Last Updated on by Nishil Prasad
It’s a bit hard not to have heard the name Brandon Sanderson today. “Why?”, you ask. Well, he’s only the author who’s written over 50 books in high fantasy and sci-fi genres with over 20 million in sales. He’s one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed literary voices of this generation and it’s hard not to be enchanted by the complex and brilliant universes that come out of his pen.
One of his primary creations is the Cosmere universe, which includes a total of 7 novels and a novella so far, with planned future installments. In today’s article, we’re going to look at the best Mistborn audiobooks so you can make a nice weekend plan, keep everything else at bay, and venture on a long excursion from where you’d never want to return. Let’s get into it straight away then!
8 Best Mistborn Audiobooks By Brandon Sanderson
1. The Final Empire
We all have read countless Stories where good wins over evil forces with the hero saving the day eventually. But what if darkness took over? From this question was born the universe of Cosmere and the first book of the Mistborn series, The Final Empire. For a thousand years, evil has ruled the lands with a dark lord ruling through the aristocracy and the common folk sold off as common goods.
But somewhere, trouble is arising and there are whispers about a potential revolt. But the revolt depends upon a criminal and a young girl. Things are about to change someone soon. But how? No one can tell. Richly narrated by Michael Kramer who’s also narrated the rest of the Mistborn series so far, his voice perfectly complements the tonality and genre of these stories.
2. The Well of Ascension
The Dark Lord has been vanquished but chaos has taken over, for the architect of the revolt is dead too. The responsibility of restructuring everything lies with his protege who finds herself in the middle of a new religion developing and mists in the kingdom becoming unpredictable. Over all that, a mysterious entity is chasing her everywhere.
The ancient legend of the Well of Ascension offers some hope but how do you find something when no one knows where it is? The book builds upon its predecessor wonderfully and immerses you further in this rich world of Cosmere. Kramer’s narration is riveting and it’s hard to stop listening to the audiobook despite its length.
3. The Hero of Ages
The conclusion to the first Mistborn trilogy, The Hero of Ages is a race against time to save the world. The evil spirit Ruin is on the loose, and the emperor, alongwith his wife and Vin, will have to save everything at all costs.
It’s almost miraculous the way Sanderson intricately creates his characters and worlds. The compelling ways they interact with each other give way to gripping and satisfying plot developments. Kramer weaves the personalities and quirks of each character into his narration, creating unique and distinct voices for each.
4. The Alloy of Law
The fourth part of the Mistborn saga and the first installment in the Wax and Wayne tetralogy, The Alloy of Law continues where The Hero of Ages left. The world is slowly recovering from evil but this is a world where allomancers reside who can use the magic stored in common metals and manipulate their power.
In a world like this, power balances don’t take much time to change, especially when someone can burn metals never burned before. While keeping the essence of the previous books, Sanderson takes the series in new and exciting directions through this book and Kramer’s narration perfectly complements the suspense and nuances of the storyline.
5. Shadows of Self
Waxillium Ladrian has returned to the capital city, adventures aplenty in store for him. It’s a city filled with magic and dangers at every turn. Terrorism and assassinations challenge the city’s stability and it’s up to Wax to get behind the conspiracy and solve the mystery behind it all.
Immersive and thrilling, the audiobook further adds to Sanderson’s saga while holding your interest and keeping you coming back for more. Michael’s emotional and deep voice further adds to your listening experience and adds layers of profoundness to the story.
6. The Bands of Mourning
The truth behind the bands of mourning would be unveiled as Wax and Wayne would go on a quest to find these magical artifacts that are rumored to offer their wielder many abilities. But they’re not the ones chasing them and they must reach their destination before the wrong powers do.
Emotional and thrilling, this next installment of the Mistborn series increases the depth and richness of the familiar characters while taking you on an adventure you’d be unable to stop listening to. Kramer’s performance is riveting in its intensity and richness as he takes you on another epic fantasy adventure.
7. The Lost Metal
The conclusion to the second era of the Mistborn saga, aka the Wax and Wayne tetralogy, The Lost Metal has the planet Scadrial at stake. After a new kind of explosive is discovered by The Set, a larger and more deadly proceeding comes to the foreplay involving gods and a planet in danger.
Wax will have to become the Sword once again or else millions of lives will be lost alongwith their planet. Brimming with tension and plot twists, this is a conclusion you won’t be able to forget! As always, Kramer’s voice complements the story wonderfully, with his narration adapting and injecting life into the world and the characters in the best possible way.
8. Arcanum Unbounded
Containing short stories and novellas belonging to the different series penned by Sanderson, Arcanum Unbounded includes three stories that are part of the Mistborn saga. Kramer narrates the various stories of this collection alongside Kate Reading and their performances complement each other brilliantly, giving each character their unique personality and tone.
Even if you aren’t a fan of stories in shorter formats, this collection must not be missed. While yes, they add to your knowledge and experience of Sanderson’s Cosmere world, that’s not the sole reason. They’re also splendid stories independently of their shared universes and you’ll find yourself moving from one story to the next in no time!
