# The best Brandon Sanderson books

From Mistborn to the Stormlight Archive: the Sanderson books that fans and rankings rate highest, with Words of Radiance usually at the top.

- 83 votes · 17 items
- Mar 6, 2025 · vinylhead_grumpy
- https://even.best/en/l/3037/the-best-brandon-sanderson-books

## Top 17

1. **Words of Radiance** (8 · ▲8 ▼0) — 2014. Stormlight Archive book two; for many, the best fantasy sequel of the century.
2. **The Way of Kings** (7 · ▲8 ▼1) — 2010. The start of the Stormlight Archive on the storm-battered world of Roshar.
3. **The Well of Ascension** (7 · ▲7 ▼0) — 2007. Mistborn book two: ruling is harder than rebelling.
4. **Tress of the Emerald Sea** (6 · ▲6 ▼0) — 2023. A Princess Bride-style fairy tale narrated by Hoid.
5. **Mistborn: The Final Empire** (5 · ▲6 ▼1) — 2006. A heist against a god-emperor; the usual entry point.
6. **Oathbringer** (5 · ▲5 ▼0) — 2017. Stormlight book three, with Dalinar's past.
7. **The Bands of Mourning** (5 · ▲5 ▼0) — 2016. Wax and Wayne's third adventure; some call it the best of Mistborn era two.
8. **The Emperor's Soul** (5 · ▲5 ▼0) — 2012. A Hugo-winning novella about forging a soul.
9. **The Hero of Ages** (4 · ▲5 ▼1) — 2008. The ending of the first Mistborn trilogy.
10. **Elantris** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — 2005. His debut: a city of fallen gods.
11. **Skyward** (4 · ▲4 ▼0) — 2018. Young adult sci-fi about a girl who wants to be a pilot.
12. **Rhythm of War** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — 2020. Stormlight book four.
13. **Warbreaker** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — 2009. His best standalone novel, set in the Cosmere.
14. **Yumi and the Nightmare Painter** (3 · ▲3 ▼0) — 2023. A love story between two worlds.
15. **Steelheart** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — 2013. A world where people with superpowers are the villains.
16. **Wind and Truth** (0 · ▲1 ▼1) — 2024. The close of the first Stormlight arc.
17. **The Alloy of Law** (-1 · ▲0 ▼1) — 2011. Mistborn goes Wild West.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.