Current Events > How important are Sanderson's other novels before reading Stormlight Archive?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've read the (first) Mistborn trilogy but nothing else. Co-workers were talking about Stormlight the other day and it sounded pretty cool.

Until you get to book 4 it's fine I think.
But every one of his worlds is connected and it starts to show.

Not important, but there are neat crossovers and references. I am thinking of Warbreaker, specifically.

It isn't terribly important at least through the first three books. Reading Warbreaker isn't a bad idea though.

I read Sanderson's first novel, Elantris, and thought that it was terrible. They told me that it was not an important novel

hexa posted...

I read Sanderson's first novel, Elantris, and thought that it was terrible. They told me that it was not an important novel

Elantris is bad. It's still got decent world building but it's just not a well-written novel.

Thankfully its Cosmere overlap is super minimal.

Hmm I guess I'll read Elantris and Warbreaker at least.

I was told to read Mistborn trilogy and Warbreaker and then I read the short story "Edgedancer" before starting the third book of the Stormlight Archive series which I'm on now.

i liked Warbreaker

Id read them all in publication order for maximum impact. Sanderson has declared the gloves are off with the Cosmere with the latest Mistborn book.

I guess it depends how much you enjoy his books. I like pretty much everything hes put our, including Elantris.

EndOfDiscOne posted...

Id read them all in publication order for maximum impact. Sanderson has declared the gloves are off with the Cosmere with the latest Mistborn book.

I guess it depends how much you enjoy his books. I like pretty much everything hes put our, including Elantris.

Interesting. So I shouldn't be reading the second Mistborn era all in one go I take it.

You should definitely read Warbreaker before the 2nd and especially before the 3rd book. Since you've already read Mistborn then you don't really need to read much else.

No one read the Reckoners series? And if so, are those connected to any other series?

bloodyarts posted...

No one read the Reckoners series? And if so, are those connected to any other series?

I think that's its own thing. Cosmere is just Elantris, Mistborn, Warbreaker, Stormlight and some standalone novels released/releasing this year, I think. And some graphic novel I think?

The optimal order is
Elantris
White Sand(if you really want to. Its pretty minor so far)
Mistborn Era 1
Alloy of Law
Shadows of Self
Bands of Mourning
Mistborn Secret History
Warbreaker
Way of Kings
Words of Radiance
Arcanum Unbounded
Oathbringer
Rhythm of War
Dawnshard
the Lost Metal

BUT thats a really difficult order and jumps between series. Honestly I would only recommend Warbreaker before starting Stormlight. Then just read whatever you want. The Lost Metal and Rhythm of War are the only two books that start to get really heavy on connections. But not enough that I think it matters.

That may not be true for later books though. Hes gotten really positive reception with the connections in the most recent books so itll likely only get worse going forward

DarthAragorn posted...

I think that's its own thing. Cosmere is just Elantris, Mistborn, Warbreaker, Stormlight and some standalone novels released/releasing this year, I think. And some graphic novel I think?

It's pretty much everything but the Rithmatist, the Reckoners and the Skyward series.

DarthAragorn posted...

Interesting. So I shouldn't be reading the second Mistborn era all in one go I take it.

Everyone has a different opinion. Some people like to keep sub series together to help with the narrative flow. Im a publication order always guy. Mistborn era 2 does intertwine with Stormlight Archive.