Scan barcode
latashman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Loved Vin as a main character. Kel (did audiobook, don't know how to spell) was a little bit of a narcissist that you played with the emotions of characters and the reader. I thought this was a great heist book with a little political intrigue mixed in. Looking forward to seeing how the Ska build back up the empire and if they will make changes for the better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Classism, Genocide, Slavery, Colonisation, and Sexual assault
conlmar's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
uncica's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫 (4.5/5)
Recommend: Yes, if you like high fantasy.
Content warnings: slavery, murder, torture
_______________________
My Thoughts:
Mistborn: The Final Empire is the first Brandon Sanderson book that I’ve read, and I’m glad I did. One of my closest friends from college suggested that we buddy-read the Misborn series, and let me tell you, we’re having a blast so far. I am currently postponing a bunch of my TBR books in order to make way for the sequel - The Well of Ascension. So, we will definitely finish the series and will most likely buddy-read The Way of Kings next.
The Final Empire was captivating, adventurous, dark, and mysterious. I didn’t know too much going in apart from the book description and stellar reviews, and I was sucked into the world from the first sentence: “Ash fell from the sky.”
I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone, so I will just say that the magic system is unique. I really like the fact that there are required materials in order to produce magic and that each material brings about a different magical effect. The magic system is woven nicely into the world and works well for the plot.
I was rooting for the characters from the get-go, which wasn’t too hard given the political atmosphere and social structure that Sanderson created. The relationship between Vin and Kelsier was heartwarming. I think that Vin is a very strong female lead; however, my favorite character is Sazed. I just wanted to give him a hug at all times.
Brandy Sandy is a wonderful writer, and I can’t wait to enjoy more of his work. Highly recommend!
Recommend: Yes, if you like high fantasy.
Content warnings: slavery, murder, torture
_______________________
My Thoughts:
Mistborn: The Final Empire is the first Brandon Sanderson book that I’ve read, and I’m glad I did. One of my closest friends from college suggested that we buddy-read the Misborn series, and let me tell you, we’re having a blast so far. I am currently postponing a bunch of my TBR books in order to make way for the sequel - The Well of Ascension. So, we will definitely finish the series and will most likely buddy-read The Way of Kings next.
The Final Empire was captivating, adventurous, dark, and mysterious. I didn’t know too much going in apart from the book description and stellar reviews, and I was sucked into the world from the first sentence: “Ash fell from the sky.”
I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone, so I will just say that the magic system is unique. I really like the fact that there are required materials in order to produce magic and that each material brings about a different magical effect. The magic system is woven nicely into the world and works well for the plot.
I was rooting for the characters from the get-go, which wasn’t too hard given the political atmosphere and social structure that Sanderson created. The relationship between Vin and Kelsier was heartwarming. I think that Vin is a very strong female lead; however, my favorite character is Sazed. I just wanted to give him a hug at all times.
Brandy Sandy is a wonderful writer, and I can’t wait to enjoy more of his work. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Slavery, Torture, and Misogyny
bricehartwich's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Slavery
Moderate: War
Minor: Physical abuse
wsteen's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
mes0pelagic_fan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
this was definitely a page turner for me— i basically read it in less than 10 sittings! the amount of content covered was bonkers and i was never bored. the characters were fun and the world building was very neat (allomancy! who knew?) and the ending came together super nicely.
hoping future installments have more girls; too many men for my taste. im pretty sure this bad boy does not pass the bechdel test
hoping future installments have more girls; too many men for my taste. im pretty sure this bad boy does not pass the bechdel test
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Classism, Gore, Physical abuse, and Slavery
mae_is_trying's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Racism, Rape, Body horror, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Torture, and War
serena_hien's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, War, Slavery, Abandonment, Classism, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Blood, Grief, Gore, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Torture
Minor: Rape
lukasskywalker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Physical abuse
mallorypen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Okay, so I liked it ... but that first third of the book was a CHORE to get through. I understand why there was so much exposition - there was a fairly complicated magic system to explain, as well as a need to set the class system and history of the Lord Ruler - but by the forgotten gods it took a looooong time.
That said, once the plot really started to get going after the end of Part 1, this was a fantastic political thriller and mystery. Vyn as a protagonist was NOT a Mary Sue - which was great - and I got so frustrated with her lack of empathy in some situations, her selfishness in others, and her decision-making pretty much across the board. I don't know if I liked her character (and I'm pretty tired of the Chosen One trope) but I did root for her. Her inner monologues were ... a bit wooden, for my tastes, but they got the job done.
Once we got into the story and the others were able to develop their personalities a little more, I generally liked all the various members of the crew. They all became distinct from one another, and when the Ska rebellion leader died after making his terrible decision with the army, I was sad for his death. When Marsh was thought to have been killed by the Inquisitors, I was sad for his death, too. And Sayzid? He was the best character out of them all.
I agree wholeheartedly with the general consensus that Brandon Sanderson writes a FABULOUS fight scene. The action is written so clearly, and even with a complex magic system making up 80% of the sequences, I really felt like I was there in the moment fighting alongside the characters.
I'd also posit that Brandon Sanderson writes a mean twist. <spoilers> Marsh actually being alive, and having gone through the process to be an Inquisitor ... I totally didn't see that coming. Or, Kelcier's overarching plot to make himself a legend and then let himself be killed? Mind. Blown.
A few things that gave me pause:
That said, once the plot really started to get going after the end of Part 1, this was a fantastic political thriller and mystery. Vyn as a protagonist was NOT a Mary Sue - which was great - and I got so frustrated with her lack of empathy in some situations, her selfishness in others, and her decision-making pretty much across the board. I don't know if I liked her character (and I'm pretty tired of the Chosen One trope) but I did root for her. Her inner monologues were ... a bit wooden, for my tastes, but they got the job done.
Once we got into the story and the others were able to develop their personalities a little more, I generally liked all the various members of the crew. They all became distinct from one another, and
I agree wholeheartedly with the general consensus that Brandon Sanderson writes a FABULOUS fight scene. The action is written so clearly, and even with a complex magic system making up 80% of the sequences, I really felt like I was there in the moment fighting alongside the characters.
I'd also posit that Brandon Sanderson writes a mean twist. <spoilers> Marsh actually being alive, and having gone through the process to be an Inquisitor ... I totally didn't see that coming. Or, Kelcier's overarching plot to make himself a legend and then let himself be killed? Mind. Blown.
A few things that gave me pause:
- A white CIS man writing a female protagonist who comes from an enslaved people subjected to torture and subjugation for a thousand years ... I don't know. It hit me in a weird spot how similar some things were between the nobility/Ska and white/Black people; the abuses felt VERY familiar and I'm not sure how I feel about it coming from who wrote it. I don't know. It will take further rumination on how exactly it bothers me.
- The instalove between Ellend and Vyn. Tired, boring, blegh. Why did we need a romance, here?
Anyways. I will read the next two books, but I will be giving myself a break.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Xenophobia, Slavery, Sexual violence, War, Murder, and Violence