The Well of Ascension [November 2017]

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

November 24th

[Siobhan]

Thanks Margret! :)

[Vuk]

Woo, can't wait! Thanks, Margret!

[Ahdam]

Enjoy this one guys and trust me when I say that you will be surprised by how much better this book is and how hero of ages blow the other 2 out of the water

[Chris]

David wrote: "I own the first book but haven't gotten around too it so maybe I should try to read it before this buddy so that I can join this :D"

That would be great but just make sure you have a little time to digest the end of book one before starting this. If you're like me that is, because you'll want some thinking time!

[Siobhan]

Haha Chris is right. But you should totally try and join us :)

[Barry]

Will join this one, though I gotta say I'm hoping for a more mature Vin in the 2nd book.

[Saar The Book owl]

Maybe not the right topic to ask it here, but I'l try it anyway: I see that Sanderson has a lot of series, but I've never read a book of him. I've looked up his books and now, as a complete newbie I ask what is the best series to start with and to explore Sanderson?

[Ahdam]

Hi Saar Brandon had made a post highlighting where you can start I'll put it here

https://brandonsanderson.com/books/wh...

Pretty much if you like fantasy you would want to start with mistborn and stormlight but mistborn for something easier but if you want to read young adult then steelheart and rithmatist are the best options

Hope this helps

[Saar The Book owl]

Thank you, Ahdam! This really helps :)

[Anni]

I will start this tonight, because I hope I can read a couple of chapters before my next Buddy Read starts on the 27th. :)

[Siobhan]

Anni wrote: "I will start this tonight, because I hope I can read a couple of chapters before my next Buddy Read starts on the 27th. :)"

I'm gonna start tonight too! :D excited.

Is everyone who read Final Empire last month on board for this one? Should be fun!!

[Anni]

Let's open the discussion :)
I finished Chapter 3 yesterday and I am a bit disappointed... I loved the first book and couldn't put it down, but here I don't feel engaged right from the start. Of course this is just the beginning and there are tons of pages left to convince me (and I guess they will!), but still I had wished for a bit 'more'...

I think my biggest issue (spoiler for book 1 and maybe slightly for chapter 1) (view spoiler)[ is that I don't see Elend as a King... I liked him in the first book, but he doesn't strike me as a good choice for a King, he is still young and he got all his experiences from books. I think he would have made a better advisor, I don't know... This whole end to the Skaa rebellion doesn't quite satisfie me. Yeah, maybe Elend is a good guy, but why should the people trust him to be any better then the other nobels, who treated them like shit? Argh, I don't know how to explain this properly, I hope it made any sense... (hide spoiler)] I don't want to ruin the mood here, I am optimistic that the book get's better for me, I guess I just want to whine a bit :D

To contribute something positive I (Chapter 3) (view spoiler)[ I am very curious what's the matter with this figure made of mist. (hide spoiler)] and it is nice to see that we have the italic openings again :)

[Chris]

Anni wrote: "Let's open the discussion :)
I finished Chapter 3 yesterday and I am a bit disappointed... I loved the first book and couldn't put it down, but here I don't feel engaged right from the start. Of c..."

I think... (up to page 60)
(view spoiler)[ that was Brandon's point though! He creating a dire situation to build tension at the start of the book. You've got an 18 year old Mistborn (still wet behind the ears) with no more Atium having to deal with assassins. A young visionary king who's doing his best to change policy for a better future. But, as we see through Sazed's part, the new society is struggling with the waves of skaa influxuation into the market places, and while they're out from being oppressed, they lack the guidance to fully succeed without that guidance. And then there's one army and two nations trying to force him to his knees, one of which being his father! Then there's the body form in the mists that seems to be tied to the revelation of the Lord Ruler as he died about keeping a pact of peace in place while he was alive. (hide spoiler)]

So lots of things to think of while you're following along with the story!

[Siobhan]

Anni, I completely understand your point of view on this. By chapter 3 I wasn't feeling it either. But I suppose that's a miniscule part of such a big book.
Spoilers for book 1 and up to chapter 3 (view spoiler)[I think the big thing that's missing for me is KELSIER! I just miss Kel. He was the best character for me. I also don't see Elend as a king, but he was put in that position and I think he knows himself he's struggling. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ So far I'm more interested in Sazed's bits and seeing how the revolution has affected the wider world.
I am however intrigued by the figure in the mist, and I'm glad Chris reminded me there about what the Lord Ruler said - I've got terrible memory!
The one Vin saw didn't seem overly threatening and I was starting to theorise maybe Kelsier was haunting her or something mad like that, but the ones Sazed has heard about (mists during daylight) have killed people! Scary stuff. (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, I can't wait to read more. Hopefully gonna make a good dint in it this weekend.

[Siobhan]

Chris wrote: "Anni wrote: "Let's open the discussion :)
I finished Chapter 3 yesterday and I am a bit disappointed... I loved the first book and couldn't put it down, but here I don't feel engaged right from th..."

By the way Chris, your spoiler explains that so well! Think you've hit the nail on the head really.

[Anni]

Siobhan is right, that was well said Chris! And please don't get me wrong I don't intend to judge the authors ability to write or the book in any way! ;) I think I had a problem with high expectations and was a bit to impatient because of it...

Unfortunately I won't have much time this weekend, we will fell trees in our garden today (12 big fir trees, if everything went well :D) And tomorrow I will visit the theme park Phantasialand with friends :) I am so excited and hope my coming muscle ache won't kill me :D

[Siobhan]

Wow you make me feel so lazy! My plans involve lying on the sofa for two days... XD
Have a fab time at the theme park, will be a good reward for your hard work today.

I think I might have just not been in the right mood yesterday. I'm up to page 90 now, just finished chapter 8, and I am loving it!! Vin included. :D

[Beste]

@chris I didnt see the BR and read it like 2weeks ago :( so I have to say be patient, it gets better, buuuuut I have to warn; there will be moments you will want to choke Vin to death.

[Ahdam]

Yeah like beste said stay strong cause it gets goooood and I have to admit there was a part where I was gonna rage quit this due to a certain part 😜😜😜

[Siobhan]

Oh dear I'm worried now, I'm not strong! Haha 😂

[Chris]

I think it should be alright because Eland is young and the typical 5th in line prince kind of character thrust in to the spotlight. And Vin a hormonal teenage magical ninja! I mean, REALLY, what could go wrong with that? 😨

[Siobhan]

Chris wrote: "I think it should be alright because Eland is young and the typical 5th in line prince kind of character thrust in to the spotlight. And Vin a hormonal teenage magical ninja! I mean, REALLY, what c..."

HA! What could go wrong indeed.

Chapter 18 - (view spoiler)[ I frickin love Zane! He's mental! God: "kill him".
And oh my goodness he's Elend's half brother!! I think Vin quite likes him... Oh no please don't say love triangle, why did my brain just go there... 🙈🙉🙈 please no.

Really enjoying this so far. Still super interested in Sazed and Marsh, they've come across an awful lot of dead people. That village that starved to death because they wouldn't go out in the mists... Wow! (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Chapter 20 - (view spoiler)[I'm pretty annoyed with how long it's taking Vin to bother checking if any of the crew are the imposter... They're discussing really pertinent information in these meetings and as sad as it is, one of them could be the spy... She knows how to test if one is a kandra using allomancy, she just hasn't bothered getting round to it... So stupid. (hide spoiler)]

[Chris]

I've been bouncing between this and Game of Thrones, so, I'll try to catch up today. But, the kids are home.... So, yeah...

[Siobhan]

Chris wrote: "I've been bouncing between this and Game of Thrones, so, I'll try to catch up today. But, the kids are home.... So, yeah..."

No worries, I'm going quickly as I would rather be finished with this before I start Before They are Hanged. I think we overbooked ourselves! 😂

[Siobhan]

Beste wrote: "@chris I didnt see the BR and read it like 2weeks ago :( so I have to say be patient, it gets better, buuuuut I have to warn; there will be moments you will want to choke Vin to death."

@Beste, help, I want to choke Vin to death and I'm not even half way through.

[Anni]

I finished Chapter 14 yesterday and as I also going to start Before they are hanged, I don't think I could catch up with you Siobhan. I think I will take this one slow.

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed the twist with the rivaling Kandra! Now I can't wait to see who is replaced by this thing... Plus, I am a bit scared, that someone I liked is dead :/ When it is someone of Kelsirs old circle I would be sad no matter who it is, I like them all! But I think there is an other target, that could be interesting. These Terris Woman called Tindwyl? If she is able to influence Elend, I think she would make a good spy for the enemy. 

I am curious, what are you think of OreSeur? He is a very strange being, but still I don't like how Vin treated him... This make me feel a bit sorry and maybe even like him.
(hide spoiler)]

I was thinking about the ability of mistborns to use iron and steel. Their powers are influenced by their own weight, so I was wondering if two mistborns could pull at something heavy made of metal and move it toward them, when one of them would move himself toward the metal-thing because it is heavier...
Not that this is important for the story, but the question popped up in my head and now I can't stop wondering :D Was this mentioned before and I only forget about it?

[Siobhan]

That's cool Anni, just go at your own pace :) sorry if I'm going quicker than usual.

I loved chapter 14 too! That was my status update where you said I was scaring you 😂
(view spoiler)[ Tindwyl is such an interesting thought, I don't think I've even considered it! Mind blown. I'm scared now haha.
So awful isn't it thinking who has been eaten :(
I quite like the kandra, I like his attitude when he's all "I just do what I'm told" and "I'll believe how I'm commanded" etc, bless him. I do feel sorry for him. He's just a slave at the end of the day.
(hide spoiler)]

I'm not sure about the weight thing, I have quite a loose grasp of the whole system in my little brain haha!

[Anni]

Siobhan wrote: "That's cool Anni, just go at your own pace :) sorry if I'm going quicker than usual.

I loved chapter 14 too!"

No need to be sorry, I maybe would also read faster if I could :D

(Still chapter 14): (view spoiler)[ Right! It is horrible and if you don't know now, it seems like I have to suffer even longer to get the answer... :D After I made my post and read on (might be Chapter 15, but not really a spoiler) Elend mentioned that Tindwyl removes her binds which made her a ferrochenist and not a Kandra, but I don't see why a Kandra couldn't be strong enough do do so aswell? OreSeur also could do more as a normal dog should be able to do, right? This made me belive even more that she might be the Kandra and that the author want us to believe something else, but maybe I am having an other Ardee-moment here :D (hide spoiler)]

[Ahdam]

Glad everyone is enjoying well of ascension a random thought came into my mind I remember when Mark Lawrence was reading mistborn and he was pointing out the scientific errors with the metals e.g. some metals being the same metals but at different purities and I found it funny (He's technically a scientist so I'll take his word) but he did enjoy it though and he said how he prefers his magic being magical than scientific

What do you guys think of that because I think a lot of people are split on how sanderson handles magic since the magic in a lot of his books are very sciency in a way and some people don't like it and prefer the old school Tolkien way if that makes any sense

[Chris]

Siobhan wrote: "That's cool Anni, just go at your own pace :) sorry if I'm going quicker than usual.

I loved chapter 14 too! That was my status update where you said I was scaring you 😂
Tindwyl is such an intere..."

I'm currently 3 pages from the end of 13, ya'll got me super excited for Chapter 14!

[Siobhan]

Anni wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "That's cool Anni, just go at your own pace :) sorry if I'm going quicker than usual.

I loved chapter 14 too!"

No need to be sorry, I maybe would also read faster if I could :D

(S..."

I love your Ardee moments! XD keep on thinking creatively! :)

Ahdam, I quite like the scientific route. It gives it a base in something real that you can comprehend. I know that's not needed, but sometimes it's nice.
I'm certainly no scientist, but I did wonder about some of the alloys... I would have thought he would have researched it more thoroughly, if Mark Lawrence is saying there's some error, seems it would have been easy enough to consult someone.

[Anni]

I enjoy both types of magic if they are done well. I think an author could ruin both kinds of magic if he couldn't deliver his/her idea. I think it is more important for me that I am able to enjoy the magicsystem, no matter what.
I personally like Sanderson idea of the magics here (and also the one of the Rithmalist, which is a bit mathematical) and don't think it is too scientific, but I am kind of a Scientist as well, so maybe it doesn't count :D

[Anni]

@Chris I think chapter 14 wasn't the shocking one, it's the end of part 1. But I commented after reading till chapter 14 and used my spoiler tag also for things happening afterwards ;)

[Chris]

Ahdam wrote: "Glad everyone is enjoying well of ascension a random thought came into my mind I remember when Mark Lawrence was reading mistborn and he was pointing out the scientific errors with the metals e.g. ..."

I try not to over analyze anything if it's explained well. I mean we're reading fiction about a fantasy world the author created. It's unique, which is refreshing. It's limited to a certain extent, and not just the magic but the people that can do it. The old ways of nature based magic is great but it's been the norm so long that it's like he's rejuvenated a part of the fantasy genre with Feruchemy, Allomancy, even the Steel Inquisitors to a certain degree. And I think that with so much of today's population being higher educated, it's now in our nature to need a scientific (as opposed to a religious) explanation to all things that we encounter in our lives, which is why it works and is blazing trails - it allows us to relate in a way, making it personal. Even Patrick Rothfuss scientifically explained his magic system, and it made logical sense! Niki has used the term speculative fiction a bunch of times. And when you think about it, that can encompass both sci-fi and fantasy because you're speculating on possibilities and intertwining that with a great storyline, no matter the imagined setting! Fantasy just allows more speculation room. Because scientifically speaking, how can you defend the idea of a light skinned, purple haired, nature respecting individual who rides an incandescent unicorn that communicates telepathically and has the ability to teleport after a few hours of sleep! Or closer to the point, an 18 year old, 120 lb. girl who can control magnetic waves, affect wishes, desires and personalities, see with her eyes closed, "hulk smash", run like the Flash, and vanish and kick ass like a ninja that's been training for half her life, even though she's only been a Mistborn for 2 years!

[Barry]

Just finished Ch 10 ... Wow u guys are quite fast. Hopefully the train ride tomorrow will give me enough time to catch up ha!

Brief comment so far: I'm more excited reading Sazed's chapters than Vin's. The political situation is getting interesting, though it seems like there'll be a continuation of the love triangle aspect?

Re : the metals not being scientifically accurate. It'd bother me more in a hard sf. Since this isn't a hard sf, eh I'll let it slide. It makes a really unique magic system tho, so that's a bonus that allows me to look over the inaccuracy.

[Siobhan]

Barry wrote: "Just finished Ch 10 ... Wow u guys are quite fast. Hopefully the train ride tomorrow will give me enough time to catch up ha!

Brief comment so far: I'm more excited reading Sazed's chapters than V..."

I felt exactly the same around chapter 10, much more interested in Sazed. Well to be honest I still am at chapter 43. Not to say the others aren't interesting me too though :)

[Chris]

I'm at chapter 14 right now... I can't keep up to your pacing Siobhan!

[Anni]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ What the hell is wrong with Zane?? (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Siobhan wrote: "
Chapter 18 - [spoiler removed]"

Oh please no!!! (view spoiler)[ That would be HORRIBLE! I thought as well, that she likes him but not like this...
I thought maybe this is some good vs. evil confrontation. Elend the good and thoughtful Brother wearing all white and Zane the evil and lunatic Brother wearing all black. With the colors it almost seems exaggerated... (hide spoiler)]

Barry wrote: "Just finished Ch 10 ... Wow u guys are quite fast. Hopefully the train ride tomorrow will give me enough time to catch up ha!

I will start another Buddy Read today so I will slow down and you will catch up in no time ;)

I also enjoy Sazeds chapters more then the ones about Vin and Elend, these aren't bad, but I prefer him as a character. Also I am curious to get to know more of Marshes story!

[Beste]

Ahhh @siobhan honey, you are not even there yet. I cant imagine what you will say towards the end. (I will be able to comment more when I get back)

[Timelord Iain]

Chris wrote: "I'm at chapter 14 right now... I can't keep up to your pacing Siobhan!"

It's all relative... You say Siobhan is too fast... Siobhan says I'm too fast... I say Soo (in another group) is too fast...and maybe Choko...

[Siobhan]

Chris wrote: "I'm at chapter 14 right now... I can't keep up to your pacing Siobhan!"

Sorry Chris! I left myself three days between this and Before They are Hanged so I tried to read as quickly as I could, knowing I'd still be late for Abercrombie anyway. I would rather not read these two side by side as I think I'll get confused /start comparing or liking one more than the other.

Yes Iain is too fast for me haha. But it's OK, his spoiler tags are like little gifts for me to work through when I catch up. XD

@Anni, I'm glad your reaction to that thought was the same as mine!!

@Beste, I'm not sure I like the suggestion that there is worse to come from the lady Vin...

[Timelord Iain]

I, too, am not a fan of love triangles... leads to lots of annoying angst... usually...

[Ahdam]

I'm also not a fan of love triangles and spoilers for final empire


(view spoiler)[I was really happy that vin was really mature about it with spook saying how she was flattered but she loves elend that was one of the highlights and I'm glad Sanderson didn't do this cos it would definitely have destroyed Vin for me (she's on my favourite female characters list so give her a bit of time please) (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Ahdam wrote: "I'm also not a fan of love triangles and spoilers for final empire
[spoilers removed]"

You are right! (view spoiler)[ I wouldn't even call it a love triangle here, at least not in a typical cliché type. There was no drama and thankfully no back and forth between them. Exaggerated drama and misunderstandings can be so annoying! (hide spoiler)]

[Chris]

Siobhan wrote: "Chris wrote: "I'm at chapter 14 right now... I can't keep up to your pacing Siobhan!"

Sorry Chris! I left myself three days between this and Before They are Hanged so I tried to read as quickly as..."

It's all good, I'm just doing what I can each day, which is between 60 & 100 pages, without neglecting my wife and kids!

[Siobhan]

Chris wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Chris wrote: "I'm at chapter 14 right now... I can't keep up to your pacing Siobhan!"

Sorry Chris! I left myself three days between this and Before They are Hanged so I tried to re..."

That's really good going! That's about my normal rate, but I had a lazy weekend. Barely moved off my sofa. By rights I should have read more, I just get distracted haha.

Ahdam, totally agree about Final Empire. I don't dislike Vin at all, I think she's strong and capable and kind, but sometimes things she does or doesn't do annoy me. I'm sure I'll love her in the end :)

[Siobhan]

OK... Chapter 47 (view spoiler)[Frickin hell!! That battle between Vin and Zane was intense! He was like an evil genius, she fell hook line and sinker for all his ploys with assassins etc. But at least she finally realised El is the right decision, almost too late!!
I was gutted the spy was Oreseur! Who would suspect the kandra of being the wrong kandra?! Can't believe I didn't think of that. He was so much nicer than Oreseur, his personality changed more than anyone else in her team.
I'm not sure how anyone is going to get out of this situation alive when the koloss attack. :/
OK, just had to get that out! (hide spoiler)]