I’ve been on a fantasy binge the past couple of months. I picked up Mistborn because I love how it plays with the hero trope.A hero that FAILED to save the world? An immortal ruler now reigns?
I just had to find out what happened. And, of course, see how the new generation of heroes will succeed where the last one failed.
My Thoughts
(I’ve already mentioned the compelling twist on the hero trope. I won’t go into details on this jewel because it will inevitably result in spoilers.)
Mistborn has phenomenal world building. Brandon Sanderson has created a world that can stand on its own. It’s not there merely for sake of the plot. The plot exists because of the world. That’s how well Sanderson designed the world.
Because the world is so well structured, the moral questions of right and wrong make that much more of an impact. Some of these questions are stated outright for consideration by some of the characters. Others are implied through their actions. I appreciate the exploration of these questions because they give meaning to the book. This isn’t a simple fantasy adventure to be read for entertainment (though it’s certainly that). This is a novel that gets readers thinking about the world of Mistborn and, by consequence, our own world.
Some of these questions include (but are not limited to):
- What are you willing to sacrifice for the greater good?
- Can you trust another individual? (Or is everyone in it for their own gain?)
- Is every member of a particular class responsible for the wrongs committed by the many?
- Why would an individual (or group of individuals) continue to fight for a lost cause?
While I wasn’t historically a fan of multiple POVs, I’m beginning to grow an appreciation for them. I like how the multiple POVs in Mistborn further the plot by giving us insight into happenings in different areas. We also see the legacy of multiple heroes in this novel from the hero who failed to the two protagonists.
That said, the execution wasn’t flawless.
Much ground needs to be covered in a plot this complex, which means that some elements must be sacrificed. Not much time is spent with each character outside of the two protagonists. Even then, they don’t show much growth over the course of the novel (except for Vin, to a certain degree—I anticipate more growth from her in future installments). For the most part, the characters fit into their boxes, and I never quite connected with any of them.
I also had some issues with the pacing. This is primarily because most of the novel is spent preparing for the big fight, which resolves rather quickly once it begins. This is realistic for a project as ambitious as it is, but it also meant that the tension spiked at certain points before plateauing for many pages at a time. I often felt liked it moved too fast or too slowly.
Overall, I found Mistborn to be an engaging read. It isn’t a thrilling page turner, but it made me think—and that’s where its worth lies.
Mistborn raises many questions from a moral perspective and from a reader’s perspective. It encouraged me to consider the politics of government, and it made me think about what mades a great book. As the story progressed, I found myself asking what was happening in the moment and to predict what would happen.
(Side-note: I actually predicted many things well before they happened, but I enjoyed the process of thinking through what I knew based on the plot and what had happened thus far.)
Content
Language (Swearing)
Violence, torture (aftermath) scenes, and death
Who would I recommend it to?
To fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy complex world building and novels that play with traditional tropes.
Final Thoughts
Mistborn isn’t a perfect novel, but it’s definitely what I would call a great book. Reasons: a complex world that explores moral questions through imperfect characters residing in a broken society.
Would I buy it? Yes, I love it enough to buy the hardback editions for the durability and the amazing cover art.
Chat with Me
What traits do you look for in a hero? Have you read any of Brandon Sanderson’s works? What do you recommend I read next? (After I finish the Mistborn trilogy, of course.)
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
Melliane says
I’m not a big fantasy reader I confess but I always love the books written by this author.
Crystal says
Sanderson is a great writer! 🙂
Christy LoveOfBooks says
I’m not surprised to see that you liked this. I have several of his books on my list to read, including this one.
Crystal says
Same here. I wasn’t a huge fan of Steelheart, but I have copies of several of his other books on my shelf waiting to be read!
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight says
I feel like I’ve heard a lot about this.The world-building sounds amazing! And I love thought-provoking books. I’m not a big fan of too many POVs either though unless it’s done really well. Still, sounds like this is a good book!
Crystal says
The world building and thought-provoking details made Mistborn worth the read! Though I’m not a huge fan of books that frequently change POV, it helped flesh out the world.