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A review by nataliestorozhenko
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
4.0
“It's easy to believe in something when you win all the time... The losses are what define a man's faith.”
I have a splitting headache after finishing this book, and my eyes are puffy, but I must say that it was an exciting but veeery slow journey. I highlighted the heck out of this book and am still trying to process everything, so I won't write too much today. There were some frustrating moments due to a lot of waiting and politics, but it was also good in a way because it made me feel as claustrophobic as the characters who were trapped in the city under siege. However, the wait was worth it in the end, as Brandon Sanderson continually reminds us to focus on the journey rather than the destination and to trust the process.
- Vin. VIN. WIIIIN!! SLAY YOUR ENEMIES!!!!!
- Elend learning to be a king.
- Vin and Zane’s sparrings. I usually dislike love triangles, but this one was an exception. Vin’s doubts were relatable and painful, and I appreciated that it wasn't about the man she chose, but about the person she wanted to become. I feel sorrowful for Zane; he may have been saved if it weren't for Ruin. Nonetheless, Vin's epic fight against him without using atium was impressive and satisfying!
- Sazed arc with Tindwyl. Heartbreakingly beautiful. I bawled my eyes out.
- TenSoon.
- Breeze’s arc and the way he soothed the soldiers during the battle.
- Vin making three huge forces kneel before her in the name of her husband.
- That part when Vin thought she was making the right decision by giving up something she loved the most. Even though she made a mistake, still it portrayed her character growth so well and that she is truly worthy of such power with her ability to learn, love, and trust.
- A new Mistborn in our midst.
And some of the things I do not want to forget:
"This one man she would trust. The others she would test, but she would not question Elend. In a way, she'd rather trust him and be wrong than deal with the worry of mistrust.
I finally understand, she thought with a start. Kelsier. I understand what it was like for you with Mare. I won't make your same mistake."
"Idly, she wondered what kind of person she might have become if she'd gained full access to her powers without—at the same time-learning of friendship and trust from Kelsier's crew."
"I think the trick is convincing yourself that you deserve the reactions you get. You can wear the court's dresses, Vin, but make them your own. Don't worry that you aren't giving people what they want. Give them who you are, and let that be enough." He paused, smiling. "It was for me."
"It felt wrong to not have her with him. He had come to rely on her simple bluntness. He needed her genuine realism - her sheer sense of concreteness - to keep him grounded. He needed to hold her, so that he could know that there was something more important than theories and concepts.
He loved her."
"You must love him enough to trust his wishes, even if you disagree with them. You must respect him - no matter how wrong you think he may be, no matter how poor you think his decisions, you must respect his desire to make them. Even if one of them includes loving you."
"You made me think he feared me, made me think he was using me."
"He was," Zane said.
"Yes," Vin said. "But it doesn't matter - not the way you made it seem. Elend uses me. Kelsier used me. We use each other, for love, for support, for trust."
"Yet, it wasn't his ability to fight that made him great—it wasn't his harshness or his brutality, or even his strength or his instincts. It was his ability to trust," she said. "It was the way that he made good people into better people, the way that he inspired them. His crew worked because he had confidence in them— because he respected them. And, in return, they respected each other. Men like Breeze and Clubs became heroes because Kelsier had faith in them."
"The gates thumped. Breeze cringed, but continued his Soothing. "Be strong," he whispered. "Fear, uncertainty - I take these away. Death may come through those doors, but you can fight it. You can win. Be strong..."
"She could fight, could kill, if it meant defending those who could not defend themselves. Kelsier might have been able to kill for shock or retribution, but that wasn't good enough for Vin.
And she would never let it be again."
I have a splitting headache after finishing this book, and my eyes are puffy, but I must say that it was an exciting but veeery slow journey. I highlighted the heck out of this book and am still trying to process everything, so I won't write too much today. There were some frustrating moments due to a lot of waiting and politics, but it was also good in a way because it made me feel as claustrophobic as the characters who were trapped in the city under siege. However, the wait was worth it in the end, as Brandon Sanderson continually reminds us to focus on the journey rather than the destination and to trust the process.
Spoiler
Things I enjoyed the most:- Vin. VIN. WIIIIN!! SLAY YOUR ENEMIES!!!!!
- Elend learning to be a king.
- Vin and Zane’s sparrings. I usually dislike love triangles, but this one was an exception. Vin’s doubts were relatable and painful, and I appreciated that it wasn't about the man she chose, but about the person she wanted to become. I feel sorrowful for Zane; he may have been saved if it weren't for Ruin. Nonetheless, Vin's epic fight against him without using atium was impressive and satisfying!
- Sazed arc with Tindwyl. Heartbreakingly beautiful. I bawled my eyes out.
- TenSoon.
- Breeze’s arc and the way he soothed the soldiers during the battle.
- Vin making three huge forces kneel before her in the name of her husband.
- That part when Vin thought she was making the right decision by giving up something she loved the most. Even though she made a mistake, still it portrayed her character growth so well and that she is truly worthy of such power with her ability to learn, love, and trust.
- A new Mistborn in our midst.
And some of the things I do not want to forget:
"This one man she would trust. The others she would test, but she would not question Elend. In a way, she'd rather trust him and be wrong than deal with the worry of mistrust.
I finally understand, she thought with a start. Kelsier. I understand what it was like for you with Mare. I won't make your same mistake."
"Idly, she wondered what kind of person she might have become if she'd gained full access to her powers without—at the same time-learning of friendship and trust from Kelsier's crew."
"I think the trick is convincing yourself that you deserve the reactions you get. You can wear the court's dresses, Vin, but make them your own. Don't worry that you aren't giving people what they want. Give them who you are, and let that be enough." He paused, smiling. "It was for me."
"It felt wrong to not have her with him. He had come to rely on her simple bluntness. He needed her genuine realism - her sheer sense of concreteness - to keep him grounded. He needed to hold her, so that he could know that there was something more important than theories and concepts.
He loved her."
"You must love him enough to trust his wishes, even if you disagree with them. You must respect him - no matter how wrong you think he may be, no matter how poor you think his decisions, you must respect his desire to make them. Even if one of them includes loving you."
"You made me think he feared me, made me think he was using me."
"He was," Zane said.
"Yes," Vin said. "But it doesn't matter - not the way you made it seem. Elend uses me. Kelsier used me. We use each other, for love, for support, for trust."
"Yet, it wasn't his ability to fight that made him great—it wasn't his harshness or his brutality, or even his strength or his instincts. It was his ability to trust," she said. "It was the way that he made good people into better people, the way that he inspired them. His crew worked because he had confidence in them— because he respected them. And, in return, they respected each other. Men like Breeze and Clubs became heroes because Kelsier had faith in them."
"The gates thumped. Breeze cringed, but continued his Soothing. "Be strong," he whispered. "Fear, uncertainty - I take these away. Death may come through those doors, but you can fight it. You can win. Be strong..."
"She could fight, could kill, if it meant defending those who could not defend themselves. Kelsier might have been able to kill for shock or retribution, but that wasn't good enough for Vin.
And she would never let it be again."