SPOILERS ahead for the Mistborn series through The Hero of Ages
Summary
Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy universe can be difficult to navigate, withMistbornnovellas likeSecret Historybeing vital to the overarching narrative. TheMistbornbook seriesis the author’s most widely read work, with seven novels available to date and more on the way. The timeline can get confusing, however, as there’s a 300-year gap between books 3 & 4,The Hero of AgesandThe Alloy of Law. It’s even more confusing when considering connections toThe Stormlight Archiveand other books from Brandon Sanderson’s saga.
TheMistbornseries andThe Stormlight Archiveare both part of afictional book universe called the Cosmere, along with standalone likeTress of the Emerald Sea,Warbreaker,and various novellas and short stories. Mapping it all together can be a challenge, and while there’s a lot of lenience in the order one can take, certain stories are best read at the right time.Mistborn: Secret Historyis a novella that was released in 2016 as a companion to the originalMistborntrilogy, and it’s a gem for Cosmere fans.
Mistborn Shows Kelsier’s Journey After Death In The Final Empire
Anyone who loves theMistbornseries or is invested in the broader Cosmere universe should absolutely readMistborn: Secret History. As demonstrated byThe Stormlight Archive’sventures into Shadesmar, there’s far more to the Cosmere than just the physical realm, andSecret Historydetails Kelsier’s adventures into the Cognitive Realm following his death at the hands of the Lord Ruler inThe Final Empire. There, Kelsier meets with old friends and foes, including Preservation, Hoid, and the Lord Ruler himself, after he’s killed by Vin.
Kelsier has always been one of the Cosmere’s most compelling characters, with a particular unhinged charisma that makes him an exhilarating narrator. What’s most important about the novella is thatKelsier’s story doesn’t end inThe Final Empire, and he has a far more significant role to play throughout Brandon Sanderson’s universe.Secret Historyshows him essentially cheating death, realizing that there’s more at play on Scadrial than just his conflict with the Lord Ruler and deciding he needs to have a part in it.
I’m Sorry Vin, But Mistborn Era 2 Does 1 Thing Better Than The Original Trilogy
I’m a huge fan of the original Mistborn trilogy, but Mistborn Era 2 surpasses Brandon Sanderson’s original book series in one significant way.
Where Mistborn: Secret History Falls On The Series' Timeline
Secret History Occurs Around The Events Of Mistborn 1-3
Mistborn: Secret Historypicks up at several points around the timeline of the originalMistborntrilogy.The first chapter sees Kelsier in the moment immediately after he’s killed, appearing beside his body and watching events unfold in the aftermath. The subsequent chapters continue to follow Kelsier through different events and meetings with various characters fromMistbornand the Cosmere beyond. The novella ends around the time of the catacendre; the end ofThe Hero of Ages.
MistbornEra 2 picks up 300 years after the first trilogy, with critical aspects of the world’s culture defined by the events ofThe Hero of Ages.Mistborn: Secret Historydoesn’t have an immediate effect on Era 2, but it’s crucial to catch up on at a certain point for theMistbornseries' overarching narrative. It also importantly takes place beforeThe Stormlight Archiveand has some effect on that series as well, so it’s worth readingSecret Historybefore pivoting away fromMistborn. According to Brandon Sanderson (viaArcanum),The Stormlight Archivehappens chronologically beforeMistbornEra 2.
Mistborn Vs. The Stormlight Archive: Which Brandon Sanderson Fantasy Book Series Is Better
Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are pillars of Brandon Sanderson’s oeuvre and the Cosmere universe. Here’s how they stack up against each other.
Brandon Sanderson Suggests Reading It After The Bands Of Mourning
Mistborn: Secret Historywas released in 2016, shortly afterThe Bands of MourninginMistbornEra 2. The order in which it was released is likely the best time to read it, as there are some minor spoilers forThe Bands of Mourning. In fact, Brandon Sanderson himself has stated (via17thshard) that it"is intended to be read after Bands of Mourning.“Still, it certainly wouldn’t ruin Era 2 to readSecret HistoryafterThe Hero of Ages, and it may have more emotional resonance given the connections to main characters from Era 1, so either option is acceptable.
The most important detail with the order is thatMistborn: Secret Historyshould be read beforeThe Lost Metal. It’s also probably best to read the novella before diving intoThe Stormlight Archive, as matters inRhythm of Warmay get confusing without it. Brandon Sanderson has purposely left the order of reading throughout the Cosmere vague, as he’s crafted most of his stories to be enjoyable without reading the entire universe. ForMistbornreaders or Cosmere obsessives,Mistborn: Secret Historyis a must.
