#Prime 15 Brandon Sanderson books, ranked worst to finest
Some know him for his intricate magic techniques. Others acknowledge him as an creator reinventing the speculative style together with his distinctive contact. To us, nonetheless, Brandon Sanderson is just one in every of this era’s best storytellers.
I take advantage of the phrase “nice” however maybe the extra correct adjective can be “prolific.” Since beginning his profession with the discharge of Elantris in 2005, now virtually twenty years in the past, Sanderson has written dozens of fantasy novels, most of them critically acclaimed hits, and there’s no signal of him stopping any time quickly.
Whether or not it’s The Stormlight Archive, an epic high-stakes fantasy story happening on an unique planet, Mistborn, top-of-the-line reinventions of the steampunk subgenre, or any variety of the opposite standalone tales and novels in Cosmere and past, Sanderson has left his mark within the literary custom of the twenty first century. And whereas the prospects of selecting up these books could also be daunting at first on account of their sheer scale, right here we’ve determined to rank among the better of them to present you a glimpse into Cosmere and the way it’s been obtained by readers over time.
These are the highest 10 Brandon Sanderson books, ranked from worst to finest.
I typically consider the Skyward sequence as Brandon Sanderson slowly getting ready himself to strategy the upcoming third and fourth Mistborn eras, that are alleged to depict the fashionable and futuristic area durations, respectively. Skyward is a fast-paced character-driven sci-fi story that, in contrast to lots of Sanderson’s different books, is geared toward a younger grownup viewers. You observe Spensa, a woman with a fiery spirit who lives on a planet always beset by invasion from a race of aliens. Spensa desires to coach to change into a pilot, however her household’s previous has turned her into one thing of an outcast in society. Skyward is dynamic, simple to learn, and filled with intense motion. Sanderson ought to undoubtedly write extra science fiction.
To say that Rhythm of Struggle is the weakest entry in The Stormlight Archive sequence can be to severely undersell a few of its surging strengths (pun supposed), however on the identical time, we will’t assist however discover that the fourth guide solely exists to bridge the hole between the primary three books and the fifth and last one within the first arc, which got here out a few weeks in the past underneath the title of Wind and Reality. There are numerous moments that I beloved in Rhythm of Struggle, however at 1200+ pages, this was the longest installment within the sequence up to now, and the longest guide Sanderson has ever written.
That’s, till Wind and Reality got here alongside and raised the bar by including one other couple hundred pages. If this guide was, say, 300 pages shorter, then it might need become one in every of my favourite fantasy books. However anticipating Sanderson to write down fewer phrases is like asking the solar to take a time without work.
Concluding the story of Wax and Wayne, whose adventures comprised the second Mistborn period set tons of of years after the trials of Vin and Elend, The Misplaced Steel is among the most emotional tales Sanderson has written. The humor and coronary heart that outlined a lot of the so-called Wax & Wayne saga remains to be there, however the stakes have by no means been greater for the planet Scadrial, and past that, the Cosmere as a complete. The ending is satisfying and the character resolutions are emotionally fulfilling, however what units the second Mistborn period in addition to The Misplaced Steel aside is its expansive lore-building, lastly bringing many worlds from throughout the Cosmere, together with The Stormlight Archive and elusive ideas comparable to perpendicularities and world-hopping to the fore.
Studying by Sanderson’s Cosmere isn’t just daunting for its sheer quantity, however the truth that many of those large-scale epic tales are likely to put on you down over time. For these folks, one of the best ways to retain their lifeline to Sanderson’s writing however keep away from burn-out is approaching books like Tress of the Emerald Sea; lighter, whimsical, much less chunky, and general, extra palatable and charming. Sanderson revealed this as a part of his Secret Initiatives however he initially wrote it as a present to his spouse. The story follows Tress, who leaves her idyllic life to avoid wasting her kidnapped misplaced curiosity, as soon as once more instructed by Hoid. Although in contrast to most of his different fanciful tales, this one really occurred within the bigger Cosmere.
Whereas most Brandon Sanderson sequence stand on their very own ft and barely embody references to different worlds, after which very opaque, Warbreaker is a type of novels that may provide help to make sense of the bigger Cosmere, particularly The Stormlight Archive. Actually, some characters from Warbreaker do seem on Roshar, even when underneath a special guise. Warbreaker is stuffed with motion and compelling character arcs, however maybe the very best half about this well-known and acclaimed standalone is the truth that you get to discover a magic system in contrast to another the creator has developed, filled with magic and colours and the enigmatic kind of vitality often known as BioChromatic Breath.
At its coronary heart, the story of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a celebration of artwork and creativity. This is among the books Sanderson launched as a part of his Secret Initiatives initiative, now thought-about probably the most profitable Kickstarter marketing campaign in historical past. The story is instructed from the attitude of Hoid, a well-known Worldhopper within the Cosmere that seems in most Sanderson works like The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn. This time, Hoid (or Wit, as he’s in any other case identified) is telling us the story of Yumi, a strong spirit binder, and Nikaro, a nightmare painter, happening on the planet Komashi, which has been impressed by East Asian cultures.
The thought of utilizing artwork as magic, the intricacies of twin worldbuilding for our two protagonists, and the attractive illustrations in Yumi all flip it into one in every of Brandon Sanderson’s finest publications to this present day.
Ash fell from the sky, and so started Brandon Sanderson’s journey from a modest fantasy fanatic to the best voice within the style. The Closing Empire is probably not the creator’s first revealed work, however it stays, even in spite of everything these years, the very best gateway into Cosmere and the epic works that comprise it. We observe the story of a bunch of disgruntled, wrathful slaves often known as skaa, who’re making an attempt to overthrow the tyrannical god emperor of their world.
The story follows the road woman Vin, distrustful and apprehensive, who will get recruited by Kelsier, a charismatic con artist, into his burgeoning group of rebellious skaa. The world of Mistborn is exclusive, each in storytelling and aesthetic. There are mysteries to discern, secrets and techniques to uncover, and a dozen colourful characters to fall in love with. Even Brandon Sanderson himself says that one of the best ways to begin on the Cosmere journey is to choose up the primary Mistborn trilogy, consisting of The Closing Empire, The Properly of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages.
Each Stormlight Archive guide has a elementary premise that defines that specific installment. With Oathbringer, Sanderson tried to see if he might subvert expectations in a manner that he has by no means executed earlier than. And no, I’m not speaking in regards to the game-changing twist in regards to the battle for Roshar on the finish of this guide. Oathbringer focuses on one of many important characters, Dalinar Kholin, and exhibits us his previous in a uncooked, unfiltered mild. You get to see how the famed and feared Blackthorn managed to forge an empire by blood and savagery, and the way this man whom everybody as soon as disavowed for his depraved methods turned one of the crucial respectable and honorable folks in your complete Cosmere. The story of Dalinar’s fall and redemption achieves one thing that few fantasy books in historical past have managed to tug off, and maybe none as efficiently as Sanderson’s Oathbringer.
Brandon Sanderson is thought for writing chunky fantasy novels that simply push previous 1000 pages. He’s identified for his elaborate plots, extraordinarily complicated magic techniques, intricate lore and worldbuilding, and impressive, series-spanning character arcs. And but, top-of-the-line tales Sanderson has ever written was a novella that got here out in 2012, titled The Emperor’s Soul. This isn’t a narrative that wants foreknowledge to grasp.
This isn’t a story embedded within the tangled internet of the so-called Cosmere universe. The Emperor’s Soul is the thought-provoking, compelling story of a thief named Shai, who will get tasked with forging a brand new soul for the brain-dead emperor and is given 100 days to perform this gargantuan enterprise. Studying The Emperor’s Soul will solely take you the higher a part of a day, however the expertise will stick with you for weeks if not months. If you need a straightforward gateway into the mind of Brandon Sanderson, then selecting up this novella is your finest wager.
Many within the fandom would put Phrases of Radiance, the second guide in The Stormlight Archive, above the primary one. The storylines are extra compact, the primary characters lastly start to work together with one another in earnest, and the general worldbuilding is much less ambiguous, to not point out that iconic scenes like “the duel” flip Phrases of Radiance not solely into top-of-the-line books Sanderson has written, however top-of-the-line fantasy books of all time. (The sequel is normally ranked within the prime three on Goodreads’ Finest Books of All Time listing.)
All of those statements are true in their very own manner, and I might’ve agreed with them, apart from the truth that The Method of Kings remains to be objectively extra important for the best way it units up the story and the world in such a seamless method. That being stated, Phrases of Radiance remains to be fairly epic, its scenes remaining a consolation learn at any time when I prowl by the Brandon Sanderson part of my library.
When folks take into consideration Brandon Sanderson, their minds instantly latch onto The Stormlight Archive due to how massively epic it’s. The primary Mistborn period, nonetheless, consisting of the primary trilogy starting with The Closing Empire, persevering with with The Properly of Ascension, and ending with The Hero of Ages, really cemented Sanderson’s identify as one of many greats within the style. Even now, in spite of everything these years, I nonetheless assume the primary Mistborn trilogy has probably the most well-thought-out narrative out of all of Sanderson’s books. The enjoyment of studying these first two books and developing with two dozen questions, solely to have all of them answered or hinted at by The Hero of Ages is an expertise you’re not prone to neglect. That is a type of few instances in a guide sequence the place studying the ultimate guide and the story’s ending received’t go away you wanting extra.
Brandon Sanderson is the sort of creator to complete one other individual’s guide sequence and nonetheless handle to do a fully good and praiseworthy job. It’s unusual to assume that out of all of the books Sanderson has written, and there are an ideal lots of them—most critically acclaimed—The Gathering Storm remains to be amongst my favorites. Certain, the world of The Wheel of Time was created by Robert Jordan. Granted, these will not be Sanderson’s personal characters that he spins on this grand tapestry. And sure, Sanderson had a tough define for the place the sequence was alleged to be headed due to the notes Jordan left behind earlier than his demise, however it’s nonetheless considerably absurd for a comparatively anonymous creator to come back in and write the subsequent entry in a guide sequence that has tens of tens of millions of followers all all over the world.
I like The Wheel of Time, and I like Robert Jordan, however my favourite guide within the sequence is The Gathering Storm. That I feel ought to let you know all you could learn about what Sanderson has achieved with this novel.
Sanderson refers to The Stormlight Archive sequence as his burgeoning magnum opus. Whereas the prolific novelist by no means takes a break from writing a brand new story, Stormlight was at all times going to be his genre-defining masterpiece. And so far as debuts go, The Method of Kings knocked it out of the park in each regard, serving as an ideal primer into the spiraling and unique world of Roshar, on whose soil the outdated gods are waging a battle that no mortal being can but fathom. The Method of Kings is epic, in depth, formidable, heartbreaking, and nearly every part that fantasy readers need in a giant story. This was additionally the guide that launched everybody to iconic characters like Kaladin Stormblessed, Dalinar Kholin, and Shallan Davar, who are actually every, in their very own manner, archetypal within the overarching speculative panorama.
For the ultimate guide in Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time sequence, Brandon Sanderson brings all of his literary and storytelling chops to bear down on the story of Rand al’Thor, and the continent embroiled in a devastating battle with the best enemy of humanity. As one of the crucial formidable works of excessive fantasy fiction, lots was driving on the success of A Reminiscence of Mild. Everyone knows how painstakingly tough it’s to give you an honest ending for any nice story, and that was doubly true for The Wheel of Time since its creator had handed away. Brandon Sanderson, nonetheless, managed to do the unimaginable by not solely giving followers a satisfying conclusion however turning the prophesied Tarmon Gai’don – The Final Battle – into one of the crucial epic spectacles that you simply’ll ever expertise on the earth of novels.
It has been over twenty years since Brandon Sanderson conceived The Stormlight Archive sequence. The primary guide got here out in 2010, and now, after 14 years, we’ve lastly come to the tip of the journey… effectively, type of. Wind and Reality formally brings the primary main arc of the sequence to a detailed. Consider it like Avengers: Infinity Struggle or Avengers: Endgame, the place our forged of characters come collectively to wage a last battle in opposition to the being that wishes to enslave their whole world, for causes that even probably the most ardent Cosmere followers haven’t been in a position to determine.
There are inquiries to be answered, mysteries to be unveiled, and character arcs to come back to a satisfying conclusion. On paper, Wind and Reality is way from the very best guide Brandon Sanderson has written, however we nonetheless need to admire the person for his sheer dedication to this formidable and complicated narrative. The truth that Sanderson wrote a roughly rewarding ending to his magnum opus is one thing that few different up to date storytellers handle to do. For that cause, Wind and Reality is arguably his best accomplishment thus far.
