history, for example, 2006 The Last Empire or 2008 Hero of the Ages, it remains one of the best books written by Brandon Sanderson.

Well of Ascension this is the second book in the first Mistborn trilogy, so it’s not as accessible as some of the author’s other books. However, this does not change the fact that this is an incredibly exciting and entertaining fantasy novel. Furthermore, writing the second part of a trilogy is no easy task, but Sanderson has crafted a story that ties together beautifully. The Last Empire And Hero of the Ages yet it feels like an extended story, rather than just a few chapters of extra material (a trap that many fantasy trilogies unknowingly fall into).

10

War Destroyer

Warbreaker is one of Sanderson’s best standalone fantasy novels.


Warbreaker cover by Brandon Sanderson
WAR DESTROYER Dan Dos Santos

War Destroyer is one of Sanderson’s early novels that did not receive due recognition. While not directly part of any of his main series, the book is part of the Cosmere universe and is directly related to events within it. Stormlight Archivemaking it a must-read for all fans of this saga. Regarding War Destroyer in itself it has many of the qualities for which Sanderson’s stories are known: irresistible magic, exciting pacing and great characterswith the advantage of compactness for one-time installation.

War Destroyer is a standalone story, making it one of the most accessible storylines in Sanderson’s world that can be enjoyed from start to finish.

Bye Elantris a follow-up novella and sequels are planned, War Destroyer is a standalone story, making it one of the most accessible storylines in Sanderson’s world that can be enjoyed from start to finish. GoodReads readers gave it a rating of 4.3, which is lower than the novels in Stormlight Archive but overall this is an impressive figure. War Destroyer is not as well developed as Sanderson’s larger series, as its best skills lie in long-term plot building and slowly developing character arcs.but it’s still a great read.

The Lost Metal successfully ends the Mistborn Era 2


Wax and Wayne from the cover of Alloy of Law
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury.

General, Mistborn Era 2 is not as strong a series as the original Mistborn trilogy, but Lost metal squeezes itself into Sanderson’s best novels, proving once again how effective the author is at endings. Although this is a series of four books, Mistborn The Era 2 novels are relatively short, which results in the absence of certain elements that make Sanderson’s long novels so powerful. Lost metal is the best of the four, especially due to its expanded connection to the growing world of the Cosmere.

Lost metal is a fitting conclusion to Era 2.which has its lulls throughout the four-book saga. Alloy of Law this is the worst Mistborn book, and the series takes a while to really settle into its character dynamics. Vax spends most of his time in the spotlight and is attractive in every way, but only until Mourning groups that Steris truly shines and that will only happen when Lost metal that Wayne and Marasi prove their worth in Sanderson’s pantheon of great heroes. The book has a well-deserved GoodReads rating of 4.48, but Era 2 is ultimately not that satisfying.

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 supporters and then to the general public. It immediately became one of the author’s best stand-alone books as it has a lot to offer for beginning readers, although it does have a lot of Easter eggs and references to the Cosmere. Fantasy adventure 2023 one of Sanderson’s most accessible works, the author even offers it as an ideal entry point into his fantasy universe..

The novel has a rating of 4.41 on GoodReads, but it ranks higher than the novel. Lost metal thanks to its unique perfection. Tress of the Emerald Sea is one of Sanderson’s most vivid and creative storieswith some of the most deeply interpersonal narratives in the author’s work. Sanderson’s stories continue to develop fantasy with modern elements, but Tress returns to the genre’s whimsical fairytale roots for an incredibly emotional experience.

7

Oathbringer

The Oath is the weakest Stormlight archival book (but it’s still great)


Stormlight Archive Oathbringer Cover Brandon Sanderson
Oathbringer Michael Whelan

Although Oathbringer is the weakest in the series, each volume deserves huge praise. Stormlight Archive series as it is considered by many to be Brandon Sanderson’s magnum opus. Regarding OathbringerThe book’s GoodReads score of 4.62 is still quite high, but it is the lowest in the series. This suffers from pacing issues, and characters like Kaladin and Shallan are underused compared to other volumes. Overall, it has the worst use of its cast, but it still has incredibly high scores worth noting.

Dalinar Kholin is perhaps Brandon Sanderson’s best character.with his arc Oathbringer stand out. Through flashbacks, the novel shows Dalinar at his worst, answering long-standing mysteries about his violent past. By the end of the novel, he confirms his status as one of the greatest heroes of the Cosmere. Its storyline is truly a spectacle filled with unforgettable moments.

6

Rhythm of War

Rhythm Of War – the most emotional part of the Stormight archive


Rhythm of War cover by Brandon Sanderson
RHYTHM OF WAR Michael Whelan

Rhythm of War this is the latest novel in Stormlight Archive series and it shares Oathbringer Rated 4.62 on GoodReads. These two novels are overkill because a brief explanation would suggest that their strengths and weaknesses are in direct opposition. While Oathbringer benefits from one overbearing character arc, Rhythm of War lacks those intense, climactic moments that make you want to jump out of your chair and celebrate your victory. as in the other three novels in the series.

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

On the other side, Rhythm of War copes well with aspects Oathbringer fights, using almost every character to their full potential and elevating figures like Navani and Venli. In a fantasy epic that hones in on the psychological aspects of the cast, Rhythm of War sees characters like Kaladin, Shallan, and others deal with some of the deepest internal issues in the series.revealing carefully constructed aspects of their story. The book has some of the deepest emotional arcs in Sanderson’s universe and deserves its praise.

5

Hero of the Ages

“Hero of Ages” perfectly concludes the first era of Mistborn.

Vin's image on the cover of Mistborn

As mentioned earlier, Brandon Sanderson knows how to craft a heartwarming ending, and there’s no better example than Hero of the Ageswho completed the first arc Mistborn row. The novel has a GoodReads rating of 4.54, 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 for modern fantasy audiences. Mistborn the trilogy is Sanderson’s most widely read work; hence, the conclusion remains in the hearts of viewers more than ten years later.

Hero of the Ages proves that the bittersweet fantasy ending can resonate deeply and serves as a perfect template for Sanderson’s slow, character-driven storytelling model. in several novels. Third Mistborn The book also has a fascinating mystical aspect and some of the series’ biggest plot twists, but it lacks The Last Empire due to a less compelling antagonist and a less interesting narrative with supporting characters. Still, it’s hard to deny the visceral impact of the trilogy’s finale.

4

Yumi and the Nightmare Artist

Yumi is Sanderson’s most unique fiction novel.


Brandon Sanderson

For many reasons Tress of the Emerald Sea so successful Yumi and the Nightmare Artist even more remarkable despite being less widely read. This is another part of the Cosmere that does not require experience with previous novels, but is very useful for those who have paid close attention to it. Book combines Sanderson’s interests, including elements of fantasy and Japanese media.making this another of his most individual readings.

With a GoodReads rating of 4.48, Yumi and the Nightmare Artist has the highest audience rating of the four Secret Project novels. For readers who enjoy supernatural stories, romance, or anime and manga, 2023 is one of Sanderson’s most heartfelt creations. It is vibrant and artistic, making it one of the most impressive literary works of the Cosmere. It may not have the epic action/adventure feel of the film. Stormlight Archivebut it proves Sanderson’s versatility as a writer.

3

The Last Empire

The Final Empire perfectly represents The Mistborn series


Art by Kelsier from the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson.

The Last Empire best Mistborn book and Brandon Sanderson’s best work outside Stormlight Archive. It beautifully presents the world of Scadrial as a dark, atmospheric world with a unique fantasy aesthetic and includes many of Sanderson’s most famous images. Kelsier and Vin has complex protagonists, lovable supporting characters, a villain who has more to him than meets the eye, and a gripping mystery that you won’t be able to put down from the book.

The Last Empire manages to present readers with a complex, deep form of magic that has dramatic elements built-in, and does so without complicating the storytelling.

As for the pace and constant tension, The Last Empire is one of Sanderson’s main achievements. Certainly, Mistborn The magic system is one of the author’s claims to fame and a huge reason for the book’s success. The Last Empire manages to present readers with a complex, deep form of magic that has dramatic elements built-in, and does so without complicating the storytelling. Not to mention, almost two decades later, the Lord Ruler is still one of the Cosmere’s most memorable antagonists.

2

The Way of Kings

The Way of Kings is one of the most fascinating fantasy books ever written.


The Way of Kings cover The cover of the Stormlight Archives, showing a man holding a sword outstretched.
THE WAY OF THE KING Michael Whelan

The Way of Kings This Stormlight Archive How The Last Empire This Mistborn. This is a book that captivates readers an exciting, magical new world whose properties are so unlike real life, but somehow create a feeling of familiarity and home.. The Way of Kings focuses primarily on Kaladin and his journey with the Fourth Bridge, a group of slaves with one of the riskiest jobs in the Alethi army, but it also introduces readers to other leading characters such as Shallan and Dalinar.

Stormlight Archive The first volume is just over 1000 pages, but it is still the simplest and easiest read in the series. The Way of Kings does an amazing job of introducing audiences to the world of Roshar, but in comparison it’s just a small piece of a much larger puzzle that is just beginning to unfold. Sanderson has ten novels planned for the series, each with progressively heavier material. This makes the first book stand out as the funniest, most engaging novel in the series with the lowest stakes.

1

Words of Radiance

Words Of Radiance – Sanderson’s masterpiece


Stormlight Archive
WORDS OF RADIANCE Michael Whelan

If Stormlight Archive This is Sanderson’s magnum opus Words of radiance widely considered his greatest novel. The 2014 novel has the highest GoodReads score yet, with a ridiculously impressive 4.76 rating. The sophomore novel is still not as dark and moody as subsequent installments, but the stakes are raised as all the main characters come together on the Shattered Plains. Bye The Way of Kings makes readers fall in love with individual characters, Words of radiance teases their relationship.

Friendships and romantic interests form slowly throughout the novel as the main characters begin to find their goals together. Roshar’s magic system is presented in more detail, and minor figures like Moash, Elhokar, and Amaram really start to shine, creating unpredictable conflicts for the heroes. The arena fight and final battle are some of Brandon Sanderson’s greatest scenes, perfectly demonstrating how his masterful character work enhances the drama of the fantasy conflict..

Leave A Reply