The prologue ofThe Way of Kingsmirrors the very first scene of theMistbornsaga, butThe Stormlight Archiveaccomplishes more with its opening.Brandon Sanderson’s bookshave a tendency to pull readers in with gripping beginnings, with all hisfantasy novels being great from the very first scene.The similarities betweenThe Final Empire’s andThe Way of King’s prologues go beyond that, establishing the intricate worlds of their respective series through incidents that mirror one another.
Of course,Sanderson’s two series unfold quite differently from then onward, withThe Stormlight Archiveboasting larger-scale storytelling thanMistborn.Naturally, this leads to pacing differences, as well as a much larger cast of characters to follow inThe Stormlight Archive.Despite the differences between the two series, they both dedicate a lot of attention to the political workings of their worlds and how they affect the individual characters and grander conflicts between gods. And bothadditions to the Cosmereintroduce their political stakes through similar openings.
Both Introduce The World’s Politics Through Assassinations
THE WAY OF KINGSby Michael Whelan
The prologue ofMistborn: The Final Empiresees Kelsier killing Lord Tresting, one of the noblemen who serves the Lord Ruler.The Stormlight Archiveopens with a more organized assassination, butit mirrorsThe Final Empire’s prologue in the way things play out. Both novels begin with someone killing an adversary, introducing the political tensions of their worlds and kicking off the major conflicts of their respective books.
Mistborn Vs. The Stormlight Archive: Which Brandon Sanderson Fantasy Book Series Is Better
Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive are pillars of Brandon Sanderson’s oeuvre and the Cosmere universe. Here’s how they stack up against each other.
Kelsier’s prologue reveals the hierarchy ofMistborn’s world, laying the foundation for the skaa to rebel against the noblemen later on. Meanwhile, Szeth’s prologue inThe Way of Kingsintroduces the tense relations between the Parshendi and Alethi — relations made worse after Szeth assassinates King Gavilar. There are differences between Szeth and Kelsier, as the former is a weapon wielded by others, while Kelsier is acting of his own volition. However, it’s clearSanderson leans into a similar opening style in bothThe Final EmpireandThe Way of Kings.
The Way of Kings’prologue leans further into the action of the moment, however, which is why it does a better job with its opening sequence despiteMistborndoing it first.
Andit works to the author’s advantage in both cases, as starting his fantasy series with high-stakes action moments successfully gets readers invested in his stories.The Way of Kings’prologue leans further into the action of the moment, however, which is why it does a better job with its opening sequence despiteMistborndoing it first.
The Stormlight Archive’s Opening Sequence Accomplishes More Than Mistborn’s
The Greater Focus On Action Works In The Way Of Kings' Favor
There’s no denying thatThe Final Empire’sopening scene is iconic — it wouldwork well for aMistbornTV show or movie— but it doesn’t go as far asThe Way of Kings’prologue. It’s obvious that Sanderson’s writing evolved between the two series, allowing the author to fully capitalize onThe Stormlight Archive’s similar beginning. It’s simply more effective at pulling readers into the story, as it spends a lot more time on the action of Szeth’s mission. By contrast,The Final Empiredoesn’t actually show Kelsier using his powers or fighting anyone.
The fifthStormlight Archivebook,Wind and Truth, will debut on June 17, 2025.
That makesThe Stormlight Archive’s opening more thrilling, but that’s not the only benefit of showing Szeth in pursuit of the king.The Way of Kingsalso manages to establish the series' magic system amid everything else happening, rendering its prologue impressively effective.The firstMistbornbookunravels its complex magic system later on, butThe Stormlight Archiveoutlines the world, political stakes, and magic during its opening — and it still manages to make a strong impression on top of all that.
The Stormlight Archive
The Stormlight Archive is an epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, set on the storm-ravaged world of Roshar. The series follows multiple characters, each with their unique storylines, as they navigate political intrigue, ancient prophecies, and powerful magic. Central to the story are the Knights Radiant, legendary warriors with magical abilities who must return to save their world from impending destruction. The series explores themes of honor, leadership, and the burden of power.
Mistborn
TheMistbornseries, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy,Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, includingEra 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.Books:Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (2007)Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (2008)Mistborn: The Alloy of Law (2011)Mistborn: Shadows of Self (2015)Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning (2016)Mistborn: The Lost Metal (2022)
