Mistborn Trilogy TPB Boxed Set: Mistborn, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages (The Mistborn Saga)
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From 1 bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, a newly-designed boxed set showcasing where the Mistborn Saga all began―the original trilogy. Once, a hero rose to save the world. He failed. For a thousand years since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist, ruled by the immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler. Every revolt has failed miserably. Somehow, hope survives. Hope that dares to dream of ending the empire and defeating the Lord Ruler. A new kind of uprising is being planned―one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the determination of an unlikely heroine: a teenage street urchin named Vin. Once, a hero rose to save the world and failed. This time, can a young heroine succeed? Mistborn: For a thousand years, the ash has fallen and no flowers have bloomed. For a thousand years, the Skaa have slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years, the Lord Ruler has reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror. Until Kelsier, a brilliant, half-Skaa thief and natural leader, finds in himself the powers of a Mistborn, and turns his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark. The Well of Ascension: The impossible task has been accomplished. The Lord Ruler has been vanquished. But with Kelsier dead, too, the awesome task of building a new world has been left to former street urchin and Kelsier's protégé, Vin, who is now the most powerful Mistborn in the land. Vin is now worshipped as a hero in her own right, but she is haunted by a strange, vaporous entity hidden in the mists. The Hero of Ages: Having escaped death only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture now hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. But with the return of lethal mists, increasingly heavy ashfalls, and ever more powerful earthquakes, Elend and Vin aren't sure that killing the Lord Ruler to end the Final Empire was the right thing to do after all. Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson The Cosmere The Stormlight Archive The Way of Kings Words of Radiance Edgedancer (Novella) Oathbringer Dawnshard (Novella) Rhythm of War Mistborn: The Original Trilogy Mistborn The Well of Ascension The Hero of Ages Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series Alloy of Law Shadows of Self Bands of Mourning The Lost Metal Collection Arcanum Unbounded Other Cosmere novels Elantris Warbreaker Tress and the Emerald Sea (forthcoming) Yumi and the Nightmare Painter (forthcoming) The Sunlit Man (forthcoming) The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians The Scrivener's Bones The Knights of Crystallia The Shattered Lens The Dark Talent Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (co-authored with Janci Patterson) The Rithmatist series The Rithmatist Other novels Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England (forthcoming) Other books by Brandon Sanderson The Reckoners Steelheart Firefight Calamity Skyward Skyward Read more
Publisher : Tor Books
Publication date : April 11, 2023
Language : English
ISBN-10 : 1250869587
ISBN-13 : 86
Item Weight : 3 pounds
Dimensions : 6.4 x 3.45 x 9.6 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #4,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #49 in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy (Books) #70 in Action & Adventure Fantasy (Books) #82 in Fantasy Action & Adventure
#49 in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy (Books):
#70 in Action & Adventure Fantasy (Books):
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Kindle
I will try to keep this as spoiler-free as possible. I was looking for a fantasy book (or trilogy) with likable female characters that were capable of doing things. This trilogy wasn't precisely that, but I liked it enough that it didn't matter. All in all I would definitely say this trilogy is worth reading. Anyone and everyone can get something out of the winding and unexpected path it takes to get to its conclusion. So, what about the female characters? While the main character (Vin) is female, almost all of the side characters of any import are males. Only Allrienne, and Tindwyll got any reasonable amount of screen time besides Vin, and even then, neither showed up until the second book. Allrienne, despite her amount of screen time, didn't really even do much of import in either of the last 2 books. A couple other female characters had minor roles (Shan, Amaranta, Beldre) with impact on the plot, but had very little screen time, and thus, were a bit more cardboard than they should've been. All in all, I felt like: 2-3 of the people in Kelsier's crew should've been women instead of men, and at least one of the two people vying for Luthadel in book 2 should've been a woman. Either OreSeur or TenSoon could've identified as female (such as their race can do) without any change to the plot, and one of the main antagonists could've been female. No female Inquisitors or Obligators that I recall seeing, and certainly none that had speaking roles or roles of any significance which means nothing would be changed by making some of them female. Almost all Allomancers were men (except Vin, Shan, Allrienne, and B...). Demoux could easily have been a woman without changing his plot at all, and to that point, I can't recall any other officers in the army being anything other than men. I will admit, I'm very glad Sanderson had the change of heart to make Vin female after writing the first chapter. But he could have gone a little farther and gender flipped some of the male supporting cast as well, since it wouldn't impact the story, but would mean a lot to the female reader base. The above was really my biggest gripe. And, while there is a bit of disappointment at what could've been, I did enjoy the story thoroughly regardless. All of the characters were fun to read about, and fit their parts well. Other Negatives: - Endless resources of metals except for Atium, which is obsessed over. I didn't necessarily want an "economics of supply and demand" story, but I feel like completely writing the limited supply of metals off as a given is going too far. Someone has to mine, process, purify, alloy, pulverize, and distribute these metals, and yet more people have to take a measure of each metal and alloy and combine them into the vials that the Allomancers carry around. This economic channel was completely glossed-over in every single book. And only occasionally was it a concern that someone ran out of metals, and then, only the metals on their person (there was always more in a crate back in camp/at home!), despite much of the main characters' time being spent under siege (or laying siege without resupply). What about potential for corrosion or rust while the metals were in storage? How many empty glass vials got thrown onto the ground over the course of 3 books? - The most flagrant abuse of this ignored metal economy was by Spook in book 3 -- how much metal was consumed daily for him to be able to flare Tin constantly (for months?)? Flaring is a much more accelerated form of metal consumption than burning, as evidenced by Vin flaring Pewter for hours to run long distances. Plus, Spook was alone in a city that he (and Elend) definitely did not control, with no resources (in terms of money or Allies) to support him. There was no way he could've had this huge of a supply of Tin without someone (bad) noticing, or Elend becoming suspicious at the amount of Tin he was using, or unless Tin was utterly dirt cheap. - Mention in book 1 of the metals being potentially poisonous if left in the stomach unburned for long periods of time; however, nothing is ever done with this mechanic. It is never mentioned how Kelsier or Vin or anyone gets rid of their metals at night like is implied must be done to keep them from being poisoned. Aluminum, the metal which burns up all remaining metals in an Allomancer's stomach, was supposed to be something only the Inquisitors knew about, and regular Mistlings couldn't burn it besides (unless they were an Aluminum Misting), even though they also could suffer the potential poisonous effects of their metals. - Sazed's emo-ness in book 3 got old after a while. I understand the point of it, but I felt it was beat to death. - Straff Venture was a caricature of a villain, and was much less interesting than the Lord Ruler or Yomen (or, to a lesser degree, Quellion). - Zane's role in book 2 makes no sense until you read book 3, which makes book 2 seem much weaker (and more confusing) while reading it. - Penrod seemed really underused in the books given his position of seniority/authority. He really felt like a character of author convenience, rather than an actual human with hopes and dreams and desires. Which is contrasted against so many other good, well-thought-out characters. - In some instances, the books went too far with the main characters barking up the wrong tree. A lot of time was spent on a misdirection and then when you discover it was a misdirection, you feel like you've wasted half a book reading about something that didn't matter. Positives: - Vin is a refreshing female lead character. She is unparalleled in skill, in physical prowess, despite being small of stature. Generally speaking, we don't end up in victim-like situations with Vin that couldn't just as easily have happened to a male in her place as protagonist. She doesn't hesitate to do what needs to be done, killing or otherwise. She doesn't pine all that much for Elend, and her estrangement from Elend doesn't cripple her in any way in book 1. - Not a lot of time is spent on romance in general. I like a good romance, sure, but this trilogy didn't need it, and I'm glad it was covered quickly (for what characters that had it) and without much fanfare. - Sazed was a breath of fresh air. Everything about his character was entertaining (except the Emo). - The magic system is refreshingly different. I like the notion of a clearly consumable resource that produces magical effects. It gives a different dynamic to the struggle of the powerful (magical) people in the setting compared to others. - I appreciate all the work that went into the setting, making it different than just "yet another medieval earth with elves" and the effort that went into tying the reasons for the setting being the way it is into the main storyline throughout the trilogy - Yomen in particular was an excellent antagonist in book 3. After a fashion, you could sympathize with him after so long of never expecting to be able to. - TenSoon's race and culture was nice and interesting, and I really enjoyed the chapters told from his perspective. - Marsh's final contribution in book 3 we knew was coming down the pipes for a long time, and it ended up being a very butterfly-effect sort of "last hurrah" for his character. The form it took was totally unexpected, but made total sense, and he would truly be the only character who could ever have known that this particular thing was what was needed to help push Vin back on the right track. - The finale in book 3 was great, and lived up to the personality of every single character involved in it -- Elend defended the people to the very end, Vin got to murderface someone who thought he was unkillable, and Sazed got to put his super nerd-itry to epic use.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2017 by Chiharu
Format: Paperback
The Mistborn Trilogy TPB Boxed Set is a stunning addition to any bookshelf. This set includes the complete Mistborn saga: Mistborn, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. Each book is beautifully bound, with high-quality paper and a sleek design that makes them a joy to read and display. Brandon Sanderson's world-building is exceptional, creating a rich and immersive universe filled with complex characters and intricate magic systems. The story follows Vin, a young street urchin who discovers she has powerful abilities, and her journey through a world ruled by the immortal Lord Ruler. The trilogy is filled with twists and turns that keep readers engaged from start to finish. And it has EXCELLENT flop! Whether you're a long-time fan of fantasy literature or new to the genre, this boxed set is a must-have. It's not just a collection of books; it's an experience that brings the world of Mistborn to life in your hands.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2025 by Denise
While I've always read a variety of books, it has been a while since I indulged in SciFi/Fantasy. Seemed like all the fantasy books involved dragons, wizards, elves, animals, and strange worlds, and that just did not appeal to me. But, my son, who inherited my love of reading, thrived on such things. Like a good son, he suggested, repeatedly, that I read one of his favorites. I, giving in finally, in turn made him promise to read In Conquest Born, just to show him that I still could recognize good books and SciFi and that I was familiar with something other than historical romance. He promised he would...and I finally read Mistborn. Wow! There's plenty of reviews and descriptions here, so I'll just stick with a short explanations of why I thoroughly enjoyed the trilogy, why I ordered my own hard copies, and why I will be reading it again and again....and why you will be, too. *It is not magic. Or, it isn't like the traditional magic most people think of. The whole system of powers based on metals is brilliant,detailed, and it makes sense. And, there's three of them! No foolish wand waving here. *The characters are engaging, understandable, real, and well-developed. There's no brooding hero who saves the world, no mysterious savior. Instead, there's a group who, working together, accomplish what appears to be impossible. Each character is distinct and has their own voice. And, thankfully, no one is perfect. These characters have their flaws, doubts, and weak moments. But, they do their best and look beyond just themselves. Anyone, we find, can be a hero. *The story is exciting and amazing. It's not as simple as good vs evil. Sometimes, life is not just black and white...and sometimes it is. Not only is the plot exciting, full of twists and surprises, but it will make you think and wonder. *It doesn't read like fantasy. Obviously, it is fantasy, since you swallow a penny and your parents will worry and watch until said penny makes its way out. Nobody will say, "Burn that copper, kid!" The story is much more than simple fantasy. You get caught up in the people, the adventure, and the world they live in, and don't notice. This is plain, good story-telling. *You can "see" it. By this I mean that the descriptions are rich and so well written, you can 'see' what is going on as you read it. I get lost in few books, but with this trilogy, I was THERE, choking on the ash, in awe of the noble keeps, sick and weary of the fight. *There's romance! Ah, well, I must admit I am a sucker for romance, particularly that involving angst and difficult times. While there's not so much in the first book, be assured there is more to come. *There's values. I am not interested in political science, however I found it fascinating how the author brought it into the story. Being a good leader, whether political or military, is not about following rules and laws or being mighty in strength. Yet, sometimes that is exactly what is most important. At one point in the trilogy, a leader must decide whether or not to follow the letter and spirit of the law, even though it would mean his loss of power. His decision was, for me, one of the most powerful moments in the story. Honor does have a place in leadership and politics. Also, there's an ongoing discussion of religion. While philosophy of this sort might not appeal to some, it is an important part of the whole. However, those who do not find it interesting can just gloss over it without giving it any more thought. *There's humor. I rarely enjoy anything, no matter how well written, if it does not involve humor of some sort. Sanderson manages to bring in quite a bit, despite the bleakness of the story. *There's plenty of it. Each book is about 700 pages long. Even so, you'll want more. And, with so much detail in this well-plotted and thought out world, you can reread it again (and again) gaining more insight and discovering small things you missed the first time around. In this case, knowing how things work out makes rereading it enjoyable since you can look for clues and details. *There's more! Well, sort of. There is a sequel,The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel, set several hundred years ahead. New characters, but there's at least a connection...and the promise of more to come. And, why buy the boxed set? Four reasons: 1. Saves you $$. This is the cheapest way to get the set. Who doesn't like saving money? 2. After reading vol 1, Mistborn, you will want to read the others, and will certainly not want to wait for them to be delivered. Here ya go- all three, ready to read! 3. Hard copies can be loaned or passed on to others. I'm not knocking ebooks- I have a Kindle HD and love it. 4. The cover art is lovely. OK, so maybe this is not really a good reason. But, I like the printed covers, and I am the type that pays attention to them and how they relate to the story. I highly recommend the Mistborn Trilogy, whether you buy the boxed set, Kindle editions, or buy each book individually. I'll be paying closer attention to my son's suggestions in the future, for sure. (And, he'd better read In Conquest Born!)
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Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2013 by Patricia
Format: Kindle
EDIT (03/16/2014): Upon re-reading these first three books of the "Mistborn" series (almost 5 years from my first reading), I'm updating my ratings just a bit. In general, I'm now happy with the depth of the characterizations: the characters now seem properly developed for their roles in the books. As they take on larger roles, Sanderson develops them more. On the other side of the ledger, I still feel that all three books are too drawn out and padded. This is especially obvious with these first three novels contained in the one omnibus. On a more specific note, if I just accept the fact that the second book in the series is about internal developments instead of external ones, then I'm happier with its focus. So, I'm increasing my ratings for the first and second books by 1/2 star each. That means "The Final Empire is now 4 stars out of 5, "The Well of Ascension" is now 3-1/2 stars out of 5, and "The Hero of Ages" is still at 3 stars out of 5. That leaves me with an average rating of 3-1/2 stars. Since I enjoyed the books enough to read them again, I'm rounding that up to a Very Good 4 stars out of 5 for "The Mistborn Trilogy" as a whole. The rest of my original comments, below, still stand. ___ ORIGINAL REVIEW ___ This book, "The Mistborn Trilogy" is a compilation of the first three books of the Mistborn series. Regarding those first three books as a whole, it would have been much better if they had been written 1) as one volume of six or seven hundred pages (similarly to the Very Good Elantris or the Excellent Warbreaker (Tor Fantasy)) instead of as a trilogy at around 1,800 pages, 2) with better character development and some plausible method of actually producing those characters within the framework of the described society, and 3) with less of the repetitive soul-searching, angst, and political minutia. I've included more detail in my reviews of the individual books, below. But, overall, I rate this trilogy at the same as each of the underlying books: An OK 3 stars out of 5. Note that I mentioned 1,800 pages, above. That's what I got by adding up the pages in the dead-tree versions of the individual books I read many years ago. The product page for this current trilogy lists 1,000 pages. Yet, my Kindle claims about 2,800 pages. Anyway, my reviews of the individual books follow: - "The Final Empire" is the first book in Brandon Sanderson's "Mistborn" series (and his second published novel). Similar to the other two of Sanderson's books I've read ("Elantris" and "Warbreaker"), the world, the magic system, and the idea, itself, are amazing. Unfortunately, there's one area where "The Final Empire" is a bit lacking: the characterizations. The two main characters (Vin and Kelsier) are fairly decently fleshed-out. But, the remaining characters are left almost entirely undeveloped. Also, in the society Sanderson has built, I can't see how ANY of these characters could even exist: with no education or other social support structure, they're ALL, somehow, fully capable of blending in and socializing with the upper crust. This is especially obvious with Vin. She's only in her mid-teens, has specifically received absolutely no education, and has been living as a thief without even parental upbringing (though her brother did try beating some behavior patterns into her) since she was about five. Yet, with a couple of weeks of tutoring, she's able to pass herself off at, essentially, royal balls. Even Henry Higgins required several months to do something similar. Regardless of the problems with characterizations, I did find the book interesting to read and would have liked to have given it an additional half star. But, Amazon doesn't have that ability. So, I'm rating it an OK 3 stars out of 5. - "The Well of Ascension" is the second in Brandon Sanderson's "Mistborn" series. Unfortunately, even though the last 175 pages of the book are very good, the first 400 pages or so are mostly a waste of paper. In a nutshell, those first 400 pages amount to the repetitive documentation of all the angst suffered by the main characters over all the armies sitting outside their walls, political problems, and "who am I" soul-searching. The thing that should have been the focus for the book (i.e., the Well of Ascension) is ignored until the end. This makes reading the book feel more like a chore than a pleasure. If Sanderson had condensed the first 400 pages down to 50 (or even 100) pages, it would have been a very good book. But, as is -- meh: the best I can rate it is an OK 3 stars out of 5. - "The Hero of Ages" is the third in Brandon Sanderson's "Mistborn" series. It pretty much exhibits the same traits as the previous two volumes (amazingly creative universe and magic system, good technical writing, not-so-great character development, and TOO MANY WORDS). So, if you liked those books, you should be pretty happy with this one. But, if you were hoping the series would get better as it progressed, well, you'll probably be disappointed. From my capitalized phrase, above, you can guess that my biggest complaint is that, just like the second book, fully the first two thirds of the book is just filler (it's a bit better than what's in the earlier book since the filler at least has some action occurring, even if it's busy work). And, once again, the last third is the very good part where everything happens. Again, if Sanderson had just condensed those first 400 pages down to 100 pages, the book would have been great. So, unfortunately, the best I can rate this book is merely an OK 3 stars out of 5. The novels currently in Sanderson's "Mistborn" series are: 1, 2, and 3. Mistborn Trilogy 4. The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2014 by illiandantic
I just finished reading the trilogy the other day and I loved it. Out of all the books I've read, which are probably 30ish, this trilogy was the most perfectly written. There were a couple parts that I felt were a bit rushed or out of place, which I will mention below, but excluding those, the series is very well planned and written. One thing about these books that I was very pleased with is the annotations for each chapter on the author's website. These gave a bit on depth into how something came to be, like what was changed or added in revisions. They mention some things like little back-stories not in the book too. For someone like me, who is interested in writing as well as curious about the plot, these really helped add to the story and showed me things about writing that I had yet to notice. One thing that really helped the series, mentioned in the annotations, is how all three books were written simultaneously. This makes the overall story much more interwoven and connected then some other trilogies I've read. The plot is very consistent with only one or two minor slip I noticed. Also, some things mentioned earlier in the series were there to reference things that happen later in the series, which I found very interesting. Now a bit more into the story itself. At first it was a bit strange due to the type of world it was set in, which is on a dark and depressing world in where an emperor enslaved all of humankind. I am more use to the "evil threatening a land" style story, but the "evil controlling the land" was interesting once I adjusted to it. The magic system was rather unique as well. A lot of minor powers but they all are useful if used right. The magic system was designed very logically, which is something I love to see. I don't like it when magic has no limits and can do whatever it wants, there are still some limits to what is possible even with magic. However, in book three there are some magics without limits, which felt a little out of place from how the previous books and annotations made the world seem. The characters were interesting; each had a lot of personality to them. The viewpoints for the chapters did a great job at showing their thought. So no complaints about the characters. The epigrams are another thing I loved. There was one at the start of each chapter that came from a book found within each book. They give some insight on the back-story of things in this world, which was a nice touch. As for the plot itself, it is very nice and solid. Each book seems to grow in the area it covers and the threat at hand. The end of the second book did feel a bit rushed, mainly the climax to the armies. Besides that, I found everything to flow just fine. The actual ending of the series does still leave some questions, but it ties up the story enough for me and I found it very satisfying. Well, I loved this trilogy and would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy stories. It has to be one of the best, if the not the best, book series I've ever read.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2011 by G. Castle
Format: Kindle
At one point, I was reading up every crumb I could find in the teen dystopia genre (though it’s been many years since the “teen” part truly resonated ;-) Then it started getting ridiculously predictable to the extent that I often couldn’t remember which bits belonged to which title. I gave up on that and have been hoping for a long time to find another genre I could always be up for indulging. I found this title’s description by accident but I’m really glad that happened. I started the read with skepticism, expecting it to follow the same overused story and sub-story lines but was ultimately very pleasantly surprised by where it went. It really is an excellent Trilogy and I believe it’s due to there not being any gaps in the writing of the 2nd and 3rd books; I actually loved Book 2&3 almost as much as Book 1. In my experience, there’s been a pretty consistent let down when it comes to sequels being released 2+ years after originals but that didn’t happen here and I’ve been so grateful for it! Just an excellent and very original story, written in a style that’s easy to follow and far from predictable. The unexpected twists (that really truly are unexpected!)and constant guessing at the actual identities of various mystery figures kept me very engaged and always hesitant to put it down (confession: this book made me late to work on an embarrassing number of occasions 😬) I’ve actually found myself stretching out these last ~300 pages knowing once they’re all consumed that I would be finished with the book and would have to bid farewell to these characters I grew to love. Thus, my only complaint being there isn’t an endless supply of this series 😉 I’m not sure if they’re similar in any way but I think I’m going to give another of Brandon Sanderson’s series a try and see how it goes! After this one, I’m confident in believing there’s no way they’re terrible lol 10/10 5 ⭐️ Definitely recommend!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024 by Kari2399
Words probably cannot describe just how much I LOVED this series. I have literally just finished the final book, and was blown away by its power, surprises, and how it tied so many things together, making connections that I didn't always see coming. The Mistborn Trilogy is IMO the new standard in epic fantasy. The story begins in a world where the "Hero of Ages" -- a man sent to defeat an evil force/dark lord -- failed! One thousand years later, a crew of bandits decide to rob the dark lord of his treasure: a classic heist story. But Mistborn (book 1) turns into so much more than that! It is an incredible journey into a world that hasn't seen the sky or the stars in over a thousand years. A world in which magic is used by those who eat and then "burn" shards of metal. And it is a world where the dark lord is essentially God. The main protagonist is a 16 year old girl named Vin. She is forced into an underground movement, led by a man named Kelsier who many of the dark lord's (the Lord Ruler) slaves believe to have supernatural powers. All of this takes place in just the first 3rd of the first book, Mistborn: The Final Empire. I won't give away any spoilers, but all three books are, in my opinion, some of the best epic fantasy I have ever read. It is new, innovative, and has a continuing mystery that the characters -- and we, the readers -- must uncover. Religion, faith, morality, and hope are all approached in an entertaining, thoughtful, and even insightful manner. Sanderson has become an expert at "invisible pros" which tells the story in a way that sucks the reader in. Don't believe me? Well, after reading Mistborn, I read the Well of Ascension, in about 10 days, and the Hero of Ages in three days. That's right: three days. This story sweeps you away and it will have you staying up past your bedtime because you simply cannot put it down. And yes, this is epic fantasy. It's scope is huge (literally taking in the entire world) and yet, it is not bogged down with dozens and dozens of characters. It is also the PERFECT example of what modern epic fantasy can and should do. We don't have to plod through hundreds of pages of characters we don't care about. We don't have to wait years for the next book to come out, and we aren't forced to choose between a so called "grittier" story and "traditional" fantasy. There aren't endless rape scenes, people reveling in torture, or grotesque images of violence and gore just for the sake of it, yet it is "gritty" in the sense that bad things do happen to good people. Beloved characters are forced through the wringer, some die, but there is also a bit of hope to be found, in the most unlikely of places. Brandon Sanderson somehow manages to take a little bit of everything and turn it into an unbelievable reading experience. As others have -- and will continue to say -- if you love epic fantasy, you have got to give the Mistborn Trilogy a try. Each book has a satisfying ending (no gigantic cliff hangers to frustrate you) so you CAN put it down before going onto the next book -- but I don't think you'll want to. Once I started reading, I was hooked! Give it a try. Even people who aren't necessarily regular readers of fantasy will find much to enjoy in this story -- especially in book 1. And once you read that, you'll almost certainly want to see what is next for Vin and the crew. If you're looking for a new fantasy series to read -- this is it! Check it out. Read it. And be prepared to be swept away by the magic and excitement of living in the Final Empire!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2012 by Charles P. Shingledecker
Format: Kindle
The Mistborn Trilogy is the series that got me reading Brandon Sanderson's books. As to how I even heard about it, I think I read it in a blog somewhere promoting it as the story of a fantasy world where the "Dark Lord" who is called the Lord Ruler had won. As a fantasy reader who is so used to the story of fighting the "Dark Lord" it came as a refreshing break to read a story of what comes after if the heroes failed, so I felt that I just had to read this book. Setting: Fast forward 1000 years into the future and we are treated to a world where ash regularly falls from the sky lit by a red sun over a land covered by brown plants. It is not really a very pleasant place. Unlike the places in other stories I've read, this is not one I'd like to visit. What impresses me about it is that it is quite a departure from the usual fantasy setting that essentially boils down to Medieval Europe + Magic = Fantasy World. What's even more impressive is that Sanderson has really made all these unique aspects of his setting fit into the story. No, the world is not just dark and gloomy for the heck of it, there is actually a reason that is revealed in the third book along with a twist that had me shifting my opinion on the Lord Ruler. Mood: The world and the people as portrayed could have easily made this trilogy a dark/grim-dark tale. The lives of the skaa, the common people, have little value and you get to see how they are killed dismissively by the ruling class. There is actually a rule that nobles and skaa cannot interbreed so what the nobles did was that they were actually required to kill the skaa women that they bed. Also, one of the magic systems used involves a ritualistically torturous process to work properly. For all that, this is actually a hopeful story. The dead bodies tend to pile up, but it is never the focus of the story. I guess the difference is that we don't get to look through a cynic's perspective like we do in books like George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. For all their personal struggles, the heroes are still heroic. Characters: Looking into our characters, the first two books of the trilogy can actually be seen as a coming-of-age tale for the main protagonist, Vin, who struggles with the idea of trust as she learns to understand what it means to have friends. It is about her empowerment as she learns to wield the powers of a mistborn. And finally, there is also her struggle with identity. Her powers, while making her powerful, also makes her very useful, which creates conflict in that she finds herself wondering if she is simply valued for what she can do as opposed to her being valued as a person. For all the world altering events taking place in the books, what I really like with the books is that it is grounded as a character-driven story. Magic: Sanderson is known for his magic systems. He tends to build them from simple concepts to create some really incredible effects through their varies interactions. The approach is along the lines of "magic as a science" so people who favor the idea of magic being dark and mysterious would dislike his systems. In Mistborn, there are three magic systems all tied to metals. In Allomancy, an Allomancer can use metals to wield powers the simply allow one to push or pull at something. That's it. The other systems are equally simple. What's really interesting is that Sanderson is clever enough to surprise me with the different ways the various magics are used. From a simple push or pull, we have people 'flying' around in the night. Verdict: Though the premise of the first book, that of the Dark Lord having triumphed, along with his clever magic system that deviates from the trope of complex spells and mysterious ways would certainly set this trilogy apart from other fantasy, that should not be the reason to pick up this book. You should read this because it is a well-written and well-executed piece of literature. There are those who call Sanderson out on using simple, transparent prose, but I really think it necessary that such a writing style is used to depict the fast-paced, action-packed sequences that are spread around in the books. Fancy wordcraft would just get in the way. In the end, are novels about finely constructed paragraphs or are they about exquisitely crafted stories?
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Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2015 by Joval E. Rama