Scan barcode
A review by nikkihill22
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
i really liked the plot and characters of this book. i hated the pacing of it. i cant decide if i hate the pacing of it more as a stand alone, or more as the first part of a trilogy. i listened to the audiobook, which i think was majorly helpful in finishing the book. the chapters are very long, which i don't mind in audio format, but if i were reading a physical book i think it would have been difficult to convince myself to pick it up as i typically like to make sure i have enough time to read at least one chapter any time i sit down to read. The audiobook was nearly 25 hours long (no complaints about long books, i love big books), and for whatever reason, the last 30 minutes of it were an epilogue? this makes me think the book was written as if it may never get a sequel. because a 25 hour book with a 29 hour sequel and a 27.5 hour sequel after that one in no way shape or form needs a 30 minute epilogue.
But the characters were utterly charming, i definitely started and ended the book for them, and i'm so excited to see where they go in the rest of the story. My one complaint about characterization is about the minor romance in the book, i don't fully understand why the character we follow falls in love with someone as quickly as they do, but love is love and it happens like that sometimes i suppose. I just don't think this character would have necessarily.
Sometimes i like to play "spot the mormon" when i read a book by a mormon author, and i definitely think you can find Sanderson's mormon background all throughout this book, especially with the log book entries and the Lord Ruler, as well as some of the importance stressed around family structures. But it wasn't quite as bad as some other mormon authors' works are.
But the characters were utterly charming, i definitely started and ended the book for them, and i'm so excited to see where they go in the rest of the story. My one complaint about characterization is about the minor romance in the book, i don't fully understand why the character we follow falls in love with someone as quickly as they do, but love is love and it happens like that sometimes i suppose. I just don't think this character would have necessarily.
Sometimes i like to play "spot the mormon" when i read a book by a mormon author, and i definitely think you can find Sanderson's mormon background all throughout this book, especially with the log book entries and the Lord Ruler, as well as some of the importance stressed around family structures. But it wasn't quite as bad as some other mormon authors' works are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Abandonment, Slavery, Colonisation, Death, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child death, and Death of parent