Book Review
Jun. 6th, 2021 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Well of Ascension
by Brandon Sanderson
The Well of Ascension is the second book of the initial Mistborn trilogy, and it picks up shortly after the first book finishes, with Elend and Vin attempting to hold things together and form a new government after the collapse of the Final Empire. Governing a kingdom proves much harder than overthrowing an evil overlord, especially when three armies converge on Luthadel hoping to overthrow Elend and claim the city and its wealth for themselves. On top of the military threat, Elend, Vin, and their compatriots must also contend with more existential threats as the mist endemic to the empire becomes more dangerous and the prophecies about the Hero of Ages and the Well of Ascension start to play a role in events.
The Well of Ascension was still an enjoyable read, and I really like the characters and world, but it did suffer a bit from midlle-book syndrome. This book is slower paced than its predecessor, and deals with a much more complicated crisis and goal. There is a lot of politics, and the plot is largely a slow burn to a very compelling climax. I do with that the angst Vin and Elend experience regarding their relationship had been less insecurity-based and more about negotiating a budding relationship in the midst of a terrible crisis. I did love the character development of both Elend and Vin really coming into their power and roles. I do wish more time had been devoted to the Well of Ascension and the prophecies around it, which would have given the build up to the ending more weight. Still, the set-up for the next books was excellent and I am eager to see where this all goes in the final volume.
by Brandon Sanderson
The Well of Ascension is the second book of the initial Mistborn trilogy, and it picks up shortly after the first book finishes, with Elend and Vin attempting to hold things together and form a new government after the collapse of the Final Empire. Governing a kingdom proves much harder than overthrowing an evil overlord, especially when three armies converge on Luthadel hoping to overthrow Elend and claim the city and its wealth for themselves. On top of the military threat, Elend, Vin, and their compatriots must also contend with more existential threats as the mist endemic to the empire becomes more dangerous and the prophecies about the Hero of Ages and the Well of Ascension start to play a role in events.
The Well of Ascension was still an enjoyable read, and I really like the characters and world, but it did suffer a bit from midlle-book syndrome. This book is slower paced than its predecessor, and deals with a much more complicated crisis and goal. There is a lot of politics, and the plot is largely a slow burn to a very compelling climax. I do with that the angst Vin and Elend experience regarding their relationship had been less insecurity-based and more about negotiating a budding relationship in the midst of a terrible crisis. I did love the character development of both Elend and Vin really coming into their power and roles. I do wish more time had been devoted to the Well of Ascension and the prophecies around it, which would have given the build up to the ending more weight. Still, the set-up for the next books was excellent and I am eager to see where this all goes in the final volume.
