The Secret History Order

The more I think about this order, the more I like it. Apart from the fact that Secret History goes after Bands of Mourning.
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[@CarlyAndJason]

Plus whatever book Brandon accidentally writes 🤣 this is great, I think you took the RAFOO and made it even better.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

The more I think about this order, the more I like it.

[@danehardy1898]

I usually suggest publication order, with Elantris being the exception. Throw that one in once the reader is invested (hah!) in the Cosmere.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Ba dum tss!

[@1AmGroot]

My first Cosmere book was Stormlight 1 and I absolutely loved it. Heard about it from a D&D channel of all places and it literally changed my life and got me back into reading after a long while

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Jumped right into the deep end!

[@youtubeaccounter5900]

Posting it here so that my reply to that other comment won't be buried. Reading it after hero of Ages the emotions hit me raw, and it gave me closure and answered lot of questions, and explained so many helpful things, and helped me get started on my Cosmere journey. Reading it after Bands just for a very lame reveal which was already spoilt some what in the previous books feels so much more worse. I think objectively it should be read immediately after hero of ages for the best experience. 8 out of 10 people I have spoken to say that it is better after hero of Ages. Unless you are reading only the Mistborn books, back to back within two or three months without taking any breaks, it will be too long, for the maximum emotional impact. Again 80% but it is still the majority. The excuse that it should be read after bands because Brandon said so does not work because, that was during the earlier days of the Cosmere, almost A decade ago. Things have changed so much. And if you remove that one single mystery in bands, then there is literally no reason to wait until that book. However there are multiple reasons to read it immediately after hero of Ages.

[@ApoMelon]

Agreed. I only recommend reading secret history after bands of mourning if you’re like me where I binge-read every cosmere book back to back in Easter egg order while taking notes, highlights, and annotations in the kindle, and watching reviews of books, and reviewing summaries of previously read books, then sure, I’ll still remember the events of hero of ages well enough to the point where secret history hits hard (I read secret history four months after finishing hero of ages). If you’re a normal person, then yes read secret history after hero of ages.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Ah, that's where I went wrong. I suppose binge reading and obsessive note-taking were always bound to be my eventual downfall.

[@Atnat57]

I personally think Secret History should be after era 1 unless they are already committing to a cosmere re-read, but the argument against that made the most sense to me is that reading Secret History before era 2 makes you think that character is gonna be a way bigger deal than they are, rather than the background player they become

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Great point, and this order is definitely for someone who is committed.

[@TheSandbox_Official]

My thoughts on this: Sanderson also says Tress is a “perfect” introduction to the Cosmere, saying if “someone wants to sample his writing style”. However, I think we can all agree that while Tress is a “fine” starting point, it’s infinitely better after someone has read other books such as Elantris. We have to remember that Sanderson is not just an author, but a businessman, and sometimes what’s “intended” or “suggested” isn’t always undoubtedly “best”. However, all that said (for the sake of devil’s advocate i might add), the “publication order” is never wrong!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Publication order is how the stalwarts here from the beginning have read it!

[@mndrew1]

In the immortal words of this worlds greatest bards (Whom also might just be giants) "You're not the boss of me."

[@TheCosmerenaut]

It's true. I'm not so big.

[@tannerflowers1994]

I recommend people start with Emperor's Soul. I have yet to see anyone else use that as a starter recommendation

[@robertoleary5470]

Or at least made the list

[@Alaztyr]

I absolutely agree with starting with The Emperor's Soul tbh

[@TheCosmerenaut]

That's what I suggested to my brother to introduce him to Sanderson and he loved it.

[@Draugo]

Distinctively missing at least seven other readings of Warbreaker

[@TheCosmerenaut]

* shakes my fist at Man Carrying Thing *

[@prestonc9059]

Imagining being an aspiring cosmere reader watching this video is hilarious, I would've gotten terrified by the sheer amount of books

[@TheCosmerenaut]

There's always another novel!

[@DanielSClouser]

The main thing w/ Secret History is that it depends on how an individual reader reacts to Era 2. If they're like, "Oh, cool! I love this change in direction," then they should definitely stick with what Sanderson intended. If, however, they are really reacting poorly to Alloy, then I would recommend stopping and reading Secret History. In many cases, Secret History will provide the deeper context, etc., that they need to get into Era 2. I think you can't go wrong mostly sticking with publication order, but I certainly understand the desire to not have to switch back and forth between series with every book you read. Even so, there is an interplay between Stormlight and Mistborn that you will miss if you don't do it a little. Mainly, it would be wise to read Secret history before Rhythm of War (or even Oathbringer), and it would also be best to read RoW before The Lost Metal. There are a number of ways that you can shuffle the series to accomplish that without constantly flip-flopping between them.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

That's basically what I suggest in my previous reading order video! Nice.

[@SparksArtandCosplay]

I believe that Secret History squarely belongs after the Bands of Morning. I’m also biased because that’s where I read it, (Immediately after finishing the Bands of Morning) soooooooo.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

(I agree! Shhh...)

[@Sailor_of_the_infinite_sea]

I did Secret History after Bands on my first read through and I thought it fit fine. However, on my re-read of the entire cosmere I have been reading secret history alongside the original trilogy during the relevant time periods. I found where the breaks were on a Reddit post and it’s been fun jumping back and forth.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Totally agree with that. Re-reads should place Secret History after Era 1.

[@drewsandoval6842]

I agree with secret history after bands of mourning, at least with the cosmere reread!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

It's always time for a reread!

[@moonknight6893]

This year I actually followed the previous reading order, so after I finished era one of Stormlight I read Secret History so to help me recap the first era of Mist before going to Mistborn era two

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Nice! That totally works!

[@bigdaddye3249]

Just started the Cosmere and finished the Mistborn era one. Was toying with doing secret history now instead of waiting, and this actually convinced me to try that method

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Let me know what you think!

[@henriksorensen82]

I think that the reading order depends on whether it is the first or second (possibly 3rd, 4th, etc.) time you read Cosmere. Came into the Cosmere universe very late, I started by backing the TWoK leatherbound kickstarter because I thought the book was very beautiful, but then I realized that maybe I should read his books too, so then I went and bought all his Cosmere books which were published at the time. I started with Mistborn Era1 and after that it was Elantris, Warbreaker and then Stormlight, after that I read the rest of the books as soon as they came out. But when I read the series again for the second time, I tried to read it in chronological order (which is not the easiest thing to keep track of) and it's absolutely the best when you read it again, I think, because you've already read it at least once time before so it's nothing new for you, just things that you might not remember completely that become a little clearer and of course everything that you "missed" the first time you read it.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Totally agree. Reading Secret History right after Era 1 on a reread is the way to go. No need to preserve the reveal.

[@HotshotMama]

Basically doing this order right now! I hated the idea of going back and forth between worlds for books so finishing stormlight now then doing secret projects

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Nice!

[@ivel2934]

I regret waiting til after bands to read Secret History because I was relatively active in the online communities and got hints of what might be the case, and after I read RoW I pretty much knew the twist everyone whispered about.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

It's getting more and more difficult to avoid that spoiler, so this order is making more and more sense.

[@snowdrop9810]

My current order is: entire stormlight, then warbreaker, then mistborn, then stormlight, then some secret projects, then elantris, then novellas, then stormlight then repeat.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Sounds like this order keeps on growing.

[@robertoleary5470]

I did read way of kings first though I thought Mistborn would have been a better place to start

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Way of Kings just has such a huge learning curve!

[@connor_phillipz5689]

I read Secret History for the first time after Bands. As someone who read it the "right" way, I firmly believe it is a much better experience after Era 1. Noone can convince me otherwise.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

And thus exists this order.

[@insertname5371]

Secret history as a story independent of reading order concerns works so much better after era 1. You are much closer to the characters and can feel the flow of the book more. I’ve noticed a split between those who read it before and after era 2. Those who read it before focus on the actual emotional impact of the story where as after era 2 (and often even Stormlight) its discussion of the more technical matters takes a forefront.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I agree with that actually. If it weren't for the reveal that Bands of Mourning is building up to, it makes perfect sense to put it right after Era 1.

[@thesanderlanche6648]

Warbreaker is more of a mystery novel than the various Mistborn books where they’re having to solve mysteries? Not sure I can get onboard with that statement. Good video though!

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Technically in every Sanderson book they're trying to solve *some* sort of mystery.

[@PaigeTheFramer]

Ugh.i shouldn't have watched this video. I want to read all the books in this order now. 😅

[@TheCosmerenaut]

DO IT I DARE YOU

[@curiousdaniel78]

Niceee

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Why thank you

[@rayseodium]

Oh my gosh - that order would be terrible.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

I've got others, if you're interested!

[@rayseodium]

@@TheCosmerenaut Please, do. I love to imagine people reading in that order for the first time

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3W7n3apfc12rMU

[@kylewilliams3322]

Anyone who thinks secret history should be read before bands of mourning is wrong and they should reevaluate their life choices. Not only are they wrong, but also vile and immoral. My preferred reading order is clearly the best. I am of course (mostly) joking.

[@youtubeaccounter5900]

Reading it after hero of Ages the emotions hit me raw, and it gave me closure and answered lot of questions, and explained so many helpful things, and helped me get started on my Cosmere journey. Reading it after Bands just for a very lame reveal which was already spoilt some what in the previous books feels so much more worse. I think objectively it should be read immediately after hero of ages for the best experience. Anybody else is completely wrong. And I am not joking.

[@kylewilliams3322]

@@youtubeaccounter5900 TIL brandon sanderson is wrong about his own book reading order.

[@youtubeaccounter5900]

@@kylewilliams3322 when secret history was released it was ok to read it after Bands and not read it after the Trilogy. And that was when Brandon said, you have to read it after bands. But after that Brandon has never told that he still refers the same reading order for Secret history after all these years. So at the time he was correct, but if he currently still thinks the same then he is wrong.

[@pau3464]

​@@kylewilliams3322Brandon makes his order thinking about strictly the "plot twist". But the actual experience of the reader is different. First if you wait long to read secret history then the book loses a lot of engagement if you dont remember well Hero of ages. And the plot twist is hard to avoid in the internet so waiting just makes It more difficult to evade it. And finally myself i like reading stormlight archive before era 2, so that would be even a longer wait from reading secret history and i think It contains so much useful information to enjoy and understand stormlight.

[@TheCosmerenaut]

Guys, guys! You're both wrong. Secret History is supposed to be read before Final Empire. Then the entirety of the first trilogy acts as a fun sort of flashback sequence.