Mistborn: The Final Empire

 Perspective: 3rd person, Omni

Tense: Simple Past

Length: 576 pages

I recently completed reading my very first Sanderson novel, Mistborn: The Final Empire, which is the first book in the Mistborn series. I think starting a Sanderson book was pretty daunting, the size of the book itself a 20 hour read according to amazon and picking a sanderson book to read was no small task,  least in my mind. Sanderson has a lot of books, and a few different series, I think? I’m not sure, it is all a bit overwhelming to someone totally new to it. 

Anyways, the first book has “final” in the title, which also threw me off. It did not seem like the title of the first book in the series. Well, it is, so honestly,  just seeing a review that affirmed me of this would be nice. 

I think the book starts off a bit slow. The author throws in a bunch of terms that are confusing. The character uses her “Luck” to influence people. And I thought that was a bit confusing to start. Really, she is using a magical power. In time the system of magic all makes sense but just starting the book without any background left me quite confused. 

After a bit of a slow start, I think the book picks up more and more as it moves on. There are just too many confusing bits at the first. Actually having finished the book, I think it would be nice to reread it now. I think maybe aspects of the book will make more sense now. 

I think most of the draw of the mistborn series is the intricate system of magic. Allomancers
“Burn” or use metals that they consume in order to use their magical powers. Each alloy or pure metal they burn has different features/ characteristics.  Iron for example is used to pull metals towards you and steel to push them away.  The mass of both objects is considered and if you try to push or pull something heavier than yourself, it is you that will be pushed. The metals are generally paired like this, one doing something and another doing the opposite. Mistborn (an allomancer with the ability to use all metals) are quite rare and generally limited to nobility. Whereas mistlings, those with the ability to use just one of the metals are less rare, but still have some noble blood.

The fantasy universe itself aside from the magic system isn’t as rich as others like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, but then again that is a high bar. I also thought the narrative was compelling at times, some of the major events didn’t impact me as much as they should. 

I don’t want to spoil much more, so here’s a SPOILER ALERT. Before I ruin the plot.

STOP READING IF YOU DON’T WANT THE PLOT RUINED.

But the book follows the hero's journey arc very closely. The hero has a rare power.  Has a mentor trained in that power. The hero is recruited on a mission to destroy an oppressive empire. The hero progresses quickly in her power and adepts to a different environment(rags to riches in this case). The hero's mentor dies at the hand of the arch villain, the hero confronts the arch villain. The hero uses the “Q ability” revealed earlier in the book to defeat the villain. Etc.

In some ways, I’m mostly vague enough that this doesn’t spoil too much. I mean, imagine if the mentor didn’t die, that wouldn’t work. Or actually would it? I think I’m going to write a story now where the young hero dies and the mentor has to further delay retirement. That could be a good story. 

Anyways, all of those elements make for good commercial fiction, and that is what this book is. Enjoy it for that. I did and I will certainly finish the rest of the series. Now are there 9 books or 3? That I don’t understand right now. In either case, I highly recommend it. 

https://www.amazon.com/Mistborn-Final-Empire-Saga/dp/1250868289/ref=asc_df_1250868289/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8504350935343282605&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9193868&hvtargid=pla-2281435177898&psc=1&mcid=f760b82dd7603d96b5bc308ed8a93f7b&hvocijid=8504350935343282605-1250868289-&hvexpln=73&gad_source=1