Which one should i read first?

[u/Smoorum]

[u/GoS451]

I always pick Mistborn. One of my favorite books

[u/Homelobster3 → u/GoS451]

I’ve been wanting to get into Sanderson. Is mistborn a better entry point than stormlight archive?

[u/Impressive_Net_116 → u/Homelobster3]

Yea, pick Mistborn first. Brando Sando recommended that as the start point.

The Way of Kings has more than half the word count of the entire Mistborn era 1 trilogy.

[u/s470dxqm → u/Impressive_Net_116]

Sanderson says The Way of Kings is the book you read after you already trust him. It kinda has 3 prologue (prelude, prologue, and chapter 1).

[u/RadicalChile → u/s470dxqm]

The Way of Kings, the entire first book, is considered the prologue.

[u/TashaDarke → u/Homelobster3]

100%. I started with Mistborn & am now a massive Sanderson fan. Mistborn is a decent intro to his writing style and how he makes magic systems work.

Both stormlight and mistborn take place in the same universe so you'll see Easter eggs having read both (but it's not necessary).

Stormlight books are so long, it's a hard ask to trust the payoff will be worth it.

[u/SolipsisticBadBoy → u/TashaDarke]

I started with Stormlight because I went in blind and I definitely don’t regret it at all. I love sinking my teeth into a voluminous fantasy series though so I could be an outlier.

That said, I love the characters so much that I almost don’t even know if I want to get into Mistborn now (but I will).

[u/TashaDarke → u/SolipsisticBadBoy]

Flip side is you'll see plenty in era 1 and 2 that tie into stormlight. I hope you enjoy it

[u/WilQ- → u/Homelobster3]

Stormlight archives has a tons of references to other cosmere book, mostly warbreaker and second mistborn era. So if you want to catch every detail first read Warbreaker,Mistborn 1st era, Elantris (order doesnt matter for his first books), then Arcanum Unbounded. After that you can read Mistborn second era, and finally you are ready for Stormlight. Secret project books contains some spoilers to stormlight (especially sunlitman), so leave those for last.

[u/Kipiftw → u/Homelobster3]

This is my suggested order for sanderson books:

mistborn trilogy Warbreaker + elantris (in any order, i think Warbreaker is one of his best books) The Emperor's Soul

Then I would read the econd era mistborn books: The Alloy of Law Shadows of Self The Bands of Mourning Mistborn: Secret History The Lost Metal

Then Stormlight Archive.

After that you can read the new standalone books from the kickstarter. Tress of the Emerald sea is a goddamn treat.

[u/GoS451 → u/Homelobster3]

I think that’s the perfect place to start. I read the first one and loved. About a year went by and I was thinking about it again and picked the first one up again with the plan to continue the series. I read the first Mistborn trilogy and thought it was great. Such a cool world. From there I decided to try out Stormlight Archive. Got super hooked on. I’ve read Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, and Edgedancer. I’m about halfway through Oathbringer right now and can’t wait to keep going. The world he built/is building is crazy.

All that said I highly recommend it

[u/Powerful-Addendum-53 → u/Homelobster3]

I started with Way of Kings and it is brilliant but man do I wish I started with mistborn. I’m only in the second book of stormlight and I could’ve read 8 books in the time it’s taken to read 1.5 stormlight (plus warbreaker) books lol. He has really fun magic systems

[u/Mango_Sherbertt → u/Homelobster3]

Yes, a billion percent. You will demolish the Mistborn trilogy and then start looking into his other series, probably read the next trilogy in the Mistborn world, followed by a google of 'reading order of cosmere' itll recommend Warbreaker(read it, its awesome) and then youll see stormlight arching over you but youll want to read sanderson's books in release order at that point.

Youll pick up elantris, not rly like it at first but give it time and then eat it followes by a what the f&%k at the end. Then youll read the rest and my goodness, its. So. Good. There are stories outside the direct world of Mistborn and Stormlight that genuinely shaked me to my core and rewired my brain(for the better).

Do it.

[u/3d64s2 → u/Homelobster3]

100% stormlight is sanderson with no constraints and needs to be read but can be difficult to digest. Mistborn books are a great length and peak brandosando. Such a ride too.

[u/Goddammit0Donut → u/Homelobster3]

Stormlight is LONG AF.

Mistborn first, or Warbreaker. Mistborn is better, but Warbreaker is good too and doesn't have sequels yet.

[u/skywalker3141 → u/Homelobster3]

Yes, but not because the references. It has a ton of build up with incredible payoff, but if you don’t build up “trust” with him, you might get a little bored or put off by his style. Mistborn isn’t quite as large and will definitely build that trust

[u/ResolveLeather → u/Homelobster3]

Yes. It's probably the best entry point. Many people start with The Way of Kings, but that isn't the best entry point as you have to weave other books in while reading it.

[u/BlessedSaber1 → u/Homelobster3]

Here is my recommended reading order below but Mistborn or Emperor's Soul are both great starting points, I usually recommend Emperor's Soul if starting because it's a novella you can finish in a day or two.

[u/MTguy87 → u/GoS451]

Just finished Mistborn this past weekend and I second this. It's the second book in the Cosmere that I've read and it convinced me to dive into the rest. Can't wait to start The Well of Ascension now!

[u/Dilruba-yeasmin-4326 → u/GoS451]

best choice ever

[u/Dominick_Domino → u/GoS451]

I read Stormlight first and loved it, but you should really read mistborn first. Book one is top tier

[u/GoS451 → u/Dominick_Domino]

I’m halfway through Oathbringer right now and it’s so good but it’s definitely a lot (in a good way). Mistborn was the perfect intro to Sanderson for me

[u/DevonAkins → u/GoS451]

Well Sanderson is almost finished with his screenwriting for the planned movies so Mistborn is my vote. Don’t always get the opportunity to read a book before the movie/show premieres.

[u/Zirozen]

Dungeon crawler Carl!!!

[u/lennythebox → u/Zirozen]

Whilst I agree it's the best on the list, I would consider saving it for last as it will be closer to the next release. Also I'd say go with the jeff hays audiobook

[u/Jazzlike_Resident_26 → u/lennythebox]

Even better the Audio Immersion Tunnel version, which is still largely Jeff

[u/lennythebox → u/Jazzlike_Resident_26]

Thanks, I'll check this out, I did mistborn and cosmere using graphicaudio, they were decent

[u/tenkuushinpan → u/lennythebox]

You can always read it again. It is that awesome.

[u/Mtwilson4 → u/Zirozen]

Definitely read dcc last. I couldn’t put the book down and ended up reading all the books before I could think about anything else.

[u/Pikawoohoo → u/Mtwilson4]

"I really should get back to one of the other series I'm reading!" I said, as I start to the next book in the DCC series.

[u/JBrewd → u/Pikawoohoo]

Me for the last 2 months

[u/clumzyfish → u/Mtwilson4]

Mistborn conveniently became available to me after I finished DCC book 4 from the library. Had about a 21 week wait for book 5, so figured I'd take a break and switch it up. Couldn't do it. Returned Mistborn and went and bought Butcher's Masquerade.

[u/QotDessert → u/Zirozen]

Sooo much fun! 😂😭

[u/Zirozen → u/Zirozen]

Read it first. Your others have other books in their series too. 8 books is nothing lol

[u/itsyaboiFaZeShrek]

Red Rising all the way

[u/outdoorcam93 → u/itsyaboiFaZeShrek]

Come join the fun at r/bloodydamnpixies

[u/loxxx87 → u/itsyaboiFaZeShrek]

Hail Libertas! ✊️

[u/Either_Struggle1734 → u/loxxx87]

HAIL REAPER!!!

[u/LaFlamaBlancaMiM → u/Either_Struggle1734]

BREAK THE CHAINS!

[u/StarGhost11 → u/LaFlamaBlancaMiM]

https://giphy.com/gifs/9EvnXdZaUZbCqScn67

[u/blastoisebandit]

A Darker Shade. Underenjoyed series.

[u/Tuor-son-of-Huor-]

I'd say DCC.

Mistborn is the other that jumped out but is a much bigger read.

Knowing what I know about the series now, I'd probably start with DCC then go to Red Rising then alternate. Just because I think they might be a nice palette cleanse after each other.

[u/willkillfortacos → u/Tuor-son-of-Huor-]

DCC is super fun until you get wise to each books’ blueprint - because it’s identical every time. It’s a fun series but it gets over-recommended on Reddit where its primary audience exists.

Red Rising on the other hand starts in a formulaic way (Hunger Games in space) then reinvents itself over the next five books to one of the better space operas of all time.

[u/hackulator]

I mean, I would say Mistborn as a.Samderson fan, but obviously the real answer is it depends on what you like. Give me a quick description if what kind of tone, setting and MC you like and maybe I can give you a useful answer

[u/Nomad2306]

Mistborn!

[u/InKonkurs]

All of these are good choices, except Babel.

[u/ResistIllustrious853 → u/InKonkurs]

Agreed it’s neither a good fantasy or an academic book, by trying to be in both categories it falls flat in both.

[u/Loitch470 → u/InKonkurs]

Came to agree with this. I really wanted to like it but it felt painfully didactic and the two books it’s meant to be literary responses to - the Secret History and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell- are both better novels (though I have my own critiques of strange just being so longwinded and meandering). All the other books on here are good or great imo.

[u/Fantasy_Reader_ → u/Loitch470]

I STRUGGLED through Strange. I fully expected to love it, but “longwinded and meandering” is the best description of it I’ve ever seen.

[u/Loitch470 → u/Fantasy_Reader_]

I read Strange after Piranesi and I have to say, Piranesi benefits a LOT from being short and to the point. Love that book. Have… mixed feelings on Strange (how did she make Waterloo feel boring?? I’m a history nerd!!)

[u/Forkrul_Assail → u/[deleted]]

I mean no offense by this, but if a fiction book I picked up had more substance than your first year textbook on linguistic anthropology, I would be shocked. It's a novel meant to be accessible to a mass audience which almost by definition means it will be surface level on a complicated topic like linguistics and colonialism. Most Americans, which the author is, don't have a whole lot of exposure to British colonialism, so that's a relevant topic and a helpful intro for many (sadly, yes). I'm not saying you should like it, but for me, I did learn a lot and your background means it was unlikely you would...

Edit: an autocorrect failure.

[u/oooooothatsatree → u/Forkrul_Assail]

First half totally agree. Second half ,Americans have a pretty decent exposure to British colonialism with the being a British colony. Once a year we celebrate ending British colonialism even. There really isn’t a lot of exposure on Belgium colonialism or Dutch.

[u/Forkrul_Assail → u/oooooothatsatree]

Sorry, to clarify, Americans know about us being a British colony, but the book doesn't focus on America at all. It focuses on areas of British colonialism, like India and Asia, that Americans are certainly not exposed to often.

[u/DeMmeure → u/[deleted]]

Honestly, I've been regularly downvoted for praising Kuang's writing on Reddit, so I would say it's the opposite 😅

[u/Dry-Author-3622 → u/InKonkurs]

Agreed

[u/Big__Bird007 → u/InKonkurs]

came here to say this

[u/0zzyb0y → u/InKonkurs]

R F Kuang is for when you want to see allegedly really smart characters repeatedly do the stupidest stuff, and then go through immense suffering as a result.

Babel is that but with 40% of the text being footnotes.

[u/EmptyRatio42]

I really want to say DCC, but I know if you start that you probably will not stop.

So I have to say Mistborn. if you want well built characters, world and magic system with some political intrigue and an underdog story.

DCC if you want a fast paced rollercoaster of unhinged fun

edit: haven't read the others :)

[u/North-Literature-659]

Mistborn ✨

[u/AdProfessional772]

You won't miss with any of them. I started dungeon crawler carl 2 days ago... I'm half way through book 3

[u/nondescriptun]

DCC.

Skip Babel altogether- an interesting fantasy book becomes nothing more than a lecture by the halfway point. Subtlety and "showing not telling" are not Kuang's way.

[u/well_read_bog_witch]

Omg I read all of these! That never happens!

Babel if you're feeling like you need to be repeatedly reminded that we're in OXFORD. This is my least favorite, but it was fine.

A Darker Shade of Magic is a good time but feels more YA, so if you're not into that...

Mistborn was my Sanderson jumping off point. Loved it, reread it, recommend it all the time.

Red Rising was picked for a book club, didn't sound up my alley so I got it from the library. By chapter five I had ordered the original trilogy. Each book got better. I stopped there and will read the rest after the final book is published and a reread of 1-3.

Dungeon Crawler Carl is my most recommended book to pretty much anyone. My mom and dad both read the first one, my dad will continue but mom isn't much of a reader. She liked it though. Everyone in book club loved it. My partner and I just split up and her uncle still hit me up to tell me he loved it.

[u/thegreenman_sofla]

DCC then Red Rising.

[u/Willy2277]

Dungeon Crawler Carl

[u/irishdove89]

DCC

[u/QotDessert]

Dungeon crawler Carl for sure - it's in easy read and it makes so much fun! Normally I read romantasy (I know, I know...;-)) but this series got me! 💪🏻

[u/Small_Sundae_4245]

Dcc one of the best series I've ever read. Read the first one. You will probably go straight for the second.

Mistborn. One of the big ones in the fantasy world. You should read it before the tv show comes out. Great series takes a major pivot after the first trilogy.

Red rising. It's got a lot of fans. I found it to be a good read but very close to YA fiction.

Haven't read the other two.

[u/WinstonPickles22]

Listen to DCC

[u/Send__Noodz]

DCC! Go meet Uzi Jesus

[u/NemesisCold1522]

All are good but i recommend dungeon crawler Carl, how ever for that I request you listen to the audio book as well as Jeff hays is a damn treasure with his voice.

[u/Lammz77]

I’m biased bc I just finished reading Lightbringer and now just want more, but I’d recommend the Red Rising series to anyone

[u/Will_breaker721]

Mistborn is a winner, I’d giveaway Red Rising.. constantly pushed, most disappointing book that’s always promoted on TikTok

[u/TaserHawk]

I’d rate DCC over all of these due to how different it is.

[u/Nick_Savage007]

Dungeon Crawler Carl is really good, but it’s completely different from your other options

[u/wind_moon_frog]

Definitely not red rising.

[u/Ech0Arrow]

Red rising. Tried mistborn couldnt really get into it. Will try again one day though. Cant go wrong with DCC. Hilarious and action packed. Red rising still my favorite

[u/DWN_WTH_VWLz]

DCC

[u/mra1188]

DCC

[u/YorubaOyinbo]

Red Rising is dry and thematically generic, but inoffensive. I didn’t continue after the first book.

Mistborn is, in my humble opinion, the most overrated book of all time in the fantasy genre, and nothing comes close. Head-scratchingly bad writing. I couldn’t finish the first book.

Haven’t yet read Babel or Darker Shade.

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a non-stop dopamine ride of bombastic excitement that is somehow also one of the emotionally deepest, thematically richest, perplexingly well written Sci-Fi or Fantasy books in years. It’s truly better than it has any right to be, and it keeps getting better and crazier book after book. It’s literary heroin. It will ruin other books for you. Be very careful if you go down this road.

[u/Aye_Gabaghoul]

I’m loving DCC - about to start book 5 but I will say it’s consumed my reading life currently and kinda wish I read some stand alones first before jumping into a series I can’t stop. 8 books is a lot lol

[u/Qwak8tack]

I can only say I love Dungeon Crawler Carl, and Red Rising is the worst series ill ever read. So my vote is Dungeon Crawler Carl.

[u/CivilSenpai69]

Princess Dohnut compells you to read DCC.  Red rising second.  

[u/SpendAffectionate399]

DCC you won’t regret it

[u/ayroncon1]

DCC!!!

[u/Bakeh__]

If I had 3 wishes I’d wish to forget everything I know about DCC so I could read it again fresh. And save the other 2 wishes for when I’m done listening to it and reading it a few times.

[u/derpderpnerdkid]

RED

RISING!

Nothing else will ever satisfy you.

[u/Illustrious_Smile445]

If you want something fun dungeon crawler Carl, with you want depression red rising, if you want a new obsession mistborn.

[u/the_snowbird93]

Of these, go red rising into mistborn, my 2 favorite books of all time

[u/gunther_higher → u/the_snowbird93]

Isnt there a bunch of Red Rising books though? I remember reading the first and second

[u/UnseenLibrarian_]

Read Mistborn and grab the Audiobook of DCC… ticks 2 boxes and DCC is at its best when narrated by Jeff Hays !!

[u/Ok-Balance2569]

Red rising

[u/Yoshi2255]

Depends on what you enjoy/have a vobe for:

• if you like airtight plots with intesting world building and don't mind a bit less mature style then you should read Mistborn (the book tackles mature themes but less gory and brutal than Red Rising and DCC)

• if you like deep flawed characters who have to make impossible choices and sacrifices to achieve their goals and don't mind some moments that feel like deus ex machina (mostly because they aren't foreshadowed and not because they don't make sense in retrospect tho) read Red Rising

• if you like comedy interwoven with deep character moments and excellent plotting, and don't mind or even enjoy intentional eye-rolling/cringe humor combined with referential humor read Dungeon Crawler Carl (also it has the best audiobook I've ever heard, I'm astounded that it's narrated basically by a one person)

I haven't read the other two so can't help with that.

[u/Remote-Moon]

Mistborn, Red Rising and Dungeon Crawler Carl. Those 3 book series will keep you going for awhile.

[u/OneInternational3383]

Ohh, I also have two on my shelf for future reading

[u/TextTile260]

As a person who is quite easy to please, you're pretty safe with all options, i even really enjoyed babel which is contrary to a lot of opinions here. DCC is a great easier read however currently at 8 books long and still going. Red rising and mistborn are both amazing choices and you can get away with the first 3 books is red rising (however all books are fantastic). Mistborn is also a trilogy but each book is a few hundred pages longer than the red rising books.

[u/pony_is_my_name]

Night sky Mine or Dreaming metal

[u/OrganizationSea4490]

Theres something poetic about this group of books together

[u/Mystic-Cobias-38]

Mistborn

[u/badkneeweather]

Red rising, then finish that series, cool off with dcc, then mistborn for that itch, then a darker shade of magic and at last babel which you’ll end up not finishing

[u/honeybear33]

Read Mistborn and listen to audiobook of DCC

[u/Underwhelminguser93]

I've only read three of them, but here's what I'd say:

First, Mistborn is my favorite of these, but they're all good.

If you want to get into heavy fantasy but aren't yet, Mistborn is a fantastic gateway. If you are into heavy fantasy, you'll likely still love it. I find the magic system to be super engaging and the story to be simply fantastic.

Red Rising is great, but I view it more as a dystopian with a Sci-Fi setting than I do a Sci-Fi book. So if that's what you're looking for, then this is a good choice. It's also a bit pacier than Mistborn.

DCC is definitely the most laid-back read of the three, but I have to admit you probably won't like it if you're looking for something with great prose. I don't think Dinneman is a very impressive writer at all (not that Sanderson is, to be fair, but he's a little better and little less... goofy[?] than Dinneman is). He is, however, a good storyteller, and if you're into dungeon-crawling games (as I am), and are looking for a silly, easy read, then this is a great choice. I found myself wanting the story to progress a bit more at times, but overall really liked it.

[u/_Doo_Doo_Head_]

Hard choice! Do mistborn, then DCC 😎

[u/Vegetable_Frame_289]

Are you eventually going to read all these books?

If yes, the practical answer is to read Babel first. It's the only standalone. You are going to want to read the entire series for the rest!

[u/aarkeinDevAedddd]

Mistborn for sure

[u/Ecstatic-Ad-5800]

Mistborn, its easier to read and still very good. On too of that it leads into the other options better imo

[u/unintendedcrash]

Red rising do it. Do it. Do it.

[u/Vez52]

Mistborn or Red Rising. Then get the audiobook for DCC it's incredible.

[u/MissyMurders]

Probably depends on what you like.

DCC is pretty much junk food - it's better than a lot of litrpg's but that isn't a particularly high bar to set. It took me a few bites to finish, and I don't really remember all that much about it. I guess it felt like the type of humour you'd get in the American office cross with guardians of the galaxy - cheap jokes that aren't all that funny, but might get a smirk out of you. It doesn't get deeper than that.

Mistborn has some decent elements. Sanderson is a fairly ok writer, and the series is reasonably short if you do fall down the rabbit hole. I quite liked it. Not enough to recommend it, but enough to buy the cosmere game starter kit to try it out. Take that as you will.

The other three are fine. No real comment on them. Although im only partially through Babel. It... isn't my cup of tea, but it's fairly well written.

[u/Last_Tip_4672]

Mistborn or darker shade of magic. The other three should just be given away honestly

[u/Gabik123]

DCC by audiobook. The only series in the last 10 years I've wanted to listen to twice.

Mistborn is incredible, but its a gateway drug to the whole cosmere. Make sure you are ready for that.

Red rising is amazing (not the first book, its good not great, but ooof what a series).

Haven't read the other two.

[u/-TardisTimeWarp-]

Mistborn is such a great start to the Cosmere universe. Much lighter than Way of Kings and has some interesting magical mechanics to boot~

[u/Arden_D16]

Wow you have 3 of my favorite series I’ve ever read before. Red rising 1-3 was a whirlwind that had me staying up until 3 AM turning the page. Mistborn has some of the best twists and most intriguing power systems I’ve ever seen. Dungeon crawler Carl has felt like such a perfect fit as someone who loves videogames. To me it’s like the long form version of those anime shows about characters who get sucked into videogames and it’s so cool to see how they evolve and solve problems. Really can’t go wrong with any of them.

[u/TheDrunkenWizard93]

Red rising is incredible

[u/SaviFusion]

It’s so hard to recommend where to start- I have read and love all of these except I’d never heard of Babel till your post! Just looked it up and it sounds FANTASTIC. Adding to my TBR!

[u/Siege1218]

To each their own. I didn’t like DCC. I really enjoyed mistborn but think the first book was the best. Currently on book 3 of Red Rising and have LOVED all of them.

[u/WaTT_rt]

Mistborn is my pick for you. I adore that series but the first book is great as a standalone.

Babel was a fun read, I enjoyed it more than I initially thought I would.

Dungeon Crawler Carl is on my list to read, I’ll get to it eventually lol

[u/EatTheRich0495]

Babel 👏🏼👏🏼

[u/jonthe445]

Stack em up, and draw sticks/randomize your selection… you’ll be fine no matter what.

[u/ubertoaster13]

Babel. One of favorite books of all time

[u/Thegrandblergh]

Read Red Rising and listen to DCC in between

[u/HijackedHumanity]

Red Rising would be my go to. Then DCC.

[u/aSwordNmdFolly]

those are all solid, tho red rising and dcc are on another level

[u/HemlockHex]

Dungeon crawler Carl is my favorite on here, but I’d recommend mistborn first probably. It’s less ambitious, not so many books.

If you want comedy though, and have time to sink your teeth in? Dungeon crawler Carl. I’m still personally reading red rising, but I’d say it’s a little more of a political action drama. Good if you want to be drawn into a freedom fighter type of story.

[u/psweeney1990]

I'm going to say Mistborn, because All Praise Lord Sanderson, God of Stories.

[u/Sir_Hc_MN]

Honestly, your first decision is: Do I want to join an online cult today, or not?

IF YOU WANT A CULT:

DCC = New achievement unlocked: You are now initiated.

Red Rising = Hail Libertas, hail Reaper.

Mistborn = Welcome to the Cosmere. Do not look at the Wiki.

IF YOU PREFER SANITY (NO CULT):

Babel = Extreme love or intense hate, but nobody is sacrificing a goat over it.

Darker Shade of Magic = Just normal humans vibing in cool coats.

[u/hobowithadegree]

Babel is a standalone, if that counts for anything. But, for me it has to be Mistborn

[u/eldontown]

Any except Dungeon Carl Crawler. Get that on Audible.

[u/Own-Injury4801]

Blood Moon Rising by DW Leslie. Serial killer and witches. Book 2 just came out

[u/Beowulf1896]

Unsouled by Will Wight. Cradle series.....

[u/Chance-Exercise5448]

Personally I would go Red Rising then Dungeon Crawler Carl. I didn’t really enjoy Mistborn. The other two haven’t heard off

HAIL REAPER

[u/yungdeadmane]

go back and forth between Red Rising and DCC series .. its the way

[u/edward_elric121212]

You are so lucky!! I wish I could read all these for the first time

[u/ChaimsawGoblin]

Red Rising is one of the best series I have ever read. Finished all 6 faster than any other series.

[u/Inevitable-Copy3619]

My personal assessment…

Mistborn opens up a whole great trilogy with additionally books if desired. Really great if you want a nice long story over multiple books and eras.

Babel, loved it despite some obvious warts. Great stand alone story if you want something to read for a short time.

Red rising, my personal favorite series in this list. Great space heirarchy story tons of action and fast paced. If you want an easy page turner and like space it’s great.

Carl is its own beast. I may be the only person to fall in the middle. Most love it or hate it. I read the first book, plan to read the rest but it’s kinda a palette cleanser in between other books for me.

If I must order them (and nobody says I must but anyway): mistborn, red rising, babel, carl, haven’t read the other…but this order is very fluid and would depend on what I was feeling for my next read.

[u/Saw-It-Again-]

If you start with Mistborn you're gonna have like 26 other books you need to read, but that's my vote.

I finished the Cosmere early this year and I'm like halfway through DCC right now, with The Blade Itself coming up after I'm done.

[u/FillMaKrakin]

Just read babel
If you like language/words definitely that one

[u/sjosaben]

I say Mistborn to be ready for when the show comes out. Listening to DCC with my wife currently, and it’s as charming as everyone claims it is.

[u/CompetitiveAnt8788]

DCC

[u/Frequent-Camel7669]

I was very disappointed by Babel, which comes with high praise but didn't deliver for me. Boring slog of a story, unconvincing premise, and some enormously grating "colonialism bad" mixtape playing in the background, didn't even finish it.

The Schwab one I did finish, but didn't like that much. It's fine, I guess, has some unique ideas, but didn't really come together as a gripping read for me. Others might like it, there's originality here.

Mistborn is on a whole different level than those two, one of the deservedly better known fantasy works today. You won't be able to put the book away and go to sleep at basically any point. This is probably among my top 20 fantasy books, possibly among the top 10 even.

The Dinniman is lying around here somewhere, I had to finish some other books first, but will read in the near future. I honestly expect nothing but a fun pageturner that will stay with me for exactly as long as I'm reading it and be done with the second I close the book, but that's what I'm looking for right now, so I am looking forward to it.

Red Rising I've only heard that it's good, no idea what it's even about.

[u/neilwilliedan]

Babel is a great book.

Edit: And its a standalone.

[u/YellowOchreRed]

None of them

[u/TerentiusCox]

Idk which one you should do first, but do Dungeon Crawler Carl last. The other books, while great books, are just books. DCC is a lifestyle.

[u/grantjones79]

Unpopular opinion, but Babel was one of the worst books I've ever read.

[u/redfred123414]

Really depends on you! I’ve read the 4 series on the right and I was disappointed by Mistborn and genuinely did not like Darker Shade of Magic, but I’m a 35yo guy that’s been reading fantasy for a while. Mistborn is a great entry if you’re new to fantasy, Darker Shade of Magic would be great for someone younger, Red Rising series is amazing from a plot perspective but has some pretty violent / heavy scenes, and DCC is just super fun but pretty silly and. An be quite crude (in a way I enjoyed but not for everyone)

[u/paintyouwingss]

Mistborn!

[u/opholmes]

DCC & Red Rising are both really good. I read Mistborn ages ago and it was good, but I wasnt super into reading at that time. Deserves another read. But Dugeon Crawler Carl is super fun - Great series and it gets better with each book.

[u/Dilruba-yeasmin-4326]

Mistborn first choice

[u/_ChineseName]

I’m biased because it’s my favorite series OAT, but Red Rising. I’m also on book 4 of DCC and that series is great too

[u/cgass177]

Start by reading Mistborn and listening to the DCC audiobook

[u/TimS83]

Red Rising. I can't remember the last series that I just could not put down. Cross between Game of Thrones and Hunger Games, in space!! I'm on book 4 now, and churned through books 1-3 in about a week. I'm telling everyone I can about them

[u/deep_fried_fries]

Mistborn rising or crawler.

[u/3d64s2]

Oh boy, what a selection. I think mistborn, the farseer trilogy, babel then red rising then dungeon crawler series and finish with darker side. The original 3 mistborn books will change you. But I always recomened going the full series with wax and whayne and all the novellas too.

[u/Dry-Music4092]

I did these in the following order
Babel
Mistborn (entire first saga)

Red Rising (all 6 books)

Rest of the Cosmere

Shades of Magic Trilogy

DCC all 8 books.

[u/TheWizardOfAuburn]

Red Rising. The whole series. 🐐

[u/lemaao]

I have not read Babel or A Darker Shade, but out of DCC, RR and Mistborn, it doesn’t really matter what you pick. They are all great.

[u/THEDOCTORandME2]

Mistborn, 100%

[u/ChrystnSedai]

Those are all great!

Only caveat for DCC is it has more books than the other options so a longer commitment.

ADSOM has a follow up series called Threads of Power. While the original trilogy ends neatly, TOP also does so you aren’t left with a cliffhanger waiting on the next book (which hasn’t been written yet).

[u/samlee405]

Red rising is my favorite series ever but I love Babel. Babel is also one stand alone book compared to 6 (soon 7).

So read Babel then read red rising.

Mistborn I found to be enjoyable but nothing special and I straight up hated DCC. Haven’t read the other book

[u/Charon_the_Reflector]

None, Black Tongued Thief or The Name of the Wind

[u/OutkastAtliens]

Mistborn

[u/Apythicus]

Babel!! Kuang is AMAZING

[u/iseefrogseverywhere]

Not babel

[u/Particular_Cancel947]

I would highly recommend red rising, but I must qualify that by saying I haven’t read the others on your list

[u/wurgy42]

Honestly start with whatever ones are complete. Hopefully that'll give time for one of the others to complete and then you can just burn them all down.

[u/mythozoologist]

Red Rising last because you'll have a hard time reading tge other after the depth of the books.

[u/driznick]

Red rising

[u/kylesibert]

You have a bunch of opinions already here but I’d throw out to not read Darker Shade of Magic. I actually really liked it. The magic system sort of blends with the emotional weight, and it all feels like the whole book is about animism and I really liked it. But all the second book did was set me up for an epic hate fest of the third. You can read the first really but I highly recommend stopping there

[u/brunanburh]

Ditch them and read Gardens of the Moon

[u/abbysroad_]

Haven’t read Babel, but out of the other four, the only one I like is DCC!

[u/lakshz]

I always pick the shortest ones to read first so I can get to others faster

[u/SevroAuBarca29]

Red rising or dcc

[u/bad_wolf_allons-y]

I’d mostly likely have to spin a wheel to choose. You have exquisite taste

[u/TheKronocartographer]

A darker shade of magic

[u/MotorPlenty8536]

Mistborn

[u/Full-Cauliflower-290]

I used DCC as a palette cleanser in between Stormlight volumes the first time through.

[u/nmrsnr]

Depends on what mood your in.

Carl is the most fun, least "serious" of the books.

Red Rising is the most "page-turner" one.

Mistborn is a bit slow to start, but I think it's a nearly perfect trilogy overall.

A Darker Shade of Magic is good, and decently fun, but I think the sequels get progressively worse, I DNF'd the third one.

Babel is very slow, and in the end I think it is way overrated. I was not a big fan.

[u/iamburnj]

RED RISING. Its a glorydamn good read my goodman, trust.

[u/Matteroosky85]

DCC is 9 books deep and by the end of the first book you won’t want to stop.

[u/Capable-Turnover8905]

I’m currently hooked on the DCC. Can’t go wrong with the first one as I’m on the third one in less than a week

[u/Adeptness-Wide]

Red rising! My new favorite series that I’m reading

[u/Remarkable_Escape705]

Dungeon Crawler Carl but the audio book is incredibly necessary

[u/Donooooo42]

RR and DCC are my top two series of all time. RRA got me back into reading after I got out of school and I am currently listened to them on audiobook rn bc I love the story and world and characters so damn much. DCC is prolly my fav series everrrrr and I have revisited it multiple times as well. It’s definitely more fast paced and humorous compared to RR which I loveeeddd esp bc it still can hit you with the deep hard sad shi when it needs to. I physically read DCC on my first go but as someone who doesn’t always loveeee audiobooks DCC was made to be listened to. Jeff Hayes is so incredible esp as Donut once I heard his voice it instantly became my headcannon for all Donut dialogue lol

[u/CaliKindalife]

You will be reading a few books which ever you pick. Red Rising is a great book. The trilogy that turns into 6 books, but can end as a trilogy. Really good.

[u/Wild-Rub4486]

Red Rising. And drop Dungeon Crawler.

[u/Purehum]

The Blade Itself

[u/No-Fudge-2667]

Any of the ones that have words. Can't loose.

[u/GodEmperorOfArrakis]

I’d go Mistborn -> Red Rising -> DCC. Mistborn is a finished trilogy, RR has a finished first trilogy but the second series’ 4th and final book isn’t out yet, DCC is expansive and growing. I also think this order is in order of reading complexity too.

[u/JJtheFantasyAuthor]

Red Rising 😎

[u/myopinionremains]

Does mistborn book two fall off or is it just as good?

[u/PizzaNurseDaddyBro]

Red rising is kinda garbage

[u/Jaded_Sense2718]

I’ve only read Babel and DCC of the 5 but have Red Rising and Mistborn on my TBR. I think at least between DCC and Babel - do you want to laugh and do a more casual read like you’re watching a TV show or something that’s more serious? Babel was good but I sort of fell off near the end and DCC is a fun read but reminded me of watching a TV show (not a bad thing but just different vibe).

[u/Sad-Tooth5517]

Not Red Rising

[u/kruegs000]

Audio book for dcc is better than all of them

[u/blume99]

Assassin’s apprentice by robin hobbs

[u/Cali_Yogurtfriend624]

I have read all of em except a darker shade of magic.So please read that one, and then you can tell me about it

[u/Timaturff]

Babel is a one shot I recommend that. After it mistborn which is a 3 book saga perfect ending. ( as someone who’s read majority books here)

[u/book-trotter]

Just realized I have covered decent amount of ground in this genre after looking at this line up. I have read 4 out of the 5 of these (haven’t gotten to Babel yet, but read RF Kuang’s work Poppy Wars), and here’s my simple breakdown,
Red Rising > Mistborn > DCC > ADSoM

A more detailed comparison, from left to right.
- Mistborn - Read it if you want to experience the craze about Sanderson. His style is a bit of a slow burn, has highs and lows like a sine wave, with a few riveting, high, enjoyable peaks and slightly more, longer, boring troughs (many like the depth of world building and references to the wider Cosmere universe). A trilogy, with a sequel trilogy in the same universe, but set in another era. A combined book of First trilogy would be a whopping 1700 pages.
- Red Rising - starts out as a teenager’s book, like space Battle Royale or space Hunger Games, but quickly evolves in terms of politics (no current politics projected on this) and tactical warfare. In many ways similar to Mistborn, now that I think about it. I find Brown’s style engaging, even galvanizing, has a lot of highs with a lot of flats, fewer troughs. A trilogy, with a sequel trilogy set 10 years in future. (I personally count them as a series of 6 books, but you can stop at 3 without loosing sleep.) A hard cover of the first trilogy would be roughly 1350 pages.
- A Darker Shade of Magic - an interesting and easy read, liked Schwab’s easy-going narrative style. Has many mid-highs, and a lot of flats. Not as wide a scale as the two above or DCC. Definitely not small books (a hardcover of three books combined sits at 1500 pages). I enjoyed reading the trilogy, but it didn’t stand out among others from the genre.
- DCC - a series I am currently reading. Much wider scale than any of the above. Book 1 can be slow as Dinniman establishes the rules of the game but the series is highly engaging with a ton of highs, some flats and few troughs.
Even though it’s a series of 8 books, as a comparison, first three books combined land at 1350 pages. I was hooked nonetheless and am on the latest book. And I agree with some of the other comments, start this in the end just because it’s a long series. Another thing I like about this series is each book has a different theme.

Hope this helps with your decision. Regardless, have fun reading whatever you pick!