SH Part 1: Prologue - Chapter 13

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Part 1

Please keep all discussion to the events and speculation from Prologue - Chapter 13.

No spoiler tags required. Though it would be highly appreciated if you Uncheck Add to my Update Feed to avoid accidentally spoiling this for your good read friends.

Please do not discuss events from later chapters

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

So not much to comment on for part 1. I'm not sure if it's because it YA or what, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot that's happened so far. Mostly a lot of setup.

I really enjoy the premise a lot. The world building is pretty good too. I like that there are tiers of Epics and they all seem to have some kind of weakness.

I do have concerns about the sustainability of the premise in a series. So far it only really seems suited to a stand-alone novel.

Maybe he's going to drag everything out. I'm really hoping that based on the title, this book deals with them killing Steelheart.

It's certainly been established that there are other nasty Epics out there to deal with. I'm not sure if I want to read a series where each book is about killing some new Epic.

I hope the driving force of the series is the mystery of where the Epics came from and the new object in the sky the showed up just before them (I forget the name).

[Adam]

Yeah, you can definitely tell it's written for a younger audience. Not as engrossing as the Way of Kings for sure. I like how nerdy David is with all of his notes and spreadsheets about the epics. All of his terrible metaphors made me laugh a couple times too.

My guess is that this book will be about Steelheart and David's revenge but I don't think that will settle the matter. Either Steelheart will turn out to be not the top of the pyramid in the city or the Reckoners will expand past Chicago. I have a feeling he will leave the mystery of Calamity for the third book (I think this was a planned trilogy?).

I'm interested to see what Sanderson does with some of the upcoming Epics. He always thinks up some crazy scenarios for fight scenes, and with Epic powers involved I'm interested to see what he comes up with.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Adam wrote: "I like how nerdy David is with all of his notes and spreadsheets about the epics. "

Yeah, that was pretty cool.

Adam wrote: "I have a feeling he will leave the mystery of Calamity for the third book (I think this was a planned trilogy?)."

I'm fine with him not giving away the whole of it this book, but I think I'd prefer it if we get clues about it as the series goes on.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Oh and I don't know why I never posted my theory on Steelheart's weakness. I think it has something to do with the act of saving his life. Maybe he's weakened by acts of kindness?

[Sky]

Rob wrote: "Oh and I don't know why I never posted my theory on Steelheart's weakness. I think it has something to do with the act of saving his life. Maybe he's weakened by acts of kindness?"

I went into the book thinking something very similar: that he could only be hurt by someone who was genuinely trying to protect him. And that's all that I'm going to say.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

You need to really keep in mind that this is Young Adult, not Grimdark Fantasy..

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I'd be surprised if Abercrombie's YA series is nearly as dark and gritty as his other books have been.

I'm sure it will be darker than this, but I don't agree he's going to offend people with it.

I'm also getting a little tired of how everything needs to be dark an "realistic" these days. Sometimes I like a book where you know there will be a "happily ever after."

Real world events can be depressing enough with my recreational reading being such a downer all the time.

[Dara]

Not sure how I feel about this one so far. I've loved everything I've read by Sanderson so far but this one feels different. I tired easily of David fawning over Megan. I'd like that to go away. The banter between the Reckoners feels forced to me. "Look at us! We joke with each other so we must be close!" is how it feels to me. Doesn't feel natural. The world and story of the Epic is intriguing but so far, I don't really like any of the characters.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

I wasn't bothered by any of the stuff you've mentioned, but this book did take a bit to grab me. I think the second half is much better and bumped it from a 3 to a 4 for me.

[Dara]

It reminds me of The Expanse series. Love the setting, can't stand most of the characters.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Jim Butcher is hilarious.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Last off topic comment, wait until you meet Ramirez.

[Dara]

This doesn't flow like his past work. I also don't really dig urban fantasy much so maybe that has something to do with it.

[Bill]

I like the pace of the novel so far. Steelheart seems like evil superman with the ability to turn things to steel. I don't mind the banter between the reckoners as much as the simple classification(sniper, heavy guns, scholar) of the members.

[Mpauli]

I can only add to that, what most of you already said.
I really like the world-building with the different kinds od epics and their weaknesses.
But most of it is just hinted at. The story itself seems to be pretty straight forward and, despite their wanting to kill the meanest Epic around, lacks a bit of epicness.

I've only read the first Mistborn book so far, but the way the Reckoners are described and how they approach the job reminded me a lot of team Kelsier. Everybody has his/her job and is part of the plan.

And although David's geekyness gets a few sympathy points from me, he's mostly unlikeable. His whole devotion to the cause, building his life around the destruction of Steelheart feels a bit forced and doesn't sit right with me.

At the moment the book isn't really grabing me and drives on a 3 star course, not bad though.

[Bill]

Mpauli wrote: "I can only add to that, what most of you already said.
I really like the world-building with the different kinds od epics and their weaknesses.
But most of it is just hinted at. The story itself se..."

I was also reminded of Mistborn (view spoiler)[ but more the blending of abilities that happened in Alloy of Law. (hide spoiler)]

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Mpauli wrote: " His whole devotion to the course, building his life around the destruction of Steelheart feels a bit forced and doesn't sit right with me."

Have you ever lost someone close to you? If so how old were you? My mom died when I was 17, so it makes perfect sense to me.

I'm just lucky I didn't have something to direct my rage at plus I had a lot of family and friends around for support.

David had no one. His motives make perfect sense to me.

[Mpauli]

Rob wrote: "David had no one. His motives make perfect sense to me."

Interesting point. I hadn't thought about it this way.