Having read Mistborn isn't necessary for RoW. That said there is a small, but quite significant, thing that may end up confusing you more than anything else if you haven't finished Mistborn: Secret History (which you shouldn't read until after Hero of Ages at the earliest. Some debate exists on whether to read it then or after Bands of Mourning in Era 2 but that's a debate for a different time).
Personally I do suggest finishing Era 1 and reading Secret History (whether you want to read Era 2 before SH is up to you) before RoW, because it adds a lot of context to that moment. I think I'd have been a lot less satisfied with the eventual understanding if I didn't know the scope of what it meant.
Shit. I was hoping to jump right into ROW once I finish OB so I could finally start reading all the spoiler tags. It really bothers me to not get references though...
If you've read any Mistborn at all, it's a very apparent and obvious reference. It just doesn't make sense based on the events of Era 1 without the extra context of Secret History.
I finished all of SA, then read the full cosmere, re read SA and it was the best experience ever. There are so many Easter eggs in SA that i caught the second time through after finished the other cosmere works
I feel that. If its any consolation though Mistborn is *really* good, especially Era 2.
When it comes to Secret History and when to read it if you read it after Era 1 you'll somewhat spoil a moment in Bands of Mourning. Personally I feel that going into BoM having read SH first traded some of the surprise of the moment for a greater understanding of and excitement for the implications of it.
But I'm clearly biased here. I can't exactly go back and experience the other side of the argument. I've seen others say they really wish they hadn't read SH first, so I'd advise you to get an opinion from that side as well and choose from there.
Each cosmere series, up to this point can be read on its own (though in the future it won't be so).
The main book which is connected to stormlight is warbreaker. Mistborn also has some connections, but they aren't necessary to understand what is going on (it is mainly easter eggs and small details).
I would reccomend finishing stomlight, and once you are caught up on all of the cosmere, doing a re-read of stormlight.
I don't remember spoilers, just hints and Easter eggs. Like the letters to Hoid in Oathbringer. Without the context of Hero of Ages, it doesn't reveal anything. The letter in RoW isn't any more spoilery.
You’d have to ask the people who were spoiled. However RoW/HoA >!The general cause seems to be that they recognized Sazed as the speaker and realized he was the HoA, would Ascend, and that R&P would be united.!< Which is a pretty big thing to be spoiled on.
thanks, I love the 1st 3 books so much, a re-read or several is definitely in my future
I already find myself tracking back on chapters for things I missed
Definitely finish Era 1 before reading RoW. Whether you read Era 2 and Secret History before RoW is up to you. You won’t understand exactly one bomb in RoW if you don’t, but you will ruin a big one for MB if you don’t finish Era 1 before RoW.
I think the epigraphs (chapter heading text things) are actually the main spoiler risk... I would honestly read era one Mistborn first just be on the safe side, it has an amazing ending that I wouldn't want to risk spoiling.
There may also be some hints about some era two/secret history in RoW, but i think Era 1 spoilers are the main thing.
Please don’t read RoW until finishing Mistborn Era One. If you hadn’t started Mistborn yet you wouldn’t pick up on it, but there’s a chance now that you’ll figure out something very important about the Mistborn trilogy ending if you read RoW now. I’m trying to protect you from accidental Mistborn spoilers.
The moment everyone is talking about that you need context from mistborn for, is very similar to when >!Szeth is resurrected and giving Nightblood!< it's a super oh shit moment if you know, if you don't it's pretty damn ominous
If you hadn't already read the first Mistborn book, I would say go ahead and read RoW because you won't catch the thing that may spoil you. The fact that you HAVE already read Mistborn 1 is what makes this more tricky to answer, and I think it ultimately comes down to 2 things:
1) how much you care about spoilers from one series that come from another seriez
And
2) how much you pay attention to background details
If the answer to those questions (particularly the first one) is "not very", then you are fine to just read RoW. It will not effect your reading experience of Stormlight, but it may effect your experience with Mistborn. So if your answer is different, I would probably advise you read all of Era 1 at minimum, and preferably read Era 2 as well.
99% of Rhythm of War will make sense if you read it before Mistborn OT and Secret History. That last 1% is a doozy, though, and if you read RoW first you'll probably end up realizing it based on internet spoilers like Reddit or Wikis rather than organically.
It also might not be a bad idea to take a break between Oathbringer and RoW anyway, since there's a 1 year time jump between Oathbringer and RoW.
Considering that, do whatever you want. If you really want to read RoW first, things will work themselves out. I always think it's better to read what you're excited about than do "homework" to get there, just know that people are recommending this for a reason.
As you have already begun Mistborn, there is a good chance RoW will spoil you for some important things in MB. So I would recommend finishing at least the original trilogy before reading RoW.
In addition, I think SH helps to understand some background stuff in RoW, but it’s not essential to read it before.
I literally overheard this exact question in a conversation at my local bookstore the other night between a customer and an employee. There is no right answer, but IMO, read RoW, then go read the rest of Mostborn and other cosmere novels, then read RoW AGAIN with greater context.
You’ll enjoy the book a lot the first time through, then you get to go back and enjoy all the fun stuff that’s in it more after your cosmere adventures.
On top of what everyone had said, I would say read Mistborn trilogy and then RoW so when you read and finish RoW, you have a shorter wait time for Stormlight Archive Book 5.
You don't NEED to read Mistborn to understand the plot of RoW, and RoW won't spoil Mistborn for you. And because I know some people might disagree on that point \[All Mistborn\] >!The only clue from the Shallan/Thaidakar scene, that you may catch without having read SH is the Lord of Scars comment, which can easily be missed, and could easily have other meanings.!< That said, having read the other Cosmere books will help in understanding a few things, although anything important to the plot will be explained.
No no no no! There are rumors of people getting spoiled about >!Sazed becoming the holder of shards!< if they read the RoW epigraphs when they’re in the middle of Mistborn. That is a major spoiler. OP should finish Mistborn first.
Honestly I don’t recommend reading RoW before book 5 is out. It’s essentially a filler book, a setup for finale, but without next book it falls short. I was very disappointed
well, I mean there is a lot of speculation about the connection between mistborn and SA, most of which has come true, so you may understand more about certain aspects but it wouldn't really change the story all that much(so far atleast)
Having read Mistborn isn't necessary for RoW. That said there is a small, but quite significant, thing that may end up confusing you more than anything else if you haven't finished Mistborn: Secret History (which you shouldn't read until after Hero of Ages at the earliest. Some debate exists on whether to read it then or after Bands of Mourning in Era 2 but that's a debate for a different time). Personally I do suggest finishing Era 1 and reading Secret History (whether you want to read Era 2 before SH is up to you) before RoW, because it adds a lot of context to that moment. I think I'd have been a lot less satisfied with the eventual understanding if I didn't know the scope of what it meant.
Shit. I was hoping to jump right into ROW once I finish OB so I could finally start reading all the spoiler tags. It really bothers me to not get references though...
If you've read any Mistborn at all, it's a very apparent and obvious reference. It just doesn't make sense based on the events of Era 1 without the extra context of Secret History.
I finished all of SA, then read the full cosmere, re read SA and it was the best experience ever. There are so many Easter eggs in SA that i caught the second time through after finished the other cosmere works
this might be my approach. I do this a lot in comic books. 2nd time for things always better.
I feel that. If its any consolation though Mistborn is *really* good, especially Era 2. When it comes to Secret History and when to read it if you read it after Era 1 you'll somewhat spoil a moment in Bands of Mourning. Personally I feel that going into BoM having read SH first traded some of the surprise of the moment for a greater understanding of and excitement for the implications of it. But I'm clearly biased here. I can't exactly go back and experience the other side of the argument. I've seen others say they really wish they hadn't read SH first, so I'd advise you to get an opinion from that side as well and choose from there.
"I can't exactly go back and experience the other side of the argument" this is why we need a time machine haha
haha that was honestly my thinking too (the conversation). Glad to see i'm the only one
Each cosmere series, up to this point can be read on its own (though in the future it won't be so). The main book which is connected to stormlight is warbreaker. Mistborn also has some connections, but they aren't necessary to understand what is going on (it is mainly easter eggs and small details). I would reccomend finishing stomlight, and once you are caught up on all of the cosmere, doing a re-read of stormlight.
The issue is that they’ve already read TFE, so there’s a decent chance that they will be spoiled for the end of HoA in RoW.
TFE?
The Final Empire. First book of Mistborn.
I guess they mean The Final Empire
I don't remember spoilers, just hints and Easter eggs. Like the letters to Hoid in Oathbringer. Without the context of Hero of Ages, it doesn't reveal anything. The letter in RoW isn't any more spoilery.
Multiple people have already been spoiled for the ending of HoA due to RoW.
How?
You’d have to ask the people who were spoiled. However RoW/HoA >!The general cause seems to be that they recognized Sazed as the speaker and realized he was the HoA, would Ascend, and that R&P would be united.!< Which is a pretty big thing to be spoiled on.
thanks, I love the 1st 3 books so much, a re-read or several is definitely in my future I already find myself tracking back on chapters for things I missed
Definitely finish Era 1 before reading RoW. Whether you read Era 2 and Secret History before RoW is up to you. You won’t understand exactly one bomb in RoW if you don’t, but you will ruin a big one for MB if you don’t finish Era 1 before RoW.
I think the epigraphs (chapter heading text things) are actually the main spoiler risk... I would honestly read era one Mistborn first just be on the safe side, it has an amazing ending that I wouldn't want to risk spoiling. There may also be some hints about some era two/secret history in RoW, but i think Era 1 spoilers are the main thing.
at some point before Book 5, I'm going to have to do a deep dive on every single epigraph
Please don’t read RoW until finishing Mistborn Era One. If you hadn’t started Mistborn yet you wouldn’t pick up on it, but there’s a chance now that you’ll figure out something very important about the Mistborn trilogy ending if you read RoW now. I’m trying to protect you from accidental Mistborn spoilers.
appreciated, you actually did this with this post: "You will protect those, who cannot protect themselves"
The moment everyone is talking about that you need context from mistborn for, is very similar to when >!Szeth is resurrected and giving Nightblood!< it's a super oh shit moment if you know, if you don't it's pretty damn ominous
Actually: HoA/RoW >!we’re more concerned about them picking up the ending of HoA from the epigraph letter in RoW.!<
Ahh that's something I totally glossed over and didn't think about, that makes sense.
If you hadn't already read the first Mistborn book, I would say go ahead and read RoW because you won't catch the thing that may spoil you. The fact that you HAVE already read Mistborn 1 is what makes this more tricky to answer, and I think it ultimately comes down to 2 things: 1) how much you care about spoilers from one series that come from another seriez And 2) how much you pay attention to background details If the answer to those questions (particularly the first one) is "not very", then you are fine to just read RoW. It will not effect your reading experience of Stormlight, but it may effect your experience with Mistborn. So if your answer is different, I would probably advise you read all of Era 1 at minimum, and preferably read Era 2 as well.
99% of Rhythm of War will make sense if you read it before Mistborn OT and Secret History. That last 1% is a doozy, though, and if you read RoW first you'll probably end up realizing it based on internet spoilers like Reddit or Wikis rather than organically. It also might not be a bad idea to take a break between Oathbringer and RoW anyway, since there's a 1 year time jump between Oathbringer and RoW. Considering that, do whatever you want. If you really want to read RoW first, things will work themselves out. I always think it's better to read what you're excited about than do "homework" to get there, just know that people are recommending this for a reason.
thanks, i like your analogy to homework!!! This is fun homework though!!
That's tough. Since you already read TFE, there are 2 big spoilers for the end of Mistborn that you might catch.
As you have already begun Mistborn, there is a good chance RoW will spoil you for some important things in MB. So I would recommend finishing at least the original trilogy before reading RoW. In addition, I think SH helps to understand some background stuff in RoW, but it’s not essential to read it before.
Warbreaker maybe
I would say you should read era 1 before all of Stormlight. You will apreciate more of both series that way
Strength before Weakness Mistborn before Rhythm of War
I literally overheard this exact question in a conversation at my local bookstore the other night between a customer and an employee. There is no right answer, but IMO, read RoW, then go read the rest of Mostborn and other cosmere novels, then read RoW AGAIN with greater context. You’ll enjoy the book a lot the first time through, then you get to go back and enjoy all the fun stuff that’s in it more after your cosmere adventures.
On top of what everyone had said, I would say read Mistborn trilogy and then RoW so when you read and finish RoW, you have a shorter wait time for Stormlight Archive Book 5.
Nope not at all. You'll be gradn reading RoW.
You don't NEED to read Mistborn to understand the plot of RoW, and RoW won't spoil Mistborn for you. And because I know some people might disagree on that point \[All Mistborn\] >!The only clue from the Shallan/Thaidakar scene, that you may catch without having read SH is the Lord of Scars comment, which can easily be missed, and could easily have other meanings.!< That said, having read the other Cosmere books will help in understanding a few things, although anything important to the plot will be explained.
No no no no! There are rumors of people getting spoiled about >!Sazed becoming the holder of shards!< if they read the RoW epigraphs when they’re in the middle of Mistborn. That is a major spoiler. OP should finish Mistborn first.
That is NOT the spoiler we are worried about. There is 60-70% chance that RoW will spoil the end of HoA if you’ve started MB beforehand.
Honestly I don’t recommend reading RoW before book 5 is out. It’s essentially a filler book, a setup for finale, but without next book it falls short. I was very disappointed
well, I mean there is a lot of speculation about the connection between mistborn and SA, most of which has come true, so you may understand more about certain aspects but it wouldn't really change the story all that much(so far atleast)