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Mistborn
The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson has 7 known books (8 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Mistborn: The Lost Metal.
- Books
- 7 known books (7 novels + 1 novella)
- Published
- 8
- First published
- 2006
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Fantasy
- Last checked
Start here: Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Mistborn: The Final Empire
Mistborn: The Final Empire opens the series on July 17, 2006 at 669 pages, introducing Kelsier, a charismatic thief planning to overthrow the godlike Lord Ruler who has reigned for a thousand years, and Vin, a distrustful street girl who discovers she's Mistborn -- able to burn ingested metals for superhuman power. It's the book that established Sanderson's Allomancy as one of fantasy's benchmark hard magic systems.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Final Empire - Book 2:
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension is the second entry in the Mistborn series, published on August 21, 2007. It was written by Brandon Sanderson. It is the longest book in the series at 784 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Well of Ascension - Book 3:
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages
The third book in the Mistborn series, Mistborn: The Hero of Ages was released on October 14, 2008. It runs 760 pages. It was written by Brandon Sanderson.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Hero of Ages - Book 4:
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law is number 4 in the Mistborn series, published on November 8, 2011. It runs 360 pages. It arrived 3 years after Mistborn: The Hero of Ages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Alloy of Law - Book 5:
Mistborn: Shadows of Self
Mistborn: Shadows of Self is number 5 in the Mistborn series, published on October 6, 2015. It was written by Brandon Sanderson. A 4-year gap separates it from Mistborn: The Alloy of Law.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: Shadows of Self - Book 6:
Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning
The sixth book in the Mistborn series, Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning was released on January 26, 2016. It runs 448 pages. It was written by Brandon Sanderson.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning - Book 7:
Mistborn: Secret History
An entry in the Mistborn series that falls between Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning and Mistborn: The Lost Metal, Mistborn: Secret History was released on January 30, 2016. It runs just 240 pages, the shortest entry in the series. It was written by Brandon Sanderson.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: Secret History - Book 8:
Mistborn: The Lost Metal
The seventh book in the Mistborn series, Mistborn: The Lost Metal was published on November 15, 2022. It arrived 6 years after Mistborn: Secret History. It was written by Brandon Sanderson.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Lost Metal
Our shelf-tested path for first-time readers.
- Book 1:
Mistborn: The Final Empire
Mistborn: The Final Empire opens the series on July 17, 2006 at 669 pages, introducing Kelsier, a charismatic thief planning to overthrow the godlike Lord Ruler who has reigned for a thousand years, and Vin, a distrustful street girl who discovers she's Mistborn -- able to burn ingested metals for superhuman power. It's the book that established Sanderson's Allomancy as one of fantasy's benchmark hard magic systems.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Final Empire - Book 2:
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension is the second entry in the Mistborn series, published on August 21, 2007. It was written by Brandon Sanderson. It is the longest book in the series at 784 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Well of Ascension - Book 3:
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages
The third book in the Mistborn series, Mistborn: The Hero of Ages was released on October 14, 2008. It runs 760 pages. It was written by Brandon Sanderson.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Hero of Ages - Book 4:
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law is number 4 in the Mistborn series, published on November 8, 2011. It runs 360 pages. It arrived 3 years after Mistborn: The Hero of Ages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Alloy of Law - Book 5:
Mistborn: Shadows of Self
Mistborn: Shadows of Self is number 5 in the Mistborn series, published on October 6, 2015. It was written by Brandon Sanderson. A 4-year gap separates it from Mistborn: The Alloy of Law.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: Shadows of Self - Book 6:
Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning
The sixth book in the Mistborn series, Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning was released on January 26, 2016. It runs 448 pages. It was written by Brandon Sanderson.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning - Book 7:
Mistborn: Secret History
An entry in the Mistborn series that falls between Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning and Mistborn: The Lost Metal, Mistborn: Secret History was released on January 30, 2016. It runs just 240 pages, the shortest entry in the series. It was written by Brandon Sanderson.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: Secret History - Book 8:
Mistborn: The Lost Metal
The seventh book in the Mistborn series, Mistborn: The Lost Metal was published on November 15, 2022. It arrived 6 years after Mistborn: Secret History. It was written by Brandon Sanderson.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Mistborn: The Lost Metal
About the Mistborn series
Mistborn begins with one of fantasy's great hooks: what if the prophesied hero failed? A thousand years ago the Lord Ruler seized godlike power, and he has reigned ever since over a world of falling ash, nightly mists and enslaved skaa. Into this steps Kelsier, a charismatic thief who survived the Lord Ruler's death-camps, planning the ultimate heist — overthrow the empire — and Vin, a distrustful street girl who discovers she is Mistborn, able to burn ingested metals for superhuman powers. Sanderson's Allomancy remains the genre's benchmark 'hard' magic system: precise rules, endlessly inventive fights.
The original trilogy — The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages — completes a full arc from heist story to apocalyptic theology, with era-defining twists. Sanderson then does something almost no fantasy series attempts: he moves the world forward three centuries. The Wax & Wayne books (The Alloy of Law through The Lost Metal) are Western-flavoured gaslamp mysteries in a world where the trilogy's events have hardened into religion, starring lawman Waxillium Ladrian and his gloriously unreliable partner Wayne.
Seven novels and the novella Secret History are published; a third era, jumping forward again to a 1980s-style world, is planned next in the wider Cosmere sequence.
Frequently asked questions
How many Mistborn books are there?
Seven novels across two eras: the original trilogy (The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages) and the four Wax & Wayne books (The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, The Bands of Mourning, The Lost Metal), plus the novella Mistborn: Secret History.
What order should I read Mistborn in?
By era: Era One trilogy first (Final Empire, Well of Ascension, Hero of Ages), then Era Two (Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, Bands of Mourning, Lost Metal). Read the novella Secret History after The Bands of Mourning.
Can I start with The Alloy of Law?
You can — it was written as an accessible jumping-on point — but it openly spoils the original trilogy's ending, and later Era Two books lean increasingly on Era One characters and cosmology. Starting with The Final Empire is the better experience.
Is there a new Mistborn era coming?
Yes. Brandon Sanderson has announced Mistborn Era Three, a trilogy (working name 'Ghostbloods') set decades after The Lost Metal in a roughly 1980s-technology world. He has said it is his main focus after Wind and Truth, with the first book targeted around 2028 — no titles or firm dates yet.
Do I need Mistborn to read Stormlight, or vice versa?
No. Both stand alone, but they share the Cosmere universe, and reading Mistborn Era One before late Stormlight (and before The Lost Metal's cameo-heavy finale) makes several crossover moments land better.
If you like the Mistborn series
Reading order last verified .