Brandon Sanderson has become one of the most prolific and beloved fantasy authors of our time, with over 50 published books to his name. For newcomers, that extensive catalog can feel overwhelming. Where should you begin? Fortunately, Sanderson himself has narrowed down the options.
In a recent video posted to the Instagram account of NOVA, an imprint of Penguin Libros, Sanderson offered clear guidance for readers looking to dive into his work. "This is my introduction to you, if you are interested in trying out my books," he began. "I have a lot of them. A little intimidating."
Despite having published roughly 50 books, Sanderson acknowledges they're "all good, but there's some places to start." He presented four distinct entry points, each catering to different tastes and reading preferences.
For the whimsical reader: Tress of the Emerald Sea
"Read Tress of the Emerald Sea if you want something a little more whimsical, a little more like Princess Bride," Sanderson advises. If you're drawn to stories with a lighter touch and fairy-tale charm, this is his recommendation for you.
The novel follows Tress, a simple island girl who has lived a quiet life collecting cups from passing sailors and listening to stories from her friend Charlie. When Charlie is taken on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must leave her safe harbor and set off on a perilous journey across deadly spore oceans to rescue him from the Sorceress of the Midnight Sea.
Written as a gift for Sanderson's wife during the COVID-19 pandemic, the story was inspired by The Princess Bride and asks: what if Princess Buttercup were more proactive? The book features a unique setting where people sail on seas of magical spores rather than water, and where a single drop of water can mean instant death.
What sets this book apart is its narrator Hoid, a recurring character throughout Sanderson's Cosmere universe, who tells Tress's story with wit and charm. The novella-length tale won widespread acclaim for its accessible prose and delightful tone making it an ideal introduction to Sanderson's imaginative worldbuilding without the commitment of a massive epic.
For action-adventure fans: Mistborn
"Read Mistborn if you want something a little more action-adventure," Sanderson suggests. "That one is a high story about a gang of thieves who try to rob the Dark Lord."
For readers who crave fast-paced action with a heist-story twist, this is the perfect entry point into Sanderson's work.
The premise alone is gripping. In a world where the "dark lord" triumphed and the "prophesied hero" failed, the immortal Lord Ruler has controlled a brutal empire for a thousand years. The world is bleak, covered in ash, with a rigid class system dividing the oppressed skaa from the ruling nobility.
Half-skaa thief Kelsier is the only person to survive and escape the Lord Ruler's most brutal prison, where he discovered he has the powers of a Mistborn (someone who can ingest and "burn" metals to gain supernatural abilities). Now, Kelsier assembles a crew of specialists to pull off the ultimate heist to steal the Lord Ruler's treasury and toppling an empire.
The story introduces Vin, a wary street urchin who discovers she too is a Mistborn. As she trains in her newfound abilities and infiltrates the nobility, she becomes central to Kelsier's audacious plan. The magic system, known as Allomancy, is one of Sanderson's most celebrated creations.
Mistborn: The Final Empire was published in 2006 and became the first book in a trilogy, followed by The Well of Ascension in 2007 and The Hero of Ages in 2008. The series has since expanded across multiple eras, with a second quartet set 300 years later featuring early 20th-century technology and a third era currently in development.
For the literary reader: The Emperor's Soul
"Read The Emperor's Soul if you want something a little bit more literary and reflective," Sanderson explains. "It's about kind of the nature of art as seen through the eyes of someone who can forge artwork magically without having to put the work in."
If you prefer something more reflective and philosophical, this Hugo Award-winning novella explores questions about art, identity and the nature of the soul.
The story centers on Shai, a master Forger, someone who can magically rewrite the history of objects to transform them. After being arrested and sentenced to death for attempting to steal the emperor's scepter, she is given one opportunity to save herself. The emperor has been left brain dead by an assassination attempt and his corrupt advisors offer to free her if she agrees to forge a new soul for him.
Shai is given 100 days to complete this impossible task, working from official histories, the emperor's diary and conversations with Gaotona, the only honest advisor. As she delves into the emperor's life, she must create not just a copy, but an improved version of his soul, one that captures his true nature.
Sanderson began forming ideas for the story during a trip to the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, inspired by the red stamps (tojang) that adorned the artwork. The result is a meditation on creativity, authenticity and whether art created through magical means can have the same value as art created through traditional effort.Â
It won the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novella.
For the epic fantasy enthusiast: The Way of Kings
"And read The Way of Kings if you just want something enormously epic," Sanderson declares. "It is big. It is long. It is worth it. It is very epic."
For readers who want to go straight into something massive and immersive, this is Sanderson's recommendation. This massive tome (over 1,000 pages) is the first book in The Stormlight Archive, Sanderson's most ambitious series. The novel was published on August 31, 2010, by Tor Books and won the 2011 David Gemmell Legend Award for Best Novel.
The story takes place on Roshar, a world with devastating magical storms called highstorms. Events called Desolations periodically reduce humans to a Neolithic stage of development and population, and where ancient warrior-monks known as the Knights Radiant once protected humanity with magical abilities.
It follows multiple perspectives including that of Kaladin, a talented surgeon's son who becomes a soldier and then a slave working as a bridgeman in a brutal war; Shallan Davar, a young woman who seeks to study under the renowned scholar Jasnah Kholin while harboring secret motives; and Dalinar Kholin, a powerful warlord troubled by mysterious visions that may be prophecies or signs of madness.
Sanderson started working on pieces of The Way of Kings in the late 1990s, with the finished first draft completed in 2003. However, he spent years refining the story before publication, ultimately rewriting it from scratch to achieve the epic scope he envisioned.
The book is renowned for its intricate worldbuilding, including unique ecology, complex magic systems and deep political intrigue. It sets the foundation for a planned 10-book series that promises to be one of the defining works of modern fantasy literature.
Is four entry points too much? Sanderson doesn't think so.
"You're like, ‘you're giving me four? That's a lot.’ Well, I have like 50 that I've published, so I am whittling it down more than 90%," the author adds with a wink and a smile.
The best starting point is the one that matches what you're looking for right now. Whether you want a quick, charming tale or a sprawling epic to get lost in for weeks, Sanderson has a perfect entry point waiting for you.
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