Year of Sanderson Recap

And the 2025 reading plan

Well gang, I did it. I spent most of 2024 reading one author (Brandon Sanderson) and one genre (fantasy). 17 books, 8 short stories, ~14,000 pages. A journey that began in April and concluded in December. I’m happy that I did it; I made an aggressive reading schedule and I stuck to it. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to taking a break from fantasy to read other things.

In today’s newsletter, I won’t spend any time introducing the Cosmere. Sanderson has an excellent website with all you need to know (link here). My goal is to help you decide if you’re interested in reading his books and if so, knowing where to start. Some fans are adamant about a Cosmere reading order and others think you can start anywhere. I agree with the approach to find what you think interests you the most and start there.

I also have a spoiler section where I’ll be nerding out and nobody can stop me. Let’s get into it.

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Ok, if you haven’t stopped reading already I assume you fall into one of three groups.

1. You’re like my wife and don’t care for fantasy. At all. You’re not interested in reading a Brandon Sanderson book now or ever. My friend Nic, who doesn’t read fiction, also falls into this group.

2. You’re like my friend who has read Tolkein and Martin and want your fantasy dark and adult. You get the impression Sanderson is too juvenile for your taste.

3. You’re like my friends who have read Meyer, Maas, and Yarros. Romantasy is more your bag.

I’ll address each of you and see if I can find something that will appeal to your taste.

Group 1: You don’t care for fantasy and would rather not read anything by Sanderson

You are the toughest crowd. You read non-fiction or historical fiction. You would rather spend your few precious moments of life in the real world than fantasy land. Fantasy has nothing to offer or teach you.

I have to be careful what I recommend and give you options without overwhelming you. Here are two novels, a short story, and a novella that I’d recommend for this group:

• The Emperor’s Soul (novella): The protagonist, Shai, has the magical power of Forgery, which can permanently change an object into something else. When she is arrested for theft she is given an ultimatum: Either create a Forgery of the dying Emperor’s soul that can stand in for him and continue giving the people hope or be executed. Forgery of a human soul is the hardest to pull off and seeing how Shai navigates her predicament using her skill is like a satisfying prison break movie.

  This is 176 pages long and I’d be surprised if you’re not hooked after 10.

  

• Elantris¹ (novel): This book is fun! It has an optimistic protagonist who I want to emulate. He takes a wretched situation and makes the best of it. He turns enemies into allies and allies into true friends. I loved that he was dedicated to study and practice. He recognized areas of weakness and surrounded himself with people who were strong in those areas. I’ve only grown fonder of this story with time. I’m confident you’ll enjoy the journey if you give it a chance.

• The Sunlit Man (novel): Nomad is a wanderer who has ended up on a dangerous planet with a killer sun. He must help the people stay on the dark side of the planet and avoid the Cinder King’s evil gang who wants to harvest them for energy. I understand that a name like “Cinder King” might be an immediate deal breaker for you, but this book has action, adventure, and engineering! The problem solving is really cool and if you’ve worked in product development you’ll relate to what the characters go through. I will confess this has an awesome Cosmere connection that had me squealing with joy, but you don’t need that to have a good time.

• Sixth of the Dusk (short): Another short story for the crowd that has no time for fantasy nonsense. The magic in this story is birds! For that alone it is worth your time.

Group 2: You like fantasy, but Sanderson comes across as too YA for your taste.

I can understand the position, especially the argument that most of Sanderson’s fans are teenage boys (not sure if this is true). My teenage nephew is a big fan and has read all his books. Anything that appeals to a teenage boy won’t be worth the time of someone with your mature and refined taste. You’ve probably heard that there’s no sex or cursing and that doesn’t feel realistic to you.

Give the books in this group a go and then tell me Sanderson doesn’t have a dark side.

• Mistborn Era 1: These books get dark and violent. A major element of the magic involve metal spikes hammered through the eye sockets and other parts of the body. That’s dark! The bestial koloss are horrifying to imagine with their loose, torn skin hanging off their bodies.

  This trilogy is easily Sanderson’s most popular book series because they don’t require as much commitment as the five-book, 1300-page-each Stormlight archive, yet they are packed with lore. I was dubious after book one but by book three I was totally sold on the entire experience. Like Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings, the Mistborn trilogy should be thought of as one book in three parts.

  

  The koloss are gnarly creatures for you orc and white walker lovers

• Warbreaker (novel): The best of the standalone novels, Warbreaker has princesses, magic swords that crave the destruction of evil, and BioChromatic Breaths that give special powers such as awakening inanimate objects. The twists and turns are highly satisfying and well earned and I think Sanderson nailed the ending. If you’re a fan of Aragorn or Jaime Lannister then you’ll love Vasher and his sentient sword.

Group 3: You love romantasy. Are Sanderson’s books sexy enough?

No, they aren’t. I won’t lie to you. A single scene lasting half a page in A Court of Thorns and Roses was steamier than all his books combined. He just doesn’t go there. It’s all snuggles and shoulder rubs. But that’s not to say that the relationships aren’t sweet and touching. Here are some places to start if you need a break from the smut and want a good wholesome love story.

• Tress of the Emerald Sea (novel): My favorite Sanderson reading experience, mostly because it was a buddy read with my friend Cori (who, I might add, is a big fan of romantasy and loved this book). Tress lives a simple life on an island with parents who love her. She collects cups. She does not fall in love with a dragon, but she does have to face one to rescue the love of her life, a prince named Charlie. If you like The Princess Bride, you’ll enjoy Tress.

• Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (novel): Yumi is a young woman bound by tradition and responsibility. Nikaro is the “nightmare painter” whose job is to defend his city from evil forces. Together, these two have a sweet relationship in a very Your Name-esque story. For the romantasy fans I will entice you with information: These two spend time together naked! That’s right! So I don’t want to hear criticisms about how chaste Sanderson’s writing is. No they don’t have sex, but I still don’t want to hear it! Naked is naked. Also, check out this book’s gorgeous artwork.

• The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance (novels): Books 1 and 2 of the Stormlight Archive. I suggest the first two for a couple reasons: One, I think they are the best in the series. Two, if you’re not hooked by the end of book 2, there’s no point in talking about 3 through 5. Sanderson has so many set ups and pay offs across these two books but at the same time he’s creating new questions and doing more set up. Characters cross paths with each other and interact in ways that open up exciting possibilities. One of my favorite scenes in the entire series takes place in book 2 between two characters, a hot man and a hot woman. I really can’t say more but I hope that’s enough to tempt the romantasy lovers to give it a chance.

The rest

It’s crazy, I’ve been typing for what seems like hours and still haven’t mentioned Mistborn Era 2, the rest of the Stormlight Archive, White Sands, and a handful of short stories. What I’ve highlighted above are the best starting points for someone who is curious (or hesitant) depending on the types of books they like.

I hope I’ve convinced you to give Sanderson a chance, even if it’s only a couple hours to read a short story. I certainly underestimated him and thought there’s no way his books lived up to the hype, but I was very surprised with how invested I became in each story.

2025 Reading Plan: Year of (mostly) Non-Fiction

In 2025 I’ll be focusing on non-fiction. My must-reads are:

• The books by Robert Caro: The Power Broker, Years of Lyndon B. Johnson series

• The Edmund Morris Teddy Roosevelt trilogy

• Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, since I loved The Warmth of Other Suns so much.

• The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, since I loved Braiding Sweetgrass so much.

• She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

• Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes DuMez

• The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Thanks so much for reading!

Kyle

Spoiler Section - Don’t read below unless you’ve read the Stormlight Archive

I wanted to highlight some of my favorite parts and passages from the Stormlight Archive.

Words of Radiance chapter 72: “Selfish Reasons.” This is what I was referring to above as one of my favorite scenes in all the books: Kaladin and Shallan together in the chasm. The sexual tension between them was heightened by the intensity of their situation. Survival was the most expedient thing at the moment, but they were also hyper aware of one another.

He was suddenly aware of her pressed against his back. Holding him, breath warm on his neck. She trembled, and he thought he could hear in her voice both terror and fascination at their situation.

I love that image of these two together, terrified, and wholly reliant on each other. Their relationship ends up being more platonic but to me they’ll always have the chasm.

The Way of Kings chapter 67: “Words.” Kaladin and Bridge 4 coming to the rescue of Adolin and Dalinar on the shattered plains. This is such a crowd pleasing moment. It doesn’t matter that you see it coming, it is executed so well.

This is my choice, he thought as the Parshendi archers formed up. It’s not some angry god watching me, not some spren playing tricks, not some twist of fate. It’s me…I choose to try to rescue these men, though I know I will probably fail.

Words of Radiance chapter 85: “Swallowed by the sky.” Kaladin saving Dalinar and confronting Szeth.

You sent him to the sky to die, assassin,” Kaladin said, Stormlight puffing from his lips, “but the sky and the winds are mine. I claim them, as I now claim your life.

Of all the ways to kill a person, Szeth decides to just surgebind Dalinar to the sky and then let him fall to his death. Kaladin arriving in the nick of time was just so rad.

Words of Radiance chapter 56: “Whitespine Uncaged.” Kaladin jumping into the arena with Adolin. Is there anything more cinematic? The heroic rescues in this series are just so good.

Spear in hand, he grabbed the edge of the wall and flung himself over, dropping to the sands of the arena floor below.

Words of Radiance chapter 66: “Stormblessings.” Adolin and Kaladin becoming pals after Adolin imprisons himself to make a point.

Didn’t seem right, you in here.

Wait, are you wearing cologne? In prison?

I was hoping for a bit more tension between Adolin, Kaladin, and Shallan but that would have been hard to pull off. The story is really dang good as it stands. Thanks for indulging me for this part.

1. I wrote about Elantris back in May (link).