Recommended reading order?

Kelgan al'Moranwin

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Kelgan - They fit together but you need patience. By the end of the first book you see all kinds of ties. By the end of the second everything is clicking into place.
I believe this, I just couldn't get there. There wasn't enough connection for me to buy into this style to begin with. I have a lot of patience for disjointed, disparate lines of thought that make sense in the end (that honestly describes half of philosophy - the other half is the same but absent the sense at the end) but Way of Kings exceeded my not-inconsiderable thresholds. It was frustrating in the extreme and it ultimately made me work way too hard for not enough pay-off in something I'm reading for pleasure.

I'm not sure how to respond to the comments that Stormlight was difficult because it was very simple for me to follow and the genius was evident, especially in the second half of the book, especially especially in the last third.
YMMV :cheeseeni:

Can't really have an opinion on whether or not it's his best work if you haven't read it. :)
Yeah, but there's quite a difference between "haven't read it" and "found it so frustrating to read that I couldn't finish it" ;)
 

Carina al'Sim

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I don't have a super strong opinion, besides that you should probably read Warbreaker before Stormlight because there's actually some important continuity. (Well, maybe important. We'll see.) Also, Reckoners (Steelheart etc.) is very good! Definitely read it at some point.
 
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Just saw this thread, and not sure if you're still checking it, Adina. I am mostly of the opinion of Sela, so the in-depth descriptions I leave to her.

My personal advice for first books is to start with Mistborn (The Final Empire), then read Warbreaker. These two showcase Sanderson in stories that are fairly self-contained.

After that, read what thou wilt. :) It's all pretty good stuff.
 
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As a side question, does anyone know if there is anywhere I can purchase Mistborn: Secret History other than on a Kindle? I am frustrated in my attempts to (legally) read this novella.
 

Sela Narian

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Carina - Good point; you should read Warbreaker before you read Words of Radiance (Stormlight #2). You don't have to read it before Way of Kings (Stormlight #1).

And there's a character or two in Way of Kings where it would be relevant to read the first Mistborn trilogy before reading it if you want to understand a bit more about their identity, but it's not a dealbreaker. Warbreaker before Words of Radiance is more important than Mistborn before Way of Kings.

Rollyn - Secret History was released by Dragonsteel (Sanderson's own publishing company) so it's only available in digital form. And OMG, you HAVE to read it. It is WONDERFUL. You can't consider yourself as having a complete understanding of the first Mistborn trilogy unless you've supplemented it with Secret History. (Only only only only after you have read the trilogy, guys; the spoilers are super-gargantuan-major-like and you will be sorry!)

Anything against e-books, or just Kindle books? It is also available in Nook, Kobo, iBook, and Google Play. Sanderson's site has all options for purchase: http://brandonsanderson.com/books/mistborn/secret-history/

Edit: I just googled it and apparently he said this on Reddit four months ago when it came out:

Brandon Sanderson said:
1) It WILL have a print edition. It will be included in the Cosmere Short Fiction collection, hopefully out this fall. That should have an audio edition as well, for all the shorts. If you'd rather have a print edition in smaller form, to match the ones I've been doing of things like Emperor's Soul and Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, we'll do one of those eventually too--but probably not until the collection has been out a few years.
 
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Yeah, I've read the plot summaries for it so I could be current in my Cosmere knowledge, but that doesn't replace reading the primary text for me. I'll look for it in the collection of short fiction this Fall, I guess.
 

Alyccea Nymaessene

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I'm not even sure I agree in principle that the Stormlight Archives is his best work. It's definitely long and often confusing. I would start with Mistborn.

I agree with this. I did not enjoy the Stormlight Archive books at all (so far). Elantris was also a huge disappointment for me. I'd go with Mistborn, then Warbreaker.
 

Aduiavas Ida

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Elantris was my favorite until I read Warbreaker... But I generally like all of his books, especially the first time I read them ;)
 

Sela Narian

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Lightsong has one of my favorite character arcs. His climax was perfect. It's because of him that Warbreaker has a special place in my heart.

So Adina, did you decide?
 

Elyss Koh'inor

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I just started Warbreaker yesterday, and I'm liking it so far. Interested in seeing where it goes :)
 
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I really loved Warbreaker. I liked that it was a lot different than anything I'd read recently. I read my first Sanderson book (Elantris) as soon as I found out Sanderson was going to finish WoT. I have a signed copy of Elantris and inside the cover he wrote a note directing me to a certain page.. Where he underlined Hoid's name and wrote to watch out for him in future books :pleased-1: I have yet to dive into the storm light books though.. Told myself I need to finish WoT first (I STILL have not read the last book :embarassed:)
 
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I also read Elantris as soon as I found out BS would be finished WoT. I loooved it, but I think I would actually suggest to read Warbreaker first. It is a wonderful introduction to the awesome/wonderful magic systems that BS comes up with. And after reading those two, I would go with Mistborn (starting at the beginning of course). If an author has standalone books, I always tend to start with those as it isn't a commitment like starting with a trilogy or series.
 
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