How much of the stormlight archive is spoiled in the Lost Metal

[gallie999]

I about 25% of the way through the Lost Metal and I am getting worried how much corssover there is with the other books in the cosmere

I have so far read era 1 and 2 of mistborn up to lost metal, secret history, elantris and empererors soul. I am really excited to get into the stormlight archive as I have heard it is the best series in the cosmere. I am getting worried that I will ruin the reading experience of stormlight if I read the lost metal first. 

So my question is with out spoilers, will I ruin the stormlight by reading the lost metal first? How much will it harm the reading experience?

[Quantus he/him]

Welcome to the Shard!

Nah, you wont spoil anything, at most you'll miss a few cameo-level references that you wont recognize as being off-world elements.  But that's pretty much the case with all cosmere novels, there's always some level of hidden worldhopper presence, even if it's just Hoid or some background character using the wrong idioms.     

If you've read that much of the cosmere and are about to start Stormlight, Ill go ahead and tell you that the main crossover "Read X Before Y" in Cosmere reading lists is to have read Warbreaker before Stormlight (or at least before books 2-3ish where certain things becomes more relevant).  Also Warbreaker is awesome, so I highly recommend it in it's own right.  

Edited February 6, 2025 by Quantus

[Treamayne]

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1 hour ago, gallie999 said:

I about 25% of the way through the Lost Metal and I am getting worried how much corssover there is with the other books in the cosmere

I have so far read era 1 and 2 of mistborn up to lost metal, secret history, elantris and empererors soul. I am really excited to get into the stormlight archive as I have heard it is the best series in the cosmere. I am getting worried that I will ruin the reading experience of stormlight if I read the lost metal first. 

So my question is with out spoilers, will I ruin the stormlight by reading the lost metal first? How much will it harm the reading experience?

The way I categorize these things for new readers I am recommending to Cosmere is this:

I categorize connections between books at three levels -

• Major (Impacts that have significant plot impact, so it is suggested that these books be read before the book being discussed)
• Minor (Impacts that have some small plot involvement, so reading these books first will likely aid in understanding those plot points
• Easter Eggs (references that are there for people to recognize if hey have read these books, but otherwise will not affect your ability to enjoy the story without them)

Stormlight Archive has, by far, the most Cosemere references. The Lost Metal has 1 minor spoiler for all of Stormlight Archive (well, books 2-5). 

My Stormlight Archive Connection Synopsis is:

Spoiler

Books and their references - Labelled as Major-Important references impacting story, Minor - References that clarify story, Easter Egg - Tidbits that are just interesting when you notice, but not impacting story. Some Major and Minor references also have Easter Eggs, but titles are listed in their highest classification only.

1. Way of Kings has references and/or cameos from:
   • Major: None
   • Minor: None
   • Easter Egg: Elantris, White Sand, Mistborn Era 1
2. Words of Radiance has references and/or cameos from:
   • Major: Warbreaker
   • Minor: None
   • Easter Egg: White Sand, Mistborn Era 2, Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, and multiple Curiosities[1]
3. Oathbringer has references and/or cameos from:
   • Major: Warbreaker
   • Minor: Elantris
   • Easter Egg: White Sand, Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, Mistborn (both Eras)
4. Rhythm of War has references and/or cameos from:
   • Major: Warbreaker, White Sand, Elantris
   • Minor: Sixth of the Dusk, Mistborn (both Eras)
   • Easter Egg: Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
5. Wind and Truth
   • Major: Warbreaker, Elantris
   • Minor: Sixth of the Dusk, Mistborn Era 1
   • Easter Egg: White Sand

 [1] - If you are not aware of Sanderson Curosities:

Spoiler

They are the "unpublished" works he has made available for fans. In the Cosmere, that is primarily:

• White Sand Prose
• Aether of Night[1]
• Way of Kings Prime
• Dragonsteel Prime[1]

 

Hope that helps

[elihaun]

I don't think much is spoiled at all.  There might be hints, but most will be missed unless you already know their source.  

But DEFINATLY read warbreaker. There wont be spoilers for SA in WB, but there IS spoilers for WB in SA

[Quantus he/him]

OK, I would like to change my answer on TLM.  There is one thing you learn in TLM that once known would likely put a significant spin on one of the ongoing plotlines of Stormlight.  It's a "minor" spoiler as @Treamayne describes but it would likely change the experience in some ways.

[gallie999]

1 hour ago, Quantus said:

OK, I would like to change my answer on TLM.  There is one thing you learn in TLM that once known would likely put a significant spin on one of the ongoing plotlines of Stormlight.  It's a "minor" spoiler as @Treamayne describes but it would likely change the experience in some ways.

So would you recommend that I leave the lost metal till after I read stormlight?

[Quantus he/him]

1 hour ago, gallie999 said:

So would you recommend that I leave the lost metal till after I read stormlight?

Yes, or at least up to publication order, so get past Rhythm of War before you come back to it.   

[IcedOutPenguin He/Him]

5 hours ago, gallie999 said:

So would you recommend that I leave the lost metal till after I read stormlight?

Nah you're good, I've read TLM three times and haven't noticed any spoilers

9 hours ago, gallie999 said:

So my question is with out spoilers, will I ruin the stormlight by reading the lost metal first? How much will it harm the reading experience?

I also read Mistborn very first and it spoiled nothing. Every book was still a surprise, there is a lot of crossover (not just with stormlight), but you don't know what to look for until you've finished.

 

[Captain Coffee]

There is one reveal that happens in both The Lost Metal and Rhythm of War. Most people find it more impactful in Rhythm of War, but either one gives the information, and makes the other less surprising.