Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

123 reviews

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!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Slavery, Torture, and Misogyny

morris42's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Rape

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

peasandpancakes's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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? Yes

5.0

I LOVED this book! It immediately grabbed me. The way you’re introduced to the magic system is very well paced. It had some nice world building, but action was properly spaced as well. Near the end it got so tense that my smart watch told me that I needed to relax because my stress was unusually high 😅 Can’t wait to read the other mistborn books!

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Death

Minor: Racism, Torture, War, and Slavery

axonjay5's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Violence, and Gore

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Torture, Child abuse, and Rape

jonwood's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Really enjoyed this. It's the best first book in a fantasy series I've read, as it gets the plot moving (driven by characters) fairly straightaway and acts as its own self-contain story (sure, there are a few threads to yes-and to in the future). Gripping adventure as characters look to see if they can make a difference. I might actually read book 2 less than a year from now.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Grief, Death, Classism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Torture

Minor: Sexual assault

mads_reads_books's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring sad 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

3.0

Does not pass The Bechdel Test

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, Slavery, Police brutality, Physical abuse, War, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Violence, Torture, Child death, Ableism, and Abandonment

Minor: Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Grief, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Genocide, Mental illness, Sexism, War, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, and Toxic friendship

ctara2123's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Violence, Slavery, Physical abuse, Death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Grief, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and War

Minor: Torture

kiwij96's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Having heard many positive reviews about this series and of Brandon Sanderson's writing, I thought I'd start here, as was suggested. Maybe I went into this with too high an expectation, but this didn't really capture my attention past the fifth chapter, but I stuck with it in the hopes that the story would progress or improve. It didn't for me.

There were chapters upon chapters of filler, and seemingly important pieces of plot or development often happened off-page. My favourite characters were the supporting cast pretty much, because they were the only ones with any personality (Dox, Clubs, Spook, Breeze, Ham, Sazed). The whole book was just a grown adult man relying heavily on the capabilities of a 16-17 year old child, and often putting her in harm's way for no reason whatsoever.

Some parts of the story felt either info-dumpy or unfinished, and, at a couple of points, repetitive. There was also the mini romance plotline which was just completely out of place.

Also the ending happened too quickly. After reading 500 pages on what was essentially dialogue (don't even get me started on the amount of times the word "said" was used), politics and "oh woe is me", the ending felt very rushed and as though even Sanderson wanted the story to be over.

However, the magic system was interesting and a great concept, and there was some good camaraderie between the crew members. But that was essentially 100 pages of enjoyment really so idk, maybe I should have DNFed, I'm sorry.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Murder

Minor: Mental illness and Rape