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The Reckoners Reading Order.

Authorby Brandon Sanderson
4 Entries
Quick Answer

Start with Steelheart (2013).

A non-Cosmere dystopian trilogy where superpowered individuals, known as Epics, rule the world and must be taken down.

Where to start

Start with Steelheart (2013).

  • •Mitosis is a short story set between books 1 and 2.
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Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The Reckoners is a young adult (YA) trilogy, often compared conceptually to series like The Boys or My Hero Academia. The series is generally well-regarded, particularly the first book, though some readers found the third installment less satisfying than the previous two."

Key Reddit Advice

Read the series sequentially: Start with Book 1 (often cited as having a strong prologue), proceed to Book 2, and conclude with Book 3, as it is consistently referred to as a trilogy.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order4 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Steelheart

Pub: 2013

There are no heroes, only villains. My father believed that a hero was going to step in, and he died for that belief. Steelheart killed him for seeing that he had a weakness, and no one knows I saw. Now I've spent years getting their weaknesses, and plotting my revenge.

2

Mitosis

Pub: 2013Optional

Plot details hidden until you finish "Steelheart".

3

Firefight

Pub: 2015

Plot details hidden until you finish "Mitosis".

David must travel to the ruins of Manhattan to find the deadly Epic known as Firefight, but infiltrating the villain's territory might reveal truths he isn't ready for.

4

Calamity

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "Firefight".

David and the Reckoners must face the most powerful High Epic of all to find redemption for his closest friend, Prof.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read The Reckoners in?

Start with Steelheart (2013).

How many books are in The Reckoners?

3 main books, published 2013–2016, plus 1 side story.

Can I read The Reckoners out of order?

It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.

Which books in The Reckoners are prequels, novellas or side stories?

"Mitosis" (novella). Each is placed in the reading order below.