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Kaitlyn's Reviews > Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set
Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set (Mistborn, #1-3)
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This is quite possibly my new favorite series, as you may have been able to tell if you read my individual reviews. But, as an entire series, here are some of the highlights:
1) The unique world that, from the very beginning, has a reason for what it is like that is gradually explained and expanded, but starts subtly enough that it simply seems like the world has always been this way.
2) The chapter headings, which are revealing without giving away anything.
3) The magic, which can do a lot and has many aspects, but never breaks the rules and is explained better and better over time.
4) The characters. Oh, how I love the characters. They are flawed, they are strong, they are trying so very hard to do what is right. For once, there was a strong female lead who didn't grate over my spine and make me want to die. She is strong, she has a girly side, she is human, she is flawed. Seriously, all the characters, even the ones who you don't see much of, even with the tons and tons of characters, feel like people. Some that I would like, some... not. But people.
5) The twists oh my gosh the twists. I have never read a series quite like this, where, from the very beginning, the littlest details might be the bearers of the plot. Anyone heard of Chekov's Gun? (If not, look it up on TV Tropes, spend hours looking through the amazingness that is there, and then come back). Well, in this case, a gun is too obvious. Try Chekov's shoe. Because a gun, well, that actually seems like it might be important from the beginning. But a shoe? Pfft. And then suddenly you are told why it is there and you stare at all you have read and you cannot believe that it was there the entire time. And he does this multiple times. Guess what? It doesn't get old.
6) Er... everything I've forgotten. Basically, I finished, waited a day for my mind to repair itself, and then started over. They are that good. When I got them for my sister, she literally read for more than 24 hours straight. First time I've ever had her respond to a text before 8 am. If this does not convince you... fine. Your loss of amazingness. Because despite politics and action scenes that get a little bit old rather quickly... THIS IS WORTH YOUR TIME. Don't be off-put by the size... that's also part of what makes it amazing.
Sanderson, I want to steal your brain and write with it. You are incredible.
BRUCE REVIEW:
Brandon Sanderson is quite possibly one of my new all-time favorite authors, and the Mistborn Trilogy is a large part of the reason. This summer I read all three books, and despite being dense and fairly long, they were worth every moment. This gritty fantasy was unlike anything I’ve read before.
Pinning down one or two themes over the course of three books is… difficult. But two especially stood out to me: no one is simply what they seem at first, and if you think you know everything, you are probably about to be terribly wrong.
Let’s look at the first one. Well, welcome to a world where swallowing metal can give you magic, a street girl will grow to love the courts of the nobles she hates (when she isn’t being the best female lead I have ever read), a nerdy noble can be a king, a thief can rise to be the ‘Savior’, and the mean girl at the ball could quite possibly be a serious threat when it comes to fighting on roof-tops. Yeah. Welcome to a land where any assumption will get you killed. Especially if it is that “I know what’s coming next!” Any specific example would ruin it, but… the first time they think they know exactly what to do, the heroes manage to unleash a killer mist on the world. The second time, trying to fix that one, they manage to let loose something even worse. And for me, repeatedly I would lower the book in utter shock as it threw my casual assumption back in my face in the most masterful way I have ever seen.
One part did make me rather uncomfortable: Sazed, who started out wanting everyone to believe in a religion (it didn’t matter which), goes through a crisis where he becomes convinced that all religions, as they have no proof, must be wrong. Being a Christian, this didn’t sit with me… until he came to the realization that it wasn’t about proof. The whole point was faith. I’m fairly certain this is Sanderson’s view as well.
Seriously, if somewhat long, detailed fight sequences are okay, this is one of the best book I have ever read. Read it. It is worth the effort.
1) The unique world that, from the very beginning, has a reason for what it is like that is gradually explained and expanded, but starts subtly enough that it simply seems like the world has always been this way.
2) The chapter headings, which are revealing without giving away anything.
3) The magic, which can do a lot and has many aspects, but never breaks the rules and is explained better and better over time.
4) The characters. Oh, how I love the characters. They are flawed, they are strong, they are trying so very hard to do what is right. For once, there was a strong female lead who didn't grate over my spine and make me want to die. She is strong, she has a girly side, she is human, she is flawed. Seriously, all the characters, even the ones who you don't see much of, even with the tons and tons of characters, feel like people. Some that I would like, some... not. But people.
5) The twists oh my gosh the twists. I have never read a series quite like this, where, from the very beginning, the littlest details might be the bearers of the plot. Anyone heard of Chekov's Gun? (If not, look it up on TV Tropes, spend hours looking through the amazingness that is there, and then come back). Well, in this case, a gun is too obvious. Try Chekov's shoe. Because a gun, well, that actually seems like it might be important from the beginning. But a shoe? Pfft. And then suddenly you are told why it is there and you stare at all you have read and you cannot believe that it was there the entire time. And he does this multiple times. Guess what? It doesn't get old.
6) Er... everything I've forgotten. Basically, I finished, waited a day for my mind to repair itself, and then started over. They are that good. When I got them for my sister, she literally read for more than 24 hours straight. First time I've ever had her respond to a text before 8 am. If this does not convince you... fine. Your loss of amazingness. Because despite politics and action scenes that get a little bit old rather quickly... THIS IS WORTH YOUR TIME. Don't be off-put by the size... that's also part of what makes it amazing.
Sanderson, I want to steal your brain and write with it. You are incredible.
BRUCE REVIEW:
Brandon Sanderson is quite possibly one of my new all-time favorite authors, and the Mistborn Trilogy is a large part of the reason. This summer I read all three books, and despite being dense and fairly long, they were worth every moment. This gritty fantasy was unlike anything I’ve read before.
Pinning down one or two themes over the course of three books is… difficult. But two especially stood out to me: no one is simply what they seem at first, and if you think you know everything, you are probably about to be terribly wrong.
Let’s look at the first one. Well, welcome to a world where swallowing metal can give you magic, a street girl will grow to love the courts of the nobles she hates (when she isn’t being the best female lead I have ever read), a nerdy noble can be a king, a thief can rise to be the ‘Savior’, and the mean girl at the ball could quite possibly be a serious threat when it comes to fighting on roof-tops. Yeah. Welcome to a land where any assumption will get you killed. Especially if it is that “I know what’s coming next!” Any specific example would ruin it, but… the first time they think they know exactly what to do, the heroes manage to unleash a killer mist on the world. The second time, trying to fix that one, they manage to let loose something even worse. And for me, repeatedly I would lower the book in utter shock as it threw my casual assumption back in my face in the most masterful way I have ever seen.
One part did make me rather uncomfortable: Sazed, who started out wanting everyone to believe in a religion (it didn’t matter which), goes through a crisis where he becomes convinced that all religions, as they have no proof, must be wrong. Being a Christian, this didn’t sit with me… until he came to the realization that it wasn’t about proof. The whole point was faith. I’m fairly certain this is Sanderson’s view as well.
Seriously, if somewhat long, detailed fight sequences are okay, this is one of the best book I have ever read. Read it. It is worth the effort.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
June 8, 2013
– Shelved
