list of the best books by brandon sanderson ranked by voracious readers in the ranker community. With commercial success and critical acclaim, there is no doubt that Brandon Sanderson is among the best-known writers of the last 100 decades. Sanderson is famous for his fantasy and sci-fi composition, as well as his favorite Mistborn series.
If you’re a big fan of his work, then vote for your favorite books below and make your opinion count. This survey is also a great resource for new Brandon Sanderson lovers who want to know which articles they should start studying. With unforgettable characters and superb storytelling, there’s no reason not to check out his work if you’re a keen reader.
You are reading: Brandon sanderson books ranked
With novels ranging from The Way of Kings to The Mistborn: The Final Empire, this is a great starting point for a list of your favorites. what exactly are the best brandon sanderson books? Please vote on this list and help us kindly answer this question.
who is brandon sanderson?
brandon sanderson is a new york times bestselling author who has been published for ten decades, but he writes for much more than that.
Produced in Nebraska, but now living in Utah, Sanderson wasn’t much of a bookworm growing up until Barbara Hambly provided him with a copy of Dragonsbane with his favorite teacher. he’s been hooked on epic fantasy ever since.
Although he initially intended to study biochemistry in school, he gave in to his love of short stories and switched to English, hoping to become a writer.
after a long time of writing after he did it at night, at work, whenever he had free time, brandon marketed his first publication, and in May 2005 he had elantris in his hands.
Your current stormlight file series is an exception. takes place in the same universe as his cosmere books, but is intended to be an epic series. there are three published volumes and one more on the way.
brandon sanderson is a summation of elantris’ victory, brandon gained an even wider audience with the entire mistborn trilogy.
In 2007, Sanderson was catapulted into the spotlight when Robert Jordan’s widow, Harriet McDougal, asked him to shoot the wheel of the time series after Robert Jordan’s unfortunate departure.
For the next several decades, Sanderson pulled double duty, not only aggressively working on the end of the wheel of time, but also producing fictional series on its world.
the way of kings, the inaugural publication in the stormlight archive series, was printed in 2010 and its follow-up, words of radiance, in 2014.
If the latter sounds crazy to you, don’t worry, it’s standard. Sanderson is famous for his incredible work ethic. Furious Speed hasn’t just published entire epic fantasy books before, during, and after the end of Robert Jordan’s legendary show.
He has also written a couple of middle grade books and already, a profusion of short stories and novellas (among which hugo won a couple of years ago). He managed to find time to participate in the award-winning songwriting excuses podcast, started along with dan wells and howard taylor and mary robinette kowal linking from the sixth time.
sanderson manages to strike a delicate balance in his work, delivering the fun, charming, epic fantasy experiences he loved growing up while pushing these tales into new lands; discover ways to ask meaningful questions about culture, personality, faith, culture, history, and more without skipping a page-turning pace.
Anyone interested in learning more about the subject will find a great book to start with. there’s the way of kings, which is great and does a lot of great things.
but brandon said in a recent episode of written excuses that the way of kings is the best thing about the brandon sanderson novel once you trust him. if you’re a reader who likes epic challenges, go for it!
best brandon sanderson novels to read
here is a list of brandon sanderson books pennbook recommends reading:
the hero of the ages
Many fantasy books are about an evil force bent on devastation, but few make danger as compelling as ruin. I felt the growing sense of pain for the unstoppable destruction of the earth.
You will lose a few things for being whiny and whiny sazed for most of the novel. his atheism is too melodramatic to be persuasive (although his story is redeemed by the reward at the end of the hero of the ages)
It was great to see spook become a very important character in his own right and to see him struggle with the challenges of directing in the hero of the ages. but that doesn’t compare to the fantasy team of vin and elend.
elantris
sanderson’s first novel was a stand-alone epic fantasy and is a bit harsher than others. I can see some components that were shot and reworked into stormlight files.
some pieces are a bit too simple and practical, but it’s a good story with a great setting and premise. It’s hard not to be amazed and inspired by how Raoden and Sarene conquer their challenges, and that doesn’t enjoy a happy ending?
two years after the publication of elantris, harriet
See Also: Bookshelves of doom: Round-up: The ENTIRE Vicky Bliss series
McDougal’s widow, Robert Jordan, chose Sanderson to complete Jordan’s epic Wheel of Time series. at that time, there were already eleven books and thousands of words. McDougal chose Sanderson after being impressed with his first mistborn.
The Gathering Storm was the first of three books Sanderson wrote for the Wheel of Time series. a memory of light came out four years later. each of the three books was a bestseller that received much attention from critics and readers alike.
mistborn series
Do you like to see fantasy tropes in their minds, do you love heist stories and want to fly through big cities like spider-man? then try the mistborn series! Set in a dying universe, dominated by a menacing immortal emperor who hides a dark secret about the prophesied hero of the ages.
The book follows Vin, a young woman who joins a group of thieves, evildoers and revolutionaries, on a mission to end the final empire once and for all, with a lot of metal magic system, intrigue, men with spikes for the eyes, along with adrenaline along the way.
the alloy of the law
in the alloy of law, three years after the events of this first mist-born trilogy, scadrial is currently at the point of modernity, along with railways to complement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and houses of the rich, the first steel. framed skyscrapers running into the clouds.
kelsier, vin, elend, sazed, spook and the rest are now part of history or faith. however, even as technology and science reach new heights, the ancient magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. from the borderlands called the Roughs, are crucial tools for their brave people trying to establish justice and order.
waxillium ladrian is a rare twin that will push metals along with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become heavier or lighter at will.
after twenty years in the rough, family tragedy prompted wax to return to the metropolis of elendel. he needs to grudgingly put away his firearms and assume the responsibilities and dignity that befit the mind of a noble residence.
He believes until he learns the hard way that the city’s mansions and elegant tree-lined streets could be even more damaging than the temperate regions of these harsh.
warbreaker
Are you looking for something similar to elantris? well, give warbreaker a try! place in a world where the magical energy of breath can imbue a mortal with divine abilities; A young princess is given to marry the god king of the neighboring state of hers at war.
It’s up to her older sister to bring her back home safely, even while avoiding the crown conspiracy. incredibly deadly (yet naïve) talking dragons, immortal women and men carved from marble, and a riveting rant on sarcasm.
the final empire
The Final Empire Sometimes called Mistborn, the first book in Sanderson’s acclaimed Mistborn trilogy was the one that earned him the Wheel of Time gig. he asks the question: “what if the hero of the prophetic prophecy fails?”
sanderson is famous for his amazing personality, comprehensive magic systems, colorful world building, and superior storylines (all found in this post), but what I think makes him unique are the assumptions he uses to create his novels.
sanderson asks an interesting question in this novel: suppose the dark lord won the last battle? the previous struggle between good and evil is a common feature of fantasy books. It’s amazing that no one has wondered what could happen if he wins the wrong side.
You will find different vital questions like how can you set up a revolution in a slave society and what would be the best approaches. do you ruin the ruling class as kelsier thinks or do you try to work together with them as elend thinks? trying to tackle a radical heist in this universe makes for a fantastic story in the final empire.
mistborn also has some of sanderson’s most exceptional characters, like kelsier and the team, but first and foremost, vin. Her journey from roadside abused orphan to solid assignment and undercover noblewoman is intriguing and kept me hooked.
there is one additional traditional feature of a sanderson book, a stunning finish that puts everything in a new perspective.
the mourning bands
Three years after the events of this mist-born trilogy, scadrial is currently at the point of modernity, along with railways to complement canals, electric street lighting and the homes of the wealthy, the first steel-framed skyscrapers running to the clouds in the mourning bands.
The types of mourning would be the mythical metallic heads that the ruling lord possesses, declared to give anyone who uses them the forces that the ruling lord had under his command. Hardly anyone believes they exist.
a kandra researcher has returned to elendel with images that appear to portray the gangs and written in speech that no one could read.
waxillium ladrian is recruiting to travel south to the city of new seran to explore. Along the way, she finds clues to Uncle Edward’s true goals along with the shadowy organization called the Set.
unlimited arcanum: the cosmere collection
brandon sanderson generates worlds, and besides, those worlds are connected. The world of him crosses stormlight archive, the mistborn showcases the stories of elantris, along with many others, comprising a special constellation of imaginary realms called the cosmere.
for the first time, the stories symbolizing all those planets and their different fully realized magical systems have been brought together in one spectacular volume.
arcanum unbound: the cosmere collection brings together stories that span the known boundaries of sanderson’s world, like the never-before-published edgedancer, a thrilling new novel from this stormlight archive combined with graphics, illustrations, and liner notes. . .and secrets.
The cosmere collection spans six worlds, investigated in nine outstanding works of short fiction: sel (the hope of elantris and the soul of the emperor); scadrial (eleventh metal, allomancer jak and the pits of eltania, episodes twenty-eight to thirty, as well as mistborn: pivotal story); taldain (white sand); Threnody (Shadows for Silence in the Woods of Hell); first published from the sun (sixth of twilight); and roshar (edge dancer).
These riveting stories will take you on an unprecedented journey through a cosmos brandon sanderson could never have imagined. Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection is an indispensable volume that no Sanderson lover can do without.
glow words
See Also: Jacqueline Carey – Book Series In Order
There are many amazing moments in this Battle Arenas post in the rise and maturation of figures (and knowledge).
there’s no denying that the stormlight file places the epic in the epic fantasy. kaladin is still my favourite, but radiant words may be shalan’s post. she develops a lot for a character, and it was a joy to see her be witty and smart.
One characteristic of Radiant Words, however, Sanderson’s writing, in general, is that he writes proactive characters who actively try to address problems.
You will find amazing characters as always and extreme psychological moments, from the possible reduction of syl, to shalan and kaladin trapped in the gorge, the conflict during the storm and the pleasure of declaring the words of this oath.
p >
well of ascension
Many fantasy books involve wars or revolutions against the evil enemy, but few ask what happens next. what should you do once you defeat the dark lord?
Most of us agree that a service society is bad, but what can be substituted? sanderson uses the ability to reveal that it’s not enough to kill the king, which alone won’t solve all problems.
elend and vin’s struggles with the burden of management and also the problems in building a new society reveal an often-forgotten realism in fantasy. the ending is one of the most incredible and amazing I’ve ever read.
heart of steel
Are you more of a science fiction than you think? sanderson has that too. some characters were transformed into epics by the appearance of a cosmic entity orbiting over them, calamity. this gave them superpowers that defy all natural laws.
When these men turn out to be terrible news, the fantasy of having superhumans is squashed. epics took over the world and brought down governments. a normal guy is determined to eliminate them, not only with the epic that killed his father.
gannet against the evil librarians
alcatraz smedry, thirteen, receives a bag full of sand from his parents. It’s no ordinary sand, and it’s quickly stolen by the evil cult known as Librarians. her goal is to hide the truth and conquer the world. gannet has a talent: breaking things.
This story about gannet versus the evil librarians is full of humor and talents that make it hilarious. It’s a simple story Sanderson wrote that can be quickly enjoyed.
the way of kings (book 1 of the stormlight series)
The first book in Sanderson’s epic Stormlight Archive series, The Way of Kings transports readers to a harsh and untamed world where storms have devastated the ecosystem. This is also one of sanderson’s best books.
In the path of kings for centuries, the radiant knights left behind their magical armor and swords. these artifacts have made men nearly invincible and have helped win wars.
one such war is taking place on the shattered plains. a soldier-turned-slave becomes bitter with leaders who consider them disposable. Apocalyptic visions besiege a warchief and ten armies fight an enemy.
The Way of Kings won a Hugo nomination for Best Series. brotherwise games recently adapted it into a deck-building board game as part of their call to adventure games collection.
The result of ten years of planning, writing, and worldbuilding has been one of the most ambitious metaseries in modern fantasy.
where to start with brandon sanderson?
Here’s a guide for those new to your books:
- steelheart and elantris are great choices for fantasy readers who don’t usually read them.
- mistborn: the final empire or the way of kings is a great fantasy book for those who love read.
- warbreaker is an excellent option for lovers of romance.
- alcatraz vs. evil librarians is a fun and light-hearted option for younger readers.
- steelheart, mistborn, or the rithmatist are great choices if you’re looking for something that appeals to young adults.
should i read mistborn or stormlight first?
It depends on your preference. let me share my opinion. The Stormlight Archive, a 10-book epic fantasy series, is currently in its fourth volume.
While the mistborn series, which consists of three trilogies and is currently in its second trilogy or sixth book, the mistborn series is a series that consists of three trilogies. mistborn is a clear winner based on the volume of the book.
mistborn is an excellent introduction to sanderson’s works if you haven’t read them yet. now you can enjoy the main story as it is finished. this will allow you to have a standalone story, unlike stormlight which can take another decade.
mistborn, which is a shorter story, is easier to understand. stormlight has an epic history with everything. This will give you a better understanding of Sanderson’s voice, style, and cosmere creation.
frequently asked questions
Is the stormlight file difficult to read?
It’s not complicated. just pay attention to the descriptions and the names of the characters from the beginning. many characters are quickly introduced. I wasn’t paying that much attention when I read the first book, so I had a hard time rereading it. it may be harder for others, but that’s me.
is brandon sanderson rich?
Brandon Sanderson Net Worth: Brandon Sanderson, an American writer, has a net worth of $6 million. Brandon Sanderson was born in December 1975 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is well known for his Mistborn series and for finishing Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time.
why is brandon sanderson so prolific?
sanderson is not only prolific because of the large volume of published works; His novels, short stories, and novellas are also dense with meticulously detailed magic systems, huge casts of interesting characters, and rich worlds with deep stories and intricate plots that are layered in complexity page by page.
can a 12 year old read mistborn?
The mistborn series is recommended for an 11 year old who has reached a reasonable level of maturity. however, the father must be able to interact with her son regularly in whatever medium he consumes.
what is your best brandon sanderson series? please share with us and lovely readers. Happy reading!
See Also: Drew Hayes – Book Series In Order