The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 25 books · 2005 to 2025

Brandon Sanderson

FantasyScience fictionYoung adultEpic and high fantasySpace operaYA dystopian and science fiction

Brandon Sanderson's linked Cosmere books include Mistborn, about a street thief who joins a crew plotting to overthrow an immortal emperor, and The Stormlight Archive. He also finished Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time and writes the young adult Skyward series.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. Novellas and the Reckoners and Alcatraz series are left out. The three Wheel of Time books are shared with Robert Jordan's page.

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Who appears in which book

Click a name to follow that character from book to book, or a book title to see its cast.

LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Brandon Sanderson books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

Mistborn

7 books · Set in invented worldsEpic and high fantasy
  1. 1The Final Empire2006With Vin and KelsierBuy on Amazon
  2. 2The Well of Ascension2007With Vin and Elend VentureBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Hero of Ages2008With Vin and Elend VentureBuy on Amazon
  4. 4The Alloy of Law2011With Waxillium LadrianBuy on Amazon
  5. 5Shadows of Self2015With Waxillium LadrianBuy on Amazon
  6. 6The Bands of Mourning2016With Waxillium LadrianBuy on Amazon
  7. 7The Lost Metal2022With Waxillium Ladrian and Marasi ColmsBuy on Amazon

The Stormlight Archive

5 books · Set in invented worldsEpic and high fantasy
  1. 1The Way of Kings2010With Kaladin and Shallan DavarBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Words of Radiance2014With Kaladin and Shallan DavarBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Oathbringer2017With Kaladin and Shallan DavarBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Rhythm of War2020With Kaladin and Shallan DavarBuy on Amazon
  5. 5Wind and Truth2024With Kaladin and Shallan DavarBuy on Amazon

Cosmere standalones

6 books · Set in invented worldsEpic and high fantasy
  1. 1Elantris2005With RaodenBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Warbreaker2009With SiriBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Tress of the Emerald Sea2023With TressBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Yumi and the Nightmare Painter2023With YumiBuy on Amazon
  5. 5The Sunlit Man2023Buy on Amazon
  6. 6Isles of the Emberdark2025Buy on Amazon

Skyward

4 books · Set in invented worldsYA dystopian and science fictionSpace opera
  1. 1Skyward2018With Spensa NightshadeBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Starsight2019With Spensa NightshadeBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Cytonic2021With Spensa NightshadeBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Defiant2023With Spensa NightshadeBuy on Amazon

The Wheel of Time (completed)

3 books · Set in invented worldsEpic and high fantasy
  1. 1The Gathering Storm2009CrossoverWith Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand al'Thor, Egwene al'Vere, Perrin Aybara, Mat Cauthon, Nynaeve al'Meara, Lan Mandragoran, Elayne Trakand, Min Farshaw, Aviendha also appear in books by Robert JordanBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Towers of Midnight2010CrossoverWith Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand al'Thor, Egwene al'Vere, Perrin Aybara, Mat Cauthon, Nynaeve al'Meara, Moiraine Damodred, Lan Mandragoran, Elayne Trakand, Min Farshaw, Aviendha also appear in books by Robert JordanBuy on Amazon
  3. 3A Memory of Light2013CrossoverWith Rand al'Thor and Egwene al'VereRand al'Thor, Egwene al'Vere, Perrin Aybara, Mat Cauthon, Nynaeve al'Meara, Moiraine Damodred, Lan Mandragoran, Elayne Trakand, Min Farshaw, Aviendha also appear in books by Robert JordanBuy on Amazon

Characters

31 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Scadrial

Roshar

Cosmere wanderers

Skyward

The Wheel of Time