Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)

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Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)

by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)

4.37 · rating details · 21,226 ratings · 2,648 reviews

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 Mi...more

Hardcover, 541 pages

Published July 25th 2006 by Tor Books (first published July 1st 2006)

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The Best Epic Fantasy

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

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Oct 21, 2009

Jon rated it

Shelves: fantasy, ebooks, fiction, signed, read-in-my-40s, favorites

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, a novel of epic fantasy relating the struggle for freedom of an oppressed class of people, known as the skaa. A few key players attempt a daring plan to overthrow a seemingly invincible regime, with a supposedly immortal god-like Lord Ruler.

Mistborn’s is fast paced and enthralling. The point of view stays mostly with the two main protagonists, Keslier and Vin. Keslier is seeking revenge upon the immortal Lord Ruler, who he blames fo...more

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Nov 17, 2011

Cassy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: physical-own, 2011, fiction-scifi-fantasy-paranormal, region-elsewhere, event-met-author

When someone asked Brandon how many magic systems he had created, he replied more than we realized. The astute audience member then asked how many magic systems we could expect to read about one day. To which Brandon responded, “Only the good ones.”

And the magic in Mistborn is good. Really good. Admittedly, I am picky about my magic. It should require effort and time to master. I need limitations and give-and-take. Make it interesting. I’d like a clear methodology and maybe a dash of...moreWhen someone asked Brandon how many magic systems he had created, he replied more than we realized. The astute audience member then asked how many magic systems we could expect to read about one day. To which Brandon responded, “Only the good ones.”

And the magic in Mistborn is good. Really good. Admittedly, I am picky about my magic. It should require effort and time to master. I need limitations and give-and-take. Make it interesting. I’d like a clear methodology and maybe a dash of whimsy. I expect serious reflection on how the magic would affect society. No blatant wish-fulfillment please.

The Allomancy and Feruchemy in Mistborn are all these things. They are gritty, unique, rule-bound, and just plain awesome. And the magic system is backed up by a touchable world, solid plot, and nice cast of characters. The book was slated for five stars right up until the end, which I thought was rushed. All in all, I am impressed and looking forward to be next two books in the trilogy.

Let’s get back to the event with Brandon hosted by my favorite independent bookstore, Murder by the Book. I left work early in anticipation of a spilling-into-the-parking-lot crowd reminiscent of their event with Patrick Rothfuss earlier this year. Instead, there was a more “modest” turnout of 200 fans. One couple wore their version of a Mistborn cloak. The guy sitting next to me had a t-shirt with a quote from the book: there is always another secret. Sigh. I was with my people, the dorky fantasy readers.

Although Brandon was there promoting his new release, The Alloy of Law, I still gathered some tidbits about this book. He talked about having three “try-outs” for Vin’s character before he settled on the right personality. I was surprised when he described Kelsier as two steps away from being a full-out psychopath as I had a kinder opinion. The movie rights have been purchased. He has provided feedback on three scripts so far.

Regarding the world of Mistborn, this may be common knowledge, but it was news to me: he has always envisioned nine books set in this world. This Mistborn trilogy set in the past. A second trilogy that is more of an urban fantasy set in a 21st century. And last, a trilogy set in the distant future for his take on science-fiction. (The Alloy of Law is meant as a quick, in-between novel.)

Brandon’s ambition is not limited to this world. If you really love one of his different worlds, rest assured. He probably has plans to write at least one more book there (including a sequel to Elantris). As Brandon detailed his long-term writing plans, two similarly prolific authors came to mind: Cherie Priest and Kevin J. Anderson. I hope Brandon is not willing to sacrifice quality for quantity as they have. Given the amazing feat of this book, there are grounds for optimism.(less)

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Dec 18, 2008

Josh rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of fantasy

Shelves: fantasy

After many failed attempts at starting up various fantasy series, Brandon Sanderson has delivered something refreshing and vastly entertaining. This is very nearly a five star novel, though there are a few simple discrepencies that keep Mistborn from being great.

Pros:
- I was immideately pulled in by the bizarre world environment here. The idea of a land completely covered in ash at all times is strange and interesting.
- The "magic" system, if it can be called...moreAfter many failed attempts at starting up various fantasy series, Brandon Sanderson has delivered something refreshing and vastly entertaining. This is very nearly a five star novel, though there are a few simple discrepencies that keep Mistborn from being great.

Pros:
- I was immideately pulled in by the bizarre world environment here. The idea of a land completely covered in ash at all times is strange and interesting.
- The "magic" system, if it can be called that, is unique and a breath of fresh air. For me, a lot of fantasy is ruined by overuse of magic and lack of explanation about how magic works. His use of metals and Allomancy is genius and it's apparent that Sanderson invested a lot of time into this system. It's fun and believable.
- Sanderson displays great world-building talents in Mistborn. Not only to we have a strange backdrop in the environment, but good history to fill it with. The mists and the Mistwraiths are weird and different.
- There is no lack of action here. While I might have liked a little more description on the larger battle scenes, the Allomancy battles were just plain fun to read. With the characters using their abilities to push themselves through the air and hurl large metal objects, it was almost as if they were battling superheroes, and strangely enough this really works. He paid great attention to the rules and science of the Allomancy he created and applied them to these battle scenes well.

Cons:
-Characterization could use a little work. While Vin, Kelsier, Elend and Sazed were descriptive characters, a lot of the others on the crew (Dockson, Clubs, Breeze, Yeden) felt a little too cookie cutter and I found it hard to remember exactly what those characters did and what their individual roles were.
- Some of the dialogue is a little too typical as with many other fantasy books. This is one aspect that I rarely find to my liking in fantasy -as few authors seem to do it very well- and it isn't so bad here, but a lot of the conversations seemed a little unbelieveable. There were a lot sappy moments between the characters, some of which I find hard to swallow. (Perhaps I've become spoiled by Martin and Hobb, where distrust and hate between a lot of the characters make dialogue and character drama more believable.)

The flaws with Mistborn were hardly enough to keep me from thourougly enjoying it. Every great fantasy author has their strengths, and Sanderson's are apparent. This book is unique with a lot of great ideas. The only thing that's very typical is the tyrannical Lord Ruler and his thousand-year reign, but the author handles it very well and shows that cliche isn't always a bad thing. And the conclusion to Mistorn was fantastic. All of the plot threads were handled well and in clever ways, the action and final confrontations were great.

I will look forward to reading whatever else Sanderson has to offer. Read it, enjoy it and tell others. Good fantasy in a sea of mediocre deserves praise.
(less)

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Apr 23, 2009

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: beyond-reality, brandon-sanderson, scifi-fan-group

It reminds me of Ocean's Eleven meets The Italian Job, but set in Mordor after Sauron has ruled for 1000 years or so. In many fantasy stories, a dark lord is rising and it is up to our heroes to defeat him before that happens. In this, the Dark Lord is already set in place as the status quo and the heroes have to motivate others to want a change.....Yet there is a noble class of The Lord Ruler's flunkies who will need to be scammed and robbed along the way, to finance this big revolt.....I love ...more

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Jan 11, 2011

Janina rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, books-i-own, read-in-2011, favourite-characters, books-i-won-t-forget, tbr-challenge, want-to-live-inside, best-of-2011, better-than-expected

"But you can't kill me, Lord Tyrant. I represent that one thing you've never been able to kill, no matter how hard you try. I am hope."

This book has been sitting on my shelf for ages, feeling neglected and collecting dust. I’ve noticed that I’m always a little hesitant to pick up epic fantasy novels, just because sometimes, they tend to be a bit long-winded, harder to get into than my beloved YA books and – let’s face it – especially first books in trilogies are sometimes bor...more"But you can't kill me, Lord Tyrant. I represent that one thing you've never been able to kill, no matter how hard you try. I am hope."

This book has been sitting on my shelf for ages, feeling neglected and collecting dust. I’ve noticed that I’m always a little hesitant to pick up epic fantasy novels, just because sometimes, they tend to be a bit long-winded, harder to get into than my beloved YA books and – let’s face it – especially first books in trilogies are sometimes boring at the beginning. All the world building, introduction of the characters … can drag on a little.

Not at all the case in this one. The world Brandon Sanderson has created definitely is a complex one, but also one I found utterly fascinating and interesting. The city of Luthadel – and the whole Final Empire – is a bleak and cruel place. All green has vanished from the earth; ash falls from the sky and the population suffers under the reign of the Lord Ruler and his Inquisitors. The god-like emperor has claimed the throne one thousand years ago, and since then, the common people (called skaa) have been enslaved, bereft of joy and willpower. Rape and murder at the hands of noblemen are not uncommon and overlooked by the authorities as long as the mess is cleaned up afterwards. All in all, this makes for a setting that is not always easy to stomach: A world with almost no hope left.
But there are still people who have not given up. A group of thieves plans their greatest coup: The overthrow of the empire, the liberation of the skaa population and, last but not least, the death of the Lord Ruler …

The first instalment of Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy follows exactly these thieves. And they make for great characters. To be honest, Mistborn is among the most character-driven epic fantasy novels I have read in a while. Characters to laugh and suffer with, characters that grow and change, characters I thought about a lot (also: characters I desperately hoped wouldn’t die at the end … Yes, Mr. Sanderson, I am still a bit mad about that!).
Additionally, Mistborn has one of the most original magic concepts I ever read about and offers interesting observations about the workings of religion and society.
What makes people believe and how can you give hope to those who have been oppressed for ages, those whose rebellions have failed every single time? Can you make them stand up again? Or are they really lost? What makes a society and its economy thrive and what, on the other hand, can destroy it?
All those aspects are interwoven in a story not only full of suspense, intrigue and fight, but also of friendship, trust and love.

A great novel, totally worth every single one of its 647 pages! Never found it boring or slow and certainly won’t forget it anytime soon. I really don’t know why I didn’t read it earlier.

#1 TBR Pile Reduction Challenge (Thank you for picking this one for me, Olivia! Probably might have missed out on this great piece of fantasy for months to come otherwise.)(less)

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Jun 19, 2011

Michael Ramm rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: epic fantasy lovers

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, kindle, month-trilogy, april2011, re-read

WOW! That is all that I can say about Mistborn: The Final Empire. It is my first book from Brandon Sanderson, and I can tell you that it will not be my last.

The world of Mistborn is centered around the city of Luthdel. It is where the dreaded Lord Ruler rules the world with an iron fist. The world is separated by the nobility and the skaa, the common folk of the world. The city is home to a cast of characters that is as diverse a group as the Fellowship in Tolkien's classic.

F...moreWOW! That is all that I can say about Mistborn: The Final Empire. It is my first book from Brandon Sanderson, and I can tell you that it will not be my last.

The world of Mistborn is centered around the city of Luthdel. It is where the dreaded Lord Ruler rules the world with an iron fist. The world is separated by the nobility and the skaa, the common folk of the world. The city is home to a cast of characters that is as diverse a group as the Fellowship in Tolkien's classic.

From the beginning we are introduced to Kelsier, though we don't know that. He is the charismatic, inspirational, motivational, and physical leader that brings his band together for the greater good of the skaa. Next we are introduced to Vin, a teenager who knows nothing else but abuse and thieving. She has had a hard past of abuse from everyone in her life. She expects it and sometimes relishes it as a sign of things being ok in her life. Kelsier recruits Vin into his crew for her special abilities, that he himself also has. They are both Allomantics, those who can summon magic from the ingestion and 'burning' of certain metals.

Allomancy and Feruchemy are the basis of the magic system in Luthadel. It is an original concept that Sanderson has devised. Allomancy involves ingesting certain metals and 'burning' them to summon magical powers that each specific metals allow. Feruchemy is the storing of certain traits in the metals attached to the body to gain specific effects from each metal. I love this system because the magic available to the user is not infinite. While Allomancers are burning metals, they can burn them out and then loose the use of that metals effects. So there is a cat-and-mouse game with regards to the use of Allomancy.

The Final Empire watches the growth of Vin from a very shy introvert to a confident powerful woman through the inclusion in Kelsier's gang and the plan that he has for the Lord Ruler. This is very much a coming of age book that follows Vin's path fighting the demon's of her past which include her crazy mother, noble father and abusive brother to a trusting member who starts to put her friends before her own needs.(less)

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Dec 15, 2009

Fani rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: sf-fantasy, audiobooks, 2009-purchase, keepers-non-romance

There isn't much to say, since so many people have already commented on this book. I will just repeat a line I read in someone else's review: this book has the feeling of Ocean's Eleven or The Italian Job, rather than Lord of the Rings.

There are slivers of humor throughout, a delightful young heroine, a wise but also gentle leader and ... a young, naive hero who surprisingly the heroine has to protect rather than the other way around. The system of magic is unique and described exte...more

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Dec 29, 2011

Palice Parrot Pepper rated it

Recommends it for: Fantasy Lovers

Recommended to Palice by: Anila

Shelves: characters-like-no-other, oooooh-the-cover-so-beautiful, very-interesting, you-must-read, now-she-knows-how-to-kick-butt, i-was-entertained, awesomeness, beautiful, absolute-favorites-forever-and-ever, love-love-the-female-character, this-book-broke-me

4.7

Edit: After reading the second one, I feel the need to bump this up from 4.5 to 4.7. Don't ask questions.

This is a world where you wake up to ash falling from the sky, and go to bed with your doors and windows closed, hiding from the swirling mists outside.

When a book starts with ash falling from the sky, you simply have to read on to find out why.

I really don't know what to say about this book. That's usually the case when I like something to...more

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Jun 10, 2011

Anila rated it

Shelves: bucket-books, clone-the-guy-i-want-one, fangirl-alert, i-haz-opinion-on-this, favorite-2011-reads

Note to self: You are no longer allowed to bring books this good on family road trips. It makes you antisocial. You ignore the great views outside the car. You resent being torn away from the book to spend time with family, and when you are you babble incessantly about how awesome it is and how everyone would like it and how cool the magic is and how great the characters and on and on and on until your family is probably sick of you. And then, even after an eight-mile hike in the desert whe...more

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Jan 11, 2009

Sandi rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Sandi by: Fantasy Book Club January Selection

Shelves: fantasy, 2009

"Mistborn: The Final Empire" is the best book I've read in 2009. Okay, it's the first book I've finished in 2009. However, I am not exaggerating in saying that it was an incredible read. Brandon Sanderson has created one of the most vivid societies I have ever encountered in fantasy. The characters really came alive for me and there weren't so many of them that I couldn't keep track of who's-who. Most of the story takes place in one city and some of its outlying areas. No map need...more

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Feb 14, 2008

Femmy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Do you know that old fantasy cliché, where the protagonist is a farm boy with hidden abilities, who is destined to defeat the great villain and save the whole world from destruction? Well, in this series Brandon Sanderson has taken that cliché and given it an imaginative twist, which results in this fantastic first installment of the Mistborn trilogy.

(But take my advice. If you ever decide to buy this book, do not read the blurb! Reading it will be more exciting if you don’t know w...moreDo you know that old fantasy cliché, where the protagonist is a farm boy with hidden abilities, who is destined to defeat the great villain and save the whole world from destruction? Well, in this series Brandon Sanderson has taken that cliché and given it an imaginative twist, which results in this fantastic first installment of the Mistborn trilogy.

(But take my advice. If you ever decide to buy this book, do not read the blurb! Reading it will be more exciting if you don’t know what the twist is, with an added element of mystery about an unidentified writer of a diary that is excerpted in the beginning of each chapter.)

The story itself is set in a kingdom where ash falls instead of rain, the mist rules the night, and the Lord Ruler and the nobility enslave the skaa. It is in the skaa slums that our story really begins, as a thieving crew concocts a grand plan to steal the expensive, magical metal called atium from the palace of the Lord Ruler himself. Yup, unlike adventure or political intrigue stories that usually permeate the fantasy genre, this book has the feel of a heist movie. Think Ocean’s Eleven meets The Lord of the Rings. It’s very refreshing, and I enjoy reading as the crew execute their plans and troubleshoot as unexpected plot twists throw them some tricky problems.

At the heart of the thieving crew are Vin, a girl with an abusive past, and Kelsier, the mastermind who leads this crew. They are both Mistborns, people who can practice Allomancy, a way to manipulate metals to do magic. I just love it when an author takes time to create a unique magic system that has logical and consistent rules. It results in magical battles that are quite fun to read.

As an added bonus, there's romance in the air!

So, this book has everything that I look for in a fantasy book. A unique world, a fresh twist on the genre, great plot, interesting characters, a cool magic system, and a little bit of romance. Can’t wait until the second book comes out in paperback!(less)

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Mar 12, 2011

Lyndsey rated it

Shelves: genre-high-fantasy, 3rd-person-limited, pov-alternating, escapism, reviewed-2011, reviewed-4-stars, my-top-fantasy

So I'm taking a short departure from my evil ADD reviews infused with countless images and my odd sense of humor to take an in depth look at this this breathtaking book.

Books are about one of two things for me. Escapism or experiencing. I either want a book to make me close my eyes and completely take me out of this world OR open my eyes and force me to see things in a different light, think about and savor every second of this life. If it doesn't do at least one of those, it isn't doi...more

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Jan 21, 2012

Jennifer rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, five-star-books

This was the first book I read by Brandon Sanderson (I wanted to check out his writing style since he's finishing Jordan's WoT). Wow! I was very pleasantly surprised at how well Mr. Sanderson writes. The premise for the "Mistborn: The Final Empire" was very interesting. He asks the question, "what happens when the hero fails and the world has been under the rule of the oppressive Lord Ruler for 1000 years?" It's the journey of a young girl who struggles to survive as a thie...more

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Nov 10, 2009

Shellie (Layers of Thought) rated it

Recommends it for: Fantasty lovers

Recommended to Shellie (Layers of Thought) by: Beyond Reality Group

Shelves: spec-fic-fant-epic-or-high, challenge-gr-summer-09, read-in-2009, element-strong-or-dark-female-chara, favorites, age-young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Actually 4.5 stars.

Basic Plot Summary: (may include spoilers for some readers however the middle and ending are not revealed)

Mistborn is the first book in a fantasy trilogy. It is a tale which takes place within an elaborate fantasy world. In it lives Vin, a 16 year old girl who is a member of a group of semi-heartless thieves. The abusive leader of this band is using her for her ability to persuade their victims remotely. This betters his chances of pilfering and cheatin...moreActually 4.5 stars.

Basic Plot Summary: (may include spoilers for some readers however the middle and ending are not revealed)

Mistborn is the first book in a fantasy trilogy. It is a tale which takes place within an elaborate fantasy world. In it lives Vin, a 16 year old girl who is a member of a group of semi-heartless thieves. The abusive leader of this band is using her for her ability to persuade their victims remotely. This betters his chances of pilfering and cheating this wealthy subjugating elite class. This elite class have little compassion for their slaves whom are called the Skaa, of which Vin and the thieves are a member.

This fantasy realm in which they live is constantly being rained upon by ash, plants have evolved to have brown leaves, and the sky is orange and red. At night the land is cloaked in a mist, which has mythical stories surrounding it and monsters stalking within it, holding the natives in fear. The kingdom is also dominated by an evil king called The Lord Ruler who is considered a god and is reputedly immortal. His kingdom is tightly ruled, controlled to his advantage, and is surrounded and protected by some very powerful, scary, and dangerous classes - the Ministry and Steel Inquisitors.

Kelsier enters the story and saves Vin from a botched attempt at one of the band’s robberies, and consequently from their abuse. He is a noble thief. A Skaa of a more “elite nature”. A rebel leader whom has a gift which lends him 11 special powers involving the use of metals which is called Allomancy.

As the story evolves and becomes more complicated, a plan for Kelsier and his band of thieves to overthrow this evil king develops. The group creates an elaborate scheme in which to evoke revenge and to return the planet back to “equilibrium”. Vin is to play a key role. She will also find out who she is in the process.

My Thoughts:

I loved this fantasy, and rate it as a highly recommended - 4.5 stars. The writing is accessible, it flows, and is highly addictive.

Sanderson has created a complex yet relate-able world with interesting and like-able characters (my favorite is Saze) and some amazing “bad guys” (remember the steel inquisitors – very cool.) There are also some important messages within the book one where he addresses the social and culture importance and significance of religion. He does this while supporting a perspective of acceptance and diversity – a great message. There is also a science fiction element to the book due to Allomancy but I would never the less categorize Mistborn as a fantasy.

Mistborn has a strong female character (yeah!), some violence, and a light touch of romance. Even though classified as an adult book I would recommend it for advanced young adult readers interested in the genre because it has a “coming of age” feel to it.

I am really, really, looking forward to the second and third of the series as well as his other books but am told that this book can be read as a stand alone.(less)

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Dec 24, 2008

Jeanne rated it

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 14, 2009

Jane rated it

Recommends it for: anyone

This is one of my all time favorite books - It is the ONLY one I'm adding to my shelf that I read before joining GoodReads. (Though I finished it fairly recently.

What I liked most about this book.

1 - Good Characters, Good Plot, Interesting Magic System

2 - I liked the whole "bad guy won" and changed the world bad thing

3 - I thought the villians were convincing and imposing

4 - I really loved the end it was fast paced had had so...more

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Apr 16, 2011

Lady Moorchild rated it

Shelves: fantasy, politics, strong-female-leads, favorites

In the midst of so many look-alike, Tolkien-inspired high fantasies, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire stands out with its 1800s, Industrial Revolution era setting, unique and complex magic system, and a plot that blends together the epic fantasy with a "heist" plot, and does so in a most unexpected (and welcomed) ways.

Essentially, The Final Empire is about a group of thieves from the slave class (called the ska) who attempt to overthrow the tyranny of the immo...moreIn the midst of so many look-alike, Tolkien-inspired high fantasies, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire stands out with its 1800s, Industrial Revolution era setting, unique and complex magic system, and a plot that blends together the epic fantasy with a "heist" plot, and does so in a most unexpected (and welcomed) ways.

Essentially, The Final Empire is about a group of thieves from the slave class (called the ska) who attempt to overthrow the tyranny of the immortal god and hero of the ages, the Lord Ruler. While this summary in itself was not enough to grab me as a potential reader, I became intrigued after hearing Sanderson on the Writing Excuses podcast. He never failed to make a statement that I found myself fully agreeing with, including how and why to avoid writing flat (especially female) characters, avoiding straw-men (Sanderson gives balanced perspectives for all of his characters), and avoiding formula (and does he!).

Yet what drove me through this rather hefty novel was the characterization: The Final Empire features a cast of developed, lovable and interesting characters; I could not help but feel concerned for, and genuinely fear, for the protagonist's well being. The dialogue is clever, and at times funny. Every character falls within a shade of gray, which is always a plus for a reader like myself.

Sanderson is also well-known for his development of logical, complex and creative magic systems. Allomancy, the magic in Mistborn is all of these things: allomancers "burn" metals (each one with a separate magical property) after ingesting them into their bodies. Unlike many fantasy worlds, magic in the Mistborn trilogy not only has reason for existing and actual impact on the world, but has been crafted down to an exact science on Sanderson's part. I won't lie: I considered eating pennies and "burning" the copper not before I realized what detrimental health effects it would have on my person.

The only drawbacks I could find were with Sanderson's prose in itself (mediocre, no beautiful imagery here), but his intricate magic system, compelling characters and plot supersedes any of the faults.

Highly recommended.
(less)

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Dec 11, 2008

Robin rated it

Shelves: fantasy

So I finished up this book. I must say that overall I really liked it. The strong points were....

1 - Good characters Keslier, Vin, and Sazed really stood out.

2 - Fairly original - the setting of a world where the hero failed and all is dominated by ash and oppression was interesting.

3 - Good magic system - interesting premise and very believable

4 - Good ending - some things were predictable, some were unexpected - some interesting open questions ...more

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Jan 19, 2008

Ann rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: lovers of epic fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the second published fantasy novel for Sanderson, the first being Elantris, which I have also read. Elantris was an impressive first novel, and to my delight, Sanderson's skill has only improved with Mistborn.

The story takes a common trope: the hero that saves the world, and twists it so that one thousand years later, that hero is now a tyrant and the world is not a place where you'd want to live. It's oppressive, both physically: ash falls like snow, the plants are all brow...moreThis is the second published fantasy novel for Sanderson, the first being Elantris, which I have also read. Elantris was an impressive first novel, and to my delight, Sanderson's skill has only improved with Mistborn.

The story takes a common trope: the hero that saves the world, and twists it so that one thousand years later, that hero is now a tyrant and the world is not a place where you'd want to live. It's oppressive, both physically: ash falls like snow, the plants are all brown, the sun burns red and psychologically: there's a huge gap between the nobles and the slave-class, the skaa. The Lord Ruler's power is felt in his Obligators, who are more or less priests/tax collectors, and even more so in the Steel Inquisitors, who are seemingly immortal beings with steel spikes driven through their heads. They enforce the Lord Ruler's religion and will. Into this, throw a small band of thieves who begin to plot a dangerous job: Overthrow the Lord Ruler.

The main focus of the novel is on two half-skaa: Kelsier and Vin.

Vin is a young woman who grew up on the streets and is part of a thieving crew. She's used (and physically abused) by her crew-chief as a kind of goodluck charm... she can affect people's emotions and cause them to give in to suggestion more easily. Unfortunalty, her crew-chief decided to try to trick the obligators, and takes Vin with him... and Vin's powers are discovered. Luckily for her, she's also discovered by Kelsier, another thieving crew chief, but of a very different kind. Kelsier saves Vin and informs her that she is Mistborn, as is he.

And this is where Sanderson really shines... he creates a unique magic system built on "burning" metals, that is, physically ingesting them and using them for magic, called Allomancy. Each metal gives the wielder a power and the alloy of that metal gives the wielder the opposite property. Only the nobles (and not all of them) have this ability, and for the most part, those that do have it can only burn one metal. A very small number of those can burn all and are Mistborn. (It's a one or all skill. You can either burn only one, or you can burn them all.)

The nobles are not to produce children with the skaa, and those that do are killed (both the nobles and the children) but a few survive. Nobles that do have sex with skaa women (and remember, they're slaves) just kill them when they're done.

Kelsier trains Vin as Mistborn and brings her into her crew. They're working on an impossible, crazy job: to overthrow the Final Empire. The story really is one of Vin finding herself and learning to trust others. It's also the story of Kelsier sacrificing himself for the greater good.

It's a good tale.

The beginning is very strong, an opening that world builds well, but shows us what the world is like. The novel does spend a lot of time in the character's heads and at strange times (like Vin thinking about Allomancy theory while beaten and nearly naked in the Lord Ruler's dungeon), but the action scenes, such as Vin and Kelsier training and fighting as Mistborn are very well done. My biggest complaint was that the budding romance between Vin and Elend Venture, the heir to one of the most powerful noble houses, felt a bit flat. It just wasn't... passionate enough.

The Lord Ruler was properly tyrannical and his power impressive and oppressive. The Steel Inquisitors were just plain scary. I don't want to meet one, ever.

The ending was satisfying, though it felt a bit rushed. The climax is on page 573, and the book ends 70 paqes later, and that includes an eleven page epilogue. I was out of breath by the breakneck speed of the falling action. But there are more books, so he didn't have to neatly clean everything up.

Overall, an enjoyable, well-written novel. I'd recommend this one as a good read, if you're into epic fantasy. If, for nothing else, than the magic system. The one in Elantris was cool, too.(less)

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Nov 05, 2008

Juan Manuel rated it

Shelves: great-novels, fantasy

Good books have a little problem... they end. I was surprised by how much I liked this book! Couldn't recommend it enough. The plot and the world depicted in it are refreshingly different of what one comes to expect from a Fantasy book. Indeed, "Mistborn" does not have that (for me) fatal flaw of today's fiction, the reason why I can't stomach many of todays dramas like "Heroes", "House", "Lost", etc: The main characters are humorless, self-centered, I-lov...more

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Jun 19, 2007

Andrea rated it

Shelves: speculative-fiction

It's the first in a trilogy, and in many fantasy books that first book is a little bit arduous as the world is setup. Not so in this book, where Things Definitely Happen. At the end of the book, I knew that there was more behind the whole scenario than is described, but it still seems like a fairly tidy ending. So instead of feeling frustrated that the next two books weren't out at the time, I felt that wonderful sense of peace and glee that comes when you finish a book with a satisfying ending...more

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Jan 19, 2010

Whitaker rated it

Shelves: fantasy-scifi, e-book, 2009-read

This is a second attempt at a review of this trilogy, my first having been grievously ignored (whimper!). This time, I'm gonna play it straight.

I love it when fantasy gets original. All those D&D Tolkeinesque clones bore me. That's why I read Robin Hobb--one of the more original fantasy voices out there. And Brian Sanderson has now joined the list.

The least original thing about this trilogy is the system of magic: Certain persons have certain abilities that allow them t...more

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Dec 29, 2008

Kathleen rated it

I thought the fight scenes, where the Mistborn characters are using their magic to Push and Pull against metals in order to move around, got a little too detailed -- and made my eyes tend to glaze over -- but the characters were strong and interesting.

Kelsier, the Survivor, was very compelling, and Vin, his apprentice Mistborn, was sympathetic and believable. I came to care very much about them and what they were trying to do.

This novel resolves nicely, but the resolutio...more

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Dec 02, 2011

Veronica rated it

Shelves: fantasy

This book was quite good. It had engaging characters, a fast-paced plot, and was generally thoroughly enjoyable. The basic outline of the story is that after a thousand years of oppression by a ruler claiming to be an immortal piece of god, a group of well-trained, expert thieves led by a flawed but nevertheless christ-like figure, who is also a Mistborn (you'll have to read it to find out what that is; I never like giving away too much in my reviews) decides they've had enough and plot to bring...moreThis book was quite good. It had engaging characters, a fast-paced plot, and was generally thoroughly enjoyable. The basic outline of the story is that after a thousand years of oppression by a ruler claiming to be an immortal piece of god, a group of well-trained, expert thieves led by a flawed but nevertheless christ-like figure, who is also a Mistborn (you'll have to read it to find out what that is; I never like giving away too much in my reviews) decides they've had enough and plot to bring the empire down. The crew is joined by a street-urchin who, it turns out, also happens to be a Mistborn. Their plan is to overthrow both the central government and the nobility-dominated economy in order to destabilize the authority and control of the god-like tyrant known as the Lord Ruler. Murder and mayhem ensue, and well, you'll have to read it to see how it all plays out. But Sanderson, for all of the violence, bloodshed, and betrayal seems to be a sentimentalist at heart, so you can be pretty sure that Things Will Work Out In the End.

Vin, the Mistborn street-urchin, is a sympathetic character, and the novel is really centered around her. It's something of a bildungsroman and could easily be a stand alone, though this is the first in a trilogy. The other two books seem to center around the same group of characters, which is always nice in a world as big and complete as this one. They cover the what happens after the Things Work Out In the End. There are several philosophical issues at work in the novel, as there usually are in SF and Fantasy novels, though the issues in this novel are less subtle. There is even a Philosopher Thief, but because the issues are so obvious, they feel too superficial to require deep thought. The class war recalls early anti-slavery and civil rights issues (are the skaa (the labor class of the Final Empire) really inferior beings? can they really be capable of running an empire?). In this sense, the novel is fairly heavy-handed with its morality, but many fantasies tend to be that way. I generally prefer a more subtle, complex morality tale, but I do have an interest in reading the other two novels, at some point in the Near Future (Murakami's newest, 1Q84, arrives on my doorstep tomorrow). I would definitely recommend this novel to people who like their fantasy high, their worlds complete, and the lines clearly drawn between good and evil, even as the lines between hero and normal are allowed to be a little more blurry, and especially for those who like warm fuzzies at the end of their bloody battles. (less)

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Feb 04, 2012

Cherry Vanilla Addikt rated it

Shelves: 2012, 5-★-2012, epic, magic-n-stuff, ♥heros-2-die-4♥, ☠kick-ass-heroines☠, favs-will-read-again, fav-series

Sorry pero no ando de humor para escribir una review en inglés ... además este libro ya tiene demasiadas reviews muy buenas ... así que ... aquí voy ...

Este libro es EPICO!!

Hay una profecía sobre el héroe que salvará a la humanidad ... pero que pasa si dicho héroe falla??? El libro comienza con el mundo que este héroe "salvó" ... porque si lo salvó ... verdad??

En este mundo ya no hay plantas verdes, no hay flores, todo está cubierto de cenizas y una raza,...more

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Oct 23, 2011

Tsvetelina rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Tsvetelina by: Мартина Неделчева

Shelves: fantasy, favorite, romance, adventure

Поредният ми изблик за четене, както и препоръката на една приятелка предопределиха да захвана тази поредица. И никак не съжалявам. Даже малко се ядосвам, че не я започнах малко по-рано, когато бях по-свободна, за да й се отдам изцяло... Е, какво пък. Иначе щях да я свърша за два-три дена.

"Последната империя" ни запознава с един свят, в който има едноличен управител над хората - лорд Владетеля, за който се предполага, че преди много хиляди години е спасил човечеството от ня...moreПоредният ми изблик за четене, както и препоръката на една приятелка предопределиха да захвана тази поредица. И никак не съжалявам. Даже малко се ядосвам, че не я започнах малко по-рано, когато бях по-свободна, за да й се отдам изцяло... Е, какво пък. Иначе щях да я свърша за два-три дена.

"Последната империя" ни запознава с един свят, в който има едноличен управител над хората - лорд Владетеля, за който се предполага, че преди много хиляди години е спасил човечеството от някаква страховита сила. Но този владетел е тиранин, поробил обикновените хора да му служат, издигнал някои от приближените си в аристократическо съсловие, което да управлява обикновените хора - скаа. Скаа са подлагани на много мъчения, убийства и гонения. В продължение на векове лорд Владетеля е внушавал величието на божествения си произход, изтребвал е нации и религии, подлагал е на гонения всеки, който смята за заплаха за властта си, и е установил твърди закони, според които благородниците нямат право да имат потомство със скаа. Това се дължи на факта, че магическите способности, запазени за благородниците, не бива да се пренасят и върху обикновения човек. Защото какво би било по-силно от един гневен скаа, притежаващ свръхсили?

Но винаги има такива, които престъпват закона. И тук е времето да се запознаем с Келсайър - мъглороден и аломант въпреки произхода си. Аломантите са хора, които притежават способността да поглъщат метали и да ги "горят", като така получават определени способности. Келсайър сътворява велик план, с който да свали лорд Владетеля от престола му и да сложи край на всичките несправедливости. Затова събира и дружина от верни приятели, които да му помагат в това начинание. По тази причина се запознаваме и с Вин, друга мъглородна, отрасла на улицата.

Тази книга ни въвежда в един свят, който е доста сложен и внимателно построен. Брандън Сандерсън много старателно изгражда всички аспекти на фантастичната си вселена, като нито за миг не нарушава нейните строги физични и религиозни закони. Затова и четенето те потапя толкова надълбоко в действието, че съпреживяваш всеки един разговор, всяка една битка.

"Последната империя" поставя на преден план няколко проблема, които се развиват в пълен аспект през цялата творба. Първо, имаме проблема за потисничеството и робството и доколко един човек, провъзгласил се за бог, има правото да се разпорежда с живота на останалите. На второ място стои прокараната много внимателно от автора нишка за това, че народ, който е бил подложен на изтребление и мъчение, на религиозно гонение и упадък, е обречен да забрави ценностите и вярата си, да стане бездушен роб, неспособен да вдигне глава дори при най-големите зверства. Също така виждаме и темата за живота на улицата, за малтретирането на децата, за постоянния страх, в който живеят крадците. Не по-назад остават и сложните политически интриги, разиграващи се в обществото на благородниците. Развита е и тематиката за приятелите и доверието, за това, че въпреки подозрителността на едно малтретирано дете, то може да промени светогледа си и да допусне хора до себе си. Внедрена е и идеята за важността на запазването на различните култури и религии, защото те са голямо богатство. И не на последно място Брандън Сандърсън ни показва как чрез образа на Келсайър се сътворяват легенди и как се раждат "богове", които цял един народ обича и почита.

Към цялата картина се добавят и куп второстепенни герои, всеки от които обогатява творбата със своята духовитост и качества - като Сейзед с неговата мъдрост и натрупани знания, като Хамънд със своите философски въпроси, като Бриз със склонността си да манипулира хората, без да им мисли злото, като тихия и скептичен Клъбс, който предпазва приятелите си, и дори като благородника Елънд, който живее с разбирането, че управлението на лорд Владетеля не е правилно, че трябва да настъпи промяна. Обаче двамата главни герои са това, което прави творбата епична. Вин е силна личност, която търпи много метаморфози, бори се срещу насилието и се опитва да балансира между желанието да помогне на скаа и надигащата се в нея възхита към света на благородниците, откривайки, че не всички са абсолютното зло. От друга страна Келсайър е този, който притежава огромна харизма и лесно увлича хората в своите вярвания. Той дава живот на една налудничава идея и успява да убеди всички, че това не е мисия невъзможна. Безразсъден и далновиден, Келсайър успява да вдъхне вяра на обезверения народ и да направи нещо велико. Той е герой, който те кара да го обикнеш въпреки многото му недостатъци.

И ако към всичко това добавим доза фантастика, щипка мистицизъм и няколко лъжички романтика, се получава една епична смес, идеално разбъркана от автора до получаването на еднородна консистенция, която читателят неминуемо харесва.(less)

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Aug 01, 2011

Erica (daydreamer) rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: adult, lds-authors, i-own, 2011-reads, absolute-favorites, best-characters, best-endings, brilliant-authors, didnt-expect-to-love-so-much, favorite-romance, i-recommend-it, incredible, love-love-it, made-me-cry, made-me-laugh, novels-that-inspire-me, original-creative-premise, purely-brilliant, swoon-worthy-male-love-interests, strong-heroines, treasured-keeps, would-love-if-it-were-a-movie, love-with-all-my-heart, outstanding-worldbuilding, heroes-i-respect-and-praise

Mistborn was everything I was hoping it to be, and so much more. It is truly an utterly brilliant fantastical novel that stunned me with its intricate world building, vivacious characters, and creative plot executed with amazing talent that few authors possess. It is quite long, but this is so that Sanderson can explain in detail the art of Allomancy, Mistborns, the land Luthedel, the characters lives and pasts, and the rebellion and overthrowing of the Lord Ruler’s reign that they are planning....more

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Jan 14, 2012

Jamie rated it

Shelves: favorites, re-read, e-book

When I first bought Mistborn, it was from the Waldenbooks store in our local mall back in Ohio. I was about nineteen years old, and it was common in my life at this time to take a weekly trip to this store and pick up a handful of books for $20 or so. I found Mistborn sitting on a bottom shelf in the Sci Fi and Fantasy section, and it was the only copy of Mistborn on the shelf. In fact, it was the only book by Brandon Sanderson in the whole store that I could see. I remember picking up the book ...more

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Feb 06, 2011

Milo rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: the-great-shelf-of-meh, redumbdancy, you-keep-drinkin-ill-keep-thinkin

Mistborn: The Final Empire is a 2006 fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson. It is part of the Mistborn trilogy, but is a complete story on its own (although not everything is wrapped tidily at the end) and can be read as such. In the Mistborn world, an immortal tyrant has ruled the empire for a thousand years. Now, a group of thieves and magic users undertake a plot to overthrow him.

Mistborn's magic system is refreshingly novel. Most magic users have access to one of eight special abiliti...moreMistborn: The Final Empire is a 2006 fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson. It is part of the Mistborn trilogy, but is a complete story on its own (although not everything is wrapped tidily at the end) and can be read as such. In the Mistborn world, an immortal tyrant has ruled the empire for a thousand years. Now, a group of thieves and magic users undertake a plot to overthrow him.

Mistborn's magic system is refreshingly novel. Most magic users have access to one of eight special abilities, which they activate by ingesting trace amounts of the appropriate metal. The more powerful Mistborn have access to all eight metal-based abilities, plus more, making them in essence a poor man's hybrid of Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. Mistborn's main character is Vin, a sixteen year old petty thief who has just discovered that she is a Mistborn, and who has joined this conspiracy to overthrow the empire.

Most of Sanderson's supporting cast has been drawn from the bin of generic, flat, cookie-cutter fantasy characters. His treatment of Vin, though, makes us wonder what he was thinking. Particularly early on, both Sanderson as the narrator and his characters point out repeatedly that she is timid and has low self-confidence. But Sanderson doesn't write her that way - Vin is headstrong, stubborn, nosy, fussy and sarcastic. This is not the only time that what the characters do and what the narrator says about them do not agree. Either way, Vin isn't a particularly interesting or likeable character.

Sanderson's writing keeps him from getting the most out of his story, which is a shame because the magic is interesting and the plot is perfectly good. The story develops slowly. Sanderson spends the first 150 pages of the novel belaboring the magic system and having his characters speak in stiff, expository history-lesson paragraphs, almost as though he were writing this so it could be followed by small children. At 530 pages, Mistborn is at least 100 pages too long, and it's often tough to get through.

Mistborn does get it together over the last 100 pages and has a genuinely solid and reasonably satisfactory climax. There are flashes of brilliance here, but it may be too little, too late to persuade readers to read the sequels.

In On Writing, Stephen King said, "The adverb is not your friend." But the adverb is Sanderson's very good friend indeed. He flings them liberally, distractingly, throughout the novel, and not only are there too many, he often makes some jarringly curious choices. And Sanderson's dialogue throughout the novel is wooden and clunky - bad to a degree one typically finds only in world-building genre fiction like this.

Sanderson has done a good job constructing his world and his magic system, but he's done a terrible job actually telling the story, making Mistborn: The Final Empire a frustrating and disappointing work. (less)

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May 15, 2010

Canoeu rated it

Shelves: fantasy, 5-stars-favorite, favorites, books-i-ve-reviewed

This is a story where the Dark Lord has won. Skies are no longer blue, plants are no longer green, ash falls from the sky daily, half of the population is oppressed and strange creatures called inquisitors strike fear in even the noblemen's hearts. It's a story about the ultimate heist, the overthrowing of a centuries long empire. Sanderson has crafted a highly detailed world and magic system unlike anything I have read before. Mistborn is chock-full of political intrigue, riveting action scene...more

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About Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is an American fantasy author. A Nebraska native, he currently resides in Provo, Utah. He earned his Master's degree in Creative Writing in 2005 from Brigham Young University. He has been nominated twice for the John W. Campbell Award.

Sanderson married on July 7, 2006 and is a member of the LDS church. Sanderson's writing is noteworthy for its epic fantasy tone, uniqu...more

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