10 audiobooks for fans of The Bands of Mourning
- 1
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Hoid's Travails • Book 1
by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Lyon
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Michael Kramer's distinctive narration brings the same immersive quality to this standalone adventure, while Sanderson's signature magic system and character-driven storytelling deliver that familiar blend of wonder and emotional depth in a more compact, fast-paced narrative.
★ 4.50 ABR Score (302.4K ratings)★ 4.32 Goodreads (297.2K) ★ 4.74 Audible (5.1K)12h 27m listening time • Released 2024Michael Kramer's warm, conversational narration transforms Sanderson's fairy tale into pure comfort fantasy—the kind of audiobook that makes you want to extend your commute just to hear what happens next.
- 2
Words of Radiance
The Stormlight Archive • Book 2
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
Words of Radiance expands the intricate magic systems and epic world-building that define Sanderson's work, with Michael Kramer and Kate Reading's dual narration deepening the emotional complexity of interconnected character arcs. The immersive 48-hour experience delivers the same meticulous plotting and high-stakes fantasy adventure, but on a grander scale that rewards patient, engaged listeners.
★ 4.96 ABR Score (587.5K ratings)★ 4.76 Goodreads (498.0K) ★ 4.9 Audible (89.5K)48h 15m listening time • Released 2014The second Stormlight Archive book surpasses the first — the magic system, the characters, and the worldbuilding all deepen into one of epic fantasy's greatest achievements.
- 3
The Way of Kings
The Cosmere • Book 1
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
Both audiobooks deliver the same epic fantasy scope through Michael Kramer's commanding narration, though The Way of Kings expands the world-building and philosophical depth that makes Sanderson's magic systems so compelling. The slower, more immersive pacing of the longer narrative allows the same themes of perseverance and redemption to unfold with greater resonance across multiple interconnected character arcs.
★ 4.89 ABR Score (796.4K ratings)★ 4.66 Goodreads (683.1K) ★ 4.84 Audible (113.2K)45h 30m listening time • Released 2010Sanderson's most ambitious work — a 45-hour epic with one of the most intricately designed magic systems in fantasy, and characters whose growth pays off magnificently.
- 4
The Hero of Ages
The Mistborn Saga • Book 3
Narrated by Michael Kramer
The Hero of Ages delivers the epic culmination of the Mistborn trilogy with the same intricate magic system and Michael Kramer's compelling narration that made The Bands of Mourning so engaging. Listeners will find themselves drawn deeper into Sanderson's richly layered world of moral complexity and high-stakes fantasy adventure, with the extended runtime allowing for even more immersive world-building and character development.
★ 4.83 ABR Score (680.8K ratings)★ 4.56 Goodreads (606.0K) ★ 4.85 Audible (74.8K)27h 25m listening time • Released 2008Michael Kramer's narration elevates this finale into something transcendent—his command of Vin's internal devastation and the apocalyptic scope makes the 27-hour journey feel essential, not exhausting.
- 5
Oathbringer
The Stormlight Archive • Book 3
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
Oathbringer deepens the epic scope and philosophical themes of the Cosmere universe that Sanderson establishes in The Bands of Mourning, with Michael Kramer's narration anchoring another immersive fantasy experience. The substantially longer runtime allows for richer character development and world-building that rewards listeners already invested in Sanderson's intricate magic systems and interconnected narratives.
★ 4.83 ABR Score (432.0K ratings)★ 4.6 Goodreads (365.0K) ★ 4.84 Audible (67.0K)55h 5m listening time • Released 2017Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate this sprawling epic into something transcendent—their dual narration captures three interconnected characters with such distinct emotional depth that 55 hours vanishes. Oathbringer is where Sanderson's intricate magic system and moral complexity finally match the scope of his ambition.
- 6
The Final Empire
The Mistborn Saga • Book 1
Narrated by Michael Kramer
The Final Empire delivers the same intricate magic system and richly layered world-building that makes Sanderson's work compelling, while Michael Kramer's consistent narration provides a seamless listening experience that deepens your connection to the characters and their struggles against oppressive systems.
★ 4.78 ABR Score (1.1M ratings)★ 4.49 Goodreads (999.3K) ★ 4.79 Audible (97.4K)24h 39m listening time • Released 2008The best entry point into Sanderson — a heist story set in a world where the Dark Lord won, with one of the cleverest magic systems ever devised.
- 7
The Gathering Storm
The Wheel of Time • Book 12
by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
The Gathering Storm maintains the intricate magic systems and epic world-building that define Sanderson's work, while Michael Kramer's narration carries the same assured, measured delivery that makes The Bands of Mourning so immersive. The longer runtime allows for deeper character development and increasingly high stakes, rewarding listeners who crave the expansive storytelling Sanderson excels at.
★ 4.77 ABR Score (224.4K ratings)★ 4.44 Goodreads (178.7K) ★ 4.9 Audible (45.7K)41h 47m listening time • Released 2013Kramer and Reading's dual narration finally gives the Wheel of Time the vocal landscape it deserves, turning a sprawling epic into something genuinely intimate and propulsive.
- 8
Towers of Midnight
The Wheel of Time • Book 13
by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
The epic scope and intricate magic systems that made The Bands of Mourning compelling expand dramatically in Towers of Midnight, while Michael Kramer's narration carries the same immersive quality across a richly layered world of political intrigue and character development. The dual narration by Kramer and Kate Reading adds dynamic depth to the extended runtime, rewarding listeners who crave a more expansive fantasy experience.
★ 4.77 ABR Score (211.0K ratings)★ 4.48 Goodreads (176.1K) ★ 4.89 Audible (34.9K)38h 21m listening time • Released 2010Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate the emotional weight of Jordan's endgame—their dual narration makes the converging POVs feel like separate threads tightening toward catastrophe, and they nail the quieter character breakthroughs that matter most before the final battle.
- 9
Rhythm of War
The Stormlight Archive • Book 4
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
Rhythm of War deepens the epic scope and philosophical complexity that Sanderson builds throughout his Cosmere universe, with Kate Reading and Michael Kramer's dual narration creating an even richer listening experience than their work on The Bands of Mourning. The audiobook's expansive runtime allows for the intricate character development and thematic exploration of duty, identity, and systemic change that will resonate with listeners drawn to Sanderson's intricate magic systems and moral depth.
★ 4.76 ABR Score (287.4K ratings)★ 4.58 Goodreads (245.5K) ★ 4.81 Audible (41.8K)57h 26m listening time • Released 2020Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate this epic's sprawling POVs into something genuinely cinematic—their dual narration makes Sanderson's intricate character work land harder than it has any right to at 57 hours.
- 10
The Lost Metal
The Mistborn Saga • Book 7
Narrated by Michael Kramer
The Lost Metal continues the Mistborn saga with the same intricate magic system and high-stakes world-building, while Michael Kramer's narration sustains the immersive listening experience that made The Bands of Mourning so compelling. The sequel deepens the emotional complexity and philosophical themes of the series, rewarding listeners who've invested in Sanderson's characters and mythology.
★ 4.70 ABR Score (136.9K ratings)★ 4.48 Goodreads (122.5K) ★ 4.86 Audible (14.4K)18h 46m listening time • Released 2022Michael Kramer brings surgical precision to Sanderson's sprawling finale, keeping you locked in through 18+ hours of intricate plotting and emotional payoffs that actually land. This is the rare epic fantasy audiobook where the narrator's control matches the author's ambition.
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How We Rank Audiobooks
Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.
Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.
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Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.