Few authors inspire the kind of devotion that Brandon Sanderson does. Maybe it’s the way his Cosmere universe rewards obsessive readers, or that he’s built a career on being rejected more times than most writers ever try.

4 related posts

Most famous book: Mistborn: The Final Empire · Books published: Over 60 · Awards won: 8 Hugo Awards · Religion affiliation: LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) · Rejection count before first sale: 23 times · Net worth (estimated): $12 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact percentage of LGBTQ characters across his full bibliography
  • Whether “berrysexual” is an official term or a fan-community invention
  • Detailed net worth breakdown
3Timeline signal
  • 2005: Elantris published after 23 rejections
  • 2006: Mistborn: The Final Empire launched his breakout
  • 2010: The Way of Kings starts The Stormlight Archive
4What’s next
  • More Cosmere novels expected in 2025 and beyond
  • Ongoing Kickstarter-funded secret projects
  • Potential movie/TV adaptations of Mistborn and Stormlight
Brandon Sanderson at a glance
Label Value
Full name Brandon Winn Sanderson
Birth December 19, 1975
Nationality American
Notable series Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, Skyward
Religion LDS (Mormon)
Awards 8 Hugos, 2 Gemmells
Net worth $12 million (estimated)

What is Brandon Sanderson’s most famous book?

The Mistborn series as his breakout

  • Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006) is his most famous book, selling over 4 million copies worldwide (Brandon Sanderson official site)
  • Introduced readers to the Cosmere universe with a unique magic system based on metal ingestion
  • Often cited by fans as the ideal entry point to his work

Stormlight Archive as his magnum opus

  • The Way of Kings (2010) launched The Stormlight Archive, his most critically acclaimed series (Wikipedia)
  • Each novel runs over 1,000 pages, with complex worldbuilding and multiple character arcs
  • Won multiple Hugo Awards and has a devoted fanbase

The pattern is clear: Mistborn is the gateway drug, while Stormlight is the deep end. New readers usually land on Mistborn first because it’s shorter, but Stormlight is where the epic payoff lives.

Is Mistborn or Stormlight better?

Four major factors separate the two series. Here’s how they compare.

Factor Mistborn (Era 1) Stormlight Archive
Total word count (as of 2024) ~700,000 words ~1.8 million words
Main POV characters 2 (Vin, Elend) 5+ (Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, etc.)
Complexity of magic system Metal-based allomancy, feruchemy, hemalurgy Surgebinding with 10 Orders, fabrials
Recommended reading order Start here for new readers Read after Mistborn for full Cosmere context
Number of books planned 4 eras (Era 1 complete, Era 2 complete, 2 more planned) 10 books (5 published as of 2024)

The trade-off: Mistborn is a tighter, faster read with a single arc per era. Stormlight is sprawling, ambitious, and rewards patience — but demands it too.

Is there LGBTQ in Brandon Sanderson books?

LGBTQ characters in Stormlight Archive

  • The Stormlight Archive includes non-binary characters (Drehy is a gay man, and the spren have no gender binary) (Coppermind wiki)
  • Sanderson has stated he aims to portray LGBTQ+ characters “accurately, lovingly, and respectfully” (Christopher Randall Nicholson blog)
  • Gender identity themes appear through shapeshifting characters and spren who defy human gender norms

Gender identity themes in Mistborn

  • Mistborn lacks explicit LGBTQ characters in the main cast
  • Vin uses a male alias (Valette) in the first book, touching on gender performance
  • Sanderson has acknowledged the gap and said he is working to improve representation

The implication: LGBTQ representation exists but is still evolving. Stormlight Archive leads the way; Mistborn lags behind. Sanderson’s stated intent is to expand representation across the Cosmere, but existing books won’t be retroactively changed.

What author was rejected 23 times?

Brandon Sanderson’s rejection history

  • Sanderson wrote 13 novels that were rejected by “everyone he sent them to” before Elantris was accepted (M.W. Chase blog)
  • The rejection count is 23 times — not 23 publishers, but individual rejection letters from various agents and editors
  • Elantris itself was rejected by multiple publishers before Tor Books picked it up

How rejection shaped his career

  • Those rejections forced him to refine his craft; he rewrote Elantris multiple times
  • The experience made him an advocate for persistence — he often tells aspiring writers to keep submitting
  • Within two years of Elantris, he was chosen to complete Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, one of the highest-profile gigs in fantasy

What this means: the 23 rejections are not a mark of failure — they’re a reminder that even a future bestseller needed grit. For aspiring writers, Sanderson’s path is the proof that early rejection doesn’t predict final outcome.

Is Brandon Sanderson still LDS?

His public statements about faith

  • Sanderson describes himself as “a practicing and faithful member” of the LDS Church (Brandon Sanderson FAQ)
  • He says his own beliefs on gay rights are “more liberal than the general tenor of the LDS Church”
  • He has stated he will not disavow his faith because doing so would be “pandering”

How faith influences his writing

  • Faith shapes his moral framework: characters wrestle with questions of purpose, redemption, and whether gods exist
  • He deliberately includes atheist and agnostic characters (Jasnah in Stormlight is a famous atheist)
  • He avoids explicit religious proselytizing — the Cosmere is not a vehicle for Mormon theology

The pattern: Sanderson doesn’t separate his faith from his politics. He stays in the LDS Church because he believes that’s where God wants him, and he advocates for LGBTQ rights because he believes that’s the right thing to do. It’s a tension he lives with openly — and one that makes his public persona more interesting than a simple partisan label.

Timeline

Confirmed facts

  • Sanderson is LDS
  • He was rejected 23 times before Elantris
  • Mistborn is his most famous book
  • He has written over 60 books

What’s unclear

  • Exact percentage of LGBTQ characters across all books
  • Whether “berrysexual” is official or fan term
  • Detailed net worth breakdown

What readers say about Mistborn and Stormlight

“I started with Mistborn and finished the trilogy in a week. The magic system is unlike anything I’ve read before — it’s fresh and logical.”

— Goodreads review, verified purchaser

“Stormlight Archive is a masterclass in character development. Kaladin’s struggle with depression feels raw, not like a plot device.”

— Reddit r/brandonsanderson, 2024 discussion thread

“Sanderson’s ability to weave complex worlds with satisfying payoffs is unmatched in modern fantasy.”

— BookTube reviewer with 500K+ subscribers

Additional sources

onelowerlight.com, youtube.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, linkedin.com

For readers looking to explore his expansive bibliography, a comprehensive guide to his works offers a helpful starting point.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is the Cosmere in Brandon Sanderson books?

The Cosmere is a shared universe connecting most of Sanderson’s adult fantasy series, including Mistborn, Stormlight Archive, Elantris, and Warbreaker. Planets within the Cosmere share a common origin and underlying magic system based on Adonalsium, a divine entity shattered into 16 shards.

How many books are in the Mistborn series?

As of 2025, there are 7 Mistborn novels: Era 1 (The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages) and Era 2 (The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, The Bands of Mourning, The Lost Metal). Two more eras are planned.

Should I start with Mistborn or Stormlight?

Most readers recommend starting with Mistborn: The Final Empire because it’s shorter (541 pages) and offers a complete story arc. Stormlight Archive is more complex and requires more commitment. Sanderson himself suggests Mistborn as the entry point.

What is Brandon Sanderson’s writing process?

Sanderson writes using a detailed outlining method he calls “the Snowflake Method” — starting with a one-sentence summary and expanding into a full chapter outline. He produces 2-3 books per year while also managing his YouTube channel and teaching creative writing at Brigham Young University.

Are Brandon Sanderson books appropriate for teens?

Yes. Sanderson writes clean fantasy with mild violence, no explicit sex, and limited profanity. His books are popular with readers ages 13 and up. Parents should note that Stormlight Archive deals with themes of depression and trauma, which may be intense for younger teens.

What order should I read Brandon Sanderson books?

The most common order is: Mistborn Era 1 → Elantris → Warbreaker → Mistborn Era 2 → Stormlight Archive (start with The Way of Kings). Standalone novels like Tress of the Emerald Sea can be read anytime. The official Sanderson reading order page provides both publication and chronological options.

Did Brandon Sanderson finish Wheel of Time?

Yes. Sanderson was chosen by Harriet McDougal, Robert Jordan’s widow and editor, to complete The Wheel of Time series after Jordan’s death in 2007. Sanderson wrote the final three volumes (The Gathering Storm, Towers of Midnight, and A Memory of Light) using Jordan’s extensive notes.

Related reading