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annikareads_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Torture, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death
kashby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Slavery, Violence, and War
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Child abuse, Gore, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
mayr3adsab00k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Violence, and War
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, and Physical abuse
knifewifestan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
oliverreeds's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
lydiavsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
My rating feels harsh, but this is very much based on my enjoyment not the quality of the book. I did enjoy it, but it was also an effort to make myself read at times. In fairness, I have realised that fantasy isn't my genre, so this was never going to be 5 stars for me.
My main criticism is its just too long, 100 pages could easily be cut. I found the action scenes in particular just very drawn out and repetitive, but again that might just be me.
Vin is a character I like, but found myself easily getting frustrated with. Elend is fine. The romance in this book is sometimes almost sweet if you ignore the age difference. Sazed I love, obviously. Marsh I like a lot. Spook is really oofed in this one, he's a cool character who is just kinda dismissed as being a lil pathetic in this first book which is a shame. One thing that I think my opinion has really changed on upon reread is Kelsier. Really not a fan this time, I don't hate him but he just irritates me.
The ending was good, if a little (a lot) dragged out. Glad I reread it but also very glad to be done with it now.
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
margueritestjust's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This book is really interesting, because Sanderson has a very plain writing style, but this is not a bad thing and it doesn't mean that he's not a skilled writer (I did give this book 5 stars, after all). His writing style is very reminiscent to me of the way that literary short story writers approach their craft. Sanderson creates such a vivid world and vivid characters, and manages to evoke a wide range of emotions from his readers. His strength lies in his specificity, both in his character work and his world work, but most especially his magic system. He writes fantasy in a very realistic lens, which I appreciate and commend.
I loved Kelsier (another my type character for the books, lads), and I was really invested in his backstory and in what he represented thematically.
Also, I was fully on board the Elend and Vin train! They were so adorable and honestly, I hadn't been expecting a romance at all in this book, but I wasn't mad about it. The first time they met, I was immediately interested in their dynamic and chemistry, and that just lasted for the entire rest of the book.
Sanderson also created a wonderful ending.
I would definitely say that this book is darker and more tense than I had been expecting, but perhaps that's just me in my first foray into the genre. A lot of the plot is character-based - especially during the long con that they set up - but things quickly pick up during the middle to end of the story, and it doesn't really ever stop. I definitely will be reading a romcom or two after this. But I can't wait to continue on with the series and check out other things that Sanderson has done!
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Rape and Adult/minor relationship
Execution and prison labor camps feature heavily, especially beheadings. There are also many times where corpses are described graphically.haley_wasserman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I want to start by saying that if you're looking to dive into the realm of fantasy reading, this is a great jumping off point. Its length of 600ish pages may be intimidating, but this book is truly well-paced and easy to understand, and you don't lose out on any of the hallmarks of high fantasy reading.
**Please note the trigger warnings for this book. Ultimately it is a book of a desperate nation that is filled with slavery, violence, and mentions of assaults. The book isn't overly violent by any means, and it's never gratuitous in its violent descriptions, but if you're a little queasy with any mention of blood or death, maybe wait to read this. **
The narrative and plot of this novel is impeccable. It is the perfect balance of information and action: one minute we are gently told about the magic of Mistborn's inhabitants, the next minute our heroine and band of misfits are on a quest for freedom.
The characterization of the heroes and heroines is also truly exceptional. Their growth throughout their quest is subtlety peppered in, and their shifting motivations and power always kept me on my toes. Each character, every minor side characters, has their place in the story. They all make up the beautiful, well-oiled machine that is Mistborn.
Sanderson is so adept at hooking a reader in, anticipating their questions, and giving them the ultimate payoff as he leads us through his worlds. For being a high fantasy read, I never once was confused by the magic system or the complexity of the world. And if I was feeling some trepidation about the magic and politics of the story, it was because I was supposed to be.
All of this is to say: there isn't anything I'd change about this book. Sanderson is so SMART with his writing, I'm in awe. I wasn't just learning about Mistborns and the Final Empire, I feel as though I experienced the story of Sanderson's rich world rife with realistic characters, enchanting magic, and undercurrents of rebellion. The ending and the various reveals throughout the story are as wonderful as an Agatha Christie reveal. I am just ELATED that there are two more books in this story's arc that I can dive into immediately.
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Violence, and War
sennaje's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Slavery, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Sexual assault
looking4thedr's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Sanderson, I feel, always does world-building quite well, slowly revealing more about the world and it’s magic system through the eyes of the characters, especially the main ones of Vin and Kelsir in this case. Kelsir is experienced with the world’s magic system, as are the rest of his crew, and we listen to their explanation as Vin does, as a new comer to this part of the world.
Vin’s character is definitely interesting. Her growth through the story
The descriptions conjured up a very clear image in my mind, as though I were watching a movie, although at some points it became almost a little cliche, at some points being like a YA film (and not in a good way)
Apart from that I throughly enjoyed this book and will continue to read the rest of the series to find out what happens next.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Body horror
Minor: Sexual assault and Xenophobia