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Anyone engaged in the larger Cosmere universe or enjoys the Mistborn series should definitely read Mistborn: Secret History. The Stormlight Archive's explorations into Shadesmar show that the Cosmere is far more than simply the physical world; Secret History records Kelsier's exploits into the Cognitive Realm following his death at the hands of the Lord Ruler in The Final Empire. After Vin kills him, Kelsier visits old friends and rivals like Preservation, Hoid, and the Lord Ruler personally.
With a certain uncontrolled charisma that makes him an exciting narrator, Kelsier has always been among the most captivating Cosmere character. The novella's most salient feature is that Kelsier's narrative does not finish in The Final Empire and he has a significantly more major role to perform across Brandon Sanderson's universe. Realizing he has more at stake on Scadrial than simply his struggle with the Lord Ruler, Secret History shows him virtually cheating death and determines he has to play a part.
Secret History picks up at numerous times across the chronology of the first Mistborn trilogy. Kelsier appears beside his body and watches events transpire in the aftermath in the first chapter, right away following his murder. The next chapters follow Kelsier through several events and interactions with several characters from Mistborn and the Cosmere beyond. The novella finishes at the catacendre's time; the end of The Hero of Ages.
After the first trilogy, Mistborn Era 2 picks up 300 years with events of The Hero of Ages defining the core of the world's culture. Though it doesn't immediately affect Era 2, Secret History is important to catch up on at a certain time for the general story of the Mistborn series. It's also crucial before The Stormlight Archive and influences that series as well, hence reading Secret History before turning away from Mistborn is even more worthwhile. Brandon Sanderson claims (via Arcanum) that The Stormlight Archive occurs chronologically before Mistborn Era 2.
Published in 2016, just following The Bands of Mourning in Mistborn Era 2, Mistborn: Secret History Given certain minor spoilers for The Bands of Mourning, the sequence in which it was published is probably the best time to read it. Brandon Sanderson himself, via 17thshard, has said, in fact, "is intended to be read after Bands of Mourning". Still, it wouldn't destroy Era 2 to read Secret History after The Hero of Ages, and given the links to important characters from Era 1, it would have more emotional impact therefore either choice is reasonable.
The most crucial element of the sequence is that Mistborn: Secret History should be read before The Lost Metal. Reading the novella before going into The Stormlight Archive is also generally wise since issues in Rhythm of War could become unclear without it. Since Brandon Sanderson created most of his novels to be fun without reading the whole Cosmere, he has deliberately left the sequence of reading ambiguous. Mistborn: Secret History is absolutely essential for Cosmere addicts or readers.
Set inside the Mistborn series, Secret History is a novella. Cosmere buffs should definitely read this; here's all you need to know about it.
With Mistborn novellas like Secret History essential to the main story, Brandon Sanderson's Fantasy universe can be challenging to negotiate. With seven books published thus far and more to come, the Mistborn book series is the most often read work the author has produced. But given the 300-year interval between books 3 and 4, The Hero of Ages and The Alloy of Law, the chronology can get perplexing. Considering links to The Stormlight Archive and other Brandon Sanderson's saga works adds even more perplexity.
Along with stand-alone such Tress of the Emerald Sea, Warbreaker, and several novels and short stories, the Mistborn trilogy and The Stormlight Archive fit inside a fictional literary universe called the Cosmere. While there is much of flexibility in the sequence one can follow, some stories are best read at the appropriate moment. Mapping all of it together can be difficult. For Cosmere readers, Mistborn: Secret History is a gem released in 2016 as a companion to the first Mistborn trilogy.
Foundations of Brandon Sanderson's oeuvre and the Cosmere universe are Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive. They stack like this against one another.