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alexandravlvrd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I can’t believe Sanderson did this to me
Resume w/o spoilers:
Fantasy martial arts controlled by types of metals. Kelsier seems to be an egotistic hero that wants to see a change in the world after being tortured by the Lord Ruler, then meets the 16 years old orphan Vin with an awesome ability to convince people to do what she needs them to do and recruits her to join his gang of all kind of thieves. The goal? Bring down the empire of terror.
Key words:
High Fantasy. Fiction. Political. Fighting. Dystopia.
Character development:
This is basically what bothered me the most of the book, it was pretty poor character development.
Romance:
There’s some, didn’t like it much but I’m trying to not think in the things that would bother me in real life so I can enjoy it without feeling bad.
Plot:
Unexpected. 😡
Note: the first half was so slow for no reason, also, I HATED the way Vin personality was portrayed, she had no personality at all to be honest, also the lack of women in this book is unbelievable but it was pretty good though and I’m hoping to start reading the next one asap.
4 out of 5 stars
Resume w/o spoilers:
Fantasy martial arts controlled by types of metals. Kelsier seems to be an egotistic hero that wants to see a change in the world after being tortured by the Lord Ruler, then meets the 16 years old orphan Vin with an awesome ability to convince people to do what she needs them to do and recruits her to join his gang of all kind of thieves. The goal? Bring down the empire of terror.
Key words:
High Fantasy. Fiction. Political. Fighting. Dystopia.
Character development:
This is basically what bothered me the most of the book, it was pretty poor character development.
Romance:
There’s some, didn’t like it much but I’m trying to not think in the things that would bother me in real life so I can enjoy it without feeling bad.
Plot:
Unexpected. 😡
Note: the first half was so slow for no reason, also, I HATED the way Vin personality was portrayed, she had no personality at all to be honest, also the lack of women in this book is unbelievable but it was pretty good though and I’m hoping to start reading the next one asap.
4 out of 5 stars
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
zoe_archambault's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I was a bit hesitant going into it, but I absolutely loved it. Didn't get a 5 star cus the cast was really not that diverse and mr sanderson as a white man doesn't need any more help tbh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Slavery
Minor: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Rape
slavery of lower-class people within this world, not based on racemargueritestjust's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-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
5.0
This book felt like it melted my brain a little, in a good way. I haven't read much of recent adult fantasy, and this was an amazing introduction to it! My friend Ashley convinced me to read this book, and I'm so glad that she did!
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 will freely admit that I cried when he had died. I didn't quite believe that he had, but the letters that he left for Vin? “Remember to smile” and “I’ll tell Mare about you. She always wanted a daughter." legit had me in tears I think Vin is really well developed through the course of the story, which was so nice to read. She and Kelsier manage to be dual protagonists that equally hold their own, and watching the way that she grows was honestly a wonderful journey. I loved all of the crew, especially Marsh ( When I thought he had died I was honestly so upset. And then it turned out he was made into an Inquisitor? It didn't ease the pain of Kelsier dying but it did help to significantly buoy my spirits. )
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. The reveal that the Lord Ruler wasn't the hero that had failed but instead was the one who had hated him was honestly not what I had been expecting. But I think even more unexpected and surprising was the reveal that Reen had died trying to protect Vin, even when he sad that everyone would betray her. It doesn't excuse who he was as a person, but it added complexity once again to this world. Sanderson really has a wonderful way of making everything come together during the final act of the story, and revealing new things in a way that is unexpected but makes total sense within the story that he's created.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
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.blynecessity's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Y'all, this read felt reeeal tone-deaf when it came to the topics of poverty and dealing with trauma. Also, very clunky writing. And why was there basically one woman in this whole book? Outside of random socialites, a couple of unnamed maids, and a girl who was about to be assaulted (who was also not named, just referred to as so-and-so's child), there are basically no women in this book. And the main woman was inexplicably and instantly in love with a mediocre and kinda rude man, who btw was a 21 years old to her 16 years old. Anywaaaayyy, non-noble women also seem to have almost no role in society aside from literally popping out "a dozen children"??? Where were they all the rest of the time?? Every background character seemed to be a man, and (with one exception) every foreground character was a man too. I just did not love this book, tbh. Maybe this was really progressive to the cis-het white men who were looking to expand their grimdark fantasy reads when it first came out, but this has nooot aged well!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Grief, Hate crime, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, Stalking, and Trafficking
emily_j's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is an engaging story (I mean, I read half of it in about twelve hours which is a feat I haven't really been able to manage this year), but it's very obvious that it's written by a white person. Brandon Sanderson's grasp of privilege as it functions in the world he's created is shaky at best and the novel is frustrating as a result. I'm especially frustrated by The Lord Ruler turning out to be a Terrisman, which positions being angry about the people oppressing you as a wrong which will turn you evil, and Elend's role in the climax, which tells readers that minority-lead social movements will devolve into violence without a benevolent oppressor to restore order.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Torture, Slavery, Racism, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Genocide
ohmygourd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Xenophobia, Grief, and Police brutality
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Slavery, and Torture
It's all high fantasy, so the things like police brutality, torture, body horror are all ~fantasy version~
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