10 audiobooks for fans of The Well of Ascension
- 1
Words of Radiance
The Stormlight Archive • Book 2
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
Words of Radiance deepens the epic scope and character complexity that Sanderson establishes in The Well of Ascension, with Michael Kramer's narration joined by Kate Reading to bring even richer dimensionality to the sprawling narrative. The audiobook's expanded runtime matches the book's ambitious exploration of honor, leadership, and magical systems that made the first novel compelling.
★ 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.
- 2
The Way of Kings
The Cosmere • Book 1
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
The Way of Kings delivers the same epic scope and intricate magic systems that define Sanderson's work, while Michael Kramer's narration brings the same immersive quality to an even grander cast of characters and interconnected storylines. Both audiobooks showcase Sanderson's talent for building tension through layered plotting and exploring themes of power, sacrifice, and personal growth across an extensive, deeply rewarding listening experience.
★ 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.
- 3
Oathbringer
The Stormlight Archive • Book 3
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
Oathbringer deepens the epic scope and intricate magic systems that made The Well of Ascension compelling, while Michael Kramer's return as narrator (joined by Kate Reading) maintains the immersive vocal performances that bring Sanderson's world to life. The audiobook explores similar themes of leadership, sacrifice, and personal transformation across a more expansive narrative that rewards listeners invested in the author's interconnected cosmology.
★ 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.
- 4
The Gathering Storm
The Wheel of Time • Book 12
by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
The Gathering Storm deepens the epic scope and intricate magic systems you experienced in The Well of Ascension, while Michael Kramer's return alongside Kate Reading creates the same immersive dual-narrator experience that brings complex character perspectives to life. The novel escalates the high-stakes world-building and philosophical themes about power and sacrifice that define Sanderson's storytelling.
★ 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.
- 5
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 define Sanderson's narration by Kramer continue seamlessly into this collaboration, while the dual narrators bring fresh dimension to the sprawling storylines and character perspectives. Listeners who appreciated the immersive world-building and high-stakes plotting of The Well of Ascension will find the same narrative momentum and thematic depth across nearly 40 hours of richly layered fantasy.
★ 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.
- 6
Rhythm of War
The Stormlight Archive • Book 4
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
The Well of Ascension's epic scope and intricate magic systems continue to evolve in Rhythm of War, which deepens the same themes of leadership, sacrifice, and personal growth with an even richer cast of perspectives. Michael Kramer's masterful narration returns alongside Kate Reading, creating an immersive listening experience that rewards long-form engagement with increasingly complex worldbuilding and character development.
★ 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.
- 7
The Bands of Mourning
Mistborn, Era 2: Wax & Wayne • Book 3
Narrated by Michael Kramer
The Bands of Mourning continues Sanderson's intricate worldbuilding and magic systems with the same engaging narrative voice Michael Kramer brings to his character work, while shifting to a more briskly-paced adventure that maintains the emotional depth and high stakes of the original. Listeners will appreciate how Kramer's narration captures the series' evolution from epic scope to intimate character moments across a more streamlined runtime.
★ 4.66 ABR Score (220.8K ratings)★ 4.4 Goodreads (193.3K) ★ 4.81 Audible (27.4K)14h 41m listening time • Released 2016Michael Kramer's narration elevates this already brilliant heist-mystery, bringing razor-sharp distinction to Sanderson's cast while keeping the intricate magic system crystal clear at audiobook pace.
- 8
Dawnshard
The Stormlight Archive #3.5 • Book 3
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
Dawnshard delivers the same intricate magic systems and character-driven storytelling that define Sanderson's work, while the dual narration of Kramer and Reading creates an engaging listening experience in a more compact format. The novella explores similar themes of duty and growth, making it an ideal complement for listeners seeking another immersive journey in Sanderson's cosmology without the extended commitment.
★ 4.61 ABR Score (148.8K ratings)★ 4.34 Goodreads (136.9K) ★ 4.84 Audible (11.9K)7h 5m listening time • Released 2022Kate Reading and Michael Kramer elevate this novella into something that feels essential, perfectly capturing the intimacy between Rysn and her mysterious companion while building genuine tension around the island's dark secrets.
- 9
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
Hoid's Travails • Book 2
by Brandon Sanderson, Aliya Chen
Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
Brandon Sanderson's intricate worldbuilding and exploration of magic systems shine again in this emotionally resonant novella, while Michael Kramer's narration brings the same immersive quality to a more intimate, character-driven story that balances humor and heart. The shorter runtime makes this an ideal entry point for experiencing Sanderson's signature blend of fantastical wonder and deeply human themes.
★ 4.57 ABR Score (121.8K ratings)★ 4.43 Goodreads (118.7K) ★ 4.82 Audible (3.1K)14h 43m listening time • Released 2024Kate Reading and Michael Kramer's dual narration captures the stark contrast between these two worlds so perfectly that you feel the characters' disorientation as much as they do.
- 10
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Hoid's Travails • Book 1
by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Lyon
Narrated by Michael Kramer
Michael Kramer's masterful narration brings the same immersive quality to this shorter, more whimsical adventure, while Sanderson's signature magic system and themes of perseverance remain central to the story. At 12 hours, Tress of the Emerald Sea offers a more contained narrative that still delivers the emotional depth and world-building complexity listeners appreciated in The Well of Ascension.
★ 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.
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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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