Author Guide | BookFairy
📖 About Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson (born 19 December 1975) is an American fantasy and science-fiction author best known for his intricate worldbuilding, innovative magic systems, interconnected fictional universes and ambitious epic fantasy series.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Sanderson discovered his passion for fantasy literature as a teenager. After initially studying biochemistry at Brigham Young University, he changed his academic direction to English and later completed a master’s degree in creative writing.
His first published novel, Elantris, appeared in 2005. It introduced readers to several elements that would eventually become hallmarks of his fiction: carefully structured magical systems, morally complicated characters, political intrigue and extraordinary worlds governed by consistent internal rules.
Sanderson gained wider recognition through the original Mistborn trilogy, beginning with The Final Empire in 2006. The series combined epic fantasy with elements of a heist story, introducing Allomancy, a magic system based on the consumption and manipulation of metals.
He subsequently expanded his literary universe through Warbreaker, The Stormlight Archive and numerous interconnected novels, novellas and short stories.
In addition to his original fiction, Sanderson was selected to complete Robert Jordan’s monumental The Wheel of Time series following Jordan’s death. Working from Jordan’s notes and manuscripts, Sanderson wrote the final three volumes, published between 2009 and 2013.
His work extends beyond epic fantasy into young adult science fiction, superhero fiction, middle-grade adventures, graphic novels and experimental publishing projects.
Today, Sanderson is recognised as one of the most prominent contemporary fantasy authors, with a readership attracted by the immense scale of his fictional worlds and the detailed storytelling that connects them.
🌌 What Is the Cosmere?
The Cosmere is the shared fictional universe in which many of Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy novels take place.
Rather than following one continuous story or a single cast of characters, the Cosmere contains multiple worlds, cultures, historical periods and distinct magical systems.
Each major series can generally be enjoyed independently, particularly when readers are first discovering Sanderson’s work.
However, the deeper readers venture into the Cosmere, the more connections they may discover between seemingly separate stories.
These connections can involve recurring characters, magical principles, historical events and larger mysteries extending beyond individual planets.
Major Cosmere Worlds
Scadrial — The setting of Mistborn, a world whose history and magical systems evolve across different eras.
Roshar — The setting of The Stormlight Archive, an extraordinary world shaped by powerful storms, ancient conflicts and complex societies.
Sel — The world of Elantris and The Emperor’s Soul, where magical abilities are connected to identity, geography and artistic creation.
Nalthis — The setting of Warbreaker, featuring BioChromatic Breath, a magical system associated with colour, life and Awakening.
Taldain — The setting of White Sand, which explores a world with sharply contrasting environments and a form of magic based on manipulating sand.
Other Cosmere stories introduce additional worlds and cultures, expanding the universe far beyond its best-known series.
One of the most appealing aspects of the Cosmere is that readers can experience individual stories before gradually discovering the connections between them.
🪙 Mistborn
Mistborn is one of Sanderson’s most celebrated creations and an excellent introduction to his approach to fantasy.
The series is set on Scadrial, where different forms of metal-based magic influence society, politics and conflict.
Mistborn Era One – The Original Trilogy
- Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)
- The Well of Ascension (2007)
- The Hero of Ages (2008)
The original trilogy follows a group of rebels attempting to challenge an apparently invincible ruler.
Its combination of heist elements, carefully constructed mysteries, character development and elaborate magical rules makes it a natural starting point for readers interested in discovering Sanderson’s fiction.
Mistborn Era Two – Wax and Wayne
- The Alloy of Law (2011)
- Shadows of Self (2015)
- The Bands of Mourning (2016)
- The Lost Metal (2022)
Set centuries after the original trilogy, Era Two presents a transformed Scadrial inspired by industrial development, detective fiction and Western adventures.
Although the tone differs from the first trilogy, it builds upon the history and consequences of the earlier books.
Mistborn Beyond the Main Novels
The broader Mistborn bibliography also includes shorter fiction, such as The Eleventh Metal, Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania and Mistborn: Secret History.
These works will be listed separately in the complete bibliography, with clear notes about their placement and potential spoilers.
⚔️ The Stormlight Archive
The Stormlight Archive is Sanderson’s monumental epic fantasy project, set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar.
It brings together political conflict, ancient history, military campaigns, complex magic and deeply personal character journeys.
The series explores leadership, responsibility, trauma, honour, sacrifice and the difficult process of personal transformation.
Main Novels – The First Five-Book Arc
- The Way of Kings (2010)
- Words of Radiance (2014)
- Oathbringer (2017)
- Rhythm of War (2020)
- Wind and Truth (2024)
These five novels constitute the first major arc of the planned ten-book series.
Companion Novellas
- Edgedancer (2016)
- Dawnshard (2020)
The novellas expand Roshar’s world and provide additional perspectives on characters and events.
For a reading order that includes both novels and novellas, readers can follow:
- The Way of Kings
- Words of Radiance
- Edgedancer
- Oathbringer
- Dawnshard
- Rhythm of War
- Wind and Truth
✨ Other Cosmere Books
Elantris (2005)
Sanderson’s debut novel explores a once-magnificent city whose inhabitants have been transformed by a mysterious magical catastrophe.
The story combines political intrigue, religion, social structures and the attempt to understand a seemingly broken magical system.
The Emperor’s Soul (2012)
A Hugo Award-winning novella centred on an imprisoned magical artist whose talents involve transforming objects by rewriting their histories.
Despite sharing a world with Elantris, it tells an independent story and is an excellent introduction to Sanderson’s shorter fiction.
Warbreaker (2009)
A standalone fantasy novel involving two sisters, an unusual religious system and a form of magic based on colour and BioChromatic Breath.
Its mixture of politics, humour, identity and shifting expectations makes it another accessible entry point into the Cosmere.
White Sand
A graphic-novel project set on Taldain, featuring a distinctive environment and an unusual magical system.
Its different editions and collected formats will be documented separately in the complete bibliography.
The Secret Projects
Sanderson’s Secret Projects introduced readers to additional worlds and storytelling styles, including:
- Tress of the Emerald Sea (2023)
- The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (2023)
- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (2023)
- The Sunlit Man (2023)
- Isles of the Emberdark (2025)
Not all Secret Projects belong to the Cosmere.
For example, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England is a non-Cosmere novel.
This distinction is especially important for readers who want to collect the interconnected universe without accidentally including unrelated books.
🚀 Skyward and the Cytoverse
Not all Brandon Sanderson books are part of the Cosmere.
Skyward is a young adult science-fiction series set in a separate fictional universe commonly known as the Cytoverse.
The story follows Spensa, a young woman determined to become a pilot and uncover the truth about her world.
Combining aerial combat, alien civilisations, identity and friendship, the series offers a different reading experience from Sanderson’s epic fantasy.
Skyward – Main Reading Order
- Skyward (2018)
- Starsight (2019)
- Cytonic (2021)
- Defiant (2023)
Skyward Flight Novellas
- Sunreach (2021)
- ReDawn (2021)
- Evershore (2021)
These companion stories were written with Janci Patterson and broaden the series through additional perspectives.
Readers should also distinguish the main Skyward novels from other Cytoverse stories, including Defending Elysium.
⚡ The Reckoners
The Reckoners is a separate superhero science-fiction series set in a world where people with extraordinary abilities have become dangerous figures of power.
Rather than presenting superpowers as an automatic force for good, the series explores resistance, responsibility and the consequences of unchecked authority.
Main Reading Order
- Steelheart (2013)
- Firefight (2015)
- Calamity (2016)
The series also includes shorter and related works, such as Mitosis, which belong in the expanded bibliography.
📚 Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
This middle-grade fantasy series demonstrates another side of Sanderson’s storytelling.
Blending absurd humour, unconventional magical abilities and fast-paced adventure, it follows Alcatraz Smedry in a world where librarians possess far more power than ordinary people realise.
Although written for younger readers, the books contain the kind of imaginative worldbuilding and playful narrative experimentation familiar from Sanderson’s adult fiction.
The complete six-book reading order, co-author information and publication details will appear in the separate bibliography.
📖 Other Writing and Collaborations
Sanderson’s literary career includes additional novels, novellas, short fiction and collaborative projects outside his major universes.
Among these are:
- The Rithmatist
- Legion
- Perfect State
- Snapshot
- The Original (with Mary Robinette Kowal)
- Infinity Blade fiction
- Magic: The Gathering fiction
His contribution to The Wheel of Time also deserves special recognition.
The Wheel of Time – Final Three Novels
Following Robert Jordan’s death, Sanderson completed the concluding books of the series:
- The Gathering Storm (2009)
- Towers of Midnight (2010)
- A Memory of Light (2013)
These are books 12–14 of The Wheel of Time, not the beginning of a separate Brandon Sanderson series.
Readers unfamiliar with Robert Jordan’s universe should begin with The Eye of the World, the first novel in the original series.
🇷🇴 Brandon Sanderson in Romanian Translation
Brandon Sanderson’s books have reached Romanian readers through several publishing projects.
Mistborn — Romanian Editions (Editura Trei)
Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series has been published in Romanian by Editura Trei, in paperback editions.
The Romanian publication includes both Mistborn Era One and Mistborn Era Two, allowing readers to explore the evolution of Scadrial across generations.
For readers interested in collecting Sanderson’s work in Romanian, these editions offer an opportunity to discover one of the Cosmere’s most important series.
The Mistborn books are also part of my personal library, and I own the Romanian paperback editions published by Editura Trei.
Among the most significant are the Romanian editions of The Stormlight Archive, published by Editura Paladin.
The Stormlight Archive in Romanian
The Romanian publishing programme has divided some of Sanderson’s exceptionally long novels into multiple physical volumes.
Verified editions include:
- Calea regilor, vol. 1 — The Way of Kings
- Calea regilor, vol. 2 — The Way of Kings
- Cuvinte despre lumină: Câmpiile Sfărâmate — Words of Radiance
- Cuvinte despre lumină: Poarta jurământului — Words of Radiance
- Aducătoarea jurământului, vol. 1 — Oathbringer
- Aducătoarea jurământului, vol. 2: Înfruntarea — Oathbringer
These Romanian physical volumes should not be mistaken for six separate novels.
They represent Romanian publishing divisions of the first three original Stormlight Archive novels.
For readers and collectors, this distinction is essential.
The complete bibliography will document Romanian titles, publishing houses, verified publication years and the relationship between original English books and Romanian physical volumes.
It will also distinguish initial translations from later reprints, avoiding unnecessary duplicate entries.
📚 Where to Start Reading Brandon Sanderson
With so many interconnected series and independent books, choosing a first Brandon Sanderson novel can feel intimidating.
Fortunately, readers do not need to understand the entire Cosmere before beginning.
My Recommended Starting Points
For epic fantasy readers: Mistborn: The Final Empire
The original Mistborn trilogy provides a strong introduction to Sanderson’s magic systems, character development and carefully constructed plots.
For readers who prefer standalone fantasy: Warbreaker
A self-contained story with an inventive magical system and memorable political and personal conflicts.
For readers who want a shorter introduction: The Emperor’s Soul
An excellent choice for discovering Sanderson’s ideas without committing to a long series.
For readers who love enormous fantasy worlds: The Way of Kings
The opening novel of The Stormlight Archive rewards readers who enjoy detailed worldbuilding and long-form storytelling.
For science-fiction readers: Skyward
A fast-moving adventure built around pilots, alien threats and a determined young protagonist.
Should You Read the Cosmere in Publication Order?
Publication order is a particularly rewarding approach for readers interested in discovering the wider connections between Sanderson’s works.
However, it is not compulsory.
Most of the major series have been designed to provide satisfying experiences independently, especially at their starting points.
For readers planning a complete Cosmere journey, the dedicated bibliography will provide:
- Original publication order
- Individual series reading order
- Companion novellas and short fiction
- Recommended Cosmere reading sequences
- Notes about interconnected stories
- Romanian editions and omnibus volumes
⭐ My Brandon Sanderson Book Reviews
Discover my personal reviews of Brandon Sanderson’s books on BookFairy.
Each review explores my reading experience, the characters, worldbuilding and ideas that stood out to me, and my honest thoughts about the book.
Click on a book cover below to read the full BookFairy review.
🦋 Brandon Sanderson on BookFairy
Brandon Sanderson’s bibliography offers an extraordinary range of reading experiences, from tightly structured novellas to enormous fantasy series spanning multiple worlds.
His books are particularly interesting for readers who enjoy discovering how fictional systems work, following long character journeys and recognising connections that emerge gradually across different stories.
On BookFairy, this author guide brings together his major series, recommended reading orders, Romanian translations and personal reviews.
As the review collection grows, readers will be able to explore individual books alongside the larger universes to which they belong.
📚 Complete Brandon Sanderson Bibliography
For a comprehensive catalogue of Brandon Sanderson’s novels, novellas, short stories, graphic novels, collaborations, companion works and Romanian editions, explore the Brandon Sanderson Complete Bibliography on BookFairy.
The dedicated bibliography brings together his Cosmere and non-Cosmere works, organised by series and original publication dates. It includes recommended reading orders, standalone publications, collaborations and Romanian translations, helping readers navigate Sanderson’s extensive literary universe.
📖 Explore the Complete Brandon Sanderson Bibliography