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Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)

Brandon Sanderson

Start date: June 12, 2015

Finish date: June 30, 2015

Discussion: Books of the Month

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What Members Thought

Dec 29, 2014 Lisi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-english, ebooks, ov-challenge, new-2014, 2015-reads, tbr-shrink-2015, rereads, 2016-reads, 2017-reads

1st read: 29.12.2014 - 03.02.2015
2nd read: 14.02.2016 - 28.02.2016
3rd read: 07.06.2017 - 23.06.2017
4th read: 30.07.2018 -

23 likes · Like · see review

Aug 04, 2018 Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed, favorites, fantasy, wish-list-physical, own-ebook-read, audio, adult

This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

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 This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

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!

More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Rollie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, sff

Help! I need oxygen! This book is absolutely breathtaking!

Let me have first a quick acknowledgment before I start. Thanks to Aaron for the awesome recommendation of this book and thanks to Kwesi, my book sponsor, for buying me a copy of this. I doubt I could have read this book if those two great people don't exist. So, hands down to both of them.

In a world where ashes to ashes fall from the sky; where mist scares common people; where slavery is abused; and where metals serve as their source of

In a world where ashes to ashes fall from the sky; where mist scares common people; where slavery is abused; and where metals serve as their source of power; a god-like emperor reigns over this utopia called Underworld. Under the roof of kredik Shaw, dwells the evil rumored immortal Lord ruler.

Skaa, predecessor of people who never supported Lord Ruler during the ascension. Unfortunately,after thousand of years they become slaves. Kelsier, half-noble half-skaa master robber, is the only one who survived Hatshin--Lord Ruler's version of Hell. Despite of knowing that he was a Mistborn and gaining the title Survivor of Hathsin, which makes him an image of hope for skaa people, he vows to himself a revenge against Lord Ruler for the death of his wife.

Upon Kelsier's gathering of elite Allomancers and allies, he stumbles on meeting Vin. Same as him, half-skaa half-noble but unaware of being a mistborn who later becomes Kelsier's apprentice and becomes potent that everyone thought she couldn't be.

New is indeed the first word that came to my mind when I finished this book. These days, It is rare for me to ransack High Fantasy pieces in my book repertoire. However, dropping my eyes over this book was never a regret but instead worth it. I accidentally kept on picking books that follow the same formula as Lord of the Rings. Contrary, it is I think inevitable for authors not to bite up the formula of a farmer-boy-who-turned-hero if the genre is Fantasy. But as a reader, what matters for me is how the formula executed in a very original equation. This book, I tell you adapted the formula, too, but brilliantly altered the rest of it. New might be weak word if basing my statements above but believe me if J.K. Rowling has her Spells, Cassandra Clare has her Runes, make way for Brandon Sanderson for he has his Metals.

Creative is the best adjective to describe Sander's world-building. A vivid picture of Underworld with consistent supporting descriptions and strong detail. Underworld itself is a picturesque of doomed world and thus Sanderson gives it a proper justice. To add positive things up, the world's description is new that first catches the the readers' attention. Instead of a constant image of a hellish world, a translucent live images of a world under darkness.

Dumbfounding is in a state of being astonished. Therefore, I claim to be dumbfounded. Everything about this book is no doubt astonishing. Impressive is still understatement. The twists are absolutely great that it actually let me keep up reading till morning. If they say that the book is not realistic, in consideration with fantasy, I dare object it.

Genius truly Sanderson is. Instead of spells, he used metals. Instead of wizardry, he used Allomancy. In lieu of apparition, he used mists. His magic system is incredibly believable, not to mention that he's an effective story-teller.

Highly recommended has what Robin Hobb said. Orson Scott Card has stated his praises, too. Who are you waiting for to say something about it, Santa Claus? Don't wet you butt sitting there, go delve the bookstores for a copy of this for I assure you I will risk my neck if you won't like it.

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Nov 22, 2022 Bonnie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-high, fantasy-general

I have read several of Sanderson's YA series but this is the first of his doorstoppers that I've tried to conquer.

I was impressed by the unique but coherent magic system that Sanderson created, I liked the Vin/Elend romance, and enjoyed much of the heist/adventure aspects. But it was long and my attention flagged in the middle. Luckily, it picked up again in the climax. ...more

1 like · Like · see review