The Final Empire
Era One2006
Street thief Vin joins a rebellion against the immortal Lord Ruler of the Final Empire.
Mistborn Book Order
Brandon SandersonOngoing8 books
Mistborn is best read in publication order: all 8 Mistborn books so far, from The Final Empire (2006) to The Lost Metal (2022). Open The Final Empire and keep going. Finish Era One before Era Two; Secret History waits until after The Bands of Mourning.
Updated August 2026
Best read in publication order
The Well of Ascension
Era One2007
The fledgling kingdom faces invasion as Vin grapples with prophetic expectations.
The Hero of Ages
Era One2008
The trilogy concludes as Ruin and Preservation's conflict reaches apocalyptic scale.
The Alloy of Law
Era Two2011
Centuries later, lawman Waxillium Ladrian investigates crimes in the growing city of Elendel.
Shadows of Self
Era Two2015
Wax and Wayne pursue a serial killer tied to political unrest in the Elendel Basin.
The Bands of Mourning
Era Two2016
A quest for legendary metalminds draws Wax into a conspiracy in the southern lands.
Mistborn: Secret History
Novella2016
A companion novella that reframes Era One. Read only after The Bands of Mourning.
The Lost Metal
Era Two2022
Era Two culminates as hidden powers threaten the balance of Scadrial's governments.
How Mistborn is structured
Before you start
Mistborn is Brandon Sanderson's metal-magic saga on Scadrial: ash falling from the sky, people swallowing metals for power. Era One is a finished trilogy (2006–2008) about toppling the Lord Ruler. Era Two (Wax and Wayne) jumps centuries into an industrial age across four novels (2011–2022). Together they are seven published novels plus the Secret History novella.
All eight volumes sit below in publication order. Era Three is planned, not out yet. The series lives in the Cosmere beside Stormlight and the rest, but Era One works as a clean standalone trilogy if that is all you want right now. Plenty of readers stop there happily and come back later.
Start with The Final Empire. Era Two spoils Era One. Do not jump ahead. Within each era, publication order is the path. Shorts like The Eleventh Metal are skippable; Secret History is the one that matters before The Lost Metal. The magic rules teach themselves across book one; you do not need a wiki or a Cosmere chart before you open the cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Mistborn books are there?
Seven novels plus the Secret History novella. Era Three is planned.
Where should I start with Mistborn?
The Final Empire, first book of Era One.
When should I read Secret History?
After The Bands of Mourning, before The Lost Metal. Earlier after The Hero of Ages reframes Era One and lightly spoils Bands of Mourning.
Can I read Era Two without Era One?
Not without major spoilers. Finish the trilogy first.
Is Mistborn part of the Cosmere?
Yes. Same universe as Stormlight and Sanderson's other Cosmere books.
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