Book Review: Does Mistborn aka The Final Empire Deserve All the Stars?
Yes, yes it does. WOW. I pretty much devoured book one of the Mistborn Trilogy, The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson in my buddy read that kicked off 2023. We’re doing the whole trilogy, so yes, you can still join in! Sanderson has created a rich fantasy world I could dive into completely blind and immerse myself. It definitely deserves all the stars.
Things to Know:
- High fantasy with high stakes
- Two incredible magic systems
- A cross between Ocean’s 11, The Matrix, and Les Mis, but in a fantasy world where the villain won
- Romantic subplot, but not a focus
- Brandon’s favorite word is ‘maladroitly’
I might be one of the last people to read this book, but just in case you haven’t read any Brandon Sanderson books yet, and you like fantasy reads, PLEASE pick up this book.
There is always another secret.
You’ll notice as you read there are layers upon layers of plots and secrets, and Sanderson is masterful at revealing them when you’re not expecting it. I did predict one of the ending plot reveals, there were others that I was absolutely not expecting.
“He’s a good man, isn’t he?”
“A very good man, mistress. One of the best I’ve known.”
“A good man…I don’t think I’ve ever known one of those.”
The characters in this novel are all flawed, but loveable. I was rooting for *almost all of them. And don’t even get me started on the magic system(s). Allomancy and Feruchelmy are some of the coolest I’ve read about, and I can’t wait to get deeper into them in the next book in the series.
Sanderson is not a fluffy writer, in fact, he’s quite utilitarian. So if you’re looking for beautiful, flowery prose you won’t find it here. But he writes exactly what you need, and still made me feel things (if that makes sense). At almost 650 pages, this isn’t a short read, but I never felt the plot dragging, or a desire to rush to the next chapter–it was expertly paced.
Did this book make me cry? Yes, it did. But I’m not giving any spoilers other than to say that my heart is absolutely broken, yet hopeful.
Run, don’t walk to read this fantasy novel that will probably become one of the great fantasy classics of our time.
May you rule in wisdom.