The release plan for Mistborn Era 3 avoids a problem that's all too common in the fantasy genre, but it comes with a downside for those eagerly awaiting the next book. The Mistborn saga is one of the best modern additions to the fantasy genre, and some of Brandon Sanderson's best books are a part of it. Mistborn's unique metal-based magic system, compelling cast of characters, and scope when it comes to world-building all contribute to its success. If Era 3 continues to capitalize on these strengths, it'll prove just as impressive as its predecessors.
Of course, Sanderson has confirmed that Era 3 will feature another significant time jump. This means the next Mistborn book will need to set itself apart from the previous two series while maintaining what makes them great. Readers will see how it handles that balance when it finally hits shelves. Sanderson's plan outlined in his 2023 State of the Sanderson blog post indicates it could be a while, though. The author revealed he won't release the first Era 3 book until all three of them are written, which is both smart and mildly frustrating.
Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Era 3 Release Plan Avoids The Long Waits Of Other Fantasy Series
The Author's Plan Avoids Long Waits Between Books
Sanderson's plan to release Mistborn Era 3 only after all the books are complete is a positive one, as it will help the series avoid a problem plaguing other fantasy sequels. With all of them written when the first one comes out, there aren't likely to be long waits between Sanderson's books. The Mistborn Era 3 sequels should hit shelves in a timely manner, which doesn't always happen in the fantasy genre. Fantasy readers can point to a number of popular series that have been derailed by lengthy breaks between books.
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Many fantasy book series have long periods of time in between installments. Some have been waiting years for the next installment in a fantasy series.
A Song of Ice and Fire is probably the best example of this, with The Winds of Winter still not out, despite the previous book hitting shelves in 2011. While George R.R. Martin's sequel is probably the most widely known example, the waits for the next Kingkiller Chronicle and Gentleman Bastard books have been similarly long. It's a given that fantasy sequels take more time and effort to write, especially if things come up during the process. That doesn't stop readers from growing frustrated, however, and Sanderson's plan can prevent that somewhat.
Era 3's Release Plan Is A Good Thing But Comes With 1 Caveat For The Next Mistborn Book
The Initial Wait Will Still Be Long
Custom image by Yeider Chacon Although Sanderson's release plan will ensure readers aren't waiting years for Mistborn Era 3 sequels, it also means the initial wait for book one will be longer. In his blog post, Sanderson estimates that it could take until 2027 to finish all the books, meaning readers wouldn't see the first until 2028 at the earliest. This is still frustrating, though there is one upside: with Era 2 wrapping Wax and Wayne's story, there are no cliffhangers or loose ends that readers are waiting to see tied up.
Readers will still have plenty to occupy them as they await the next chapter in the Mistborn saga.
This makes the initial break before Mistborn Era 3's first book slightly less agonizing. And Sanderson will be writing and releasing other projects in the meantime. This includes the fifth Stormlight Archive book, Wind and Truth, which is one of the biggest fantasy books coming out in 2024. Needless to say, readers will still have plenty to occupy them as they await the next chapter in the Mistborn saga.
Source: State of the Sanderson
Mistborn
The Mistborn series, 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, including Era 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)
Created by Brandon Sanderson
Character(s) Vin , Kelsier , Sazed , Marsh , Elend Venture , Waxillium "Wax" Ladrian , Wayne , Steris Harms
Summary
The Mistborn series, 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, including Era 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.
English (US) ·