PART ONE DISCUSSION

[Jay]

**SPOILER WARNING: READ TO THE END OF PART 1**

What do you guys think of Allowmancy??
I THINK IT'S AMAZING.
Is it just me or does burning Steel and Iron to push off of metal objects or pull them towards you, sort of give of a Spider man vibe? This is definitely in the books favour.

I love the fight scenes! When Kelsier broke into that nobles keep to steal their Atium, the way he moved around and fought was incredible. There was a moment where he pulled an armored guard towards himself, planted both feet on the guards chest, then kicked off after slicing his throat. Brutal but very cool.


Since the last discussion, we have had many things happen. The idea of this huge heist plan is something I have never seen in a fantasy book before, and it's really refreshing. The characters all feel alive, with each person unique. I especially appreciate Breeze's witty remarks (even if I wouldn't exactly trust him, since he's a Soother), but Kelsier is by far my favorite. I'm still curious about his brother, and look forward to learning more about him.


Oh yeah... MISTWRAITHS. THOSE THINGS ARE SO CREEEEEEPY.





Vin's role in the heist should turn out to be rather interesting. It will be nice to get a look at what it's like for the nobles, and all of their royal balls and feasts. Vin still seems very shy and unwilling to trust many people, so I think she's going to need quite a bit of courtly training before her first mission.

P.S. I wonder if Skaa go around collecting the coins that Allowmancers leave lying around on the ground?

[Dimitris]

This is such a great book so far! Yes, the magic system is unique and captivating. The world building too. OMG those eaters of the dead Mistwraiths.... :O
They freaked me out too!

But I'd like to focus on the three characters that I feel drawn to the most in this post:

1) Kelsier is such a great guy. I want to read more about what happened when he got caught and how he escaped the Pits of Hathsin. I admire him so much for sticking to this almost impossible plan of his. It's rare to read about a character so driven, so set on his "sacred" goal, that he commits horrible things as well on the way. I don't agree with his older brother coming out of nowhere, not helping yet accusing him of killing innocents in the process. Yeah, I too am used to reading about heroes who "don't stoop to the bad guys' tactics to win" and while this is very noble and politically correct to write about, it simply isn't realistic. If one doesn't get his hands dirty, bloody, tyrants aren't overthrown. Plus, there are no innocents in a dictatorship. All choose a side and if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. I admire Kelsier for not sparing even his own kind - Skaas - who have chosen to serve the high-ranking officials of the big Houses.

2) With Vin, in the begining I thought, oh here we go again, an orphaned skinny tomboy with short black hair who's a petty street thief and doesn't realize she's got these rare powers till the male protagonist helps her "awaken" and understand that she's an Antari Mistborn :/ Thankfully this character here is much more likeable and reasonable (sorry!) and humane and actually seems to have a code of ethics in her: she sees how Kelsier rescued her and how he's sincere in helping her become stronger and independent without asking things in return and therefore she feels this moral obligation to help him. His cause has become her cause too. Her powers and her soul evolve hand-in-hand. I love reading characters like this.

3) Finally, the immortal Lord Ruler. His greatest attribute and source of terror for the reader is that we don't know anything about him yet! I think it's very clever of Sanderson that he hasn't introduced him or even vaguely described him to us at all! No name either, just a title.... No wonder they consider him a God. I feel we'll see more of him at some point and that his appearance will be very regular at not the source of the terror he's been inflicting on an entire empire for a thousand years.

Let's read more!

PS: Who is that anonymous narrator who rants about his past in italics for a paragraph at the begining of each chapter? Is all this supposed to help us understand something about the actual storyline or is it someone's (Kelsier's?) flashbacks?.... It gets on my nerves cause otherwise the plot is surprisingly simple and linear.

[Jay]

Dimitris wrote: "This is such a great book so far! Yes, the magic system is unique and captivating. The world building too. OMG those eaters of the dead Mistwraiths.... :O
They freaked me out too!

But I'd like to..."

I really want to learn more about Kelsier's escape from the Pits of Hathsin as well, and I also admire his determination and how he's willing to get his hands a bit dirty. His brother really has to open his eyes, and realize what has to be done to overthrow the Lord Ruler. Kelsier is such a great character, and one that I seem to like the more I read.

Vin is another chrcter I like more, the more that I read. LOL I completely relate to your worry at first of her having the likeness of a certain so-called thief/Antari in training. That was exactly my thought as well (and it's funny how Kelsier's nickname is Kell). What I love about Vin is that she is a changing character; one who learns and adapts instead of hanging on to her basic character tropes that she started with. Much unlike that certain Antari from Schwabs novels. Vin is such a fantastic character to read!

I also applaud Sanderson for not introducing us to the Lord Ruler yet. It definitely adds an air of mystery and fear, and gives him a sort of Voldemort presence.

The italicized paragraphs are a puzzle to me too. I assume at some point it will all click and make sense for us, but right now I have no idea who it is. I was thinking it might be Kelsier's flashbacks as well... hmm or possibly the Lord Ruler's? We'll have to find out! :)