Brandon Sanderson's Books Ranked
From "This is a Masterpiece 🤩" to "Why Did I Do This to Myself 😫"
Alright, fellow Sanderfans, it’s time to spill the highstorm tea. I’ve taken it upon myself to rank Brandon Sanderson’s books based purely on my own personal preferences, biases, and the occasional mood swing. Will you agree? Probably not. Will this ruin friendships? Possibly. Pack your Shardplate, grab a chouta, and prepare for some spicy opinions.
Agree? Disagree? Fantastic. Sharpen your comments and prepare for an all-out war in the discussion below.
My Top 5 (AKA, My Heart and Soul)
These books didn’t just write themselves onto my bookshelf; they wrote themselves onto my very soul.
1. The Way of Kings
This one is the king, literally. It has towering worldbuilding, amazing character arcs (hello, Kaladin bridge boy!), and a plot that propels you into another dimension of nerd euphoria. You want grit? You want hope? You want endless philosophical debates about duty and honor? This book is the whole storming package. Sure, it has the pacing of a turtle going uphill sometimes —but when Bridge Four hits, it hits hard.
2. Warbreaker
A feast of brilliant magic and unforgettable characters. The color-based magic system is a stroke of genius (seriously, how?), and Nightblood is a living, snarky highlight reel in sword form. Vivenna and Siri’s sibling arcs brim with nuance and growth, and the cleverly handled twists make this book endlessly engaging. Sure, some loose ends dangle, but Warbreaker doesn’t just shine; it glows.
3. Oathbringer
Dalinar Kholin’s story arc in Oathbringer punched me in the gut in the best way possible. His haunted past, his search for redemption, his quest to become something more than the Blackthorn—all of it is just stunningly human. Yes, the pacing occasionally felt bogged down in rainy metaphors and endless tactical debates, but the emotional payoffs are just chef’s kiss.
4. Mistborn: The Final Empire
This isn’t just a fantasy book; it’s a heist movie on steroids with magic sprinkled everywhere. Vin’s evolution into a superpowered bad*ss is thrilling, and Kelsier? Iconic chaos. The plot twists? They’ll slap you sideways. There’s also something comforting about knowing Sanderson has spare metal flakes tucked away in every chapter for unexpected, magical mayhem.
5. The Rithmatist
Yes, it’s not Cosmere, and no, I don’t care. Geometry magic. A world where chalk drawings can come to life and murder you is genius. It’s Geek Gold™. Add in the gritty school-politics setting and a nail-biter of a mystery, and you’ve got something wildly underrated. I will personally die on the hill of demanding a sequel ASAP.
Good, Not Great (But Still Worth the Ride)
These books are solid—but they just couldn’t make me obsess.
6. The Entire Wax and Wayne Series
This Mistborn spin-off series feels like a wild ride through a steampunk carnival where magic meets gunslinging, and I have to admit, it’s fun. Wax is the stoic, duty-bound hero, and Wayne... well, Wayne is what happens if you give chaos a personality and a hat. Each book delivers Sanderson’s signature twists and a healthy dose of humor, but compared to the original Mistborn trilogy, it lacks a bit of emotional punch. Still, if you want banter, mysteries, and the most inventive use of Allomancy outside the original series, Wax and Wayne are worth the ticket price.
7. Elantris
For Sanderson’s debut, it’s a perfectly good book, but it’s clear he was still coming into his own. Elantris’s premise hooks you in (a fallen city of once-gods? Sign me up!), but some characters felt a little too cookie-cutter. It’s good for a rainy day, but don’t expect the groundbreaking blow-your-mind experience you get with his later books. Still, it’s not a terrible place to start if you’re new to Sanderson.
Finished, but Why Did I Do This to Myself?
These books pushed me to the brink of exasperation, but darn it, I powered through them.
8. Rhythm of War
The book where everyone needs therapy, but instead gets more responsibilities. This is the book where Sanderson flexes his love for science experiments. Fabrials? Spren? Magic fusions? This book is like a marathon where Sanderson hands you buckets of spren science and emotional trauma at every mile. Navani’s storyline is a highlight, and Venli finally steps into the light (kind of?), but oh Stormfather... the pacing. At times I felt like I was trapped in a fabrial lecture that would never end. It has its moments, but I finished this out of grit, not delight.
9. Skyward Series
I wanted to love this one. Spensa’s chaotic energy is entertaining if occasionally exhausting, and M-Bot’s deadpan humor is delightful. But, somewhere between the bombastic dogfights and the Weird AI™ subplot, I kept losing momentum. That said, the action is sharp, and I can see why fans are devoted—I just couldn't fully strap into this ride. But I really gave up once I realized that he wasn’t going to finish them himself. Sorry, I’m out!
10. Arcanum Unbounded
Look, short stories are great. But not all of these hit the mark. Some stories (Edgedancer, I’m looking at you) felt like they were just filler episodes so Sanderson could say, “Hey, remember the minor characters? Yeah, uh, here’s more.” Others (The Emperor’s Soul) are literal masterpieces. Overall, the gems here really shine, but as a whole, it’s a mixed bag that leans heavily on context and bonus lore for diehards.
Started, Didn’t Finish (Yet)
Look, it’s not you. It’s me. Probably.
11. Sanderson’s Secret Projects
I’ve started a few of these mysterious releases, and honestly? None of them fully clicked. They’re perfectly fine, but nothing about them grabbed me the way his best work does. Maybe someday I’ll revisit, but for now, they just... weren’t it.
12. The Rest of his Books
Some of Sanderson’s books didn’t make the list for one very specific reason—I haven’t gotten to them yet. Why? Because the man is a machine. He’s out here cranking out books at a pace that leaves the rest of us mere mortals scrambling to keep up. Seriously, I don’t have this problem with any other author. 😂 At this point, I need him to slow down just a smidge so I can actually catch my breath and make my way through the growing mountain of his works. Maybe one day, when he takes a well-deserved break (ha, as if), I’ll finally work through the rest of his catalog. Until then, I’ll just sit here both admiring and mildly panicking over his endless creativity. 😫
A Final Note
Brandon Sanderson is a genius, plain and simple. His imagination and prolific writing make him a legend in the fantasy genre, and I truly admire what he’s built. Honestly, I hope to write books even half as compelling as his. Sure, not everything he’s written has worked for me (and likely never will), but when a Sanderson book does hit, it’s unlike anything else. His short stories and novellas deserve special praise, too. Legion? Easily one of my favorite things he’s written.
There you have it, my utterly biased rundown of Sanderson’s works. What did I get right? What did I get so wrong it makes you want to join the Readers’ Desolation? Drop your personal rankings or your hottest Sanderson takes in the comments. Go ahead. Fight me. But don’t forget your Honor’s Spren before you start calling me a voidbringer. Thank you for reading!
Until next time — Read on!
Oliver Evensen 🖋️