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A review by haley_wasserman
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Am I late to the Brandon Sanderson game? Absolutely. Am I now a devoted fangirl? ABSOLUTELY.
I want to start by saying that if you're looking to dive into the realm of fantasy reading, this is a great jumping off point. Its length of 600ish pages may be intimidating, but this book is truly well-paced and easy to understand, and you don't lose out on any of the hallmarks of high fantasy reading.
**Please note the trigger warnings for this book. Ultimately it is a book of a desperate nation that is filled with slavery, violence, and mentions of assaults. The book isn't overly violent by any means, and it's never gratuitous in its violent descriptions, but if you're a little queasy with any mention of blood or death, maybe wait to read this. **
The narrative and plot of this novel is impeccable. It is the perfect balance of information and action: one minute we are gently told about the magic of Mistborn's inhabitants, the next minute our heroine and band of misfits are on a quest for freedom.
The characterization of the heroes and heroines is also truly exceptional. Their growth throughout their quest is subtlety peppered in, and their shifting motivations and power always kept me on my toes. Each character, every minor side characters, has their place in the story. They all make up the beautiful, well-oiled machine that is Mistborn.
Sanderson is so adept at hooking a reader in, anticipating their questions, and giving them the ultimate payoff as he leads us through his worlds. For being a high fantasy read, I never once was confused by the magic system or the complexity of the world. And if I was feeling some trepidation about the magic and politics of the story, it was because I was supposed to be.
All of this is to say: there isn't anything I'd change about this book. Sanderson is so SMART with his writing, I'm in awe. I wasn't just learning about Mistborns and the Final Empire, I feel as though I experienced the story of Sanderson's rich world rife with realistic characters, enchanting magic, and undercurrents of rebellion. The ending and the various reveals throughout the story are as wonderful as an Agatha Christie reveal. I am just ELATED that there are two more books in this story's arc that I can dive into immediately.
I want to start by saying that if you're looking to dive into the realm of fantasy reading, this is a great jumping off point. Its length of 600ish pages may be intimidating, but this book is truly well-paced and easy to understand, and you don't lose out on any of the hallmarks of high fantasy reading.
**Please note the trigger warnings for this book. Ultimately it is a book of a desperate nation that is filled with slavery, violence, and mentions of assaults. The book isn't overly violent by any means, and it's never gratuitous in its violent descriptions, but if you're a little queasy with any mention of blood or death, maybe wait to read this. **
The narrative and plot of this novel is impeccable. It is the perfect balance of information and action: one minute we are gently told about the magic of Mistborn's inhabitants, the next minute our heroine and band of misfits are on a quest for freedom.
The characterization of the heroes and heroines is also truly exceptional. Their growth throughout their quest is subtlety peppered in, and their shifting motivations and power always kept me on my toes. Each character, every minor side characters, has their place in the story. They all make up the beautiful, well-oiled machine that is Mistborn.
Sanderson is so adept at hooking a reader in, anticipating their questions, and giving them the ultimate payoff as he leads us through his worlds. For being a high fantasy read, I never once was confused by the magic system or the complexity of the world. And if I was feeling some trepidation about the magic and politics of the story, it was because I was supposed to be.
All of this is to say: there isn't anything I'd change about this book. Sanderson is so SMART with his writing, I'm in awe. I wasn't just learning about Mistborns and the Final Empire, I feel as though I experienced the story of Sanderson's rich world rife with realistic characters, enchanting magic, and undercurrents of rebellion. The ending and the various reveals throughout the story are as wonderful as an Agatha Christie reveal. I am just ELATED that there are two more books in this story's arc that I can dive into immediately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail