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A review by oashackelford
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
In the days of the Final Empire the Skaa are treated terribly. The nobility can do that because the Skaa have no powers of their own, except that there are a few Skaa who ended up with the ability to manipulate the world around them by burning metal. This is called Allomancy, and it is the key to bringing the Final Empire to its knees.
I don't think I have read a book with such excellent world building since I first read Harry Potter. Sanderson really shows you the hopelessness of the Final Empire before beginning the adventure so that you can empathize with Vin and the massive challenge she has to overcome. The book shifted perspectives from time to time, but it didn't do that thing where the author spends an entire chapter with a character that is nowhere near the action in order to create suspense. I think that works well in some books, but I feel like a lot of authors started trying it and now it is in every other book that I read.
I also thought that Sanderson did a great job of coming up with real problems for his characters. Sometimes in books the characters create problems for themselves that could be easily solved by communicating with their friends or using their magic and you scream at the book wondering why they don't just fix it the easy way, but Sanderson's characters have real problems. I like that sometimes they create the problem by being rash, or the motivation is love and they can't help it, but it doesn't feel forced at all. All of the characters choices feel accurate to them.
My FAVORITE thing about this book is that the story is resolved at the end. There are enough questions to get you to read the sequel, but no massive cliff hanger used to get you to buy the second book. I am so excited to read the second book and get some of my questions answered and dive back into this rich and complex world.
I don't think I have read a book with such excellent world building since I first read Harry Potter. Sanderson really shows you the hopelessness of the Final Empire before beginning the adventure so that you can empathize with Vin and the massive challenge she has to overcome. The book shifted perspectives from time to time, but it didn't do that thing where the author spends an entire chapter with a character that is nowhere near the action in order to create suspense. I think that works well in some books, but I feel like a lot of authors started trying it and now it is in every other book that I read.
I also thought that Sanderson did a great job of coming up with real problems for his characters. Sometimes in books the characters create problems for themselves that could be easily solved by communicating with their friends or using their magic and you scream at the book wondering why they don't just fix it the easy way, but Sanderson's characters have real problems. I like that sometimes they create the problem by being rash, or the motivation is love and they can't help it, but it doesn't feel forced at all. All of the characters choices feel accurate to them.
My FAVORITE thing about this book is that the story is resolved at the end. There are enough questions to get you to read the sequel, but no massive cliff hanger used to get you to buy the second book. I am so excited to read the second book and get some of my questions answered and dive back into this rich and complex world.