The Final Empire
2006
Era One — Original Trilogy
Best place to start. This opens the Original Trilogy and the seven-novel core route.
Mistborn Publication Order
The seven core Mistborn novels in publication and story order, divided into the Original Trilogy and Wax and Wayne, with Secret History added as an optional companion after The Bands of Mourning.
Start with The Final Empire and read the seven core novels in publication order. The Original Trilogy comes first, followed by Wax and Wayne three hundred years later. Read Mistborn: Secret History after The Bands of Mourning for the spoiler-safer default, or after The Hero of Ages for immediate Era One context.
Related reading guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Mistborn reading order?
Publication order is the clearest first-read route: the three Original Trilogy novels, then the four Wax and Wayne novels. This is also the story chronology of the seven core books.
When should I read Mistborn: Secret History?
After The Bands of Mourning is the spoiler-safer default because the novella contains a minor spoiler for that book. Reading it after The Hero of Ages is a valid alternative when immediate Original Trilogy context matters more.
Is Secret History a core Mistborn novel?
No. It is an optional companion to the Original Trilogy. It should not interrupt the seven-novel previous-and-next sequence.
Do I need to read the wider Cosmere before The Lost Metal?
No. Other Cosmere books may make some connections more recognisable, but none is a prerequisite for completing the Mistborn route.
