Author: Brandon Sanderson
Published: October 1st 2009 by Gollancz (first published July 17th 2006
Pages: 647 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
I am a lover of fantasy who has surprisingly read very few books in the adult fantasy world. I found myself scouring the interwebs looking for new series to start because I was in for of a fantasy hangover after reading The Wise Man's Fear. I looked at all the lists of recommended fantasy and asked for recommendations from fellow bloggers/vloggers and eventually stumbled upon Regan over at PeruseProject holding up the most gorgeous book I had ever seen. I'll be the first to admit that I am a cover snob to the highest degree, so as soon as I saw these, I knew I had to pick up a copy for my collection. The fact that the story sounded completely amazing was just an added bonus.
And boy, is this story addicting.
Once, a hero rose to save the world. He failed.
For a thousand years since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist ruled by the immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler. Every revolt has failed miserably.
Yet somehow, hope survives. Hope that dares to dream of ending the empire and defeating the Lord Ruler. A new kind of uprising is being planned—one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the determination of an unlikely heroine: a teenage street urchin named Vin.
Once, a hero rose to save the world and failed. This time, can a young heroine succeed?
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A world where the hero failed to save the day? A kick-butt female protagonist? Ash falling from the sky? Yes please. If only I knew what I was getting myself into.
The story starts off, gripping you from the very first line. Their is an air of mystery surrounding this series which gives it an element that I love. The more questions answered, the more pop up and Brandon Sanderson has a way of answering them all in due time (even if it is two books later).
This is especially true for the magic system introduced. Allomancy centers around metals. Allomancers burn ingested metals, giving them certain powers based on the metals ingested. Pewter, for instance, gives you strength and stamina, allowing you to run for long periods of time or by giving you an edge in a fight. There are eight basic allomantic metals, each allowing a different "power" so to speak. During the time of the Lord Ruler, Allomancers are fairly rare and most Allomancers are Mistings, meaning they can only burn one metal. Rarer still are Mistborn, who can burn all eight. You either get one, or you get them all.
Allomancy is a thing of the elite. Only those of noble birth, those who had ancestors who supported the Lord Ruler 1000 years ago have Allomancy, at least, that's the way it's supposed to be. The noble and the skaa servants aren't supposed to have children for that very reason. It's no big surprise that accidents happen, however. People slip through the cracks, which is what happened to Vin, our main protagonist.
A street urchin who must conform to other's wishes. Her abusive brother, violent crew leaders, all of whom like to exploit Vin's "luck" as she likes to call it. Her ability to calm the nerves of people around her, making the more docile.
Eventually Vin get's pick up by a man named Kelsier (who has a bit of a reputation of his own) with plans to try and overthrow the Lord Ruler and essentially save the Final Empire from his tyrannical reign.
It's a pretty gripping plot if I do say so myself, but the characters are really what give life to the story. Kelsier is by far my favorite, but this book is packed to the brim with some of the best side character's imaginable. Their dialogue is witty, humorous, and seamless. Their actions are very deliberate and well thought out. Sanderson has a way of making his characters very well rounded and often times, they seem like real people.
Also, for people who like to have a conclusion to their stories, this book will not disappoint. The ending is wrapped up quite nicely. For better or for worse...that's up to you. Don't let that stop you from picking up the rest of the series though. Having almost finished the trilogy, I can say that if you enjoyed this book, it only gets better.
Overall, I'd say if you're a fan of unique magic systems, action packed fantasy, and unforgettable characters, you should definitely give this book a go. You won't be disappointed.
My rating is (obviously):
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