The Cosmere

OngoingMore books are expected

The Cosmere is a fictional shared universe where many of Brandon Sanderson's books take place. As a result, books set in the Cosmere share a single cosmology and underlying rules of magic, and some characters from one world will make appearances on other worlds. Despite the connections, Brandon has remained clear that one does not need any knowledge of the broader Cosmere to read, understand, or enjoy books that take place in the Cosmere. The core sequence of the Cosmere will consist of the Dragonsteel series, the Elantris trilogy, at least four eras of the Mistborn series, and The Stormlight Archive. The story of the cosmere does not include any books that reference Earth, as Earth is not in the Cosmere. The shared "creation myth" of the Cosmere revolves around Adonalsium, the power of creation, which was broken into sixteen pieces called Shards in an event known as the Shattering of Adonalsium. The Shards are effectively gods, and magic is derived from their power.

Publication Order

The Cosmere in strict publication order - every book at its actual release date, interleaved across series. This is how Sanderson's readers first experienced these stories in real time, jumping between Elantris, Mistborn, Stormlight, and the standalones as they were released. Unlike the grouped publication order, series are not kept together - you'll read Elantris, then start Mistborn Era 1, then pick up Stormlight and Era 2 as they alternate. This order reveals how the Cosmere's connections emerged gradually over two decades, with each new release adding threads that only make sense in the context of what came before. Best for re-readers or fans interested in the archaeology of Sanderson's worldbuilding.