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Secret Projects Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Brandon Sanderson
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Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Secret Projects by Brandon Sanderson with "The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

The provided article text describes the 2013 short film 'secretprojectrevolution' directed by Madonna and Steven Klein, focusing on artistic freedom and human rights. It does not contain any information regarding the book series 'Secret Projects' or the listed titles (Tress Of The Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England, Yumi And The Nightmare Painter, The Sunlit Man, Isles Of The Emberdark).

Reader's Guide

This series spans 5 main titles released between 2024 and 2023. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

High Debate

"The comments are divided into two distinct groups. The first group offers extensive critical analysis of Brandon Sanderson's major works (implying the 'Secret Projects' are related, or criticizing the style found therein), concluding that his prose is too repetitive, books are too long, social/political changes are unrealistic, and the quality drops significantly after the second book of a major series. The second, unrelated group focuses on recommending various indie fantasy and sci-fi titles from a holiday sale, praising books like Iron Prince, Weirkey Chronicles, and The Wrack."

Key Reddit Advice

For those reading the criticized series, the consensus is that the first two books are the strongest, and readers should be prepared for significant narrative bloat and repetitive character inner monologue in subsequent volumes. For alternative reading highly recommended within the thread: start with Iron Prince (for adrenaline/sci-fi), Weirkey Chronicles (for inventive magic), or Sword of Kaigen (for emotional fantasy).

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Secret Projects conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Secret Projects. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Secret Projects" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

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Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order5 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
1

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England

Pub: 2024★ 3.82

#1 New York Times Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson meshes Jason Bourne and epic fantasy in this captivating adventure that throws an amnesiac wizard into time travel shenanigans—where his only hope of survival lies in recovering his missing memories. A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive?

2

Yumi And The Nightmare Painter

Pub: 2023

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England".

Yumi comes from a land of gardens, meditation, and spirits, while Painter lives in a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. When their lives suddenly become intertwined in strange ways, can they put aside their differences and work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save each other’s communities from certain disaster?

3

The Sunlit Man

Pub: 2023

Plot details hidden until you finish "Yumi And The Nightmare Painter".

Years ago he had comrades in arms and a cause to believe in, but now the man who calls himself Nomad knows only a life on the run. Forced to hop from world to world in the Cosmere whenever the relentless Night Brigade gets too close, Nomad lands on a new planet and is instantly caught up in the struggle between a tyrant and the rebels who want only to escape being turned into mindless slaves―all under the constant threat of a sunrise whose heat will melt the very stones. Unable to understand the language, can he navigate the conflict and gain enough power to leap offworld before his mind or body pay the ultimate price?

4

Secret Projects Series 3-book Set By Brandon Sanderson

Pub: 2023

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Sunlit Man".

A trio of unexpected novels exploring diverse Cosmere worlds, featuring unique magic systems, compelling characters, and deep ties to the greater universe.

5

Isles Of The Emberdark

Pub: 2025

Plot details hidden until you finish "Secret Projects Series 3-book Set By Brandon Sanderson".

Set sail for a perilous archipelago where ancient powers sleep beneath the waves and every storm brings whispers of forgotten, cosmic horror.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Secret Projects series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Secret Projects?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Brandon Sanderson intended.

Can I read Secret Projects books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Secret Projects universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.