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Book Review
May. 22nd, 2021 07:50 pmMistborn: The Final Empire
by Brandon Sanderson
This solidly enjoyable fantasy novel revolves around two half-Skaa thieves: Kelsier, a mage and survivor of a hellish prison mine, and Vin, a young street urchin with latent powers. Kelsier recruits members of the underground, plus Vin, to help him take down the immortal and immensely powerful Lord Emperor and topple the harsh Final Empire, which is built on the oppression and exploitation of the Skaa. Kelsier's plan is intricate and risky, part heist and part revolution.
The Final Empire was a satisfying and enjoyable read. My only small criticism is that Sanderson fails to lean into the issues of oppression and resistance that are embedded into the story. He concentrates more on themes of hope and connection. The pacing is excellent and the action scenes were exciting and inventive. Plus, there's a small twist at the end that I didn't completely see coming. I really liked both main characters and their development. I especially liked that there is no romance between them; instead, the arc of their relationship is based on mentorship and Vin's discovery of the kind of true friendship that her life has entirely lacked. The metal-based magic system was really clever and interesting, as was a lot of the world-building, which seems to be one of Sanderson's main strengths as a writer.
by Brandon Sanderson
This solidly enjoyable fantasy novel revolves around two half-Skaa thieves: Kelsier, a mage and survivor of a hellish prison mine, and Vin, a young street urchin with latent powers. Kelsier recruits members of the underground, plus Vin, to help him take down the immortal and immensely powerful Lord Emperor and topple the harsh Final Empire, which is built on the oppression and exploitation of the Skaa. Kelsier's plan is intricate and risky, part heist and part revolution.
The Final Empire was a satisfying and enjoyable read. My only small criticism is that Sanderson fails to lean into the issues of oppression and resistance that are embedded into the story. He concentrates more on themes of hope and connection. The pacing is excellent and the action scenes were exciting and inventive. Plus, there's a small twist at the end that I didn't completely see coming. I really liked both main characters and their development. I especially liked that there is no romance between them; instead, the arc of their relationship is based on mentorship and Vin's discovery of the kind of true friendship that her life has entirely lacked. The metal-based magic system was really clever and interesting, as was a lot of the world-building, which seems to be one of Sanderson's main strengths as a writer.
