Brandon Sanderson, fantasy’s newest master tale spinner, author of the acclaimed debut Elantris, dares to turn a genre on its head by asking a simple question: What if the hero of prophecy fails? What kind of world results when the Dark Lord is in charge? The answer will be found in the Mistborn Trilogy, a saga of surprises and magical martial-arts action that begins in Mistborn.For a thousand … Mistborn.
For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the “Sliver of Infinity,” reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler’s most hellish prison. Kelsier “snapped” and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.
Kelsier recruited the underworld’s elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.
But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel’s plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she’s a half-Skaa orphan, but she’s lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.
Readers of Elantris thought they’d discovered someone special in Brandon Sanderson. Mistborn proves they were right.
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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Imagine what Middle Earth would look like if Sauron won.
That’s basically the premise for Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn: The Final Empire. Ash falls constantly from the sky, allowing only sickly plants to grow; an eerie mist descends at night; most of the world is enslaved; and the Lord Ruler has reigned as a god for a thousand years.
Sanderson makes several other fun tweaks to the standard epic fantasy formula. Allomancy, the primary magic system in the novel, involves ingesting flakes or beads of metal and then “burning” those scraps internally to unleash various powers. The heroic prophecies in the story were already fulfilled long ago—by the Lord Ruler, who saved the world only to take it for himself. Each chapter begins with an excerpt from a logbook the Lord Ruler wrote before that betrayal, snippets that humanize the archvillain by revealing a man wracked by self-doubt and struggling beneath the weight of expectations.
And one of the last hopes for humanity is a young girl.
Vin is sixteen, scrawny, and a thief. She’s been using Allomancy without knowing it for years (burning trace bits of metal for minimal effect), but when she comes to the attention of Kelsier, a thief himself and the story’s mentor figure, he brings her on for the biggest job of all: overthrowing the Lord Ruler’s “Final Empire.”
I didn’t like either protagonist initially. Vin is a sympathetic figure—she was beaten repeatedly growing up, both by her brother and her former crew leader—but her attachment issues came off as clichéd. So did Kelsier’s roguish flippancy. And the structuring of Kelsier’s band of thieves felt a little too much like the formation of a Dungeons & Dragons party. (Let’s see, we need a Smoker to hide us from our enemies, a Soother to calm them if they find us, a Thug to hit them if soothing fails, etc.)
But there was enough originality in the setup to make me stick with the story, and I warmed to the characters eventually. The Final Empire isn’t high literature, but it is creative fantasy, and that was enough to make for an enjoyable read.
(For more reviews like this one, see http://www.nickwisseman.com)
Although I believe Brandon Sanderson is the best Fantasy Author currently writing, this is not my favorite series of his. However if you are reading other series in the Cosmere you should certainly read this one.
Greatest fantasy of all time
The author creates a society and new special abilities that intrigue the reader. A main character that pulls us into each confrontation. And an environment that is easily built on to form the series.
I loved the Mistborn series. Well worth the read.
Sanderson is the most entertaining, interesting and productive author in fantasy these days. The Mistborn series is amazingly creative and full of surprises. You’ll be thinking about the characters and story long after you’ve put the book down.
This book is like putting together a 1000-piece puzzle. You start by having piece by piece the information. And you can join it little by little like when you put the edges together. However, as you get closer to the center of the puzzle it seems that you are still missing pieces to complete it.
Long ago the Lord Ruler saved humanity by destroying the Deepness. Unfortunately, power made him a tyrant leader. In a world where it rains ash, a strange mist appears at night, and things like flowers are just a legend.
The society is divided between nobles and skaa. The last are nothing more than slaves whose life has lack of importance. Vin is a somewhat different skaa. Fate wanted that instead of ending up working on a plantation, she would end up in a gang of thieves. Her greatest talent was her ability to stay invisible. That and her “luck”. A strange ability that allowed her to entice people to do what she wanted, but which, unfortunately, ran out very quickly each time. Anyway, it had earned her to become the amulet of the gang leader when he carried out his scams.
When one of these scams goes wrong. Vin meets Kelsier, the only survivor of the Pits of Hatshin and a Mistborn. He explains to Vin that her “luck” is actually allomancy, the ability to burn some metals for getting skills. Most allomancers can only burn one type of metal, but those Mistborns can use them all. Kelsier is the only Misting skaa in existence, or at least he was before Vin.
— The nail attacked me!
Did that metal give life to objects? That would indeed be an incredible power.
— The truth is that you attacked yourself.
Vin becomes part of the Kelsier gang, and joins his plan to overthrow the final empire and assassinate the Lord Ruler. The problem is, how do you murder a god? Unless that’s just a legend and the Lord Ruler is just a man after all. Everyone in the gang believes it’s an impossible mission, but they decide to accept it anyway.
Vin was beginning to understand that her old goal in life (to survive, without further ado) was worthless. There were many things she could do. She had been Reen’s slave; she had been a slave to Camon. She would also be Kelsier’s slave, if sooner or later that led to her freedom.
While Vin practices allomancy with Kelsier, her main task is to infiltrate the nobles, posing as Lady Valette at social gatherings, such as balls, to get information and spread rumors at her disposal.
Finally she realized why men were expected to help women out of the carriages. It wasn’t a silly custom after all: the clothes were silly.
The problem is that she caught the attention of Eland Venture, the only heir to Luthadel’s most powerful house. At least Vin isn’t fool enough to fall in love with a noble…
— Maybe it’s best if you avoid Venture entirely. Try to offend him or something. Give him a couple of those looks of yours.
Vin looked at Kelsier.
— That, that same look! — Kelsier said with a laugh.
From the beginning, Vin’s life was very hard. Her brother, Reen, rescued her from her mother after she murdered her younger sister. From that moment they became thieves and his brother was in charge of teaching her not to trust anyone, not even him. What was verified when he escaped and abandoned her as he always said he would do.
Once in the gang, Kelsier teaches Vin what it means to trust someone else, but also reminds her of what it feels like to be betrayed…
Kelsier looked at her for a moment, then smiled.
— The first time we met, I could barely get you to say a few words. Now you’re giving me sermons.
An incredible start to a saga, full of action, romance, friendship, humor, madness. The truth is that it seems complete to me in every way. It’s been a long time since I found a book that would take you to a completely different world and that had such a good level of development of both the place and the characters and the type of “magic” of the story, because when Vin learns to use allomancy we have a complete class of its use and its scientific bases. All this in a didactic way, without getting boring despite the abundant descriptions.
Drawing of Vin by Elizabeth Peiró
In addition, the system of allomancy seems absolutely impressive and complete to me.
The only warning I will make is that there is a lot of blood. The constant battles in the story tend to be quite descriptive and bloody. However, I consider myself quite sensitive and it did not affect me.
I feel like I found one of those stories that is a real gem. That you can enjoy again and again. Or at least I hope so, I have only read the first one, and I am already too excited .
* I read this book in Spanish and some things are translated by me, so they may not be identical to the English version *
For more reviews please visit https://awindowtomysoul.com/
Ash falls from the sky and swirling mists dominate the night. Evil has won. This is the Final Empire under the Lord Ruler’s tyrannical bootheel.
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson is book 1 in the first Mistborn trilogy published in 2006.
The nobility is the descendants of the Lord Rulers supporters at the beginning of his reign, over 1,000 years ago. Their reward for their loyalty is the gift of Alamancy: the ability to harness different Alamantic powers through the “burning” of specific ingested metals. Not all nobles are born with the ability to harness these powers, however. Some can use one of the 10 basic metals to perform a specific ability, such as using tin to enhance their senses, or puter to strengthen their bodies. These are called Mistings. On very rare occasions from pure bloodlines, an Alamancer is born who can use any of the metals to harness any of the powers available. These rarities are called Mistborn.
The Skaa are the descendants of those who opposed the Lord Ruler after the Ascension. They have been used as slaves of the nobility ever since as their punishment. Brutal subjugation, an instilled fear of the mist, and an unwavering belief that the Lord Ruler is god has kept the Skaa under control. 1,000 years of this has made the Skaa docile.
The church the Lord Ruler: The Steel Ministry, enforces the Lord Ruler’s laws. The laws of the land are the laws of their god. The primary law forbids nobles to reproduce with Skaa to prevent halfbreeds who have a chance at possessing Alamantic power. It still happens, of course. Halfbreed mistings are rare. Halfbreed Mistborn are closer to myth than reality.
One such individual, a Skaa Mistborn named Kelsier, the leader of a notorious thieving crew, is recruiting for a new job. The biggest job of them all: stirring the Skaa to rebel against the Lord Ruler so that he and his crew could loot the reserves of the most valuable alamantic metal from the Lord Ruler’s palace. His recruiting effort brought him to an interesting street urchin: a girl named Vin.
Vin is unaware of her abilities at the beginning of her story, using what she calls “Luck” to manipulate someone’s emotions. Kelsier recognizes that Vin is able to burn two different types of metals, using two different powers. This indicates Vin is a Mistborn, able to burn any of the alamantic metals. Kelsier trains her to use her powers and adds her to his band of Skaa mistings.
I don’t want to go too much farther into the story, because I don’t want to spoil anything, so let’s get into the critiques. The biggest critique, for me, was Sanderson’s prose. It might be a small thing, but the book often reads like a young adult novel. This critique can be turned on its head and one could say Sanderson left the flowery language out of his writing to focus on the world and the characters he was creating. The fact that he was able to create such a detailed world full of characters the reader cares about without extravagant pros is a testament to Sanderson’s ability to tell his story.
Another small problem I had, was the use of the forbidden love trope. When this specific subplot came along, I could predict exactly how it would go because I have read it in so many books and watched it in so many movies and TV shows. It’s fine to use a well-known trope as long as you add enough of your own zest to keep it interesting. I think Sanderson added enough of the creative worldbuilding aspects from the unique setting to make this romance subplot bearable. I did roll my eyes a couple of times though. Like I said, not a huge deal overall. Sanderson handled it well but I often wondered why he used the trope at all. It might become more apparent to me as I continue the series.
Now on to the stuff Sanderson did well in The Final Empire. There is so much but I’ll try to keep it to the big things.
The magic system is one of the best I have ever read. Alamancy and Feruchemy are the two systems in book one. I believe there will be another later in the series, but for now, let’s talk about the two. Both are hard magic systems with rigid rules and defined boundaries. Alamancy draws power from the metals an Alamancer swallows in vials of solution. Each specific metal grants a specific power that Alamancer can wield.
The rules of Alamancy are sprinkled throughout the story as the reader needs to know. No major info dumps that I noticed. Where Mistings can only use one of the abilities, Mistborn can use them all at the same time if they want. This makes for fight scenes that read kind of like a superhero fight straight out of a comic book. Mistborn can push and pull metals, allowing them to fly through the streets by dropping coins to push against or pulling on metal fixtures on buildings. They can soothe fear and riot anger in a person to make them act on their emotions. Or they can make a person do nothing. They can gain superhuman strength and senses with pewter and tin. All these very specific details come together in the most satisfying way. New, creative uses of these powers keep coming throughout the story.
Less is known about Feruchemy in book 1. Feruchemists are fewer and further between. From my understanding, the power they wield comes from themselves. They are capable of storing something in metal Items they wear by saving whatever it is. For example, a Feruchemist can be older than normal for a time in order to store youth in a metal bracelet. Then, later on, they can tap into that store and feel and appear younger for a time. They can do this with memories and strength as well. A Feruchemist can weaken themselves, withering away to skin and bone for several hours, storing their strength in an earring, then they can use it all at once to become a muscle-bound hulk and lift a boulder.
The worldbuilding is another strong point. Red sun, red sky, black ash floating down like snow, mists that roll in every night. All of this makes for some foreboding visuals and adds so much to the atmosphere. I can also feel a rich history that Sanderson sprinkled here or there. It gives the world a lived-in feeling that I definitely appreciate.
Several satisfying twists caught me off guard throughout The Final Empire. Some of them subverted my expectations, but a few caught me completely off guard. I didn’t even have a chance to expect the unexpected.
The characters each feel like they have their own voice and their individual personalities are communicated well. Kelsier, Vin, and Elend in particular intrigued me throughout the story. I could feel Kelsier’s thirst for revenge, Vin’s fear of abandonment, and Elend’s need to resist his noble lifestyle even though I never had these feelings in my real life. Sanderson mixes in enough relatable personality traits so the reader can latch onto these characters and sympathize.
I would recommend this book to literally anyone over the age of 12 just because some of the violence and worldbuilding aspects may not be appropriate for a younger child. Anyone who is looking for an entry-level fantasy adventure, I recommend The Final Empire. I can’t think of a better epic fantasy novel for someone to start with. It’s easy to read and, though it is the first book in a trilogy, the ending is cathartic. If you don’t want to continue the series, you can still have that sense of completion without any of that subconscious obligation to continue if you don’t want to.
I, on the other hand, do want to continue. I will be continuing my read through the Mistborn trilogy, for sure. I give The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson 4 out of 5 stars.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to check out my blog for short stories and more reviews at https://www.authorchasewalker.com/
Book 1 of a whole new world to enjoy!
again Sanderson does a great job, after wheel of time books he finished this has to be one of my favorites.
Wow! What a fantastic book. The Final Empire is an excellent story with great writing. I was completely sucked into this world and I enjoyed reading this book so much. Its a shame I have had this book for years and just finally started reading it. The world, the characters, and the magic are all phenomenal. I am so excited to read the rest of the books in this series.
This is a great book but one which didn’t talk to me and proved a long read. It happens.
So if you want a great world building, go for it ! The idea is great and perfectly handled. But if you want epic action, we are more in a thieves crew working against an omnipotent Lord hidden in shadows.
Just finished this on Audiobook. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
I’ve been meaning to read this book for years, so the anticipation and build-up and expectation were all really high by the time I started it. It did not disappoint. I loved the magic system. It was really unique and interesting and almost felt more like a science than magic. But the characters were what really sucked me into the story. Vin is just…I have no words. I love her so much, and it was so awesome to see her transformation over the course of the story. I also loved Kelsier, even though I found his manipulations and secrets annoying at times. Elend was definitely not my favorite, and I am so not on board this Elend/Vin ship….but I’ll try to be open-minded going forward. Overall, it was a great book and I’m excited to see what happens to these characters next.
This book should be called the Final Empire, it is the first in the Mistborn Series. Sanderson is easy to read, and his magic system is really inventive. That said, I still didn’t love this book. I am a huge fan of Heist based stories, I was very surprised by how much I didn’t like this one.
One of the greatest books by the greatest author. I only wish would write more books.
This review MAY contain spoilers.
Wowza! A lot of times the hype surrounding a book is just that. Hype. It doesn’t always add up to be as great as the hype proclaims. I’ve never been so thrilled to have my skepticism dashed. I had heard so many wonderful things about this series prior to reading this book, and I am SO glad that they are founded.
The world building in this book is truly incredible. I can only hope that the well that Sanderson fishes his ideas from never runs dry. This world was bold and completely original. This book was a breath of fresh air. Everything was incredibly detailed and well thought out. The way that the world was so meticulously melded is genius.
The character development in this book is just as awesome as the world building. Sanderson writes his characters with room to grow. The pacing of the character development is perfect. The reader can get to know the characters fairly quickly while building upon that to witness them grow and change. Details about the characters are given sparingly so that the development feels completely natural, all while creating a build up and want for more knowledge of the characters.
This plot is pretty epic. There are so many creative elements involved that it will blow your mind. When everything comes together at the end you will be in awe of all the masterfully crafted details and the way that they all interweave.
While I mainly read young adult fantasy, this book was still easy to pick up and get into. It did have a different vibe in general, but not in a bad way. I latched on to the story by simply reading the prologue. I don’t think that this book would be hard for another fan of young adult books to enjoy. Sanderson makes it pretty easy to fall into the story.
I also have to add that I read the first six chapters of this book on ebook, and then I switched to audiobook. I quite enjoyed the audiobook version. I think that I will get the next book in the series on audiobook as well. If audiobook is your jam then I would recommend giving this book a shot on audio.
Overall, this book stands out like a shiny, sparkling unicorn in the herd of horses that the fantasy genre can sometimes be. And not just on the outside. On the inside, this book has plenty of shiny unicorn magic. I highly recommend this book, and I cannot wait to continue this series!
The magic system here is fascinating. Good epic fantasy.
Great for adults or even teens!
I absolutely love this book! But then again, I love Brandon Sanderson’s books, so that shouldn’t be surprising. This is a great beginning to a fabulous series. Tons of twists and turns, and I enjoyed each one. I will most definitely be jumping right into the next book in the series. I can’t wait to see what happens next! Yipee!