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The Cosmere (Secret Projects) Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Brandon Sanderson
4 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start The Cosmere (Secret Projects) by Brandon Sanderson with "The Well of Ascension", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

Novels originally published as part of a Kickstarter campaign, set in various worlds within the greater Cosmere universe.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 4 main titles released between 2010 and 2012. 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 Well of Ascension"

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 highly critical of the prose, pacing, and editorial oversight in the later volumes of the core series (The Stormlight Archive, particularly books 3-5). Many readers feel that the narrative suffers from excessive lore bloat, repeated internal monologues, and too-rapid societal/psychological changes, leading to a loss of interest in the second half of the sequence."

Key Reddit Advice

No general Cosmere reading order is recommended in these comments. However, based on explicit preferences, readers should follow the sequential order of the primary series discussed (The Stormlight Archive 1, 2, 3...) but be aware that quality consensus suggests Books 1 and 2 are superior to the subsequent entries (3, 4, and 5).

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Cosmere (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 The Cosmere (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 Well of Ascension" 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 "The Cosmere (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.

Start with "The Well of Ascension"Explore all by Brandon Sanderson

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 Order4 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.
Best Start Here
1

The Well of Ascension

Pub: 2010

Now with over 10 million copies sold, The Mistborn Series has the thrills of a heist story, the twistiness of political intrigue, and the epic scale of a landmark fantasy saga. They did the impossible, ending the thousand-year reign of the godlike Lord Ruler. Now Vin, the former street urchin turned powerful Mistborn, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of an empire. As tensions grow in the wake of the uprising, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows. It may just be that killing the Lord Ruler was the easy part. Surviving the aftermath of his fall is going to be the real challenge. Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson The Cosmere The Stormlight Archive ● The Way of Kings ● Words of Radiance ● Edgedancer (novella) ● Oathbringer ● Dawnshard (novella) ● Rhythm of War ● Wind and Truth The Mistborn Saga The Original Trilogy ● Mistborn ● The Well of Ascension ● The Hero of Ages Wax & Wayne ● The Alloy of Law ● Shadows of Self ● The Bands of Mourning ● The Lost Metal Other Cosmere novels ● Elantris ● Warbreaker ● Tress of the Emerald Sea ● Yumi and the Nightmare Painter ● The Sunlit Man Collection ● Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians ● Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians ● The Scrivener's Bones ● The Knights of Crystallia ● The Shattered Lens ● The Dark Talent ● Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (with Janci Patterson) Other novels ● The Rithmatist ● Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds ● The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England Other books by Brandon Sanderson The Reckoners ● Steelheart ● Firefight ● Calamity ● Lux (with Steven Michael Bohls) Skyward ● Skyward ● Starsight ● Cytonic ● Skyward Flight (with Janci Patterson) ● Defiant At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

2

Mistborn: Secret History

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Well of Ascension".

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, "Mistborn: Secret History" is a companion story to the original Mistborn trilogy. Building upon the characterization, events, and worldbuilding of the original trilogy, this novella offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes at the fate of a certain reader-favorite character. Ten years in the making, "Mistborn: Secret History" might answer a few of your questions. The Cosmere The Mistborn series Mistborn: The Final Empire The Well of Ascension The Hero of Ages Alloy of Law Shadows of Self Bands of Mourning The Stormlight Archive The Way of Kings Words of Radiance Edgedancer (Novella) Oathbringer (forthcoming) Collection Arcanum Unbounded Other Cosmere Titles Elantris Warbreaker Rithmatist The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians The Scrivener's Bones The Knights of Crystallia The Shattered Lens The Dark Talent The Reckoners Steelheart Firefight Calamity At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

3

Sunlit Man

Pub: 2023

Plot details hidden until you finish "Mistborn: Secret History".

Trapped on a dying world with a monstrous intelligence hunting him, a familiar figure from the Cosmere must rely on stolen powers to escape the endless cycle of death.

4

אלקטרז נגד ספרני הרשע

Pub: 2012

Plot details hidden until you finish "Sunlit Man".

A boy discovers his destiny as a wielder of magical talents, tasked with stopping a global conspiracy led by the notoriously cunning Evil Librarians.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The Cosmere (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 The Cosmere (Secret Projects)?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Well of Ascension" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Brandon Sanderson intended.

Can I read The Cosmere (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 The Cosmere (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.