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greenmtginger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Minor: Child abuse
nikkihill22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
i really liked the plot and characters of this book. i hated the pacing of it. i cant decide if i hate the pacing of it more as a stand alone, or more as the first part of a trilogy. i listened to the audiobook, which i think was majorly helpful in finishing the book. the chapters are very long, which i don't mind in audio format, but if i were reading a physical book i think it would have been difficult to convince myself to pick it up as i typically like to make sure i have enough time to read at least one chapter any time i sit down to read. The audiobook was nearly 25 hours long (no complaints about long books, i love big books), and for whatever reason, the last 30 minutes of it were an epilogue? this makes me think the book was written as if it may never get a sequel. because a 25 hour book with a 29 hour sequel and a 27.5 hour sequel after that one in no way shape or form needs a 30 minute epilogue.
But the characters were utterly charming, i definitely started and ended the book for them, and i'm so excited to see where they go in the rest of the story. My one complaint about characterization is about the minor romance in the book, i don't fully understand why the character we follow falls in love with someone as quickly as they do, but love is love and it happens like that sometimes i suppose. I just don't think this character would have necessarily.
Sometimes i like to play "spot the mormon" when i read a book by a mormon author, and i definitely think you can find Sanderson's mormon background all throughout this book, especially with the log book entries and the Lord Ruler, as well as some of the importance stressed around family structures. But it wasn't quite as bad as some other mormon authors' works are.
But the characters were utterly charming, i definitely started and ended the book for them, and i'm so excited to see where they go in the rest of the story. My one complaint about characterization is about the minor romance in the book, i don't fully understand why the character we follow falls in love with someone as quickly as they do, but love is love and it happens like that sometimes i suppose. I just don't think this character would have necessarily.
Sometimes i like to play "spot the mormon" when i read a book by a mormon author, and i definitely think you can find Sanderson's mormon background all throughout this book, especially with the log book entries and the Lord Ruler, as well as some of the importance stressed around family structures. But it wasn't quite as bad as some other mormon authors' works are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
teyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, War, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Body horror and Rape
ikiteahill's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The beginning of the book felt quite slow. Trying to follow the politicking and planning was a little convoluted and boring. But then the action picks up in the second half of the book and there's some really well written action scenes. I love the magic systems in this book and the concept of the world is really interesting (even if I don't fully understand how they grow food if all the plants are dead and brown... like, supposedly there are no flowers but they do eat fruit??). I really enjoyed watching Vin grow into her allomantic powers . And I loved Kelsier as a character and his relationship with Vin. Seized also became one of my favorite characters. I don't know if I'll enjoy the next book with the two of them not in it. I would hope that Seized comes back from his journey soon to help Vin or that he gets some of his own main character time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Infertility, Misogyny, and Rape
Minor: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
naomi_k's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
kay_simmons's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
If you’re looking to read high fantasy, please read this book! I’m at a loss of words and I don’t know how else to say how GOOD this book is. Very well written! It did feel like it was slow in a few areas and I understand why. The world building, the characters, found family, power, conflicts, action and gore. Such a great descriptive book, it was like watching a movie than reading. Although, it took me a little longer than normal to read, I could not stop thinking about it. What’s great about this book to is how little you could even theorize about what would happen. Even though he gave SO much information there was always something that made you have to rethink your theory that you didn’t know what to expect. Brava brava!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Murder
lizcallahan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Am I so behind on this train? Yes. Am I screaming, crying, and throwing up by how good this book was????! Also yes. I'm on the Brandon Sanderson train now.
On a real note, Brandon knows how to make a magic system and really embed it into the daily systems of the world. Truly some prolific world building, and I cannot wait to read more ❤️
On a real note, Brandon knows how to make a magic system and really embed it into the daily systems of the world. Truly some prolific world building, and I cannot wait to read more ❤️
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Violence, and War
spencelikesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
had I read this book in 2006 or idk even 10 years ago, I probably would have enjoyed a lot. Most likely a 5 star read. But I didn’t I read it now. In 2024 and I just don’t think this book hit like almost everything I saw about it said it would. And truly I think it’s themes of a revolution and the oppressed rising up just does not hit the same from someone who has not had the experience of it overtly. There are surface level aspects about it I think are fun and really good. I enjoyed the storytelling for the most part, pace didn’t really bother me. I did find all side characters far more interesting than both our two main protagonists. I’d say one day I’ll probably see where this series goes but it did not leave me feeling like I just HAD to continue it immediately. Overall, I can see why someone would love it, it was alright to me. But I’d be willing to see how he’s grown as an author and read more recent works than these.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
lindseychastain's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay Brandon Sanderson fans, I get it. A lot of people told me I would love this book, and I did. I’m actually glad I went in knowing nothing about the content of this book, I think I enjoyed it more because of that.
I think the thing about this book that I loved so much is that it was really… accessible. It’s not like a lot of high fantasy that is overly indulgent and so much world building that you get lost in it. It’s really an excellent balance of magic/world building and just good street telling.
Lots of standard tropes here, which is definitely cool with me. But gosh, the characters were all so lovable. I love Vin so much.
This is part of trilogy but it works really well as a stand alone as well, if I felt I needed to leave it here. I will continue the series, but I don’t feel compelled to dive right back into it. I kinda like that.
I think the thing about this book that I loved so much is that it was really… accessible. It’s not like a lot of high fantasy that is overly indulgent and so much world building that you get lost in it. It’s really an excellent balance of magic/world building and just good street telling.
Lots of standard tropes here, which is definitely cool with me. But gosh, the characters were all so lovable. I love Vin so much.
This is part of trilogy but it works really well as a stand alone as well, if I felt I needed to leave it here. I will continue the series, but I don’t feel compelled to dive right back into it. I kinda like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Murder, Abandonment, and War
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault, Torture, and War