#1 New York Times Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us a gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different worlds must compromise and work together to save their worlds from ruin.
Yumi comes from a land of gardens, meditation, and spirits, while Painter lives in a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. When their lives suddenly become intertwined in strange ways, can they put aside their differences and work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save each other’s communities from certain disaster?
The series
What happens when an author lets imagination off the leash—and invites readers to do the same? The Secret Project series is Brandon Sanderson at his most unbound, a collection of five standalone novels that each open the door to an entirely different kind of world, voice, and emotional weight. These books aren’t sequels or spinoffs—they’re experiments in storytelling, atmosphere, and magic, each one a self-contained journey that challenges the boundaries of epic fantasy.
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One tale casts its heroine onto a spore-choked sea where pirates fear the rain, and kindness is a form of quiet defiance. Another throws a memory-wiped traveler into a version of medieval England that’s actually a privatized alternate dimension. Then there’s the dreamlike connection between a spirit painter and a priestess who shapes the world through ritual and art—a story equal parts haunting and heartfelt. We’re also taken to a brutal planet where motion is survival, light is lethal, and the story pulses with both adrenaline and existential weight.
Now, with Isles of the Emberdark, the series delves even deeper. This latest entry weaves mystery, exploration, and high-stakes emotion into a world cloaked in volcanic fog and forgotten truths. It’s a story of discovery—of buried pasts, flickering hope, and what it means to rebuild something sacred in the ruins of what was.
What unites these five vastly different tales? A commitment to rich worldbuilding, emotional storytelling, and that signature sense of layered magic that rewards both first-time readers and longtime fans of the Cosmere. While connections exist for those who seek them, each book stands entirely on its own—no required reading, just a willingness to step into the unknown.
For readers hungry for inventive fantasy, atmospheric settings, and character-driven narratives that linger long after the final page, the Secret Project series offers five immersive worlds. Each one asks something different of you—and gives back something unforgettable.
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