Written Branden Sanderson, published in 2006. Summary and review.

Having tackled The Stormlight Archive, which apparently is NOT the best series to start with when diving into the Cosmere universe, I decided to continue down the path and started The Mistborn Saga. The first installment is The Final Empire. And right off the bat I’ll say, Brando Sando has done it yet again. Another excellent story with a unique world, magical system, and complex set of characters with unique perspectives, backstories and motivations.

We enter a world covered in ash and mist in a Caste system with nobles, noble houses, Skaa (slaves), and magical people known as Mistings or Mistborn. All are ruled by the Lord Ruler, and immortal and all powerful god-like leader, who along with his minions of Obligators and Inquisitors, dominates the lands of the Final Empire. His Steel Inquisitors are particularly excellent bad guys, tall, lanky, Slederman-like creatures with great powers of their own and steel spikes driven through their eyes – yet still can see. Bad dudes. Real bad. Joe Jackson.

Mainly we follow Kelsier, a Magneto-meets-Jesus type leader (and Mistborn) and Vin, a rag-tag girl from the slums who survives by thieving and feels much like Lyft (from The Stormlight Archive). They join together along with a Oceans Eleven type crew to plot an intricate ploy to uproot the Lord Rule, attempt to kill the unkillable, and free the Skaa slaves.

What is particularly fun in this story is the unique magical system Sanderson yet-again creates. Those with chosen abilities are able to ingest various metals – 8 basic, 2 special, and 1 secret – that upon ingestion and “burned” they allow for powers of pushing and pulling metals, emotions, senses, and time.

Mistings are special people who have the ability to use one metal and thus have one special ability (strength, affecting emotions, hiding from others) and Misborn, who have the ability to use all metals and thus are extremely powerful (and rare). The abilities Sanderson creates from the use of these metals is truly amazing, deep, and extremely well thought out. The use of the metals he calls alomancy and there is a secondary power called feruchemy which is a bit more complicated and involves using magic from within your own body, storing it, and using it later. I won’t attempt to explain this one… but it’s also wild.

The arc of Kelsier, Vin, and the large group of rebels provides a gripping story of David versus Goliath, freedom, power and love. Each with deep backstories and motivations for attempting to overthrow the Lord Ruler.

I’m curious how The Final Empire and our cast of characters falls into the greater Cosmere universe, but expect to find out as I continue with Sanderson’s works.

TLDR: All in all, this was a damn good story. The metal burning and abilities is wildly unique and well thought out. The Final Empire is highly entertaining, complete with good fights, backstories, plots, twists, turns and political implications. Highly Recommend. 5/5 Stars.

Mistborn: The Final Empire (The Misborn Saga – Book 1)

Written Branden Sanderson, published in 2006. Summary and review.

Having tackled The Stormlight Archive, which apparently is NOT the best series to start with when diving into the Cosmere universe, I decided to continue down the path and started The Mistborn Saga. The first installment is The Final Empire. And right off the bat I’ll say, Brando Sando has done it yet again. Another excellent story with a unique world, magical system, and complex set of characters with unique perspectives, backstories and motivations.

We enter a world covered in ash and mist in a Caste system with nobles, noble houses, Skaa (slaves), and magical people known as Mistings or Mistborn. All are ruled by the Lord Ruler, and immortal and all powerful god-like leader, who along with his minions of Obligators and Inquisitors, dominates the lands of the Final Empire. His Steel Inquisitors are particularly excellent bad guys, tall, lanky, Slederman-like creatures with great powers of their own and steel spikes driven through their eyes – yet still can see. Bad dudes. Real bad. Joe Jackson.

Mainly we follow Kelsier, a Magneto-meets-Jesus type leader (and Mistborn) and Vin, a rag-tag girl from the slums who survives by thieving and feels much like Lyft (from The Stormlight Archive). They join together along with a Oceans Eleven type crew to plot an intricate ploy to uproot the Lord Rule, attempt to kill the unkillable, and free the Skaa slaves.

What is particularly fun in this story is the unique magical system Sanderson yet-again creates. Those with chosen abilities are able to ingest various metals – 8 basic, 2 special, and 1 secret – that upon ingestion and “burned” they allow for powers of pushing and pulling metals, emotions, senses, and time.

Mistings are special people who have the ability to use one metal and thus have one special ability (strength, affecting emotions, hiding from others) and Misborn, who have the ability to use all metals and thus are extremely powerful (and rare). The abilities Sanderson creates from the use of these metals is truly amazing, deep, and extremely well thought out. The use of the metals he calls alomancy and there is a secondary power called feruchemy which is a bit more complicated and involves using magic from within your own body, storing it, and using it later. I won’t attempt to explain this one… but it’s also wild.

The arc of Kelsier, Vin, and the large group of rebels provides a gripping story of David versus Goliath, freedom, power and love. Each with deep backstories and motivations for attempting to overthrow the Lord Ruler.

I’m curious how The Final Empire and our cast of characters falls into the greater Cosmere universe, but expect to find out as I continue with Sanderson’s works.

TLDR: All in all, this was a damn good story. The metal burning and abilities is wildly unique and well thought out. The Final Empire is highly entertaining, complete with good fights, backstories, plots, twists, turns and political implications. Highly Recommend. 5/5 Stars.