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Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne) Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne) by Brandon Sanderson with "The Alloy Of Law", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

Set 300 years after the original trilogy, this series blends high fantasy with Western technology, following the adventures of magical lawman Waxillium Ladrian.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 7 main titles released between 2012 and 2022. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Alloy Of Law"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

Community Consensus

High Debate

"The Mistborn Era 2 conclusion, The Lost Metal (TLM), is the pivotal moment where Brandon Sanderson transitioned from subtle 'Easter Eggs' to making the overarching Cosmere plot central to the story. There is widespread agreement that TLM is far less satisfying or comprehensible for readers who have not read other Cosmere works, as the main conflict revolves around world-hopping organizations (Ghostbloods) and characters from outside the Mistborn series. This shift has led to significant division among readers, with some embracing the interconnectivity and others feeling alienated and disappointed that the book prioritized the Cosmere over satisfying Mistborn-specific plots."

Key Reddit Advice

To read Mistborn Era 2 successfully, especially The Lost Metal (TLM), it is considered essential (despite previous marketing) to read Mistborn: A Secret History (M:ASH). M:ASH should be read after Bands of Mourning (Era 2 Book 3) and before TLM to understand the core antagonist and major plot reveals. Furthermore, for full context on organizations like the Ghostbloods, reading key entries from The Stormlight Archive is increasingly recommended.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne) conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne). The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Alloy Of Law" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne)" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order6 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds. Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice. One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

2

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Alloy Of Law".

3

The Bands Of Mourning

Pub: 20164.36

Plot details hidden until you finish "Mistborn: Shadows of Self".

Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds. The Bands of Mourning are the mythical metal minds owned by the Lord Ruler, said to grant anyone who wears them the powers that the Lord Ruler had at his command. Hardly anyone thinks they really exist. A kandra researcher has returned to Elendel with images that seem to depict the Bands, as well as writings in a language that no one can read. Waxillium Ladrian is recruited to travel south to the city of New Seran to investigate. Along the way he discovers hints that point to the true goals of his uncle Edwarn and the shadowy organization known as The Set.

4

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Bands Of Mourning".

This excerpt from Brandon Sanderson's fourth Mistborn novel, The Alloy of Law, contains the Prologue through Chapter Six. The Alloy of Law will be available on November 8, 2011. Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads, electric lighting, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice. One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn, who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

5

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Alloy of Law: Prologue - Chapter 6".

Shadows of Self shows Mistborn’s society evolving as technology and magic mix, the economy grows, democracy contends with corruption, and religion becomes a growing cultural force, with four faiths competing for converts. This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society now faces its first instance of terrorism, crimes intended to stir up labor strife and religious conflict. Wax and Wayne, assisted by the lovely, brilliant Marasi, must unravel the conspiracy before civil strife stops Scadrial’s progress in its tracks. Shadows of Self will give fans of The Alloy of Law everything they’ve been hoping for and, this being a Brandon Sanderson book, more, much more.

6

The Lost Metal

Pub: 20224.4

Plot details hidden until you finish "Shadows Of Self".

For years, frontier lawman turned big-city senator Waxillium Ladrian has hunted the shadowy organization the Set―with his late uncle and his sister among their leaders―since they started kidnapping people with the power of Allomancy in their bloodlines. When Detective Marasi Colms and her partner Wayne find stockpiled weapons bound for the Outer City of Bilming, this opens a new lead. Conflict between Elendel and the Outer Cities only favors the Set, and their tendrils now reach to the Elendel Senate―whose corruption Wax and Steris have sought to expose―and Bilming is even more entangled. After Wax discovers a new type of explosive that can unleash unprecedented destruction and realizes that the Set must already have it, an immortal kandra serving Scadrial’s god, Harmony, reveals that Bilming has fallen under the influence of another god: Trell, worshipped by the Set. And Trell isn’t the only factor at play from the larger Cosmere―Marasi is recruited by offworlders with strange abilities who claim their goal is to protect Scadrial...at any cost. Wax must choose whether to set aside his rocky relationship with God and once again become the Sword that Harmony has groomed him to be. If no one steps forward to be the hero Scadrial needs, the planet and its millions of people will come to a sudden and calamitous ruin.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne) series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne)?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Alloy Of Law" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Brandon Sanderson intended.

Can I read Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne) books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Mistborn Era 2 (Wax & Wayne) universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.