Kickstarter has transformed publishing by allowing authors to raise millions of dollars directly from readers. Among all book projects on the platform, plenty of campaigns have attracted thousands of backers worldwide, but no writer has dominated this space more than Brandon Sanderson.
From surprise novels to deluxe collector editions, his campaigns have redefined what crowdfunding can achieve in publishing. This ranking explores the biggest book campaigns ever on the Kickstarter platform and where Sanderson stands in the ranking.
10. Cassandra Clare’s Seasons of Shadowhunters ($1,158,224)
Better in Black / Credits: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Cassandra Clare’s Seasons of Shadowhunters raised more than $1.15 million from over 8,700 backers, becoming one of the most successful young adult publishing campaigns in Kickstarter history. The campaign offered fans four deluxe hardcover books set in the Shadowhunter universe, featuring new stories, updated editions, and exclusive artworks.
Launched in October 2023, the project was designed as a premium collector experience for longtime fans of the saga. The first title in the lineup was Secrets of Blackthorn Hall, followed by Careful of Books, Better in Black, and an updated version of An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunters & Denizens of Downworld.
9. After the End: A Dystopian Romance Collection ($1,415,550)
Bait (After the End: A Dystopian Romance Collection) / Credits: Kindle
Adriana Herrera co-created After the End: A Dystopian Romance Collection with fellow romance author Ali Hazelwood, and the project quickly became one of the biggest romance publishing campaigns ever. It raised more than $1.41 million from over 11,000 backers, surpassing its original $10,000 goal.
Featuring eight original dystopian romance novellas from Herrera and Hazelwood, along with other writers such as Sherry Thomas, Claire Kent, and Cate C. Wells, the campaign proved how romance readers have become one of crowdfunding’s most active supporters.
8. SCP Foundation Artbooks — New Paperback Edition ($1,512,336)
SCP Foundation Artbooks / Credits: Aloha Comics & ParaBooks
Aloha Comics & ParaBooks’ SCP Foundation Artbooks New Paperback Edition raised more than $1.5 million from over 12,400 backers in 2022, with the project aiming to create a more affordable paperback version of the publisher’s earlier hardcover artbooks, which had already built a strong following among fans of the SCP Foundation universe.
This campaign demonstrated how niche communities like this can generate blockbuster crowdfunding numbers. According to their page, this was an ambitious project that brought together hundreds of talented people to create a unique universe that blends horror and science fiction.
7. Pistols of the Warlords: Chinese Domestic Handguns ($1,541,381)
Pistols of the Warlords: Chinese Domestic Handguns, 1911–1949 / Credits: Headstamp Publishing
Ian McCollum’s Pistols of the Warlords: Chinese Domestic Handguns, 1911–1949 is one of the most successful nonfiction history book campaigns ever launched on Kickstarter, raising more than $1.54 million from over 8,500 backers in 2021.
Combining detailed historical research with high-end photography, the author documented more than 300 examples of handcrafted and arsenal-produced pistols from several major private collections.
6. The Electronic Gaming Monthly Compendium ($1,794,783)
Electronic Gaming Monthly / Credits: EGM Media, LLC
The Electronic Gaming Monthly Compendium is one of Kickstarter’s biggest video game book campaigns, raising $1.79 million from more than 21,000 backers after launching in October 2024. Created by EGM Media, the project celebrated the 25-year legacy of the famed gaming magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly.
The book was designed as both a history of video games and a tribute to gaming journalism’s magazine era, featuring selected articles from classic EGM issues alongside new commentary, interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and contributions from former editors, writers, and developers.
5. The First Law: Signed & Personalized by Joe Abercrombie ($2,104,717)
The Blade Itself (The First Law #1) / Credits: Gollancz
The First Law: Signed & Personalized by Joe Abercrombie raised more than $2.10 million from over 9,500 backers in late 2025. Created by Lit Escalates in partnership with Orbit Books, the campaign offered deluxe hardcover editions of The First Law Trilogy with signed and personalized bookplates from Joe Abercrombie.
This project was Lit Escalates’ answer to one of fans’ biggest problems: expensive and hard-to-obtain high-quality hardcover editions of The First Law. This entirely new collector’s edition featured a stunning blood-red clothbound cover, gold foil stamping, illustrated endpapers, and wraparound dust jackets.
4. The Book: The Ultimate Guide To Rebuilding A Civilization ($2,346,817)
The Book: The Ultimate Guide To Rebuilding A Civilization / Credits: Hungry Minds
Hungry Minds’ The Book: The Ultimate Guide To Rebuilding A Civilization raised more than $2.34 million from over 21,000 backers during its 2020–2021 campaign, promising fans a massive illustrated guide explaining how human civilization works. From agriculture and medicine to electricity and engineering—it has everything you would want to know!
Instead of a normal textbook, The Book is an illustrated survival encyclopedia with over 400 pages of hand-drawn diagrams and visual explanations. Hungry Minds promoted it as both a learning resource and a collectible coffee-table book.
3. Dungeon Crawler Carl – V2 & V3 LIMITED Edition Hardcovers ($3,263,462)
Dungeon Crawler Carl / Credits: Ace Books
The Dungeon Crawler Carl – V2 & V3 Limited Edition Hardcovers was a major campaign tied to the popular LitRPG series by Matt Dinniman, raising more than $3.26 million from over 13,000 backers during its launch in 2025.
This campaign offered limited edition hardcovers for Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (Volume 2) and The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (Volume 3), featuring stunning full-page illustrations printed on archival-grade off-white stock paper.
2. The Way of Kings 10th Anniversary Leatherbound Edition ($6,788,517)
Credits: Tor Books
Credits: Tor Books
Credits: Tor Books
One of Brandon Sanderson’s most successful Kickstarter campaigns, he launched The Way of Kings 10th Anniversary Leatherbound Edition via his company, Dragonsteel Entertainment, in July 2020 to fund a premium, collectible reprint of the first book in The Stormlight Archive.
The campaign became an enormous success, quickly surpassing its initial $250,000 goal within minutes and ultimately raising about $6.78 million from roughly 29,000 backers. Beyond funding the production of the books, the campaign also included exclusive rewards such as additional artwork and signed pages only available to backers.
1. Surprise! Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson ($41,754,153)
Tress of the Emerald Sea / Credits: Dragonsteel Entertainment
Sanderson’s Four Secret Novels currently ranks the highest amount raised through a crowdfunding event in Kickstarter’s publishing history. The campaign was initially modest, aiming for just $1 million, but it exploded in popularity and raised approximately $41.7 million from over 185,000 backers.
He had secretly written four full-length novels, which included standalone fantasy and science fiction stories, several of which are connected to Sanderson’s larger Cosmere universe.
Book TitleAuthor/PublisherAmount RaisedSeasons of ShadowhuntersCassandra Clare$1,158,224After the End: A Dystopian Romance CollectionAdriana Herrera & Ali Hazelwood$1,415,550SCP Foundation Artbooks — New Paperback EditionAloha Comics & ParaBooks$1,512,336Pistols of the Warlords: Chinese Domestic HandgunsIan McCollum$1,541,381The Electronic Gaming Monthly CompendiumEGM Media$1,794,783The First Law: Signed & Personalized by Joe AbercrombieJoe Abercrombie$2,104,717The Book: The Ultimate Guide To Rebuilding A CivilizationHungry Minds$2,346,817Dungeon Crawler Carl – V2 & V3 LIMITED Edition Hardcovers!Matt Dinniman$3,263,462The Way of Kings 10th Anniversary Leatherbound EditionBrandon Sanderson$6,788,517Surprise! Four Secret Novels by Brandon SandersonBrandon Sanderson$41,754,153
Here is a quick FAQ guide for you:
Which Brandon Sanderson work raised the highest amount of money for a Kickstarter book campaign?
His Four Secret Novels currently tops the list.
What are these secret projects?
Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man.
What exactly is Kickstarter?
It is a crowdfunding platform that helps creators realize their projects by connecting with backers who provide financial support in exchange for rewards.
What do you think of Sanderson’s Kickstarter projects? Let us know in the comments!
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