Mistborn: The Final Empire Review

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

4.25 Stars

I realize this is a ridiculous number for a rating and that I should only be going by increments of 0.5 but it's the only number that fit this book on a scale of five. Mistborn was one of the better fantasy novels I have ever read. Do not be scared away by the fact that there are three books in this story (and then 4 books after that with a different protagonist, I assume, for the true Mistborn believers). This book had everything you could possibly want in a fantasy novel, so it easily stands alone. This is not a novel where tension is building and a rebellion is growing and the novel ends with a battle left unresolved. Just when you think a turn of events was so great that the book could not possibly contain anymore action, you get even more and finally are left satisfying ending.

The high rating for this book comes from the detailed new world and the completely original system of magic for the fantasy novel's time. Sure, the tyrant leader of the empire was referred to as "The Lord Ruler," but with all the metals and powers and name connections we had to remember, I was happy that Sanderson cut us a break. However, the system really wasn't that hard to get down. I appreciated the time Sanderson spent getting his system clear through Vin's lessons of the many uses of each of her individual powers.

Sanderson spent so much time getting the magic just right and the world so vivid, that Vin's love story seemed a bit abrupt. With all the trust issues she had, it doesn't make much sense for Vin to let her guard down especially romantically with someone who came from the complete opposite lifestyle as her. Mistborn loses some stars for the forced relationship, but once it was there, it was endearing, and Sanderson's effort bumped the score up a notch.

A quick warning. Kelsier is an adoringly reckless genius, but he smiles. A LOT. It does fit his personality, but I don't see the need to continue to let us know that he is smiling when he doesn't appear to ever stop. However, this one quirk does not overshadow the rest of the story. It's a good one. Read it.