A review by heysunbee
Mitosis by Brandon Sanderson

tense fast-paced

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

2.75

 Mitosis is a short installation bridging the final events of Steelheart with the events in Firefight. We follow the Reckoners as they rebuild Newcago after the demise of Steelheart and the succeeding power struggle they need to get through with the titular character of this short story.

I have to preface this by saying that I am not a big fan of the Reckoners trilogy. I wanted to explore all of Sanderson’s bibliography and this was on the list. With that being said, I don’t like this novella. If you didn’t read this, you wouldn’t lose anything since the information we see has minimal effect on our understanding of the world or our characters. 

I liked Mitosis’s character and his powers. The thought that Sanderson put into writing the conditions and limitations of an Epic’s powers was more fleshed out here in terms of execution compared to the first book, which was refreshing since it makes the Epics more human and more likely to be defeated. The ending was a little too deus ex machina for me - it felt like such an easy out, it took away my limited enjoyment of the story.

Personally, it comes as a surprise that Sanderson wrote Mistborn in 2006 and he wrote this in 2013 but the quality and worldbuilding is - excuse my pun - worlds apart. I find it quite difficult to believe that he can produce something as riveting as Mistborn with all its twists and turns, its complex characters, and comprehensive lore but also write Mitosis seven years later. This strongly feels like the work of a new writer still finding their footing.

If you enjoyed the Reckoners series, I feel like this story might be enjoyable for you! I believe that this is more of a matter of taste and expectation which made me give it a low rating and an unfavorable opinion.