Sanderson says there's no single mandatory Cosmere order — several books work as entry points. This is the spoiler-conscious path: Mistborn Era 1 first, Secret History only after The Bands of Mourning (his own rule — it torpedoes Era 1 otherwise), Warbreaker before Words of Radiance for a quiet payoff, and The Sunlit Man last. Notes flag the slots that are genuinely flexible. (The Frugal Wizard's Handbook isn't Cosmere, so it isn't here.)

1. Mistborn: The Final Empire
2. The Well of Ascension
3. The Hero of Ages
4. Tress of the Emerald Seaflexible — works any time after Mistborn Era 1
5. The Alloy of Law
6. Shadows of Self
7. The Bands of Mourning
8. Mistborn: Secret HistorySanderson's rule: only after The Bands of Mourning — massive Era 1 spoilers
9. Warbreakerread before Words of Radiance for a payoff; free ebook on Sanderson's site
10. Elantrisflexible — Sanderson's first novel, readable anywhere
11. The Emperor's SoulHugo-winning novella in the Elantris world
12. The Way of Kings
13. Words of Radiance
14. Edgedancernovella — read before Oathbringer
15. Oathbringer
16. Dawnshardnovella — read before Rhythm of War
17. Rhythm of War
18. Yumi and the Nightmare Painterbest after Rhythm of War
19. The Lost Metalheavy Cosmere crossover — lands hardest this late in the path
20. Wind and Truth
21. The Sunlit Manread last — it follows Stormlight's endgame