Aside from Tolkien's Lord of The Rings, Jordan's Wheel of Time, and Martin's Game of Thrones, the everyman would be hard-pressed to name a renowned, successful fantasy author. Despite selling millions of copies, launching the largest-ever Kickstarter, and boasting a massive, dedicated fanbase (with Comicon-style conventions and all), Brandon Sanderson's incredible success seems to fall under the radar for those who aren't avid fantasy readers. Those entering the realm of fantasy, though, will soon grow sick of hearing Sanderson’s name on every recommendation, rave review, and the occasional clickbait rant. Known for his MCU-style, interconnected universe known as the Cosmere, dedication to his fanbase, multiple mega-hit series, accessible prose, and inhuman writing output, Sanderson is perhaps the most prevalent modern fantasy author, and the war over which is the better of his two top series, thus, is impassioned and subject to strong opinions. From a casual young fantasy fan, here are reviews of the debut books to Sanderson’s two largest series, their strengths, and their weaknesses, to guide those looking to enter Sanderson’s world or the fantasy genre as a whole.

Mistborn: The Final Empire
The Mistborn trilogy is Sanderson's most successful series, with over 10 million copies sold, and the reason quickly becomes obvious: the book is plain fun, neatly hitting both a YA and adult demographic (I’ve seen it in both categories at different bookstores) with very straightforward, readable (but not overly simplistic) prose, a brilliant magic system, likable and flawed protagonists, and a vivid world.
Vin, the protagonist, is a believable 16-year-old girl with enough wit and determination to keep her likable and believable, frustrating flaws. Vin is distrustful, does not excel at everything she tries, and often acts irrationally and emotionally, which makes her feel real and serves as a nice counterpoint to the ‘chosen one’ implications surrounding her. Kelsier, the secondary protagonist and her mentor, is charming and heroic in a way that, under the surface, soon becomes dark and twisted, but his personality makes him difficult to hate. Kelsier weaponizes his savior complex and displays a brutal vengeance and hatred for the nobility, but at the same time, shows kindness, good humor, and dedication to the peasants (skaa) and those he cares for, which makes him a fascinating character I remain conflicted about to this day. The minor characters are more or less caricatures and adhere to standard tropes (strong one, smart one, grumpy one, bookworm, etc.) but are nevertheless likable.
The plot, which centers around a heist, initially begins slowly but soon moves to a near-breakneck pace. It is filled with twists and turns, small victories and failures, and devastating losses. While there are many layers of deception and reveals, it is still easy enough to follow, and the last third of the book is a thrilling whirlwind of meaningful payoffs and reveals. Tonally, Sanderson explores complex moral questions and a harsh world while leaving plenty of room for humor, adventure, and wonder. I’ve touched on Sanderson’s writing style, which is intentionally very simple, in a way that makes it feel like reading a movie, and generally works well but does suffer from some repetition and weak or redundant sentences at points, but by no means enough to ruin the book. For those who love elegant, flowery prose, however, Sanderson may not be the best fit.
As for the world, Scadrial is a brutally tangible world where evil has won, and an apathetic Lord Ruler now reigns, and the peasants are oppressed to the point of inhumanity, and Sanderson does an excellent job conveying the devastating sense of oppression and grey of the land, from the very first line, “Ash fell from the sky”. The magic system, Allomancy, is also simple and grounded but brilliant-essentially, ingesting certain metals grants a Mistborn different abilities (enhanced senses, persuasion, etc.), while the lower class of magic users, Mistings, can use only one of the eight total metals. Straightforward and logical but open to many ingenious applications, Allomancy is a fantastic system.
Overall, whether you’re new to fantasy or a longtime fan, the masses have it right: Mistborn is a must-read for anyone 14 and up (some descriptive violence, dark themes, but nothing like Game of Thrones. If you can read Hunger Games, you can read Mistborn.). This is the sort of book you binge-read, then reread, then endlessly gush to your friends about. Solid on all fronts, from characters to world, and capped off by a phenomenal ending, Mistborn is well-deserving of its fans.
So, yes, for the casual fantasy reader, or even the non-committed reader looking for a fun book, the book is worth the hype, and a rare 5/5 star book. Go read it.

As for The Way of Kings...
The first entry to The Stormlight Archive series is a monster of a book. While Mistborn is a fun, mid-long read, beginning the 1,000-page epic The Way of Kings is an endeavor of its own and not to be recommended lightly. However, those patient enough to take the journey will be treated to a masterclass in worldbuilding and magic systems, colorful protagonists, and an epic finale that sets the stage for a breathtaking series.
The Way of Kings is a grand, lengthy, slow-paced introduction to the world of Roshar with some of the very highest quality worldbuilding in the genre while retaining Sanderson's trademark accessible prose. Sanderson crafts a unique, vibrant culture from the ground up, which is refreshing from the traditional medieval-European fantasy genre. The worldbuilding of Roshar is simply outstanding. The races, cultures, religions, languages, and lore are all so well thought-out and intertwined it’s unbelievable. The magic system of the lost Knights Radiant is mysterious and nebulous but intentionally so for the characters who are rediscovering it after hundreds of years.
Sanderson’s character work is arguably better than Mistborn, but the protagonists lack some of the simple charm and likeability of the likes of Kelsier. The Way of Kings juggles various perspectives, over 20 in total, but generally rotates between three primary characters: Dalinar, Kaladin, and Shallan, while also incorporating character-centric flashbacks for Kaladin. Kaladin is the protagonist, and his journey, a wronged soldier suffering in a brutal labor camp, quickly became the one I most looked forward to jumping back to. Sanderson explores depression in a raw, excruciating manner. While some may perceive Kaladin’s actions and thoughts as repetitive or boring, they are simply the manifestation of a well-written mental health struggle that felt startlingly real. Dalinar, a past-his-prime warlord, has his own struggles in politics, manipulation, battle, and a personal religious crisis as he begins to experience visions. However, for the vast majority of the book, I failed to latch onto his story or character as I did the others, which made especially the middle of the book seem a bit of a drag during his chapters. Finally, Shallan, a bright and witty young noble seeking an apprenticeship in order to steal a powerful device, provided a much-needed break from the seriousness of the former two-I, personally, did not find her annoying in the slightest. The minor characters are likewise well-written, with plenty of villains to love to hate, as well as charming companions. The standout is Jasnah, Shallan’s mentor, an intellectual and royal outcast due to her atheism, which opens the door to some fascinating philosophical conversations. Furthermore, aside from the three major perspectives, the book is sprinkled with lengthy interludes from alternative perspectives, many seeming disconnected but all directly paying off later. Frankly, the reader's enjoyment of the various perspectives and interludes is subjective: everyone is bound to choose a favorite, and there are times when one will grow frustrated to be taken away from the main conflict into another interlude.
The overarching plot of the book is not immediately clear-the three protagonists each boast their own unique narratives: Kaladin’s struggle in a labor camp, Dalinar’s attempts to unite the warlords (highprinces), and Shallan’s mission to steal a magical object. Eventually, though, most of the threads converge and make way for a jaw-dropping, epic ending full of cheer-worthy moments that I dare liken to Avengers: Endgame or Return of The King. However, there are many mysteries that remain, many stories left dangling, and Way of Kings is clearly a setup for a grand vision of many books to come, which does inhibit its individual narrative, though it can stand on its own, but not so much as the first Mistborn.
Taken in the context of the series as a whole, The Way of Kings ages like fine wine, but on its own, especially for the hesitant or impatient, it may not be the best fit, as it spends much of its time on setup and worldbuilding for the books to come. While I consider The Stormlight Archive to be the best fantasy series I have read to date, it is not for the faint of heart. I would bump the age recommendation up to 16+, not for content (again, violence and serious themes, but it would still be a PG-13 movie), but for the sheer length and complexity of the work and commitment required to finish it.
But for those willing to make the journey, for the ambitious, committed reader… well, there’s nothing truly like it. Imperfect and lengthy as The Way of Kings may be, it accomplishes an immersive tale like nothing before it, and, perhaps more than anything, Sanderson knows how to deliver a payoff of epic proportions. It is a good but daunting entry to a superb series. ⅘ stars

Overall, for the everyman, Mistborn is a safe bet. Fun, straightforward, and less than 1,000 pages, it’s hard to go wrong with the gripping tale of Scadrial’s oppression and Kelsier’s rogue band of misfits. But for the ambitious, mature, and patient, and those seeking a work of complex worldbuilding, philosophy, and character development, particularly fans of high fantasy, The Way of Kings is a rich, satisfying tale and gateway into Sanderson’s best work.
Just a fair warning…
Sanderson’s work comes at a high risk of addiction, obsession, and emotional distress. Think Star Trek or anime geeks are crazy? Wait ‘till you enter the Sanderson fanbase.
Proceed at your own risk.