Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

16 reviews

rikuson1's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75

It Really Like It 😍
-★★★★✭- (4.75/5.00)
My Grading Score = 95% (A+)

Mistborn: The Hero of Ages, I am so glad it won me over by the very end. Coming off of The Well of Ascension and The Final Empire, I struggled a lot in regard to which one I liked more favorably and critically. With both of them settling within me, I came to the conclusion on accounts of favorability and criticality that I'm putting The Well of Ascension over The Final Empire. Now, when it came to The Hero of Ages, I'm going, to be honest, that I was not feeling it from the start. The tone was extremely melodramatic and overwhelmingly depressing because, for the most part, we are following the depressed and broken state of Sazed. And mind, this is just the feeling of depression, hopelessness, and dread that Sazed was giving off and it latched onto me making me feel his dread to some degree which probably was tough to read for me. As someone going through something similar (losing someone you invested and cared about), I guess it hit really close to home for me. Nonetheless, critically speaking, the portrayal of it all was extremely accurate and well done and has my highest praise. Brando said that writing Sazed in this book was one of the hardest things he's done in his writing career, and it shows. 

Another thing that I wasn't fond of during the time of my reading this was that the second portion of the majority of this book was mainly focused on, and that was Spook. A character that in both The Final Empire and The Well of Ascension I did not care for to any degree. I did not like him as a character, I did not like his annoying accent and he just felt like a waste of space anytime he was present, additionally, he had this snarky attitude in book 2 that only made me dislike him more. So when I come to find out that he is one of the main focuses in this book, I was not ready and very reluctant to get through the "spook-focused" portions. I can tell that Brando probably knew that the readers did not care for Spook so he really really had to try and make us understand where Spook is coming from and try to make us like him and make him more important in the overall story. Now I feel it did accomplish making me understand where he is coming from and additionally the message he sends off which Marsch finds did make him extremely important to the overall story but he did not sell me on liking him by the end, but at the very least I can say I don't hate or dislike Spook anymore so that counts for something. 

The other points of view it focused on were Vin, Ellend, and TenSoon. I felt all of these points of view were great or, at the very least, satisfactory. I was entertained and engaged for the most part on all of them. I have no complaints or critiques on any of them. 

The action in The Hero of Ages really held off longer than any of the three books. And that's something I love, action. The build-up in this book was also something that was a lot more than in any of the previous books. It was to the point where I was almost afraid that it could not deliver on all of its build-up and additionally the surplus of the build-up of being the final book in this trilogy. But man, basically every chapter after chapter 71 really paid off on everything this trilogy was building up to in all categories, action, character development, plot reveal after plot reveals, after plot reveals, it was a great sanderlanche that I will never forget. 


Verdict
The Hero of Ages and by proxy the Mistborn Era 1 has lived up to its hype. This is now my favorite fantasy trilogy, and I'm glad I went through it. 

I Really Liked it.

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teyn's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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futureofmydays's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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


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mkaiww's review

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adventurous dark hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book starts going at 90 miles an hour and doesn't stop accelerating

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lakinglaze's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book was a wild ride and I was here for it! I loved the story and how dramatic and chaotic it was. I’ve really grown to love these characters and this ending was a roller coaster that really fit the tone of the series. I can’t wait to continue my Cosmere adventure! 

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insomniacsun's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional 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

[slow clap] Una degna conclusione per una storia così coinvolgente che, dopo un blocco del lettore eterno, mi ha costretto a leggere 1500 pagine nel giro di 3 settimane. E ora con la grandiosa scoperta del Cosmere, so che sarà solo l'inizio. Grazie per l'ottima introduzione al tuo mondo, Sanderson. Il mio sarà senz'altro un soggiorno prolungato.
Con le rivelazioni in questo libro, rileggere il primo volume sarà una delizia e un'avventura completamente nuova, in cui mi cimenterò a breve di sicuro. 

Il tono di questo libro era senz'altro più miserabile e cupo. Ripensandoci, he c'era da aspettarsi dal volume incentrato sull'Hemalurgy? Niente di buono poteva uscire dall'arte che ha dato origine agli Inquisitors, ma di certo non mi aspettavo l'estensione ad altre specie: quello sì mi ha preso alla sprovvista. 

SAZED HERO OF AGES CONFIRMED E CHE RIVELAZIONE SIGNORI, CHE RIVELAZIONE. Ho sempre trattato gli estratti di inizio capitolo con estrema attenzione, rileggendoli più volte e confrontandoli con gli avvenimenti del capitolo. Le supposizioni su chi fosse The hero of ages erano molto limitate inizialmente: con la menzione di Elend e gli avvenimenti di fronte al Well of Ascension nel finale dell'ultimo libro, ero fermamente convinta che fosse Vin. Scelta sicura e scontata direi, essendo Sazed e Vin stessa ad essere convinti della cosa. Povera me che si è scordata della dedizione di Sanderson alla completa sovversione di tutti i tropi fantasy, specialmente nei miti e profezie. Un'altra mia teoria era Marsh: pover uomo ha passato l'inferno e dopo tutto quello comunque non era sotto il totale controllo di Ruin. C'è da ammettere che aveva merito, fosse stato un personaggio più centrale nel mito a lungo andare. Mi ero basata sulle sue insicurezze ed esitazioni, su simile lunghezza d'onda a quelle di Alendi, e ciò è bastato a farmi dimenticare completamente di quanto queste insicurezze fossero amplificate su Sazed. Accecata dalla mia stessa fame di sapere, che dire.
 
Sazed è partito da subito come tra i miei preferiti, ma raggiuntasi la conclusione dello sviluppo di questo meraviglioso personaggio, devo ammettere che sarà uno di quelli che rimarrà nel mio cuore per un bel po'. Sanderson avrà finito con te, ma rimarrai sempre nei miei pensieri, Sazed.

Finalmente un po' di meritato focus su Spook! I suoi POV sono stati tra i più coinvolgenti, e il vederlo crescere e maturare durante questa missione mi ha lasciato senza fiato e zittita mordendomi le unghie in più di un momento,
specialmente nei momenti in cui pensa di essere guidato da Kelsier... il mio cuore si è spezzato sia per lui che per me, entrambi illusi da un ritorno impossibile.


E l'uccidere entrambi i tuoi protagonisti nel gran finale? Un grande rischio, ma una perfetta conclusione per la caratterizzazione di entrambi. Come ha detto Sazed, è tempo del loro meritato riposo. Mi mancheranno senz'altro, ma se sono riuscita a superare la fine di Kelsier, sopravvivrò pure al loro addio. Parlando di addii, DOVE ABBIAMO MESSO MARSH???? MI RIFIUTO DI CREDERE CHE SAZED NON LO ABBIA SALVATO PER CUI SO CHE SI AGGIRA DA QUALCHE PARTE.... USCITEMI MARSH PER FAVORE. RIDATEMI IL VECCHIO MARSH LIBERO DAL CONTROLLO DI RUIN. Spero per Sanderson che la mancata conclusione esplicita implichi delle conseguenze importanti per la prossima era o, preferibilmente, la sua presenza. Non tradirmi così Brandon, ho alte aspettative.
 

Un'altra cosa che mi ha scosso nel profondo: i corpi umani rigettati di Ruin e Preservation? C'è sempre stato qualcuno di umano con in mano questi poteri opposti? Spero che la cosa venga spiegata e approfondita meglio in futuro, perchè non riuscirò a pensare ad altro andando avanti con le prossime ere.


Unica pecca, che ripensandoci è un problema in tutta la trilogia, è la mancanza di personaggi femminili rilevanti fuori dalla sfera romantica: con tutta la frenesia nel primo volume, devo ammettere di non averci fatto caso subito, ma la cosa ha iniziato a pesare quando ogni entusiasmo per l'introduzione di una potenziale stella emergente femminile finiva inevitabilmente smorzato da un plateau nella personalità del personaggio, relegato ad essere semplicemente la nuova fiamma di uno dei personaggi principali. Decisamente deludente a lungo andare e mi preclude dal dare il massimo. So di non essere sola a sostenere la cosa e spero che la carenza non prosegui nelle prossime letture e che Sanderson abbia ascoltato e dato peso adeguato a queste critiche.

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giulianalb99's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

5⭐️ y ♾️

No puedo expresar con palabras lo que acabo de leer, estoy flipando. 
Desde que descubrí a Sanderson en noviembre del año pasado, me puse como objetivo leer todos sus libros y, cómo no, compré el primer tomo de la saga “El Imperio Final” que no sólo me encantó, sino que me marcó de una manera indescriptible. Después leí el segundo libro y también obviamente me encantó ¿pero este? Estoy sin palabras. Creo que es el libro más denso y complicado de los tres pero me ha atrapado y me lo he leído en cuatro días, cosa que nunca hago porque es un libro de casi 800 páginas y me suele llevar más tiempo. 
Los personajes siempre los voy a llevar en mi corazón. Sazed, Kelsier y Vin me han marcado de por vida y sólo puedo darle las gracias a este magnífico escritor por abrirme las puertas a su increíble universo llamado Cosmere y no puedo esperar más a seguir leyendo los otros libros. 
Sigo sin entender cómo una persona puede tener tan magnífica imaginación y plasmarlo en unos libros TAN buenos. Cada libro que leo suyo me gusta más y más y me declaro fan incondicional de Brandon Sanderson con todas las putas letras. 
Me duele mucho despedirme de estos personajes tan queridos pero siempre los llevaré conmigo. No voy a mentir: he llorado con el final, pero me he quedado completa, no sabría ni cómo lo explicarlo.
Y ¿qué más puedo decir? Esta saga de fantasía es increíble y se la recomiendo a todo el mundo, pero he de decir que es bastante densa así que no la escogería como la primera saga para leer si te estás introduciendo en la fantasía. 
Todo en este libro ha sido perfecto, no tengo ninguna pega. Menuda puta locura.

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vereadsbooks's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 C/TW: Violence, death, gore, blood, murder, mental illness, classism, suicide thoughts, war themes, animal death, torture, grief, fire, confinement, genocide, religious bigotry, and hostage


Rating ★★★★★

“The nature of the world is that when we create something, we often destroy something else in the process.”

Sometimes I don’t know what else to say apart from:


“Somehow, we'll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and whom we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are.”

Reading the Mistborn trilogy was the best decision I ever made. When I started this trilogy, I had no idea how involved I would be in the story. I also didn't know how attached I would feel to these characters.


“If you give up what you want most for what you think you should want more, you'll end up miserable.”

I had one of those existential crises you have after finishing a long series or TV show. I feel like I have lost something. I already miss these characters and this world.



Sanderson is fantastic. He crafts a spectacular ending for this trilogy. Every word and every twist was thought out since book one. The book felt a little slow, but I have to admit that it was because I was passing a reading slump. This might have affected my perception of the pace.

“Lately, I feel like my life is a book written in a language I don't know how to read.”

The book is narrated from various perspectives (Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, Marsh, and TeaSoon) that enrich this marvelous world. The book touches on topics such as colonialism, politics, war, and religion. Hero of the ages is heavily centered in theology and myths.

“Faith means that it doesn't matter what happens. You can trust that somebody is watching. Trust that somebody will make it all right.”

It was interesting to follow Sazed on his journey. He was the one that always had hope and faith. In the book, we see him having a theological crisis and losing his essence. I loved his character arc.

“She remembered timidly standing atop the Luthadel city wall, afraid to use her Allomancy to jump off, despite Kelsier's coaxing. Now she could step off a cliff and muse thoughtfully to herself on the way down.”

Vin is extraordinary. She grew a lot during these three books. Over time she learned to trust the people around her, and knowing how difficult it was for her to get to this point is laudable. Seeing her open up and trust Elend so blindly is so beautiful.


“I'm an amalgamation of what I've needed to be. Part scholar, part rebel, part nobleman, part Mistborn, and part soldier. Sometimes I don't even know myself. I had a devil of a time getting all those pieces to work together. And, just when I'm starting to get it figured out, the world up and ends on me.”

Elend is the other character that has astounding development. Elend is still an idealist scholar. But also, he learned to balance his new identity as a Mistborn, a conqueror, a husband, and a warrior. He becomes an incredible leader without losing his essence.

“Sometimes, you have to destroy something in order to build something better.”

I also enjoy following TeaSoon and Marsh and learning about their people.

I was heartbroken not only because this was the end of this journey but because I had to save goodbye to these characters. I am sad because of what happened as well. I hate and love Brandon Sanderson for making me love this group of outcasts so much.



The Final Empire★★★★★
The Well of Ascension★★★★★
The Hero of Ages ★★★★★


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lilifane's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense 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

PERFECTION! This is the definition of perfection. At least for me. 
I know this book or series is probably not for everyone, but it is perfect for me. 
And the sole reason for this is how well plotted this story is, from the very first sentence of book one to the very last sentence of book 3. I have a lot of respect for Brandon Sanderson now. 
And as much as I loved the characters, the story (especially this third book) is mostly plot driven. Therefore, I think people who prefer character driven stories won't love it as much as I do. 
For example: I didn't cry when characters died. But I cried rivers of tears when all the tiny little puzzle pieces fit together perfectly at the end. This is my favorite thing in books and I finally found one... well three... that do it masterfully. 
There are also some really cool themes discussed in the series. One of them is religion/faith/belief, and this is another aspect that might put some readers off. I personally loved the way this topic was explored, and I also really liked the conclusion in the end. But I guess some might find it too preachy. 
I really want to read more from Sanderson, and I definitely will work my way through his whole bibliography. But he writes SO many books, and they are all SO big. I think need a little break from epic fantasy first. 

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iono's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious sad 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

5.0


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