What is the best Brandon Sanderson book?

Epic doorstoppers and lean novellas, dark heist fantasy and cosmic adventure, magic systems that would make a physicist jealous — his catalog spans worlds within worlds. Pick your favorite!

1. 1
   The Way of Kings

   The epic first book of the Stormlight Archive, introducing the world of Roshar with towering worldbuilding and unforgettable characters.
   1000pts
2. 2
   The Final Empire

   The gripping first Mistborn novel set in an ash-covered world where a crew of thieves plans to overthrow a god-emperor.
   826pts
3. 3
   Wind and Truth

   The fifth and final book of the first Stormlight Archive arc, resolving decade-spanning storylines with epic confrontations.
   652pts
4. 4
   Shadows of Self

   The second Mistborn Era 2 book exploring Waxillium Ladrian's grief and a city gripped by political violence.
   587pts
5. 5
   Skyward

   A young adult sci-fi adventure about a girl determined to become a starfighter pilot on an alien planet besieged from above.
   503pts
6. 6
   The Hero of Ages

   The jaw-dropping conclusion to the original Mistborn trilogy delivering cosmic stakes and one of fantasy's best endings.
   391pts
7. 7
   Warbreaker

   A standalone Cosmere novel featuring breath-based magic, divine intrigue, and two sisters in a richly imagined theocratic city.
   391pts
8. 8
   The Sunlit Man

   A fast-paced Cosmere adventure following a fugitive hopping between dying worlds, perfect for longtime fans.
   391pts
9. 9
   Elantris

   Sanderson's debut Cosmere novel set in a once-magical city whose inhabitants are cursed into undead torment.
   235pts
10. 10
    The Alloy of Law

    The start of Mistborn Era 2, set 300 years later in a Western-inspired setting combining gunfights and allomantic powers.
    235pts
11. 11
    Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

    A Cosmere novella blending Japanese-inspired aesthetics with body-swap romance and beautiful illustrations.
    235pts
12. 12
    Oathbringer

    The third Stormlight Archive entry that expands the world with continent-spanning stakes and heartbreaking character arcs.
    235pts
13. 13
    The Well of Ascension

    The second Mistborn novel expanding the political and magical world after the Lord Ruler's defeat with complex new threats.
    235pts
14. 14
    Rhythm of War

    The fourth Stormlight Archive book exploring mental health, ancient secrets, and a brutal siege with deep emotional resonance.
    1pts
15. 15
    Tress of the Emerald Sea

    A charming Cosmere novella told in the style of a classic fairy tale, praised for its wit and accessibility to new readers.
    1pts
16. 16
    Words of Radiance

    The second Stormlight Archive book, widely considered a high point of the series with its stunning revelations and battles.
    1pts
17. 17
    The Emperor's Soul

    Award-winning Cosmere novella about a forger who must recreate an emperor's soul, lauded for its elegant concept and execution.
    1pts
18. 18
    The Lost Metal

    The satisfying conclusion to Mistborn Era 2 tying together threads across the entire Cosmere in a thrilling finale.
    1pts