Mistborn Books in Order
Mistborn is set on a world where ash falls from the sky and certain people can burn metals to gain powers. The first trilogy follows Vin, a street thief who joins a crew plotting to overthrow an immortal emperor. A second series, set three hundred years later in an industrial age, follows the lawman Waxillium Ladrian.
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Series facts
- Books
- 7
- Published
- 2006 to 2022
- First book
- The Final Empire
- Latest
- The Lost Metal (2022)
- Setting
- Set in invented worlds
The reading order
Every Mistborn book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
- 1The Final Empire2006With Vin and KelsierFor a thousand years, ash has fallen and the immortal Lord Ruler has ruled the Final Empire.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Well of Ascension2007With Vin and Elend VentureVin and Elend struggle to hold the city of Luthadel as armies close in around it.Buy on Amazon
- 3The Hero of Ages2008With Vin and Elend VentureAs ash falls and the mists grow deadly, Vin and Elend search for a way to save their world.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Alloy of Law2011With Waxillium LadrianThree hundred years after the original trilogy, the lawman Waxillium Ladrian returns from the frontier to the city to take up his duties as head of a noble house, but a series of robberies draws him back into the work he knows.Buy on Amazon
- 5Shadows of Self2015With Waxillium LadrianWax hunts a killer who is targeting the city’s most powerful people.Buy on Amazon
- 6The Bands of Mourning2016With Waxillium LadrianWax, Wayne and Marasi set out to find the Bands of Mourning, a legendary artefact.Buy on Amazon
- 7The Lost Metal2022With Waxillium Ladrian and Marasi ColmsWax and Marasi uncover a conspiracy that threatens the whole city.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages first. Then read The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, The Bands of Mourning and The Lost Metal.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Waxillium Ladrian | Vin | Elend Venture | Marasi Colms | Sazed | Kelsier | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Final Empire | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | LLead | |||
| 2 The Well of Ascension | LLead | LLead | MMajor | ||||
| 3 The Hero of Ages | LLead | LLead | LLead | ||||
| 4 The Alloy of Law | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 5 Shadows of Self | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 6 The Bands of Mourning | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 7 The Lost Metal | LLead | LLead | MMajor |
Characters in the Mistborn books
8 characters from Brandon Sanderson’s chart, with the number of Mistborn books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Waxillium LadrianLawman returned to the city | 4 | The Alloy of Law 2011 |
| VinStreet thief who becomes a Mistborn | 3 | The Final Empire 2006 |
| Elend VentureIdealistic young nobleman, later emperor | 3 | The Final Empire 2006 |
| Marasi ColmsConstable and Wax's ally | 4 | The Alloy of Law 2011 |
| SazedTerrisman scholar | 3 | The Final Empire 2006 |
| KelsierCharismatic Mistborn rebel | 1 | The Final Empire 2006 |
| WayneWax's irrepressible partner | 4 | The Alloy of Law 2011 |
| HoidMysterious wanderer who turns up across the Cosmere | 1 | The Final Empire 2006 |