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.

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.