The Cosmere Reading Order

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The Cosmere Reading Order | OpenFiction

Recommended Cosmere Order

The most popular community-recommended reading order for newcomers to the Cosmere. This order groups each series together for narrative momentum rather than strict publication dates, starting with Mistborn Era 1 - widely considered the best entry point for its tighter scope and satisfying trilogy structure. Elantris and Warbreaker follow as standalone novels that introduce new worlds and magic systems without requiring series commitment. Warbreaker is placed before the Stormlight Archive deliberately - certain characters and artefacts from Warbreaker appear in Stormlight, and reading it first unlocks connections that would otherwise be missed. The Stormlight Archive follows as the centrepiece of the Cosmere, with its novellas Edgedancer and Dawnshard placed at their intended reading positions within the series. Mistborn Era 2 closes the order, as The Lost Metal contains the most significant Cosmere crossover content to date and rewards readers who arrive with broad knowledge of the wider universe.

Mistborn Era 1
Best starting point
1
The Final Empire(2006)
2
The Well of Ascension(2007)
3
The Hero of Ages(2008)
4
Elantris(2005)
Standalone. Introduces Sel.
5
Warbreaker(2009)
Read before Stormlight - characters cross over
The Stormlight Archive
6
The Way of Kings(2010)
7
Words of Radiance(2012)
8
Edgedancer(2016)
9
Oathbringer(2017)
10
Dawnshard(2020)
11
Rhythm of War(2020)
12
Wind and Truth(2024)
Mistborn Era 2 (Wax and Wayne)
Heavy Cosmere crossover in The Lost Metal
13
The Alloy of Law(2011)
14
Shadows of Self(2015)
15
The Bands of Mourning(2016)
16
The Lost Metal(2022)
17
Arcanum Unbounded(2016)
Best after Mistborn Era 1 and Stormlight. Contains Secret History (major Era 1 spoilers). Optional - skip stories you've already read.
18
Tress of the Emerald Sea(2023)
Standalone. Light and whimsical. Can be read earlier but benefits from knowing Hoid.
19
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter(2023)
Standalone. Deep Cosmere implications beneath the surface.
20
The Sunlit Man(2023)
Read after Stormlight and Mistborn. Major spoilers for both.
21
Isles of the Emberdark(2025)
Set in the Cosmere's future. Best read last.

The Cosmere - Reading Order

Publication Order

Recommended Cosmere Order

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The Cosmere - Reading Order

Publication Order

Recommended Cosmere Order