Best Michael Kramer Audiobooks

The best audiobooks narrated by Michael Kramer — 25 titles spanning Fantasy, Business, Literature & Fiction, averaging 4.66 ABR stars.

Read more

Michael Kramer is the voice behind some of the biggest epic fantasy series of the last two decades. Best known for narrating Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere novels and Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time (alongside Kate Reading), Kramer has defined what fantasy audiobook narration sounds like for an entire generation of listeners. His deep voice, steady pacing, and ability to maintain dozens of distinct character voices across multi-book series make him the gold standard for epic fantasy. If you've ever spent 40+ hours in a single fantasy world on audio, there's a good chance Kramer was your guide.

Where to Start with Michael Kramer

  1. 1
    Words of Radiance cover

    Words of Radiance

    The Stormlight Archive • Book 2

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading

    4.96 ABR Score (587.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.76 Goodreads (498.0K) ★ 4.9 Audible (89.5K)
    More about this pick

    Kaladin leads the royal guard while Shallan seeks ancient secrets and Dalinar unites the war camps. Michael Kramer and Kate Reading handle Sanderson's massive cast and intricate magic systems flawlessly.

  2. 2
    The Way of Kings cover

    The Way of Kings

    The Cosmere • Book 1

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.89 ABR Score (796.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.66 Goodreads (683.1K) ★ 4.84 Audible (113.2K)
    More about this pick

    On storm-ravaged Roshar, a slave fights in bridge crews while a prince questions his honor during an endless war. The dual narration by Reading and Kramer handles Sanderson's massive world-building seamlessly.

  3. 3
    The Hero of Ages cover

    The Hero of Ages

    The Mistborn Saga • Book 3

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.83 ABR Score (680.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.56 Goodreads (606.0K) ★ 4.85 Audible (74.8K)
    More about this pick

    Vin faces the apocalyptic Deepness while Elend builds his kingdom, as Sanderson concludes his Mistborn trilogy with the ultimate test of heroism and sacrifice.

  4. 4
    Oathbringer cover

    Oathbringer

    The Stormlight Archive • Book 3

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.83 ABR Score (432.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.6 Goodreads (365.0K) ★ 4.84 Audible (67.0K)
    More about this pick

    Dalinar's flashbacks to his violent past and the Knights Radiant's return unfold across 55+ hours that Kate Reading and Michael Kramer navigate expertly.

  5. 5
    The Final Empire cover

    The Final Empire

    The Mistborn Saga • Book 1

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.78 ABR Score (1.1M ratings)
    ★ 4.49 Goodreads (999.3K) ★ 4.79 Audible (97.4K)
    More about this pick

    Street thief Vin discovers she can ingest metals to gain magical powers, then joins a heist to overthrow an immortal emperor. Sanderson creates a unique magic system where swallowing steel lets you fly and pewter enhances strength.

  6. 6
    The Gathering Storm cover

    The Gathering Storm

    The Wheel of Time • Book 12

    by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading

    4.77 ABR Score (224.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.44 Goodreads (178.7K) ★ 4.9 Audible (45.7K)
    More about this pick

    Brandon Sanderson takes over Jordan's epic as Rand's madness deepens and Egwene fights to reunite the fractured White Tower before the Last Battle arrives.

  7. 7
    Towers of Midnight cover

    Towers of Midnight

    The Wheel of Time • Book 13

    by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.77 ABR Score (211.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.48 Goodreads (176.1K) ★ 4.89 Audible (34.9K)
    More about this pick

    Perrin leads the Whitecloak trials while Mat prepares for the Last Battle in this penultimate Wheel of Time volume. Kate Reading and Michael Kramer have become the definitive voices of Jordan's world, handling dozens of characters with seamless consistency.

  8. 8
    The Well of Ascension cover

    The Well of Ascension

    The Mistborn Saga • Book 2

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.70 ABR Score (745.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (671.8K) ★ 4.78 Audible (73.7K)
    More about this pick

    After killing the immortal Lord Ruler, street thief turned Mistborn Vin must defend the capital from three armies while ancient prophecies suggest an even greater threat approaches. Kramer voices this complex middle volume expertly.

  9. 9
    The Lost Metal cover

    The Lost Metal

    The Mistborn Saga • Book 7

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.70 ABR Score (136.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.48 Goodreads (122.5K) ★ 4.86 Audible (14.4K)
    More about this pick

    Wax faces his final confrontation with the Set as Scadrial hurtles toward an explosive conclusion to Sanderson's second Mistborn era. Michael Kramer has been the voice of this world for years, and his familiarity with every character pays off brilliantly here.

  10. 10
    The Bands of Mourning cover

    The Bands of Mourning

    Mistborn, Era 2: Wax & Wayne • Book 3

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.66 ABR Score (220.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.4 Goodreads (193.3K) ★ 4.81 Audible (27.4K)
    More about this pick

    Wax and his crew pursue the Lord Ruler's legendary metalminds in a steampunk world where magic meets technology. Kramer's consistent narration grounds readers as Sanderson introduces new magic systems and expands his world's mythology beyond Scadrial's borders.

  11. 11
    Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection cover

    Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection

    The Cosmere

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading

    4.64 ABR Score (85.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (66.7K) ★ 4.82 Audible (18.7K)
    More about this pick

    This collection spans Sanderson's interconnected universe, featuring stories from each Cosmere world with their distinct magic systems.

  12. 12
    Dawnshard cover

    Dawnshard

    The Stormlight Archive #3.5 • Book 3

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.61 ABR Score (148.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.34 Goodreads (136.9K) ★ 4.84 Audible (11.9K)
    More about this pick

    Rysn leads an expedition to a mysterious island where ancient secrets and deadly Sleepless await. The dual narrator team excels with this quieter Stormlight novella that focuses on discovery rather than warfare.

  13. 13
    The Great Hunt cover

    The Great Hunt

    The Wheel of Time • Book 2

    by Robert Jordan

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.61 ABR Score (406.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.27 Goodreads (358.9K) ★ 4.77 Audible (48.0K)
    More about this pick

    Jordan's second Wheel of Time novel follows Rand's desperate flight from destiny while ancient prophecies converge, with Reading and Kramer's dual narration handling the sprawling cast expertly.

  14. 14
    The Shadow Rising cover

    The Shadow Rising

    The Wheel of Time • Book 4

    by Robert Jordan

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.61 ABR Score (298.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.29 Goodreads (263.6K) ★ 4.78 Audible (34.9K)
    More about this pick

    Rand's journey into the Aiel Waste and his ancestors' history through the glass columns in Rhuidean reveals the shocking origins of the Aiel people and their true relationship to the sword.

  15. 15
    Never Split the Difference cover

    Never Split the Difference

    by Chris Voss, Tahl Raz

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.61 ABR Score (79.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.14 Goodreads (13.8K) ★ 4.81 Audible (66.0K)
    More about this pick

    Former FBI hostage negotiator Voss translates life-or-death negotiation tactics into everyday business and personal situations, from salary talks to family disputes. Michael Kramer's authoritative delivery reinforces the credibility of these field-tested techniques.

  16. 16
    The Dragon Reborn cover

    The Dragon Reborn

    The Wheel of Time • Book 3

    by Robert Jordan

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.61 ABR Score (365.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.28 Goodreads (326.7K) ★ 4.77 Audible (38.9K)
    More about this pick

    Rand al'Thor flees from his destiny as the prophesied Dragon Reborn, knowing he's destined to save the world by destroying it. Reading and Kramer's dual narration handles Jordan's complex fantasy world as multiple storylines follow different characters pursuing the reluctant chosen one.

  17. 17
    Lord of Chaos cover

    Lord of Chaos

    The Wheel of Time • Book 6

    by Robert Jordan

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.59 ABR Score (238.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (198.2K) ★ 4.8 Audible (40.6K)
    More about this pick

    Rand struggles to unite nations for the Last Battle while Aes Sedai plot to control him and darker forces manipulate events. The Reading-Kramer duo expertly manages Jordan's massive cast, maintaining clarity through political intrigue and magical combat.

  18. 18
    Yumi and the Nightmare Painter cover

    Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

    Hoid's Travails • Book 2

    by Brandon Sanderson, Aliya Chen

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.57 ABR Score (121.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (118.7K) ★ 4.82 Audible (3.1K)
    More about this pick

    Two souls from opposite worlds—gardens versus nightmares, spirits versus technology—swap bodies and must save each other's realities. Reading and Kramer handle the dual perspectives with their trademark precision, switching seamlessly between meditative wonder and urban tension.

  19. 19
    The Rithmatist cover

    The Rithmatist

    Rithmatist • Book 1

    by Brandon Sanderson, Ben McSweeney

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.56 ABR Score (86.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.25 Goodreads (75.3K) ★ 4.71 Audible (10.7K)
    More about this pick

    Michael Kramer's performance elevates this magic-school mystery into something genuinely gripping—he nails the outsider protagonist's frustration while making the chalk-based magic system feel tactile and urgent.

  20. 20
    Shadows of Self cover

    Shadows of Self

    Mistborn, Era 2: Wax & Wayne • Book 2

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.56 ABR Score (243.6K ratings)
    ★ 4.26 Goodreads (211.7K) ★ 4.75 Audible (31.9K)
    More about this pick

    Lawman Waxillium Ladrian faces a shapeshifting kandra assassin targeting government officials in this Wild West-meets-steampunk fantasy. Michael Kramer navigates Sanderson's intricate magic system as political conspiracy threatens the fragile democracy of Elendel.

  21. 21
    The Fires of Heaven cover

    The Fires of Heaven

    The Wheel of Time • Book 5

    by Robert Jordan

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.54 ABR Score (243.3K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (213.4K) ★ 4.76 Audible (29.9K)
    More about this pick

    Rand al'Thor embraces his destiny as the Dragon Reborn while four of the most powerful Forsaken unite against him. Kate Reading and Michael Kramer navigate Jordan's intricate plotting and vast cast as the Last Battle draws closer.

  22. 22
    The Eye of the World cover

    The Eye of the World

    The Wheel of Time • Book 1

    by Robert Jordan

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.53 ABR Score (667.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (598.1K) ★ 4.68 Audible (69.0K)
    More about this pick

    Three farm boys discover they're tied to an ancient prophecy about the Dark One's return, launching this massive fantasy epic. Kate Reading and Michael Kramer's dual narration splits perspectives seamlessly across Jordan's sprawling world.

  23. 23
    The Alloy of Law cover

    The Alloy of Law

    Mistborn, Era 2: Wax & Wayne • Book 1

    by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.53 ABR Score (335.9K ratings)
    ★ 4.19 Goodreads (294.2K) ★ 4.72 Audible (41.7K)
    More about this pick

    Wax returns from the frontier to inherit his family's city estate, bringing gunslinger skills to an industrial world with railroads and electricity. Michael Kramer voices this Mistborn sequel that trades epic fantasy for steampunk detective work with familiar magical rules.

  24. 24
    Knife of Dreams cover

    Knife of Dreams

    The Wheel of Time • Book 11

    by Robert Jordan

    Narrated by Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

    4.51 ABR Score (172.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.2 Goodreads (149.6K) ★ 4.75 Audible (22.9K)
    More about this pick

    Jordan's penultimate Wheel of Time novel finally moves major plotlines forward as Tarmon Gai'don approaches and reality itself becomes unstable. Preparation for the Last Battle accelerates with long-awaited character development and plot resolution.

  25. 25
    Tress of the Emerald Sea cover

    Tress of the Emerald Sea

    Hoid's Travails • Book 1

    by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Lyon

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.50 ABR Score (302.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (297.2K) ★ 4.74 Audible (5.1K)
    More about this pick

    A simple island girl ventures across deadly spore seas to rescue her kidnapped love, with Sanderson's trademark magic systems governing every ocean. Michael Kramer brings warmth to this fairy-tale adventure that feels like The Princess Bride in a cosmere setting.

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.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →