Where to start with Cosmere
New to Cosmere? Begin with The Final Empire, then follow the map. Sagamap keeps every connection and twist hidden until you've read past it.
Open the interactive map →Recommended reading order
A friendly first-time path: start with the self-contained Mistborn trilogy, branch through the standalones, then ride the two big series as the Cosmere connections deepen. Reading orders are debated among fans — this is a popular, low-friction route.
- The Final Empire 2006
- The Well of Ascension 2007
- The Hero of Ages 2008
- Elantris 2005
- Warbreaker 2009
- The Way of Kings 2010
- Words of Radiance 2014
- Edgedancer 2016
- The Emperor's Soul 2012
- The Alloy of Law 2011
- Shadows of Self 2015
- The Bands of Mourning 2016
- Mistborn: Secret History 2016
- Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection 2016
- White Sand 2016
- Oathbringer 2017
- Dawnshard 2020
- Rhythm of War 2020
- Tress of the Emerald Sea 2023
- Yumi and the Nightmare Painter 2023
- The Lost Metal 2022
- The Sunlit Man 2023
- Wind and Truth 2024
- Isles of the Emberdark 2026
Other orders
Publication
Exactly the order the books were released.
Elantris → The Final Empire → The Well of Ascension → The Hero of Ages → Warbreaker → The Way of Kings → …
Chronological
Approximate in-universe order. Cross-world Cosmere timelines are not all officially confirmed, so this ordering is a best effort and intentionally omits the Arcanum collection.
White Sand → Elantris → The Emperor's Soul → Warbreaker → The Final Empire → The Well of Ascension → …
Questions readers ask
Where should I start with Cosmere?
A great first book is The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson. It opens the recommended path and needs no prior reading. From there, Sagamap's map shows exactly what comes next.
What is the recommended reading order for Cosmere?
Our recommended order is: The Final Empire → The Well of Ascension → The Hero of Ages → Elantris → Warbreaker → The Way of Kings → Words of Radiance → Edgedancer → …. A friendly first-time path: start with the self-contained Mistborn trilogy, branch through the standalones, then ride the two big series as the Cosmere connections deepen. Reading orders are debated among fans — this is a popular, low-friction route.
Do I have to read Cosmere in order?
Not strictly — but some books build on others. Sagamap marks "read-before" links on the map and keeps every spoiler hidden until you've passed it, so you can wander safely.
Publication order or chronological order?
Both work. Publication order is how the story was revealed; chronological order follows in-universe events. Toggle either on the map and your progress carries across.