A review by ailsaod
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark tense slow-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

4.0

 This book would definitely be a five stars for me if it was a little shorter! Sanderson put ALL the good stuff at the end so there is about 400 pages to slowly push through before you are hit by the really good stuff. I will admit that I'm not entirely sure what I would cut if it were me shortening it as it is probably the insane amount of groundwork that happens in the first 400 pages that makes the last 200 so compelling but I almost didn't get that far, luckily one of my work colleagues had also read the book and occasionally asked how I was doing so I got there in the end!

I have never read a Sanderson novel before and I heard Mistborn was the place to start. The world building felt kind of basic initially (though it became much more interesting as more was revealed!) and while the main character, Vin, is a version of the 'half-wild street kid that doesn't need friends' trope at the beginning I feel like Sanderson portrays her in a much more accurate way than most examples - for instance she takes forever to trust anyone (though she then has her mentor, Kelsier, despairing over who she decided to trust and I found that hilarious!). Kelsier was the best part of the book in the beginning: he is mysterious, a little unhinged and charismatic and this combination of traits makes people question his true intentions towards the rebellion they are aiding which made the more boring parts more interesting.

The romance subplot of this book is fine. Elend is very much a rare specimen of 'not like the other boys' because he likes to read books at social gatherings and has a conscience. It is very predictable that they will like each other. Admittedly he's not too bad and him not realising Vin's double identity when she keeps on messing up in small ways is entertaining.

This book is very much on an exponential curve. When the plot twist happened I had to reread the last few pages because I was so shocked. Sanderson does the big twist well as initially it makes no sense but then all these little things that happened or were said all begin to fall into place and you realise what has really been going on. I would like to say more but I do not wish to even get near spoiling it!

I am now trying to summon the courage to get book two but I am unsure how it can be better than this! 
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