Mistborn Trilogy: The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, The Hero of Ages

How strange. I stopped reading Sanderson at one point because though aspects of his stories were quite good, it was just too, too sick and twisted and I realized that the good wasn't worth the sick one had to endure. So, time went on with me avoiding anything he wrote until I happened on this trilogy where no sick was mentioned in the descriptions. So, I decided to give it a chance, because they guy IS (or was) a good storyteller. So, the first two books were pretty good, great characters, pretty much everything one wants in this genre, until the last book. As I read them all back to back, I can't exactly remember where it was getting so bad I was skipping over page after page, exasperated and bored, reading just a line or two to keep up with the story. And that was very possible--there were just SO MANY words, words, useless words, such endless drivel, pointless reflection and ceaseless wondering, wondering, wondering. It was so annoying--I just wanted to get to the place where the ash was gone, the leaves were green and flowers appeared. It's no spoiler to know that was going to happen. But did it have to happen on the last page--after so much useless annoying, unsatisfying reading of boring words? As I write this and remember the annoyance and exasperation, I'm changing the three stars to two. I was going to give it three because the first two books were okay, but no, with such an unsatisfying end after so much annoyance, maybe even two stars is too much. I'm not sure when this was written in Sanderson's career--I am totally giving up on him now. How did he go from sick and twisted, but good story, to totally boring and annoying. I'm wondering if he really wrote this.

Mistborn is a fantastic setting with great characters and innovative takes on magic, life and the universe. That alone got me all the way through this series. I wanted to see how it ended. What I didn't love was these books being full of a lot of boring dialogue. I found myself skimming entire chapters that did nothing to further the plot or delve deeper into a character's psyche. The farther I got into each book, the more I skimmed. The more I skimmed, the more I realized that the dialogue was offering me very little. I tend love great dialogue in a novel. Some books have little action, but great characters and dialogue. This series wasn't one of them. For my money, I very much preferred The Way of Kings. If you find yourself 1/4 of the way through this series and bored, I recommend switching to Sanderson's other and, IMO, better series.

The Mistborn Trilogy is the series that got me reading Brandon Sanderson's books. As to how I even heard about it, I think I read it in a blog somewhere promoting it as the story of a fantasy world where the "Dark Lord" who is called the Lord Ruler had won. As a fantasy reader who is so used to the story of fighting the "Dark Lord" it came as a refreshing break to read a story of what comes after if the heroes failed, so I felt that I just had to read this book. Setting: Fast forward 1000 years into the future and we are treated to a world where ash regularly falls from the sky lit by a red sun over a land covered by brown plants. It is not really a very pleasant place. Unlike the places in other stories I've read, this is not one I'd like to visit. What impresses me about it is that it is quite a departure from the usual fantasy setting that essentially boils down to Medieval Europe + Magic = Fantasy World. What's even more impressive is that Sanderson has really made all these unique aspects of his setting fit into the story. No, the world is not just dark and gloomy for the heck of it, there is actually a reason that is revealed in the third book along with a twist that had me shifting my opinion on the Lord Ruler. Mood: The world and the people as portrayed could have easily made this trilogy a dark/grim-dark tale. The lives of the skaa, the common people, have little value and you get to see how they are killed dismissively by the ruling class. There is actually a rule that nobles and skaa cannot interbreed so what the nobles did was that they were actually required to kill the skaa women that they bed. Also, one of the magic systems used involves a ritualistically torturous process to work properly. For all that, this is actually a hopeful story. The dead bodies tend to pile up, but it is never the focus of the story. I guess the difference is that we don't get to look through a cynic's perspective like we do in books like George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. For all their personal struggles, the heroes are still heroic. Characters: Looking into our characters, the first two books of the trilogy can actually be seen as a coming-of-age tale for the main protagonist, Vin, who struggles with the idea of trust as she learns to understand what it means to have friends. It is about her empowerment as she learns to wield the powers of a mistborn. And finally, there is also her struggle with identity. Her powers, while making her powerful, also makes her very useful, which creates conflict in that she finds herself wondering if she is simply valued for what she can do as opposed to her being valued as a person. For all the world altering events taking place in the books, what I really like with the books is that it is grounded as a character-driven story. Magic: Sanderson is known for his magic systems. He tends to build them from simple concepts to create some really incredible effects through their varies interactions. The approach is along the lines of "magic as a science" so people who favor the idea of magic being dark and mysterious would dislike his systems. In Mistborn, there are three magic systems all tied to metals. In Allomancy, an Allomancer can use metals to wield powers the simply allow one to push or pull at something. That's it. The other systems are equally simple. What's really interesting is that Sanderson is clever enough to surprise me with the different ways the various magics are used. From a simple push or pull, we have people 'flying' around in the night. Verdict: Though the premise of the first book, that of the Dark Lord having triumphed, along with his clever magic system that deviates from the trope of complex spells and mysterious ways would certainly set this trilogy apart from other fantasy, that should not be the reason to pick up this book. You should read this because it is a well-written and well-executed piece of literature. There are those who call Sanderson out on using simple, transparent prose, but I really think it necessary that such a writing style is used to depict the fast-paced, action-packed sequences that are spread around in the books. Fancy wordcraft would just get in the way. In the end, are novels about finely constructed paragraphs or are they about exquisitely crafted stories?

The star rating is for the trilogy overall. The first book alone I'd give four stars. It was very well written and riveting -- great characters, interesting concepts presented very well, nicely constructed world. Fairly predictable (which Sanderson has certainly changed since this was written) which is why it would have received four stars. I didn't connect at all with the main character, but I'd still give it four stars. The second and third I'd give two stars. They drag (severely at times) with a thousand (probably literally) variations on "Maybe we should do this", "Maybe I should have done that", "Maybe he will do this other thing" and the famous "It's all my fault". While I wanted to find out how the plot resolved, I was very glad to be done so I could move on to something else. I know Sanderson has become one of the greats since this was written (The Way Of Kings been an amazing example). But books two and three here are on the struggle-bus.

This series was actually recommended directly to me by another author. I enjoyed this trilogy...mostly. From the start the books read like a movie...well polished with amazing settings and wonderful characterizations. I was prepared for the series to be good and it was until the ending which was almost like an afterthought. The only exposure Sanderson I had prior to these books was his standing in to complete the Wheel of Time series. I thought he did a fairly good job in a difficult position with the books he wrote but I wasn't motivated to read any more of his work. Thank you, Robert J. Crane for pushing me to this alternative world Sanderson has created. Sanderson is a master of writing in a manner that is unexpected and his talent of breaking expected literary norms with his characters and world work well for the most part. The series likely will appeal to any hard core fantasy reader and the immersion into Sanderson's world will leave the reader thinking and speculating about the philosophies presented.

The first book was excellent (5 stars). Interesting world, interesting characters, well paced. The second book was slower paced, and more introspective. It acted as a bridge between the first and third books, and trudged along, not giving too much away. The third book would have been excellent if it were about 40% shorter. It provided a solid finish to the series, but the author spent a lot of time re-explaining stuff from the first two books, sometimes repeating the explanation a few chapters later. (In fairness, some things might have been forgotten if some time time had passed between readings, but there's a very nice summary of previous books at the very end for anyone not reading the trilogy straight through.) Lots of introspection, often retreading old ground. I feel like the author "phoned in" the middle stretch of the book; at one point a character uses the expression "hat trick", even though this particular universe does not seem to have hockey. The plot, the characters, and the big finish make the journey worthwhile, but I can't help thinking this would have been better as two books rather than three.

I'm a fairly recent convert to Sanderson fandom. About a year ago I picked up "The Way of Kings" for a couple bucks thinking it was hard to loose out on such a deal. Even if it wasn't any good, I didn't loose much. That day I gained much. "The Way of Kings" was an amazing introduction to the world of Sanderson's mind. Having devoured the first book, I could hardly contain myself and hold off on purchasing the second book that recently had been released. Hold off I did however, and very close to the anniversary of my first purchase, "Words of Radiance" was also put on sale for a ridiculously low sum of money. Greedily I downloaded and again devoured the book. Both books left me with a great need to read more, but there were no more books available in the Stormlight Archives to read, so I researched. I discovered the mysterious Cosmere and the links left behind in past Sanderson works, and I was hooked. Noticing a good deal on "The Mistborn Trilogy" I again pounced, and eagerly jumped into the world molded by Sanderson's deft hands. Truthfully, Mistborn left me a little wanting. The Mistborn trilogy is a good read. It's a lot of text, and generally worth the asking price. If this had been the first books I read in the Sanderson universes, I'm not sure I would have gone looking for more. There's nothing that stands out to me as inherently and horribly flawed, I just didn't end up caring for these characters as much as his later effort in Stormlight. In the months since I finished Mistborn, I have read a quarter as many pages as I did in the two weeks it took me to finish - so yes, it was a good read - but it did not leave me whimpering for more. Now part of that difference would be in that Stormlight has not yet reached a conclusion, and the Mostborn trilogy is in fact a complete story arc from start to a very definite conclusion, but I stand by my initial thought that if you're looking for Sanderson's best work, this is not it. Now for other prudes like me: The violence is fairly high. There is no George RR Martin or David Farland level violence, but this is a story set in war time. Lots of blood, death, and several squeamish moments, but no revelry in the violence, just good people trying to get the job done in horrible circumstances. The third book does seem to have more of the squeamish bloody stuff as he delves into why everything is as bad as it is and just how much it's going to take to fix. The amount of profanity is low, crudity is pretty minor, sex is present, but again not pervasive or over the top. There is a romance that blooms and leads to both sex, and marriage, but no prolonged sex scenes.

I lived these books while I was reading them, because I had all three as one book on my Kindle. That format is interesting because it feels like one book. The atmosphere and the characters were alive and memorable. I can still feel like I am there. It was a wonderful (in the sense of evoking wonder, not necessarily "nice" or "pleasant") world to be lost in. The conflicts were true and eternal. I can't really explain my feelings about this series. It was just amazing. The only problem is that after reading all of them, I wanted to go back to certain points, particularly in the first book. That is hard to do in an all-in-one Kindle format. I didn't know I'd want to read these things later, so I didn't add any bookmarks. Of course, I don't at all hesitate at the idea of rereading them, as they were definitely good enough for that. Still, I now wish I had paperbacks instead that I could thumb through and reread specific passages more easily. So, for now, the boxed set is on my Wishlist!

The Mistborn trilogy is another masterpiece by Brandon Sanderson, introducing another fantastic world to hopeful readers. The plot is strong, the books are incredible, and the characters are incredibly complex. They come to life in this incredible series of books. Pros: The books are amazing. The universe that this series takes place in is very well developed, and each book has its own mystery that needs to be solved, or a problem that needs to be resolved. The plot is incredible, leading to surprises and twists everywhere as suspense builds. After reading this trilogy, you'll want to read even more about these characters. *Unfortunately, the spin-off novel, The Alloy of Law, which leads to the Wax and Wayne trilogy, only mentions the main characters that you come to understand as historical heroes of the past. Cons: The books are slow at some times. The interesting parts are very interesting, but the build-up is not as much. As the book switches to different characters, you'll find yourself getting attached to favorites and dreading parts that don't feature them. The books are also incredibly gory, leading to some scary pictures. If you don't have a strong stomach, the Mistborn trilogy, along with most of Brandon Sanderson's books, are not going to be pleasant to you. These books are still awesome, though. Final Verdict: The Mistborn trilogy is an amazing series that will make you want to read as much as possible in your free time, especially near the ends of the books. However, make sure that you can stomach some of the gruesome images that can form as the result of the words of the series

Brandon Sanderson is a fantastic author. The mistborn novels offer everything a reader could want from a fantasy novel. They have great characters, an interesting setting and dilemma, and most importantly a ever evolving and dynamic system of magic. As is common in Brandon's novels, he strikes a great balance between having enough characters to give the reader different points of view and perspectives, versus having too many characters with too many things happening (ie Song of Ice and Fire and Wheel of Time, both series which I've read and loved). The books are not too long, and they have great pace to them, where you constantly want to keep reading to find out what will happen next. A plus to reading all of Brandon's novels, is that they coexist in the same universe, and have certain elements that overlap across all of them. This is great as it adds an extra dimension as you read the books, and then another dimension after reading when discussing fanlore on sights like Reddit. This allows you as a reader to truly immerse yourself in the worlds/universe the author is building. I am nearly done the third book in the series and can't wait to get on Reddit to see what everyone is hypothesizing and some little things I may have missed while reading.

How strange. I stopped reading Sanderson at one point because though aspects of his stories were quite good, it was just too, too sick and twisted and I realized that the good wasn't worth the sick one had to endure. So, time went on with me avoiding anything he wrote until I happened on this trilogy where no sick was mentioned in the descriptions. So, I decided to give it a chance, because they guy IS (or was) a good storyteller. So, the first two books were pretty good, great characters, pretty much everything one wants in this genre, until the last book. As I read them all back to back, I can't exactly remember where it was getting so bad I was skipping over page after page, exasperated and bored, reading just a line or two to keep up with the story. And that was very possible--there were just SO MANY words, words, useless words, such endless drivel, pointless reflection and ceaseless wondering, wondering, wondering. It was so annoying--I just wanted to get to the place where the ash was gone, the leaves were green and flowers appeared. It's no spoiler to know that was going to happen. But did it have to happen on the last page--after so much useless annoying, unsatisfying reading of boring words? As I write this and remember the annoyance and exasperation, I'm changing the three stars to two. I was going to give it three because the first two books were okay, but no, with such an unsatisfying end after so much annoyance, maybe even two stars is too much. I'm not sure when this was written in Sanderson's career--I am totally giving up on him now. How did he go from sick and twisted, but good story, to totally boring and annoying. I'm wondering if he really wrote this.

Mistborn is a fantastic setting with great characters and innovative takes on magic, life and the universe. That alone got me all the way through this series. I wanted to see how it ended. What I didn't love was these books being full of a lot of boring dialogue. I found myself skimming entire chapters that did nothing to further the plot or delve deeper into a character's psyche. The farther I got into each book, the more I skimmed. The more I skimmed, the more I realized that the dialogue was offering me very little. I tend love great dialogue in a novel. Some books have little action, but great characters and dialogue. This series wasn't one of them. For my money, I very much preferred The Way of Kings. If you find yourself 1/4 of the way through this series and bored, I recommend switching to Sanderson's other and, IMO, better series.

The Mistborn Trilogy is the series that got me reading Brandon Sanderson's books. As to how I even heard about it, I think I read it in a blog somewhere promoting it as the story of a fantasy world where the "Dark Lord" who is called the Lord Ruler had won. As a fantasy reader who is so used to the story of fighting the "Dark Lord" it came as a refreshing break to read a story of what comes after if the heroes failed, so I felt that I just had to read this book. Setting: Fast forward 1000 years into the future and we are treated to a world where ash regularly falls from the sky lit by a red sun over a land covered by brown plants. It is not really a very pleasant place. Unlike the places in other stories I've read, this is not one I'd like to visit. What impresses me about it is that it is quite a departure from the usual fantasy setting that essentially boils down to Medieval Europe + Magic = Fantasy World. What's even more impressive is that Sanderson has really made all these unique aspects of his setting fit into the story. No, the world is not just dark and gloomy for the heck of it, there is actually a reason that is revealed in the third book along with a twist that had me shifting my opinion on the Lord Ruler. Mood: The world and the people as portrayed could have easily made this trilogy a dark/grim-dark tale. The lives of the skaa, the common people, have little value and you get to see how they are killed dismissively by the ruling class. There is actually a rule that nobles and skaa cannot interbreed so what the nobles did was that they were actually required to kill the skaa women that they bed. Also, one of the magic systems used involves a ritualistically torturous process to work properly. For all that, this is actually a hopeful story. The dead bodies tend to pile up, but it is never the focus of the story. I guess the difference is that we don't get to look through a cynic's perspective like we do in books like George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. For all their personal struggles, the heroes are still heroic. Characters: Looking into our characters, the first two books of the trilogy can actually be seen as a coming-of-age tale for the main protagonist, Vin, who struggles with the idea of trust as she learns to understand what it means to have friends. It is about her empowerment as she learns to wield the powers of a mistborn. And finally, there is also her struggle with identity. Her powers, while making her powerful, also makes her very useful, which creates conflict in that she finds herself wondering if she is simply valued for what she can do as opposed to her being valued as a person. For all the world altering events taking place in the books, what I really like with the books is that it is grounded as a character-driven story. Magic: Sanderson is known for his magic systems. He tends to build them from simple concepts to create some really incredible effects through their varies interactions. The approach is along the lines of "magic as a science" so people who favor the idea of magic being dark and mysterious would dislike his systems. In Mistborn, there are three magic systems all tied to metals. In Allomancy, an Allomancer can use metals to wield powers the simply allow one to push or pull at something. That's it. The other systems are equally simple. What's really interesting is that Sanderson is clever enough to surprise me with the different ways the various magics are used. From a simple push or pull, we have people 'flying' around in the night. Verdict: Though the premise of the first book, that of the Dark Lord having triumphed, along with his clever magic system that deviates from the trope of complex spells and mysterious ways would certainly set this trilogy apart from other fantasy, that should not be the reason to pick up this book. You should read this because it is a well-written and well-executed piece of literature. There are those who call Sanderson out on using simple, transparent prose, but I really think it necessary that such a writing style is used to depict the fast-paced, action-packed sequences that are spread around in the books. Fancy wordcraft would just get in the way. In the end, are novels about finely constructed paragraphs or are they about exquisitely crafted stories?

The star rating is for the trilogy overall. The first book alone I'd give four stars. It was very well written and riveting -- great characters, interesting concepts presented very well, nicely constructed world. Fairly predictable (which Sanderson has certainly changed since this was written) which is why it would have received four stars. I didn't connect at all with the main character, but I'd still give it four stars. The second and third I'd give two stars. They drag (severely at times) with a thousand (probably literally) variations on "Maybe we should do this", "Maybe I should have done that", "Maybe he will do this other thing" and the famous "It's all my fault". While I wanted to find out how the plot resolved, I was very glad to be done so I could move on to something else. I know Sanderson has become one of the greats since this was written (The Way Of Kings been an amazing example). But books two and three here are on the struggle-bus.

This series was actually recommended directly to me by another author. I enjoyed this trilogy...mostly. From the start the books read like a movie...well polished with amazing settings and wonderful characterizations. I was prepared for the series to be good and it was until the ending which was almost like an afterthought. The only exposure Sanderson I had prior to these books was his standing in to complete the Wheel of Time series. I thought he did a fairly good job in a difficult position with the books he wrote but I wasn't motivated to read any more of his work. Thank you, Robert J. Crane for pushing me to this alternative world Sanderson has created. Sanderson is a master of writing in a manner that is unexpected and his talent of breaking expected literary norms with his characters and world work well for the most part. The series likely will appeal to any hard core fantasy reader and the immersion into Sanderson's world will leave the reader thinking and speculating about the philosophies presented.

The first book was excellent (5 stars). Interesting world, interesting characters, well paced. The second book was slower paced, and more introspective. It acted as a bridge between the first and third books, and trudged along, not giving too much away. The third book would have been excellent if it were about 40% shorter. It provided a solid finish to the series, but the author spent a lot of time re-explaining stuff from the first two books, sometimes repeating the explanation a few chapters later. (In fairness, some things might have been forgotten if some time time had passed between readings, but there's a very nice summary of previous books at the very end for anyone not reading the trilogy straight through.) Lots of introspection, often retreading old ground. I feel like the author "phoned in" the middle stretch of the book; at one point a character uses the expression "hat trick", even though this particular universe does not seem to have hockey. The plot, the characters, and the big finish make the journey worthwhile, but I can't help thinking this would have been better as two books rather than three.

I'm a fairly recent convert to Sanderson fandom. About a year ago I picked up "The Way of Kings" for a couple bucks thinking it was hard to loose out on such a deal. Even if it wasn't any good, I didn't loose much. That day I gained much. "The Way of Kings" was an amazing introduction to the world of Sanderson's mind. Having devoured the first book, I could hardly contain myself and hold off on purchasing the second book that recently had been released. Hold off I did however, and very close to the anniversary of my first purchase, "Words of Radiance" was also put on sale for a ridiculously low sum of money. Greedily I downloaded and again devoured the book. Both books left me with a great need to read more, but there were no more books available in the Stormlight Archives to read, so I researched. I discovered the mysterious Cosmere and the links left behind in past Sanderson works, and I was hooked. Noticing a good deal on "The Mistborn Trilogy" I again pounced, and eagerly jumped into the world molded by Sanderson's deft hands. Truthfully, Mistborn left me a little wanting. The Mistborn trilogy is a good read. It's a lot of text, and generally worth the asking price. If this had been the first books I read in the Sanderson universes, I'm not sure I would have gone looking for more. There's nothing that stands out to me as inherently and horribly flawed, I just didn't end up caring for these characters as much as his later effort in Stormlight. In the months since I finished Mistborn, I have read a quarter as many pages as I did in the two weeks it took me to finish - so yes, it was a good read - but it did not leave me whimpering for more. Now part of that difference would be in that Stormlight has not yet reached a conclusion, and the Mostborn trilogy is in fact a complete story arc from start to a very definite conclusion, but I stand by my initial thought that if you're looking for Sanderson's best work, this is not it. Now for other prudes like me: The violence is fairly high. There is no George RR Martin or David Farland level violence, but this is a story set in war time. Lots of blood, death, and several squeamish moments, but no revelry in the violence, just good people trying to get the job done in horrible circumstances. The third book does seem to have more of the squeamish bloody stuff as he delves into why everything is as bad as it is and just how much it's going to take to fix. The amount of profanity is low, crudity is pretty minor, sex is present, but again not pervasive or over the top. There is a romance that blooms and leads to both sex, and marriage, but no prolonged sex scenes.

I lived these books while I was reading them, because I had all three as one book on my Kindle. That format is interesting because it feels like one book. The atmosphere and the characters were alive and memorable. I can still feel like I am there. It was a wonderful (in the sense of evoking wonder, not necessarily "nice" or "pleasant") world to be lost in. The conflicts were true and eternal. I can't really explain my feelings about this series. It was just amazing. The only problem is that after reading all of them, I wanted to go back to certain points, particularly in the first book. That is hard to do in an all-in-one Kindle format. I didn't know I'd want to read these things later, so I didn't add any bookmarks. Of course, I don't at all hesitate at the idea of rereading them, as they were definitely good enough for that. Still, I now wish I had paperbacks instead that I could thumb through and reread specific passages more easily. So, for now, the boxed set is on my Wishlist!

The Mistborn trilogy is another masterpiece by Brandon Sanderson, introducing another fantastic world to hopeful readers. The plot is strong, the books are incredible, and the characters are incredibly complex. They come to life in this incredible series of books. Pros: The books are amazing. The universe that this series takes place in is very well developed, and each book has its own mystery that needs to be solved, or a problem that needs to be resolved. The plot is incredible, leading to surprises and twists everywhere as suspense builds. After reading this trilogy, you'll want to read even more about these characters. *Unfortunately, the spin-off novel, The Alloy of Law, which leads to the Wax and Wayne trilogy, only mentions the main characters that you come to understand as historical heroes of the past. Cons: The books are slow at some times. The interesting parts are very interesting, but the build-up is not as much. As the book switches to different characters, you'll find yourself getting attached to favorites and dreading parts that don't feature them. The books are also incredibly gory, leading to some scary pictures. If you don't have a strong stomach, the Mistborn trilogy, along with most of Brandon Sanderson's books, are not going to be pleasant to you. These books are still awesome, though. Final Verdict: The Mistborn trilogy is an amazing series that will make you want to read as much as possible in your free time, especially near the ends of the books. However, make sure that you can stomach some of the gruesome images that can form as the result of the words of the series

Brandon Sanderson is a fantastic author. The mistborn novels offer everything a reader could want from a fantasy novel. They have great characters, an interesting setting and dilemma, and most importantly a ever evolving and dynamic system of magic. As is common in Brandon's novels, he strikes a great balance between having enough characters to give the reader different points of view and perspectives, versus having too many characters with too many things happening (ie Song of Ice and Fire and Wheel of Time, both series which I've read and loved). The books are not too long, and they have great pace to them, where you constantly want to keep reading to find out what will happen next. A plus to reading all of Brandon's novels, is that they coexist in the same universe, and have certain elements that overlap across all of them. This is great as it adds an extra dimension as you read the books, and then another dimension after reading when discussing fanlore on sights like Reddit. This allows you as a reader to truly immerse yourself in the worlds/universe the author is building. I am nearly done the third book in the series and can't wait to get on Reddit to see what everyone is hypothesizing and some little things I may have missed while reading.

This series was a very enjoyable read, and as a whole I give the book 4 stars. I'd say that Mistborn is a 5 star book, the Well of Ascension is a 4 star book, and the finale, The Hero of Ages, is a 3 star book. Overall, the characters are really well developed and Mr. Sanderson does an excellent job with avoiding continuity problems and ties up his loose ends well. The magic system is truly innovative; I would argue better than the magic system in his Stormlight Archive. The only downside to the magic system is that it can get confusing remembering how each metal interacts with the body. If I had to complain about any major aspects, I'd say there are two things: Mr. Sanderson's ability to write dialogue and the influence of religion in the third book. Plenty of people have noted Mr. Sanderson's dialogue abilities. Yes, it's true that over time he's getting better, but sometimes it just seems so forced. My second complaint, however, is the one that made me feel some regret for continuing the series. A certain character by the third book has such an existential religious crisis that it almost feels overly preachy by the author's part. I know that Mr. Sanderson is Mormon, so I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but I felt like I could see his theological beliefs pushing on mine for being inadequate or not correct. As if there truly is one answer and all other religions will simply die as a result and are inconsequential. Basically, I didn't read this series to speak to a Minister or missionary. I think the worst part was that this character, prior to his existential crisis, was my favorite. Maybe that has biased my opinion the most for the third book?

The last time I was impressed by a series was when I read Game of Thrones. The world-building is very tight and well-plotted. The characters are engaging and profound, and, just like in real life, no one really knows all sides of the truth, so each one acts to the best of their abilities based on the extent of their truths; or as indoctrinated in them by society and their station in life. No one is purely evil nor purely good. What is impressive about this author, which is extremely rare, is that the story does not have excess fat. Ideas and plot points which seem to dangle in book one, or words that seem to be throwaway, will end up being significant in the succeeding books. Which is why I am reading it all over again, just as I finished the trilogy. I admit that I did not pay attention to data which I thought would be loose ends. But. oh, how all those strings tied up into a beautiful package in the end. Now I understand why many reviews rave about Brandon Sanderson the author, instead of his individual books. It sounds like all his published works so far have not disappointed his fans. I believe I am one of them now.

I read his stormlight series, which was incredible. So i thought i would try mistborn. Mistborn is supposed to be for youth, but I thought it was incredible. Its not as intricate of a plotline as stormlight, and the characters aren't as deep/layered. But it was a great story, plenty of twists, charters you fall for, and a moving plot. The story moved pretty quickly - which was nice. it didn't take time to beat around the bush.

Absolutely engaging and thrilling! I loved every minute of it. This book is so good. The characters are dealing with rulers, armies, politics, religion, emotional turmoil, love, friendship...it is incredible. From start to finish there are mysteries upon mysteries. The character growth is inspiring. The battles and fights are terrifyingly awesome! RAFO! It is so good. But also an easy read. I love Mistborn!!

I recently reread the entire trilogy. I decided to go ahead and reread as I had purchased Alloy of Law and realized over the years I had forgotten some important functions in this magic world...so what the heck, I decided to read the trilogy for a second time. It is such an intricately woven story and so many of the details of the books had gotten lost in the shuffle and multitude of other books I have read, I found myself still in the land of discovery. While I remembered the overall arch of the story, I had forgotten the minute details and Sanderson excels at these details, which is why I am a fan. His world building here is on par with the Stormlight Archives and feels dense and real. His magic system is unique and fleshed out. While his main characters are well conceived and thought out, some of the secondary (but still important) suffer a bit from not being as "real" as the main ones...a small thing, but noticeable. Sanderson wraps it all up neatly at the end, perhaps too neatly. Well worth re reading the entire Trilogy, probably liked it even more the second time around, go figure.

EDIT (03/16/2014): Upon re-reading these first three books of the "Mistborn" series (almost 5 years from my first reading), I'm updating my ratings just a bit. In general, I'm now happy with the depth of the characterizations: the characters now seem properly developed for their roles in the books. As they take on larger roles, Sanderson develops them more. On the other side of the ledger, I still feel that all three books are too drawn out and padded. This is especially obvious with these first three novels contained in the one omnibus. On a more specific note, if I just accept the fact that the second book in the series is about internal developments instead of external ones, then I'm happier with its focus. So, I'm increasing my ratings for the first and second books by 1/2 star each. That means "The Final Empire is now 4 stars out of 5, "The Well of Ascension" is now 3-1/2 stars out of 5, and "The Hero of Ages" is still at 3 stars out of 5. That leaves me with an average rating of 3-1/2 stars. Since I enjoyed the books enough to read them again, I'm rounding that up to a Very Good 4 stars out of 5 for "The Mistborn Trilogy" as a whole. The rest of my original comments, below, still stand. ___ ORIGINAL REVIEW ___ This book, "The Mistborn Trilogy" is a compilation of the first three books of the Mistborn series. Regarding those first three books as a whole, it would have been much better if they had been written 1) as one volume of six or seven hundred pages (similarly to the Very Good

The first half of the first book had me intrigued. It has all the elements that great fantasy need, an impossible evil villain, a new world to explore, new rules of magic, very exciting stuff. But then, a slow and steady descent into "meh" took place. Good fantasy has a few critical elements, one of which is discovering a new world, and you need to keep the discovery going to keep it interesting fantasy. He finally reboots in the middle of book 2 and gets some character out of the original city where event begin to take place. But a geographic change is not all that is needed. Sanderson has trouble keeping the dramatic pace going. When the reader doesn't have to worry that things might go bad, that's a bad thing. Maybe the major problem is his lead character. The character couldn't be more fantastic, fanciful, and unbelievable. At some point, I started rooting against the her. I was hesitant to mention the gender but then, there she is on the cover so, heck, cat's out of the bag on that one.

WOW! I'm impressed. I'm generally a fast reader but there is so much detail and information you can't just breeze through it. I wouldn't recommend this book for a young age; maybe early teens? The fight scenes are awesome and intense but graphic. It is hard to give another series as a comparison. There is this great Power/Ruler that exists and the setting are cobblestone streets, old cities: some with walls around them, no guns and a type of "magic" is used that we have ever seen. Nothing hocus pocus here, it is all about the use of metals. This series gives characters something to believe in, though it isn't really religious. The battles are epic and intense; no light sabers, swords are used. There are a couple groups of "people" this writer created that made me think they would fit in at the Star Wars bar, but they aren't so out there that it is silly. If you like fantasy books then you will love this! If you're not a fan of one of the series I compared this to, still give it a try. It is very original and action packed. I think it is a must read, it will grab you and hold on til the end. Sorry to see it end, GREAT READ! FULLY ENJOYABLE!

I just finished this trilogy and I really liked it. I give it a five because it is well written, has multiple in-depth characters likeable and unlikeable, an intriguing story full of detail, action, and mystery, and extensive self - exploration (by the characters) of politics, religion, humanity, friendship, war, death, and selflessness in a fantasy world that is not so removed from our reality that we cannot relate to it. The author created a very detailed world that is naturally explained in the narrative as the story progresses. All of the main characters, and there are several, have back stories that are just enough and presented as the story flows onward. I could not put the trilogy down even though, based on all the clues in the story, I had a good idea of who would be the Hero of the Ages and generally how the story would end. All parts of the story wrapped up nicely at the end and the message of "hope during adversity" resonated throughout the story and also at the end. My only disappointment was that the third book in the trilogy began to drag a bit to the point I began to worry there might be a fourth book. I may have felt this way because I read the trilogy one book after the other with no break. Regardless I really enjoyed the characters and the well thought out details of this fantasy world.

I would give the following ratings based on each book in the trilogy, averaging out to a 4 star for the whole thing. See below for details and why I rated that way. Book 1 - 5 Stars - Book one was surprisingly good, with such a fresh new idea, well thought out and suspense gripping me through the newness of the characters and storyline. Really enjoyed this book. Book 2 - 4 Stars - The story continues, and Brandon did a decent job at keeping the story exciting in book 2. You lose some of the newness of it, but overall a good story still. A few issues I had with book two. First, I found some grammatical mistakes, not a huge deal. Secondly, there was some far fetched portions of the story. I don't want to give anything away in the review, but there was some situations where I thought to myself..what the hell? This situation makes no sense. Third, I didn't like the fact that the author treats readers like they are stupid. We don't need to be reminded over and over what a characters powers are and how they work. Trust that we are smart enough to remember! Book 3 - 3 Stars - Slow... the story definitely slowed down and I was more anxious for the end to come. He drug this one to be far longer than it needed to be. Again, why are we still spending half a page talking about how a power of a character who has been integral part of the story since book one? We get it..we know how it works, we remember... we are NOT stupid. Overall the series is still worth a read, but he definitely lost his spark of book 1 in the later works of the series.

It's rare to find a compelling fantasy series of any kind these days. You are either skimming through formulaic plot lines with no real depth, or trudging through sweeping epic storylines that meander on for what seems like ages - because it is - only to chop you off at the end in a horrible screeching halt (I don't think I have to name any names here *ahem Martin*). Mistborn manages to break the mold. This world is fresh, accessible, and you can immerse yourself in it without spending the rest of your waking life on it. Seriously, just do yourself a favor and read it. Mistborn: The Final Empire is exhilarating in its exploration of this dark world and the discovery and development of the focal character's powers. The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages, while offering up plenty of action, give us something a little deeper. I've outlined some of my favorite things about the series below - much of which revolves around supporting characters. However, I'll try to keep the discussion general to avoid spoilers. -Gasp! A female protagonist. While not unheard of in fantasy, there was some real depth to the character. She is not portrayed as one of the typical stock fantasy female character types such as tomboy, maiden-in-need-of-saving, or evil witch. She is powerful yet vulnerable, deadly yet protective; in short, a well rounded character who demands your attention. -The kandra culture, which begins to be explored in Well of Ascension, offers up one of my favorite supporting characters of all time. Through him, we get insight into a fascinating culture that is deeply integrated into the fabric of this imaginative world created by Sanderson. Generational differences have split kandra into factions and it is up to him to bridge the gap. Will he be successful? Against all social norms, he tries to stir his people out of inaction to make a difference in their world. -Another supporting character surprised me by becoming one of my favorite in the series by the end of The Hero of Ages installment. He transcends his humble beginnings on the street, learning to speak, act, and think like a leader despite insidious influences. His story arc demonstrates that ordinary people can be larger than life when their actions are guided by a worldview based on hope, rather than that of cynicism. -Interesting political subtext is woven throughout the series. Leadership somehow manages to walk a fine line between dictatorship and republic. The protagonists come to realize that while some ideas sound good on paper, they don't necessarily work in real life. The heroes in this story find it difficult to swallow their high-minded ideals, make difficult decisions, and force people to submit to the will of someone smarter. People don't always know what is best for themselves, but is it really right to choose for them? -The search for spiritual truth evolves into a central theme of the series. Judging from other reviews, a lot of people had a problem with this because this theme was showcased most often by a character who was somewhat secondary in Final Empire. Yes, we all got sucked in by the brilliant action and intricacies of book one, and this storyline was something of a departure from that. But it's ok to learn something deeper along the way. I found this inner struggle to be one of the most thought-provoking aspects of the story. Like many of us, this character desperately, painfully searches for something worth believing in, making the journey from relativist (all faiths being valid viewpoints) to determined, cynical atheist (all belief systems being flawed and offering no hope), to his eventual acceptance of the fact that there are supernatural forces at work in this world that we cannot hope to fully understand, yet the continual search for spiritual truth by all peoples is essential. While imparting some deep truths, the novels aren't overly preachy - Sanderson gives you the freedom to draw your own conclusions. I have found myself coming back to and ruminating over these books after the fact, the best sign that you've just read some good literature. All in all, the Mistborn series is the most fun I have had reading in a long time. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

These books brought me a lot of joy the whole time I was reading them, from beginning to end. At first it did seem a little like a typical adventure story, but the characters all ended up developing in truly interesting ways by the second and third books in the series. The world's cosmology is actually rather sophisticated, so I really enjoyed pondering that element of it. And of course, the fighting/magic system... this is written so vividly (and theorized so concisely) it was almost like playing a videogame in my head while reading. I would honestly love to see this system translated into a game experience, it would be hugely fun. The one odd thing I noticed about this series is that there is no sex whatsoever, haha... which is fine, really, since that might just be distracting to the real story. But it's odd to get this very in-depth picture of some of these characters, and their progressing relationships, but with no evidence whatsoever of anything sexual ever happening. Not very realistic, that. All in all, one of my all-time favorite fantasy series. I will probably read the whole thing again someday and love it just as much.

I really enjoyed the Mistborn Trilogy. I started reading this series on a recommendation that I check out Sanderson's work. I have to say, I appreciate that the magic systems, and physical laws of the world are so fully developed and consistent. It allowed me, as a reader, to theorize about the world and events that were happening outside of what was directly written. This allowed me to realize certain things shortly before or along with the characters themselves in the series. It's very rewarding to think "I wonder if doing this would result in *that* happening" only to see your question answered over the next few chapters. The weakest parts of the book were the setup/planning phases. They felt a bit awkward to me as they made me feel like most of the characters weren't as smart or capable as I had believed. However, I was soon able to overlook that awkward feeling as I think those portions exist more for teaching the reader the rules of the world rather than characterizing the individuals in it. It's a shame that the characters initially take a hit for the greater good but crossing the threshold from where you have to learn the magic systems, political structures, and technological capabilities of the setting to when they all click and stand on their own is well worth the sacrifice. Overall, I give this story 5 stars out of 5 because of how well-tied-together everything is. The execution of the story is extremely entertaining and I highly recommend giving this series a look.

This trilogy is a great ride, with a interesting magic system and great characters that develop in unpredictable ways over the course of the trilogy. I count this as one of the best trilogies in fiction (in any form, book, movies, etc.) It has a great escalation of conflict that really works well. The kindle edition is good, with no noticeable typos or formatting issues. I suggest fans of the series go to Brandon Sanderson's website and read the annotations he did for each book. He wrote a chapter by chapter analysis of the work, with explanations for why he made certain decisions and what changes he made from his original plan. They are just as interesting as the book.

"Misteborn Trilogy" by Brandon Sanderson is an epic fantasy adventure from the fertile mind of one the masters of the genre. The fantastical magic, remarkable characterizations, and depth of storyline makes this a must read series for fantasy aficionado's. The only reason I didn't rate this story 5 stars were the unrelenting and constant recriminations by the protagonists coupled with the overly written and repetitive explanations of the multiple secret magic's held by the allomancers. The battle scenes, religious intrigues, and individual personalities of the characters are brilliantly portrayed and the ending was spectacular. There are few spinners of tales who can match up with Sanderson's imagination and originality, he's simply marvelous! Read it, you'll be glad you did...4 stars!!!!

It seemed no point to write a review for a series which already has thousands of them. Ultimately, I wrote this review because I just had to. I read this trilogy months ago and truly enjoyed it. But as the weeks move by, I find it a treasured remembrance that keeps tugging at my mind and memory. This is not a trilogy to read and forget. This is a trilogy to read and always cherish. The work touched me in ways that are hard to explain. The Hero of Ages was so very perfect and so astoundingly right. The character development extraordinary, the plotting was pure genius. I truly cannot find adequate words to explain how much I treasure this trilogy and how profoundly grateful I am to author Sanderson for enriching my life in such a meaningful and deep way.

I first became a Sanderson fan when he took up the mantle to complete The Wheel of Time series by the late Robert Jordan. I liked Sanderson's writing style, but had no idea what his true imagination contained, what stories he could produce on his own, and so I was a bit hesitant to read his successful series, Mistborn. Not because I didn't believe he was a good writer, but because I did believe, and feared being disappointed. After reading Mistborn, I'm now very relieved. Sanderson not only lived up to my expectations, but surpassed them. As a reader and as a fellow writer, I'm beginning to discover what I truly love most about a story. I love adventure, I love action, but most of all ...I love characters - good, flawed and complex characters. Mistborn had a great story premise, but it didn't' take long before the storyline took a backseat to the characters, and I'm quite happy about that. The first character to really grab my attention, and my heart, was the young, scared and vulnerable Vin - street urchin, orphan and skittish loner. I found myself quickly rooting for her and wanting to see her rise to greatness. Then, it wasn't long before, like Vin, I found myself LOVING the company of Kelsier and his Crew. Perhaps I have a soft spot for a little rebellion, who knows. I can probably blame that on my Star Wars geek side, where the oppressed come together to fight against the Empire. Then of course, I instantly fell in love with the bookworm and prince charming-in-disguise, Elend Venture. However, when I first met this last character, I rolled my eyes, because of the obvious Cinderella motif, but at the same time I had to smile, because there's a reason to use this formula (poor, abused waif becomes the belle of the ball and catches the eye of the dashing prince) - it WORKS! It's something ingrained into the psyche of every young girl, even if we don't recognize it. That was a smart move on Sanderson's part. Then, of course, there are all those other supporting characters that I also fell in love with - including the hero of ages. The genius I found in the Mistborn series Sanderson displayed came in the simple fact that he took the ultimate bad guy, and transformed him into one of the heroes. I have to again use Star Wars as another reference - in the way Lucas took the ultimate bad guy (Darth Vadar/The Lord Ruler) and turned him into a good guy (Anakin Skywalker/Rashek the Terrisman), to reveal the ultimate bad guy (the Sith Lord Palpatine/Ruin), and bring `balance' to the Force/balance of Ruin & Preservation. Whether or not these similarities are intentioned or not, they worked! Combine those attributes mentioned above, and then mix them with magical elements of allomancy and feruchemistry, with political elements of a democracy vs. imperial rule, and religious overtones and the struggle and evidence of faith through the Terris Keepers and the battle of Ruin & Preservation, you've got a perfect mix for epic greatness. However, I will also place Sanderson into the Evil Author's Guild for his flair in killing many beloved characters and revealing a hidden, but pleasantly surprising, hero in the end. ~T.L. Gray Author of The Blood of Cain

The first book, Mistborn, was really great. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the well built and well thought out world. Vin's progression from street urchin to confident young woman was well done. I regretted that Kell had to die, but thought the whole plot with its twists and outcomes well done. It made sense. Refreshing. I was amazed by the whole concept of Allomancy with its burning of metals. The action scenes were well done and could be pictured easily by the imagination. Finding out the truth behind the Lord Ruler was a really neat twist. Book two was just as good as book one! Vin just keeps getting better. Loved the developing romance between Vin and Eland. Throwing Zane into the mix made Vin's development more interesting. I find the Terrismen fascinating. The battle for the city was so enthralling I couldn't put the book down for an entire day. The deaths of some of the main characters was to be expected but still made me sad. Vin's releasing of Ruin was poignant in showing how even when good people do what they think is right, it can be very wrong. The development of the Kandra character is another aspect of the story that adds so much interest. This really is a great series. OMG Book three was astounding. The overall arc of the trilogy came pounding to conclusion here. It tugged on all emotions including times when I despaired of getting a good ending. I don't want to give it away, but suffice it to say that it ended differently than expected. However, the ending was totally satisfying! This is probably the most original and best trilogy I've read since LOTR. I liked several others quite well, but this one ranks #2 in my all time reading list.

I found the Mistborn Trilogy to be very satisfying. The first two books are outstanding - and most authors find it hard to sustain the plot, action and characters in multiple books. I thought the final book became a little violent towards the end, with more focus on battle than characters, but overall, I was sorry to see the books come to an end, and I ended up reading 3 or 4 more books by the same author because I liked his writing so well. One thing that stood out in these books, besides the unusual sources of magic, was that the characters seemed very believable, and it was easy to identify with them. I loved that there was a female protagonist. The plots weren't terribly predictable and the fantasy world was fascinating. The books were gripping, really, it was hard to put them down. Very enjoyable reading. I can't recommend them enough. There is also a follow on book to Mistborn Trilogy that takes place 300 years later, the Alloy of Law. Characters from Mistborn are referenced in this book but it stands alone. I haven't been disappointed in any book by Brandon Sanderson so far. I haven't read his ending books for the WOT series, but I think I've read almost every thing else. I particularly liked the novella The Emperor's Soul. Too short! I think anyone who likes epic fantasy fiction would enjoy the Mistborn Trilogy. Few authors write it so well.

Brandan Sanderson is by far my favorite author. The Mistborn books are fantastic, I love the original trilogy. I won't write a full review or anything, but if you're looking for romance, character development, really interesting, three-dimensional characters, fantastic action sequences, cool magic systems, amazing worldbuilding, deep philosophical and religious questions woven throughout, hilarious comedy, and twists that seriously blow your mind, you've found them. As a bonus, the majority of Brandan Sanderson's book series' are interconnected in a giant ultrauniverse called The Cosmere, which is still in early phases of development. The Mistborn books ARE a part of the Cosmere, so if you're looking for amazing reading material to keep you occupied for the next 20 years, I can't recommend anyone more highly than Sanderson.

Absolutely loved it! Now I get the difference between reading a 3 book series and a stand alone book. This is the fourth Brandon Sanderson book I read and the way the story is developed is captivating. I really connected with the characters, specially Vin and I loved Kelsier. The growth of Elend and Sazed through the entire series is inspiring. The books are very descriptive, you get to understand the emotions, the way of thinking, the struggles the main characters go through. The magic system in this series is amazing, it's more powerful than other Sanderson's books, Allomancy can really kick ass. I also like that Sanderson is able to include some romance in the story without distracting the reader from main issues like politics and war. The books are long, but easy to read, I couldn't stop thinking about Mistborn until I finished it, and then I had to read the sequels, I think I left my life in stand by mode just to read. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I can even imagine a soundtrack for this books, I hope one day they can make a movie about this story, it would be amazing.

I'm the kind of person who gets annoyed quickly by even small inconsistencies in plot, world setup, and character behavior. Yet I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. There is a fantastic big story ark spanning over all three books, yet every single book also stands well on his own. The way magic works in the Mistborn triology is clearly the best approach I have seen so far. There are only two points of criticism I can make. Firstly, in middle part of the third book everything consistently look so desperate and depressing that at times it actually becomes a bit of a chore to keep reading - however, the fantastic ending makes it well worth it. Secondly, there is one small inconsistency in the story that I noticed. It's a bit difficult to describe it spoiler free, but I'll try: at the very end of the book, the a character taps some power that was previously unavailable to him/her. However, there seem to have been a few occasions much earlier where some other character could (as far as I can tell) easily have facilitated this - thereby avoiding a lot of suffering and death. Why didn't that other guy do that? It seemed to be in his/her best interest as well as within his/her capabilities. Verdict: read it. now.

After finishing my second read-through of the original trilogy, I have an increased respect for Brandon Sanderson (which was significant to begin with). He clearly loves his characters, and that goes a long way towards helping you love them too, and what happens to them. The overarching story is all (and maybe more than) you can hope for in a fantasy series, and every bit of it is satisfying. These books aren’t without their flaws, but you’d have to be intent on Ruining the experience for yourself not to enjoy the masterful world building, well-defined magic system, and engaging storytelling. 100% recommend to any fan of fantasy stories.

Just finished reading this a few days ago, having started a year ago. I'm late to this trilogy, I know. I really enjoyed it. Especially the mystery of allomancy, and the lord ruler in book 1. Book 2 started to spit out some answers, which surprised me as they previously teased them and slowed had characters solve them for the reader. Book 3 just started tossing heaps of answers and info at the reader which greatly disappointed me, but in the end there was enough mystery to last and provide an enjoyable story. Hopefully, this makes it to the big screen. But that is looking less likely these days. For new readers, just plow through the first few chapters. Do not let them discourage you, like they did me. After a slow start, you will begin to see the light. After you have gotten well into the first book, return and re-read the first chapters to better take them in.

Basically, it's a Dystopian story, that takes place in a fiction world that's been ruled over by an immortal man named "The Lord Ruler. The world and a selected group of people, named Skaa, have been oppressed and defeated for a thousand years. And now an expert thief and his crew take on the biggest heist of their careers, overthrowing the empire. For those of you already very familiar with this type of story, this world's "magic", called Allomancy, comes with its own set of rules and mechanics. All of the action that uses Allomancy are well implemented, thought out, and clever. Just about all of the characters are very likable and well fleshed out. The story is great, some of the plots and reveals are a little predictable, but the ending is the biggest cherry on top. I really do recommend reading this for any fans of the fantasy/action genre.

I read this about ten years ago and found it to be an encompassing world that grew through the story. While I forgot a lot before the second reading I remember enough to catch a lot of the clues laid down during the telling. This is a very satisfying story arch and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy or just a good story not bound by conventional constraints.

I downloaded the trilogy to my Kindle. To be honest I enjoyed book 1 more that the other two because it was something different, it captivated me from the beginning Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy all three books. Sanderson captures you with a different world a dark dying world with little hope dominated by a thousand year old Lord Ruler (No worry no spoiler alert) with a society divided by the rich and powerful and the “low class” abused workers and poor that have lost all hope for a better life and a better world. Our heroes of course will fight till the end for justice and a better life and most important to try to stop the end of the world. I won’t get into the characters and heroes and Vin our main and loveable heroine they are all individually special. I found book two and three very repetitive at times and too much information that sometimes was overwhelming.

This was recommended to me by more than one friend and they were right. I enjoyed it a lot. Watching the characters grow through out the series was very entertaining. Vin, is the main character. Story starts out with her as a young girl, staying in the background as much as possible, part of a thieving crew and I watched her grow up into a strong woman who learns to balance her powers and to trust her feelings. I found the idea of Metallic Arts where different metals can give different powers to a few special people and even fewer can combine all of them. The mythology of the world, the keepers of history, all of the different aspects that brought the world alive for me. Plus it has rebellions, a girl who can take down the powerful and a geeky guy who loves her and finds his own power. I enjoyed it a lot. I've seen he has a new series and I'll be checking it out.

Sanderson is a genius when it comes to world building. I don't know if anyone does it better. His magic systems are a delight. You'll imagine yourself flinging coins and pulling iron in no time. His character development is top shelf as well, Vin, Eland, Sazed, Spook, Kelsier and the rest are fantastic creations. The missing star here is solely for plot and more importantly pacing. The books just drag at times. He's great at subverting expectations, but the evolution of the Big Bad just didn't work for me. By all means read it! I miss Vin already.

The Mistborn Trilogy has some very good parts and some parts that feel like filler - almost like the author needed to get the books to a certain word count. In short, the first book sets up the characters and does a good job moving the plot along. The second book drags as it goes into political intrigue and teenage like romance (I almost quit during this book). The third book starts slow but ends with a bang leaving you finally satisfied. The world the author creates is interesting and complex as is the behind the scenes message about good, evil and hope. Overall I enjoyed it but it could have been shorter/tighter.

Well written with plenty of intrigue, action and drama to satisfy most any reader. The characters are very well developed. In some books I find it difficult to remember who is who; not so in this story. The people, places, events, and details are well laid out and interesting enough to remember. This is a real page turner, and will keep you coming back for more. I can see this as a screenplay. If I were to be critical, I would offer that these books were written in a manner that allows them to be read as standalone novels. I found this a bit annoying; going back over the same information in all three books. I do understand the Author's reasons. However I purchased the trilogy set, I would have preferred them to be edited to flow without all of the revisiting of the same storyline against and again.

Probably one of the best, if not the best trilogy I've ever read. The Characters are outstanding and continue development throughout the saga. I fell in love with this book and it's characters, the loss of each character throughout the books was painful... there were times where I would put the book down for a few days at a time, knowing that something bad was about to happen in the story; I was immersed fully in Mr. Sanderson's tale. The separation anxiety when the trilogy was over was intense, wore than I've ever had before... I'm certain I've never been that immersed in a book before.

Although the first book of the trilogy is exactly what I was looking for, the subsequent sequels were much different. I loved the feeling of an unknown character being limited in their power and confronting enemies of comparable skill but with more resources. The first book does this, much the same way that all fantasy and sci fi novels aim to do. However the second two books throw the same characters against ever increasing odds. It's not that they aren't well written or that others won't find them compelling (hence the 4/5 rating) but rather that if you are like me and found that your favorite Lord of the rings book is the fellowship, that your favorite Dresden novel is the first, that initially stepping into Simon Green's nightside was the best part of his series than you may find the conclusion duo of the mistborn trilogy to be highly disappointing. The trilogy surprised me with its turn into the cliche of battles between dark and light (as if the final battle is the most important part of a story). Hopefully this review allows you to understand a little of what awaits you in Sanderson's take on THE BIG BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL

This is the series I got started with reading Brandon Sanderson. I now ready everything he writes. He is an amazing author. Any time someone asks me for a book to ready, this is the one I start them on. Sanderson does an amazing job creating worlds that you would never think of. And then developing a magic system that is not only fun and new, but logical. There is no, I can do whatever I want because I have magic. There are always limitations and consequences in his systems. Sure you can be powerful, but even the powerful can fail. Cant say it enough, Read this book

This is the first book by Brandon Sanderson that was recommended to me several years ago-first by my sister, an English major, then by an older and younger brothers-neither of whom I'd imagined as readers, let alone of fantasy. This has always been my genre of choice. If my brothers had read the trilogy before I'd even heard of it and were both recommending it, than I really needed to read it. I couldn't put it down! Mr. Sanderson creates fascinating worlds and characters. They are realistic in their thoughts and choices, even when living in a magic-based world. The ending completely caught me by surprise-something that doesn't happen that often. I finally bought a copy and reread it. I enjoyed every minute of it!

A well written story with an incredible amount of detail. I was confused for the first third of the book, trying to catch up to what the author had intended. Once the explanations began to fall into place I began enjoying the story much more. Brandon Sanderson uses an impressive imagination crafting a unique story filled with battles, magic, mystery and a running back story to help build tension. The group of heros were fantastic, I loved the quirks and color in each one and appreciated that although this is a trilogy, we do get some closure at the end, with just enough left unfinished to get me diving into the next book! There were a few things I never understood, such as the ashfall, I wish that had been more clear, and a few other things, but I trust these will become clear in the follow up books.

I really like Sanderson's novels. Started with The Stormlight Archive, then Wheel of Time, finally Mistborn Trilogy. I went through book 1 really quickly and thoroughly enjoyed myself, but slowed down tremendously after book 2 and with 3, it was a slow crawl. The biggest reason was the amount of explaining Sanderson felt he had to do to make sure his readers understand what is happening even if he had explained it over and over before! Stop repeating please! Just get on with the story! If the third book had an editor who took out all the repeated explanation on how allomantic power worked, it would be half the size. In any case, I can't help but continue reading -- so keep up the good work Mr. Sanderson, looking forward to the next Stormlight Archive!

Do not buy this book unless you have a week to escape from the world - it is best appreciated read cover to cover. Doing so you will catch Sanderson's tie ins to past events, signs, phrases, characters, and his masterful manipulation of your expectations. This is not three stories joined by characters and setting, but one masterfully interwoven tale. Sanderson creates characters that grow and change - in a way this is a coming of age novel. But it is so much more than the typical fair. The character development over the course of the trilogy is excellent, the tie ins to past events and foreshadowing are often unexpected and the book manages to tell an epic adventure while never forgetting to make you laugh. It also does something rare... it has a deeply satisfying conclusion. The Mistborn Trilogy is masterfully written high fantasy and joins my favorites alongside: Name of the Wind, Temeraire, The Dark is Rising Sequence, LoTR, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, The Once and Future King, Castle in the Attic, and Narnia.

I really liked this book. I prefer sci-fi over fantasy, but the author created a system by which his magic works. I love the fact that he set up some rules to follow so that I know how the magic works. That was by far the most unique and interesting thing for me. The author also included a few plot twists so that the story didn't just unfold as expected. Not quite five stars for me, but I do intend to pick up the next book in the series to see what happens. There's not hidden political or religious agenda in the book nor is there strong sexual content or harsh language. There is violence though and some of it is a bit gruesome. I bought the book from amazon and I didn't receive any compensation for the review.

A very religious book. That's not to say that most of the content is religious. It's not. But the climax of the trilogy entirely religious. Specifically eastern religion. It has a classical Ying Yang theology, with two equal but opposite gods, the good god having a bit of evil and the evil god having a bit of good. In the end, all is brought to harmony as a man recognizes his full potential for deity and literally becomes god. And all religions contain some truth, but none contain all the truth. There is one sentence that hints there may be a higher power. Maybe that is developed more in the sequels (I haven't read them). Should be an exciting read for a New Ager.

Sanderson is known for his non-typical fantasy stories and this is certainly one of them. In an age where there has been so many books written it is extremely difficult to find an original story. Usually there's a hero that needs to save the world and has to fight against a great evil. But what happens when that hero doesn't make the correct choices, or fails? Sanderson weaves together a plot in this trilogy that, at first glance, seems like the traditional fantasy story but as the story develops you learn that it isn't the case at all. There are slight Mormon undertones in this book and if you are knowledgeable about LDS beliefs you can see that some of their theology has been woven into this trilogy slightly. I'm sure many people may not even recognize it. However, I would not let my opinion influence on whether or not you read it, it is a very well done series of books. When I finished it I was certainly able to draw parallels between what Sanderson wrote and his religion.

Branden Sanderson is one of the greatest writers currently writing genre fiction. He is also my personal favorite. Each time I read this trilogy I find that it is deeper and more nuanced than I first thought. This is a fun, fast-paced, yet thoughtful set of books and I highly recommend them. Side note: my daughter and I dressed up as the two main characters at a school event recently and it was a blast.

This is an excellent series. I read his newer ones first, then went back to this series. The way magic is dealt with using a mana like concept is really good. The characters are rich, developed, and quite engaging. As you go through the series, they grow up and change in really cool ways. The ending is also very cool, and unexpected (at least by me). I'd strongly recommend this series to anyone. I especially recommend it if you've read the storm books and need something to tie you over while you wait for the next one. One of the things I like about Sanderson is you get your money's worth in the length of the book (these are huge), but not filled with fluff just to get the page length longer (like I think Harry Potter series can be)

There is a LOT of fiction in this genre and not all of it is great. Heck, a lot of it isn't even good. Sanderson manages to either avoid the tired old fantasy tropes altogether or he puts an interesting new spin on them that make them feel fresh. However, it doesn't matter how unique the setting of the story is if the characters are shallow automatons, who don't grow and develop. This is not the case here. He also doesn't let you feel secure that nothing really bad will happen to the lead characters. This creates a really good tension throughout the series. If you don't normally like fantasy books, give these a try and if you do, you are in for a treat. You'll identify with or at least recognize the characters traits, including flaws, in Kelsier, Vin, Sazed, Breeze, Ham, Spook, Elend and even the antagonists have a fascinating back story. Good stuff!

I thought about this purchase for a long time before taking a jump and clicking on buy it now. The negative was the price. I don't understand the excessive price of the Kindle version. This has been brought up by others and I think sheds a negative light on the value of the story. Now to the book. Very original. There are no dwarves, elves, Orcs or magical wands or swords in the book. The writing was solid throughout. The story flowed from beginning to end. I had trouble with the lack of background of how characters knew how to fight yet didn't receive training. I also thought there was a good deal of forecast in the story and at times the chatter became so bad that I skipped ahead to avoid it. This aside, I would buy it again. I love a long read. 4 Stars because the price is is ridiculously high for the Kindle version.

This series is great even if it was written by a very well-known and accomplished writer; however, it was one of Brandon Sanderson's first releases. The fact is, you couldn't have guessed. The series was well written and each book in themselves testaments to Brandon Sanderson's current status as a writer. The world and its history, its magic system, its ecosystem, and its native people were all original in their own way. At a time where all forms of literature has its own tropes and cliches, Brandon Sanderson technically reinvents the wheel and allows us to enjoy his own vision of fantasy. In the Mistborn trilogy he has it all, good character progression, great pacing, good characters that feel both human and believable, and it follows through to the very end without a fault. Like his other books, give it a try and I would find it safe to guarantee that you will find something to like about it.

This series was well thought out. I am a fan of Sanderson and simply love his The Way of Kings series. I read this to tide me over until he finishes his third book in the way of kings series. The exposition of the mistborn series is not these caliber as The Way of Kings. The characters of The Way of Kings are very complex, but I also think that is due to the fact of how large the planned series is going to be. While Mistborn has wonderful characters, your really are focused on Vin, Elend, Sazed, and Kelsier as your protagonists. I makes the series very easy to follow and allows the series to be well finished after the Third book. Very interesting use of religion(not preaching) to develop the culture and society in this series. I found this to be a very fun and quick read. Thanks again Mr Sanderson.

The first book of the Trilogy was a great read. The 2nd/3rd books are good/okay and contain a lot of repetition and introspection. This would not be so bad if reading these books a year apart, but it really slows down the story when reading the trilogy all at once. This story could have been great if it had been shorter. By cutting out the dull parts and combining the interesting parts of Well and Hero it would have been a truly great read. Overall I gave the Trilogy a rating of 4. Individually, however, I would give book 1 a rating of 5 and recommend that you stop reading there. Book 2, I will give a rating of 4. Book 3 though, I can only give a rating of 3. Book 3 constantly rehashes the first two books every step of the way. It really slows down the pace of the book. My recommendation: read Book 1 and pass on the other two books of the trilogy.

I like this series but there were some aspects of the writing that frustrated me. At times I felt the narrative was moving too slow. I also found it tough when the story went over to another character's plot line for quite a while and by the time it got back to the previous plot line & characters I forgot where it had left off. Lastly, I found the author to introduce a plot point, but only to drop it, but then revive it much later on in the story like he forgot about it, but then remembered, but by then, again, I had forgotten about it and then felt forced back in, like the number 16 issue, the mists making people sick, etc. Overall I like the premise of the story, the burning of metals etc. and the author did a great job of describing what that would have looked like and I thought he character development was very good.

Despite a few frustrations towards the end of the trilogy, this book easily earns 5 stars from me. A rating of 5 stars is reserved for the best-of-the-best and so I don't give out 5 stars lightly. Sanderson has created one of the largest, beautifully complicated worlds I have ever read. The magic system is probably the best one I've ever read about. The main characters and secondary characters have distinct personalities, as well as strengths and weaknesses. I loved Vin and how strong she is as a female character. I do wish there were more female characters, however. That is one wish I have. But fantasy is a male-dominated genre and so male characters are more prevalent. Put more girls in fantasy! I recommend this series to anyone and everyone. Such an amazing story and world.

The Mistborn trilogy was a fun read with very well developed characters that are multifaceted and learn and grow realistically through the series. The magic system, based on metals and their alloys, was original and well thought out and imagined. The world Brandon Sanderson created, with mists and ash as personalities of their own felt real and palpable. Some of the dialogue felt out of place when you heard characters use current figures of speech ("we're all on the same team"), and sometimes the magic systems got a bit too complicated and the plot lines could at times seem forced. But for interesting characters, a unique magic system, and an exciting story with vivid action - the Mistborn Trilogy is worth reading.

Sanderson's fantasy writing style is unique and deeply catching. I raced through the Mistborn trilogy much faster than I expected. Only after reading all of it did I realize Sanderson had written many other novels, all of which I plan to find and read as soon as possible. He writes with a deep understanding of character and world building, and each person is just that: a person. Unique, flawed, and sometimes difficult to grasp. The political environments they face, as well as the natural world that threatens them, makes this perhaps the most enveloping fantasy novel I've read in a while. (I liked it significantly more than the acclaimed A Song of Fire and Ice, which I found somehow /too/ political. But I did not like the series as much as I like Discworld, which I think is somehow unfair to compare it to, as Terry Pratchett is a genius with wordplay and story) When it comes down to it, I will be recommending this series to everyone I know who loves a well written fantasy. And I will probably recommend it to some who don't as well.

This is one of the best series that I've read in this genre since the early books in the SoT series. The magic,world building and characters are great. The characters are developed and complex. If you are a fan of EPIC SCI-FI/FANTASY, this is a must read series. While the moo dis somewhat dark at times it is also suspenseful and thoughtful. It is the complexity and combination that makes it such a good series. I could I would have rated the series 4.50 - 4.75, I can't so I rounded up. I purchased this series in paperback and read them back to back. You may be able to find them for a lower price, when I bought the box set this set was 18.99 and the box set was 15.00.

I don't want to over-hype this series, so I will qualify right off the bat that this trilogy is not for everyone. This story is so complex, so intelligently composed and so intricately woven that it can be a little heavy to chew on at first. I myself wasn't completely swept away until - quite literally - the very last chapter of the very last book. That having been said, upon first reading, the characters and storyline are engaging enough to stay involved, and if you can imagine Nathan Fillion playing the role of Kelsier, you'll fall in love with the world and story almost immediately. The magic system is a fiction-reader's dream come true, simple and logical yet full of potential that gets mined more and more richly as the series progresses. Stakes are high, risks are real, the emotions and character interactions ring true. When the costs of the protagonists' plans begin to come due, you feel them keenly. It's exactly that willingness of Sanderson to make this story cost both its characters and the readers that keep you invested; this is NOT a fluff fic. Book two, the Well of Ascension, is slower in pace while still propelling the overall story arc in ways you don't really realize until book 3, the Hero of Ages. This third book is the hardest to read, mainly because the stakes are so high and the obstacles so overwhelming, it's hard to see how any kind of satisfactory resolution can ever come about. And here is where I cannot say strongly enough: IT DOES. Sanderson holds off on any real resolution, or ANY real answers, until the last possible moment but when all comes to light, it does so in such a profoundly complete way that it makes the entire 3-book journey worthwhile. I'm not exaggerating when I say I stayed up through the night to finish Hero, and I was crying and shaking by the end of it. I hope you find this trilogy and that you read it cover to cover. It's an amazing journey, full of characters that grow and grow on you, a magic system that can't be beat and one of the best finales to any fantasy series I've ever read. Sanderson is brilliant, and there's no better way to prove it than by promising that this trilogy gets better and better upon each reading. Add this to your library, you will not be disappointed!

I've read pretty widely in fantasy but only as an adult, particularly stuff that focuses on warring societies. The Mistborn Trilogy hit most of my sweet spots, and it's deep enough for details to stay with me a year after reading them. I like a lot of character development, and there is that - you find yourself rooting hard for the gang at the center of the story. There is also, and this is heavily noted of Sanderson, a very well-thought-out and complex magic system. The books deal with power and hierarchies in a thoughtful way. The 2 main characters are both likable and complicated, and the end of the whole thing is heart-rending and truly memorable. I wouldn't recommend the trilogy for readers who want constant big action - tons of battles, chases, duels, etc all the time. Those things are part of the story, but there's a lot of other stuff too - planning, plotting, betrayal, mystery, buildup, and psychological and verbal conflict. I heartily recommend!

This is a great series. There really is nothing more to say. Amazing action, well developed characters, and a spectacular story line. Get this story. Seriously. It is one you will stay up late reading.

Well thought out, interesting and creative story, fun characters, lots of content. Can't think of anything I disliked about it.

Brandon Sanderson has created an engaging story with a creative setting. The end of each book holds a unique surprise and the story is much deeper than is implied throughout most of the first book. The use of characters with different personalities is good, if not great. The different characters and creatures that he has created are excellent, though, and bring the story an enticing quality, as unexpected facets of the characters are continually revealed throughout the series. I can't bring myself to give it five stars, though, as Sanderson has a tendency to cause his characters to drone on when it is utterly unnecessary. Brevity would be a welcome addition, but overall it was a fun read, with unexpectedly thoughtful explorations of how perception effects reality.

I love this trilogy. Mistborn could be one of the best books I have ever read. The character development is tight and makes sense. I really enjoyed watching the characters grow throughout the series, and although they are faced with fantastical challenges, many of the themes are very applicable to modern life. I was surprised by the plot twists, particularly in Mistborn. The premise, basically "what if the bad guy wins?" is interesting and adds darkness and bleakness to the setting, illuminating the characters in turn. This glowing review does come with some caveats: The Well of Ascension definitely experiences some "middle child syndrome" in the series and I found it to be a little too teen angsty for my taste. Mistborn is definitely the star of the show in my opinion, but Hero of Ages pushes the character development and world building much farther and answers quite a few questions from the series.

Especially when compared Sanderson's later work,I enjoy these stories a great deal. Fantasy stories can take themselves seriously and still be fun. In the Mistborn Trilogy, Sanderson builds an interesting world with compelling characters and an exciting, fast-paced story. The primary weakness in this narrative is how it is resolved. I don't like how the villain from the first book had his actions excused in the third. However, this is a great series and an example of Sanderson at his best. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the fantasy or action/adventure genres.

I usually hate to rate anything 5 stars because I more often than not do not find 5 star reviews very useful. I can't give these books anything less, however. It is logical throughout to my reading, and the reader keeps learning more about the world, its history, and rules, throughout the books. I've read Tolkien and Martin's Game of Thrones books, and this series is every bit up to those standards and probably better than the "Game" books. One aspect I definitely enjoyed - some fantasy series never quite end. This series comes to a surprising and interesting conclusion that definitely ends the story cycle. There is a follow up, but it takes place centuries later and is essentially a Western.

To be fair, as an early adopter of The Wheel of Time when it was first released and then later abandoned it because I couldn't handle the story gaps and complete loss of narrative, I was pretty put off when Brandon Sanderson was selected to finish the series and pretty much decided I would never finish the series. However, a friend of mine kept bugging me about Mistborn, and it kept showing up in my Kindle suggested, so I downloaded the sample, and by the end of it, I was hooked. I'm about to finish the final book in the trilogy and am very much looking forward to checking out Sanderson's other works.

Love everything about this book and series besides that I want more! Brandon Sanderson is absolutely amazing. His writing takes me out of my world, with ease, and into one he's created with so much detail and adventure. It's always a non-stop read for me. I've read the series a few times. And every time, I discover more than before. And, if possible, love it even more!

The first book sets up a dying world. As such, the overall tone of the book is gloomy and unsettling. The author does a good job setting this up, and has a unique take on a magic system. Having said that, the plot is given away by heavy handed foreshadowing. Some of the characters are interesting and charismatic. Ultimately the dark tone of the book did little to pull me in. I guess the real world is gloomy enough, so when I read I don't necessarily want an overall feeling of hopelessness and death. If that's your thing, you might like this book more than I did. I read the first book and half of the second before losing interest.

I loved this series. Sanderson does an incredible job with world-building and developing an innovative system of magic. The history and backstory are explained organically through the story rather than in one unwieldy chunk of exposition as you often see in other works. Altogether, I found the Mistborn trilogy to be fresh and interesting, while generally avoiding long boring stretches or skipping logic in favor of tidy endings. I wasn't a huge fan of the love story, and if anything, that's what keeps this from being a 5-star review. However, most of the characters were interesting and convincing, and I like his style of writing. I've already bought more of his books and hope to enjoy them as much as this one.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different and fast paced. I enjoyed the characters and the plot lines. It was one of those books that I had to keep reading and found hard to put down. I also was trying to jump ahead to predict the ending which I never would have predicted. I think it was a great book with a lot of action and fun characters. I was a little disappointed by the end though but all in all a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed and totally recommend.

I bought this on the strength of Sanderson's Stormlight Archive which I consider to be excellent. I did enjoy this series, but if compared to his latest work...it is not as awesome. One thing which annoys me is there are a couple main characters which are great and fun, and there is a "crew" which those characters hang out with. The crew seems a bit shallow and I often am confusing who is who. They don't stand on their own too well. Also, there is far too much talk of fancy dresses...I could do with less of that. Still, while I wait for the next installment of Stormlight, I plan on plowing through the back catalog. So if you are in the same situation, by all means get this. (just read Stormlight as a priority)

I bought this trilogy last year based solely on so many shining reviews here. it is certainly true that taste in books, especially fantasy, is subjective, therefor I will refrain from posting a definitive review, only my personal opinion here folks . This series has many positives, including a unique power system that allows the characters to perform feats that would put The Matrix's Neo to shame. It is indeed a power system and not magic since the ability was engineered. It might better be described as metaphysical power, something innate tot the world. The world, although drab and nondescript, was a refreshing change from the typical fantasy world. World descriptions were sparse leaving me to envision the same stretch of barren landscape regardless of where the characters were. some world inhabitants initially felt flat until their origins were expanded upon. There were some negatives as well. Characters were two dimensional. Dialog was bland with character insights being repeated over and over and over. World theology was not fleshed out very well. Again, Dialog was was extremely bland! Reading the series was worthwhile, but by no means does this series deserve a glowing review.

Astoundingly well-written book - the language is clean, the POVs work well and each chapter moves the story forward. Just a little too much YA for me to relate to the lead(s). Emotional angst, self-pity and some will they/won't they. Book 2 is particularly full of this subtext. The ideas are smart and sharp. The reveals are both surprising and inevitable - though they become more obvious as you move through the trilogy and learn Sanderson's foreshadowing techniques.

This is one of my favorite series of all time. I purchased the paperbacks as well as the e-book version. This is one of those book series you want to loan to your friends just to have someone to talk about them with. The story is super engrossing and immersive. It's exciting and intense and I love it so much. I'd recommend it to any of my friends.

This book was incredible, in every sense of the word. The plot was enthralling and the characters were incredibly well developed. I felt that most of the time I could feel the inner turmoil Vin and the others were going through. Occasionally, actually, most of the time, I felt that I knew exactly what was going to happen next, but almost every singe time I was caught yet again impressed at the twists and turns of the plot. Some novels feel as thought the author started writing them with no further goal than the end of the first book. Then, when the end of the series comes, the author is caught in a scramble trying to wrap everything up, and manages it, even if the methodology seems a little contrived (cough, Harry Potter). However, Sanderson has worked a masterpiece, with the novel from the very start working masterfully to bring everything right to a thrilling-seemingly-predictable-but-then-another-wrench-is-thrown-in-the-works ending.

I have read a number of Sandersons works, and loved them all! As usual the Mistborn trilogy did not disappoint. If you are a diehard fantasy fan or just starting into the genre, Mistborn sill keep you glued to its pages for hours! Can't wait to read the second trilogy in this realm.

For the first time I really wish I could give a partial star rating. This suite of novels really is beautifully conceived. It's riveting, well-written, and thematically complex. The characters are rich, human, and thoroughly engaging. My only complaints are so minor and so technical that they will seem pretty. This novel needed one final edit to smooth out that final few kinks in language and sentence structure. (Note to the author: the adjective "maladroitly" is just way too far outside the scope of common usage to be anything other than distracting to the modern reader.) Overall I found a real connection with the people of the Mistborn Saga and their world. Beautiful read. It's wonderful that the story is as Big as it is, too. Finally, a work with enough heft to support its story. Well done. I'm a fan.

I like this series more than I thought I would. I lagged in some places but that ended up being the set up for adding more into the plot. I was pleased with the end and glad I read this Trilogy.

This a good fantasy series for anyone, but I think teenage girls around 15-19 would enjoy it most as that is the age range of the main character, who is female, covers in the course of the three novels.

This trilogy is definitely a favorite of mine. I am not a big fan of a lot of foul language and sex filled books and this one has little to none of that. It isn't as chaotic as some other fantasy novels are in the sense that there are rules such as the metals have to be mixed exactly right or they make the person burning them sick. It all felt a bit more structured and scientific to me than some others that I have read. I really enjoyed the first book (I have read it several times) but the second was not very memorable but still worth the read. As a whole I would definitely recommend this book.

An excellent choice of reading material if you have a lot of time to spend on reading. I purchased the whole trilogy when planning our vacation. Loved it on the KIndle reader that can be set to tell you how many hours are left to read. Had a wonderful time sitting pool-side in Kauai and reading and reading. Loved the premise of "Mistborn" - you might think it's dystonian, but is it really? There is never a clear picture of "everything" and that is one of the best qualities of this series.

The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson was a truly great series, rated up there with other recent greats such as "The First Law" series (Joe Abercrombie) and "The Earthsea Cycle" (Ursula Le Guin). The series has great characters and a really good plot with a whole new system for "magic" that is very well thought out. My only problem with the book was the ending. Without spoilers, the end is a little too grandiose for me, I felt the last 100 pages went way far out over the top for a fantasy novel. I could see the author building to this ending, but I didn't think it would quite be so BIG. However, many fantasy novels lack decent endings, so I will let this one slide because the 2000 pages that come before the end are truly epic.

So it all started on a blog post where this book was mentioned as one with a great 'magic system'.... And I thought "why not? I trust this random users post"... Suffice to say I went from not knowing B. Sanderson to pretty much stalking him (book-wise) and am looking forward to the rest of his collection. Actual review: I loved and appreciated the depth and care that went into the creation of this world that Brandon created. It's delicate, yet he's able to keep it all from unraveling. The voyage is one that I will truly cherish, from the characters to the physical world where one is able to burn metals. I honestly can't imagine people not liking this book. It's fast paced, has romance...-ish, spectacular fight scenes ... Give it a chance I'm hoping it doesn't take me another 33 years to find another tale as good as this one.

The books were well written and the world-building and magic system were great. I think the first book was the most interesting and the second closely after that. The third book was a good conclusion although unexpected. Overall my complaint was the story was drawn out and repetitive.

When I read Brandon Sanderson's fabulous finale to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series I knew I had to read more. I honestly liked his three books in the series better than Mr. Jordan's, so I knew Sanderson was an amazing story teller. The Mistborn trilogy did not disappoint. With an elaborate magic system, and an intelligent, feisty, and all-around-kick-butt main character, this series is going down as one of my favorites. The only negative I have is it appears Mr. Sanderson has a huge list of books under his belt, so I'm pretty much going to be reading nothing else for the next several months.

I really loved Sanderson's other books so figured this would be an instant win. In the end I kind of wish he would have this trilogy into one standalone novel like he did with the others. As always the world and magic system is fully developed and amazing. The characters are all excellently developed and executed (sometimes literally). The first book is a breeze. The second book is a little slower than the first, and the last book is kind of the Mockingjay of the series. Lots of second guessing by the characters, angst and endless dialogues about nothing to avoid thinking about what's going on around them. The ending is clean, but still 4 stars overall because it felt like it took forever for the series to end.

Brandon Sanderson is a fantastic writer. While i still am very partial to L.E. Modesitt's work, namely his singular science fiction, Imager and Recluse series, Sanderson is very VERY good. If I'm not hooked by the end of the first or 2nd chapter its not one I'll likely read. Sanderson delivers in the Mistborn series. It should a must for any book collection. Sanderson has a unique way of building his plot. Mistborn has some interesting and sometimes frustrating twists, which only add to its appeal. His characters are believable and fallable and this adds to intrigue.

Great flow in the writing to keep the story moving and unpredictable outcomes along the way. Sanderson creates a unique new world that is fun to explore and consider that has a new and different twist on "magic". I will also express the appreciation where Sanderson has created a rich trilogy without it taking 10+ years and wondering how the story will unfold. Compared to some of his contemporaries, his quality and speed is something to be appreciated. I feel like I can sit down and read some of his latest works and know that I'm not making an investment in a story line that will be completed when my grandchildren (which there are none yet) are starting to read these novels.

I really liked the over-arching story for this trilogy. The way magic worked and the villain were really interesting. I didn't care for many of the hero characters. The top three main hero characters were too similar... too much time was spent describing their thoughts of self-doubt. I eventually started skimming over many of the pages of introspection in my hurry to get to the end... and that's not something I generally do. The end of the story and the glossary in the back indicate there's a bit of an afterwards-exploration game you can play through the author's website. Sounds intriguing, but I didn't go looking for it.

Reading travels the unkown to revive the mind and the Mistborne Trilogy came through in spades for months foe me. A place to go, leaving life behind if only briefly to replenish.

The series was great! I really enjoyed it. Sanderson did an incredible job. I did not know what to expect as this was the first book series of this genre that I had read. The first book was great, I will admit I thought it was kind of slow in the beginning but it was an awesome read. The second book was a little too long for me, it kind of dragged on but it was still good, not as good as the first book though. The third book was also sort of dragged on but was a great as well. The ending was really well done. I was expecting a cliche ending but it was something I did not expect. Maybe others expected it but since I'm new to the genre I didn't and it made a terrific ending to the trilogy. I would definitely recommend others to read Mistborn. I could not rate it 5/5 due to the fact that I felt the second and third book dragged on a bit and should have been shorter. I give it a 4.5/5.

this trilogy had me hooked and not able to put it down. The hero's are deep and go through many things that make them grow even more. They fight the evil oppressor and have some really awesome magic. The ending is so satisfying, something that I did not see coming but completely loved. Both girl and boy lead characters which make it much better than typical boy sci fi. As a girl I was able to relate to all the characters. Will re read this for sure.

As an avid reader, I am quite critical of books that I read. Don't get me wrong, I'm no author, but sometimes, they all seem to run together. It's like the authors all read The Wheel Of Time or LOTR and those themes, characters, or story lines somehow crept into their books. The Mistborn trilogy blew me away. The story was seamless. It was TRULY unique-& a completely new system of magic. Sigh, so refreshing and exciting! There are so many things about it that kept me hooked and never broke the momentum of the magic of the story while I read. When the first book ended, I thought- well, how can there be a second story? HAHA! Silly me.... What an incredible second story- it reeled me in and I had no idea where it would go, but it swept me away into another story that logically moved forward in another direction. I just didn't see how the story could get better. Then the second book ended. HOW could there only be a third book? There was so much to cover-I couldn't see how the threads would get woven together to complete the trilogy. Then, it all kept moving forward... And forward... Never slowing, never plodding, never letting me down.... And then it ended. And it was like the whole story blossomed before me. Wow. The entire trilogy was a thoroughly enjoyable and wonderfully unpredictable adventure while I was reading it, but the ending truly made the trilogy. Brandon Sanderson, you have a gift. Thank you for sharing it with the fantasy readers of the world. I have read hundreds of books. Some I've loved, some I've hated, most I've simply enjoyed, but you inspired me to break out of my book and review. Congrats.

The Mistborn trilogy is something like you have never read before, it starts with a man that dares to do what others only dream of doing with a crew full of very skilled thieves. The story revolves mostly around a girl by the name of Vin who grew up on the streets working on different thieving crews with her abusive older brother until one day he leaves her and she is left to fend for herself, she is then recruited by a revolutionary and joins his crew and ultimately helps to lead a rebellion. The magic system is unlike anything I have ever seen in such a good way. In this story there are those who have these "magical" powers and they are called "Allomancers" basically they can swallow a metal and burn it to gain special abilities, such as Pewter which enhances the body physically making one faster and stronger and it's opposite is tin which when burned enhances the senses improving eyesight or hearing and even touch and smell, then there's steel which one can use to physically push on a metal and iron which pulls. Those are 4 of 8 basic allomantic metals and most of the population can only burn one throughout their life but every once in a while there is one who gains the power to burn them all at will and these select few are called Mistborn while the others are known as Mistings. The characters are very well written and each in turn is easy to fall in love with. Sanderson has written this so well and with so much detail that every word brings the world within these pages to life. What Sanderson has done here is nothing short of a work of art. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because there are a few things I would have done quite differently. If you are looking for a rich story with addictive storytelling then look no further! Buy this trilogy and you will not be disappointed!

Go ahead and buy this trilogy. I honestly have no idea how this series isn't considered one of the "popular" modern book series, as it's better than most everything I've read recently. It has: ~ Characters that each have their own personality and quirks. There are a lot of characters in the series, but you never seem to forget a single one. Each feels like an actual person, not just a character. (Warning: No character is safe. Ever. It can get almost as bad with character deaths as Game of Thrones.) ~ A completely unique system(s) of "magic" that makes every other fantasy series's portrayal of the unnatural seem generic in comparison. It gets a little complicated at times, but there are handy reference pages available. ~Deep contemplations on philosophy and religion that, rather than bog down the book's action, actually serve as pivotal themes in the series. ~ Plot twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Some reviews mark off on this series because they claim the second book was "slow." Personally, I found that the political machinations and plot twists made it a more than worthy read. I suppose that it may have suffered a little from the infamous "second book syndrome," but only because the first and third books set such high standards. I plan on starting the sequel series (1st book is out: "Alloy of Law") immediately.

I haven't finished the whole trilogy yet, but the first book was very good. I love when authors break the mold and the idea that the epic hero of lore DIDN'T complete his quest and save the day was too interesting to pass up. The books seem fairly fast paced, so the reader doesn't get bored just waiting for things to happen. There is a good sense of mystery and intrigue that kept me turning the pages. You genuinely care about the characters and want them to succeed and to find out what happened to the hero of lore. I also find Sanderson's take on alchemy and alchemic powers interesting and unique. It was definitely a good read and worth the money I spent on it. I'm looking forward to reading the other two.

The characters in this book were very well thought out and believable. The world, the plot, the actions and interactions well thought out and planned to an extent that you didn’t realize until the very end of the book. I am in absolute fan of this series and the author

Outstanding trilogy. I appreciate an author who can make me think and Brandon Sanderson's does an excellent job of this. While reading the series I couldn't help thinking this series would be an excellent source for a school paper. The trilogy contains elements of a mystery novel while also covering a vast array of subjects ranging from religion, history, political intrigue and philosophy. I do feel that a few of the characters have far too much sympathy for The Lord Ruler but that's my opinion. This intriguing trilogy belongs in the same elite circle of trilogy, multi-book stories such as Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy or Brandon Mull's Beyonder series, Sanderson has crafted a world that's somewhat different than the classical fantasy novel.

I've only read about half of the Trilogy but I have really liked it so far. It's nice to have a really strong female heroine for a change. All the main characters are well rounded and have been given enough attention by the writer that it really contributes greatly to the story. If the reader doesn't connect with the main characters, you take away greatly from the quality and enjoyment of the read. Hopefully the rest of the Trilogy will continue to grip and please me as well !

The book was very engaging. I truly enjoyed the characters, the character development and the story line. Voraciously went through two and a half of the books. The science fiction portion of the book was not blown out of proportion and did add to my enjoyment of the book. My problem was with the third book. It just seemed as if things were constantly being repeated. If I read one more time how Vin started off in the slums, I was going to scream. By the time I got that far, I was only interested in the ending. Just skipped to it. Enjoyable, but . . .

To be honest, I'm still reeling from the end of this book. I'm sitting on the bus, and there is a random, muscular guy sitting in the seat next to me; so for the sake of my own masculinity, I won't cry. Just know that I want to. Brandon Sanderson is incredible. He is a master at foreshadow; seemingly insignificant details from the first book creep back into the second and third, and become crucial to the story. He did the same thing with relatively insignificant characters as well. Those you think you can forget about will come back in the end... and maybe not in the way you'd like them too... He is also amazing in the way he allows us to connect with the characters. At any one time, you'll be following the story of 3 or more characters, and it works. In some cases (Game of Thrones comes to mind), multiple characters becomes messy and confusing, leaving the reader to try to pick up the trail themselves. Sanderson, however, makes each of his characters unique. We recognize we are in Vin's head because she had a distinct personality that sets her apart from Kelsier or Sazed. We can connect with them, because of the authenticity of their personalities. Read this trilogy. Trust me on this one. I had friends telling me to read this as far as a year back, but I shelved the suggestion in the back of my mind. I was so young and foolish... When I finally did start it, I could barely out it down. My teachers have told me off for not paying attention, and my job performance has been seriously lacking, as I have spent hours at a time hiding in the dairy cooler reading. This book is well worth the $10(ish) and the many hours you will spend on it.

This trilogy will slowly take over your free time as you find yourself reading it whenever you can. The characters are well developed and likeable, the magic system has depth and creates intense fights, the plot is interesting and full of twists that will have your jaw dropped in shock. Recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy, the Cosmere, or an action-packed epic adventure.

Amazing story! I have become interested in the work of Brandon Sanderson since he so expertly finished the Wheel of Time series. At first I was hesitant because I worried that Robert Jordan had done most of the writing and that Mr. Sanderson just tied it all together. However, I have discovered that Mr. Sanderson has the ability to change his style of writing to blend with the characters or storyline that he is working with. If you loved the Wheel of Time series, then you will love the Mistborn Trilogy!

Amazing fantasy in a totally original world. The trilogy starts off as what appears to be a heist story, and maybe an "overthrow a corrupt system" story, but it becomes so much more. The setting is both original and fascinating. The characters are complex. There are more layers to the story than a reader would initially think possible. Simply the best fantasy I've read in years, if not my whole life.

This trilogy is a must read for any fantasy or sci-fi reader. It has one of the best first chapters I have ever read and stays on strong throughout the entire trilogy. His magic system is creative and interesting. The characters are so fully fleshed out and fun to read about that you'll probably blow through all three books before you know it. Oh, and the antagonist? He's pretty much the most evil God you will ever meet. However, the book doesn't paint all the bad guys as bad and the good guys as good. I'd put this on any avid fantasy reader's list. As a side note. I know that the hard fantasy and sci-fi genre is male dominated, but I know quite a lot of women that love this series.

This is a great book series. It uses a well though out system of magic that incorporates physics. Elements of religion, philosophy, and ethics are woven throughout the series, which is something that I really enjoy having in fantasy reading. There are a lot of twists and turns that you don't expect as you are given information along with the characters, discovering things as they discover them. The series is for older teens and adults as there is a lot of violence and adult themes throughout. Some didn't like the end, but I rather enjoyed it, it is bittersweet.

I wasn't sure about Brandon Sanderson, because I wondered if Robert Jordan's books were milked a bit for his own gain. However after reading these books I realized why Brandon Sanderson was chosen to finish Jordan's series. Brandon Sanderson is a wonderful author in his own right and I feel guilty for judging him before reading his books. But come on can you blame me? It was agony waiting for The Wheel Of Time to be finished. (Which I realize was not entirely Brandon Sanderson's fault) Anyways....... This is a trilogy that I will read many times over just like Robert Jordan's books. Sanderson's other books are definitely on my reading list. When I get done with several other books I will be reading The Way of Kings.

Few books have stirred me in the way the Mistborn Trilogy has. Without a doubt this was one of the best works I have read. Typically trilogies lose their flair after the first book but that was not the case here. The themes Sanderson used as main plot ploys were non typical. Rather than focus on cliche themes such as love, war, revenge, overcoming evil, Sanderson used trust, respect and balance. There were so many twists and turns as well; i'm usually pretty good at guessing the plotline ahead but that was not the case in the Mistborn Trilogy. I became a Sanderson fan after reading the Way of Kings (which I also highly recommend).

After reading his work after completing The Wheel of Time I was hooked on Brandon's writing. I really enjoyed this series. Guess that is the way it is when you find someone who has a style that just works for you. Read them all on my Kindle while going to bed each night. Nice way to relax at the end of the day before dropping off to sleep. When finished though I was kind of disappointed, what was I going to read tomorrow night? That happens when I get hooked on a good series. The old good thing/bad thing problem.

I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the entire trilogy. Usually books of this length have some "dead spots", but the action/plot was well balanced, and the story advanced quickly. The author has developed a fascinating world peopled with unique inhabitants and abilities. Unlike many of this genre, there was actually character development while also exploring themes of the effects of great power, the sacrifices of leadership, the development and effects/value of a religion, among others. In general, a well thought out book and a fun read.

A finely crafted but weird world of engaging well developed characters with interesting and unique powers. Great Good versus Evil struggle where the line starts out distinct then the colors blur, run together and twist around each other until all things puzzling and mysterious are revealed. The darker side of Sanderson's world of Allomancy are what nightmares are made of...violent and very scary! The young female protagonist's coming of age struggles pull you in and keep you fully absorbed in the plot.

Awesome Trilogy! Sanderson can develop unique and interesting characters as good as any author out there and creates extensive story lines that pull you in and won't let go. After reading the Stormlight novels and the Mistborn Trilogy I have definitely become a fan.

If it were illegal for writers to use performance-enhancing drugs for writing, I would demand Sanderson be tested for them. His books are tirelessly interesting, easy to read, and STILL give paying readers great bang for their bucks. I'm not going to tell the plot line of the book series, as it would take forever. Just know that even if you're not a fan of the fantasy genre, you'll most likely be a fan of Sanderson. The man can write! Now I have to figure out the next series of his to invest. I've already downed The Way of Kings and the Mistborn Trilogy. Stupid interesting books...

One of the best, most well written fantasy series I have read in a long time. The blends and similarities between what is going on today in the world and the strife and obstacles that the heroes must over overcome is striking. The blend of magic, beautifully detailed fights and political intruve made this a series that I could not put down. As soon as I finished book three I sat their dumbfounded and almost empty. Don't get me wrong, the way everything comes together at the end is masterfully told and I would highly recommend this to any sci-fi or fantasy ready. And for you that have read the book and are possibly reading this review, wondering why I did not mention Allomancy...well I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise for anyone considering to buy this series. Especially considering it is something that has not been done before outside of comics. Again you should definitely pick up this series. From beginning to end you will be sucked into the characters lives until they almost become part of you. Stop what you are doing and read this as soon as you can.

Really enjoyed this series. It's been awhile since I've read a really good fantasy series, and I was recommended this one by a friend. I'm glad I read it! Sanderson clearly put a lot of attention into the details, including the characters, history, and setting. The main characters are strong, but show a lot of really thoughtful development - none of it was too unrealistic, and they set one another off really well. Kind of hoped for a different ending, but Sanderson didn't allow for a cliche, which I appreciated. I did like the first book the best of the three, but the series as a whole was great to read.

This book takes you on a journey through a fantasy world that is brutal and beautiful. Hard and easy. The characters are so easy to get attached to and cheer for. I was so invested in them and their world I cried when it was over. I recommend this book for any ADULT who wants to be completely consumed by the writing of a brilliant author.

I read all 3 books but was not impressed. The creativeness is impressive and the story good but there is a lot of redundancy. These books could have been just as good but a quarter or half the length. I skimmed often due to the repetitive and same information.

Sanderson creates an alternate world of mystery and magic that I found enthralling and moving. His characters were engaging and well developed, roped me in and made me care about what would happen to them, even when I knew they were being manipulated by other characters. I couldn't always tell about their motives or what individuals would do next. I found the three books to be action-packed in all the right places, not too draggy when explanations and background were needed, dialog not stilted, relationships were genuine, there was plenty of humor as well as dread, and the descriptions of the society and landscape in de-evolution were interesting as well as frightening. And after all the fear and dread, hope. Excellent story-telling at a good clip.

The idea for the series is very imaginative and the powers are pretty interesting and fun. It wasn't a hard read by any means. Some of the foreshadowing seemed pretty blunt, but there were plenty of turns. The first book in the series is a good stand alone book and you could read just that and be happy. The second book should be read with the third though. It wasn't quite as strong on its own. The third book definitely wraps up the series but the ending seemed a bit rushed to me. I gave it a like because it seemed to be written for a younger (than a 30 year old) audience. In high school I would have given this a love it.

Sanderson has a clear vision for the series and plot twists come together incredibly well. I still prefer the Stormlight series more but found myself turning pages non-stop.

Abigail said to read this series. I put it off. I'm working on a PhD. Then I had a day or two and was looking to read something that I could deconstruct and learn from while enjoying a well-written tale. Thank you, Abigail. Sanderson is amazing in creating a multi-layered world complete with a fully realized magical system, rules of government, interaction of people, and levels of theology. Now if you want to ignore that... it's a ripping good story, too! My only problem was that it was too good. Now I've really got to get caught up in my studies. But, thanks, Brandon. The journey was amazing. You have gained another loyal fan.

A wonderful story with plenty of twists and turns. Some of the best character development I've ever read. There's a cohesion to these books that is rare in modern literature. Things happen in the first book that aren't explained until the last few chapters of the final book. Not big things, but seemingly innocuous events become important after three books. When I finished the third one, I spent a half hour sitting there discovering how everything tied together. I can see why Jordan asked him to finish WOT. Brandon Sanderson is one of the finest modern authors I've read.

Brandon Sanderson as always writes good books. Don’t call yourself a fan if you haven’t read Mistborn it is an essential read for ever Sandersonian.

One of the best series books I've ever read. Love the cosmere that Brandon has made. I also love that if you really pay attention to the story, it give you reveals early. Doesn't break the story because there are plenty of WTH type surprises. I'm all over the place in the cosmere and that's okay. I started reading Stormlight Archive. Then, heard about the cosmere. Mistborn is one of his highest rated books so picked it up. Not disappointed.

This has all the beats I want and expect in a fantasy setting while introducing a unique and interesting system of “magic”. I wasn’t expecting a lot of the twists and turns that the plot took which always kept me excited for what was coming next. I highly recommend it but be careful or you will fall down the Brandon Sanderson rabbit hole like I have.

I enjoyed meeting the most amazing and original characters in this trilogy. Before the big time jump to the future, the first books had the most interesting conversations about religions, politics and ruling cities with not too many questions answered but with a lot of thought-provoking ideas put forth. The love Vin has for Elend Venture is, based on complete trust. They evolve into becoming a formidable royal couple. Vin is the strongest female character I have encountered in literature, a true warrior.

The world and the characters are intricately detailed, and it's really refreshing to have a modern fantasy series actually complete in three books (and have a female lead!). In general, I really like Sanderson's writing, but I've got two minor complaints: - He gets far too involved in how to turn his detailed magic systems into fight scenes; well-choreographed magical fight scenes can be fun to watch in movies, but they're a bit of a chore to read. - His plotlines are somewhat telegraphed; he drops so many hints about the things that will be important later that the reader is never worried about whether everything will come together at the end. It's not so much that the reader can guess at how it's all going to be resolved - Sanderson is too clever for that - but there's never any tension about whether it will all be resolved. It's all just a little bit too precise; the very best writers can drop important hints while making the reader worry that they may not be important to the author, and Sanderson makes it a little bit too clear what he considers important.

This book is the type you can stop reading. The plot is amazing, the magic is very trick and people are real , and the end is a big surprise. I found this book when I was browsing the Amazon site, read the reviews , bougth the book and fell in love with the story. The author ideas about magic are very different from everything I've read in my life, and I 've read a lot. This book could be transformed in an amazing movie, the allomancers figths would be more spetacular than the figths in Matrix. I hope one day someone in Hollywood think about it. People, buy the Mistborn Trilogy and enjoy!

I bought this trilogy because I enjoyed Brandon Sanderson's wrap of the Wheel of Time series that I read for almost 15 years. I decided to try out one of his own stories. Wow... this trilogy is FAN-FLIPPIN-TASTIC!! I am an avid fantasy fiction reader and the Mistborn Trilogy does not disappoint. If you love fantasy fiction with an ORIGINAL gripping story line and characters that you actually feel emotion towards then Mistborn is for you. 1000% percent recommend.

Read these after discovering Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series. Story is great, great world-building, etc., like all the other reviews say, but the Mistborn Trilogy was a bit more of a slog than his later books, mostly from repetitive exposition. If you're 75% of the way through a huge series, you no longer need 3 sentences re-re-re-re-explaining what each kind of Mistling can do with his/her particular power every time we focus on a different character. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the book, but it happened often enough that it pulled me out of the story. For a person new to Sanderson, I'd recommend starting with the Stormlight series.

I am new to Brandon Sandersons works, but I must say that while slow at times, I was very pleased with the series as a whole. Brandon 's writing is very imaginative and once you take into account all of the new, strange words, the series flows very well. These books are a lot of fun to read. One thing I appreciate in Fantasy and Sci-fi is the lack of inappropriate language and gratuitous sex 'scenes'. I find those things to be completely unnecessary. Brandon does a great job of keeping the story real enough and gritty enough to accept that the characters we relate to are human (mostly), and that it's best to leave profanity and sex out of the story, but still accept that those things may happen inside of the imagination of the reader. It's a difficult point I'm trying to make here, but suffice it to say, I app exists stories that I can pass down to my kids someday and not worry overly much about their content. Anyway, back to the main point here. Brandon,s books are fun to read, well thought out, incredibly imaginative and with a very well planned and executed backstory. This all equals a fun, intelligent read that keeps you turning pages, while continuing to anticipate the next of the many twists in the excellent plot. I will definitely continue to look to Brandon as a source for my love of smart Fantasy books. I can't wait for the next 'Way of Kings' books to come out as well.

I'm a fan of fantasy and although there is much to choose from nowadays, much is trite. Sanderson formed a logically flowing story that made me anxious to ditch my routine and get back to Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Elend, Tansoon and Spook. I found their struggle to commit and believe in something despite dashed hopes by the hands of a few dark god's a theme proven to inspire. Recommended for teen readers and those adults who, like me, prefer to lunch with their head in the clouds and who don't fear fog or mists.

Really enjoyed this unique world, something different in the fantasy genre that doesn't require Dwarves, Elves, Goblins and Orcs. I have really found this author to put out some interesting works. He does suffer from putting the same characters in each of his books. He does try and disguise it with different names and backgrounds, but they speak, think, interact/react identical in their situations. But the the way he fleshes out a world with full backgrounds, histories, and magic systems-but doesn't walk you through them from page one is interesting. He just starts his story and lets you guess/figure it out as you go. Keeps you enthralled.

I was very impressed with this trilogy as it accompanied me on several of my recent trips to and from Europe and North America. The magical system was well constructed and interesting. The characters were well developed. Sanderson's writing moved the plot forward and didn't divert readers to incomplete subplots or inane meanderings. Human frailty, leaders clamoring for power, optimism in the face of adversity, and the role of religion stand out as clear themes that find their corollary in reality. Great series. I only wish that I had found it sooner!

This trilogy works pretty well as a whole, setting up a reasonably rich and novel fantasy setting, along with a small group of primary characters to follow. The magic systems are non-standard and have pretty interesting rules with consequences for the plot. Sanderson also manages to provide explanations to various small but intriguing details by the end of the trilogy, showing evidence of good planning. This planning also goes into a few different plot twists, and most feel well-earned. I was surprised to find that I thought the greatest weakness was in character development. It felt like there was an unnecessary tendency to pair up most (all?) characters romantically. A number of characters also seemed to wallow in self-doubt over these romantic relationships, which felt like distracting teen drama to me (though some of the characters are pretty young). It was hard for me to mesh this inner melodrama with the epic tasks performed by these same characters. Overall, I think the story worked quite well on a mechanical level, but the character arcs didn't measure up.

He has created an entire incredible world that's believable even with the magic. His concepts for creatures and how they are made, the overlaying and underlaying of events and characters. I particularly like the first person short narrative of the "God" and later of (I won't say) that at first I found irritating then realized it laid the foundation and background to the present events, and later towards the end. I would place his narrative on a par with that of the Three Ring Trilogy. The characterizations of the individuals, the human interplay is all believable.

After reading Mistborn and the Stormlight archive, one begins to see common threads in Sanderson's work: scientifically coherent "magic" systems that serves the story and support a cohesive world building, complex characters who struggle with themes of leadership, morality and friendship, and a meticulously crafter story where even the smallest details makes perfect sense once you put down the last book.

Read them, love them, respect them. This is what the art of writing looks like. He manages to surprise you, make you cry, laugh and live the lives of the characters through their eyes.

The more of Brandon Sanderson's books I read the more I like his style. "Mistborn" has great world-building; interesting, well-developed characters, an incredible magic-system and an exciting plot full of tension and twists. I like how Sanderson can take a fairly stock character-trope such as the girl-with-great-power-and-low-self-esteem and create such a unique character like Vin. I can hardly wait for "Shadows of Self" and "Bands of Mourning"!

Cannot recommend this collection enough! Sanderson builds an exceptionally addictive world to explore, and keeps the action flowing without bogging down the story. The way Sanderson explains the powers that the Mistborn have, and how they use them, may be the best I have ever read. When Mistborn fight, it's a brutal, nasty affair, and Sanderson writes these battles in a way that lets you picture the entire scene perfectly. And Vin is perfect. One of my favorite female characters of all time. Her story is sad, touching, and invigorating... Absolutely perfect!

Really unique storyline, Sanderson has the ability to create a fantasy world that has a decent amount of originality. First time in years I have had trouble putting a book down.

Pogo dudes great read and good challenge for me I'm not much of a fast reader but finished this 22 hundred page monster in 11 days, damn I've never spent this much time reading but pogo I give this 5 stars and two thumbs up. Fantastic story thank you Sanderson

The concept of the trilogy is very interesting and the main characters are likeable. Even the evil Lord Ruler becomes somewhat of a sympathetic character by the end of the tale. The only reason it doesn't get five stars is the overwhelming and at times unbelievable suffering endured by the Skas, the slave class of society in this world. From the devastation caused by ridiculous amounts of falling ash to the torture inflicted by the Inquisitors, there were times I just wanted to skip ahead instead of reading more descriptions of the evil unleashed upon this world. Perhaps that should be credited to the author in his ability to evoke such emotion, but for me it detracted from the overall enjoyment of this otherwise truly fine story.

Elantris is now one of my favorite books of all time so when I found out he had other books I bought the trilogy no questions asked. Once I got a hang of the alloys and what they did, the book was highly entertaining. Even if you don't care to fully understand the ins and outs of all the different powers, the story itself is amazing and all the characters are great. Incredibly original and unlike anything I've read in the fantasy genre. I Will definitely continue on to read the rest of the mistborn books that are set in the future.

Well written and explored several concepts and ideas well. Enjoyed being able to read all 3 books consecutively with no intervening time.

I expected this trilogy to mostly be a study of a particular magic mechanic. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are some plot turns which are genuinely interesting, a healthy dose of foreshadowing, and some reasonably thought provoking, though elementary, philosophical problems mixed in. Sanderson does a good job of expressing the tragedy of misinterpretation, and does a good job of giving the reader just enough information to question the actions of the characters without knowing for certain whether the characters are making mistakes.

The trilogy starts of great! The first book is by far the best! I found myself getting bored quickly though in the second. I felt as if I was rereading the same sentence over again just in a different order. The fight scenes were long and over drawn out. By the time I got to the third book, I skipped right to the end and was disappointed. SPOILER ALERT: I don't mind that the main character dies fighting at the very end and that Sazed basically becomes God but it feels as more of a set up for the remaining characters and another book rather than a conclusion of the trilogy. It needs a more concrete end. Personal opinion though!

I haven't enjoyed a book or series this much in years. Intricate and pleasurable with a natural flow. Highly recommended.

Brandon Sanderson builds intricate and deeply logical worlds. The Mistborn trilogy goes in unpredictable directions that nevertheless make complete sense and the magic works within a clearly mapped out system, meaning that every feat performed is one you would fully believe the characters of that world to be able to perform and you know when they will get tired. I loved these books because they contained the adventure and otherworldliness I love in fantasy with rigorous logic.

I would recommend these books to fantasy lovers looking for their next fix. I like that the main character is a female who I feel I can identify with, even though we're quite different. I also like the main draw of the world, how there is power in burning metals, but at times the system becomes repetitive and trying. Some plot elements were predictable, others weren't, so all in all enjoyable. An easy, addicting read, hard to put down.

Good story - VERY LONG!! It took me forever to finish, though I'm not the fastest of readers. It took me a little bit to get into the first part of the book, but the cadence of the storytelling and action is pretty steady after that. I really enjoyed the story, and the plot twists were good, and I think I figured them out at the points where the author started wanting you to realize what was going on. Overall very enjoyable read.

I have this series a rating of 4 out of 5 for the simple reason that it isn't my all time favorite series. That being said the Mistborn series is a fantastic buy and value. I bought the series after reading multiple reviews that summed the series up best. This series is a great read and the best buy you can get.The author has a unique and viable magic system that makes sense and creates the limitations needed. The story grabs you right from the beginning and moves along well if at times slow. The characters are well rounded with lives that most of us will relate to in one fashion or another. The society and culture beg you to read on discovering this or that as a good book should do. The good versus evil in this series is freshly original and many twists in the story and what you thought you knew gets revamped right before your eyes and you tell yourself "of course...that makes sense", although you never see it coming. Buy this series and you will not be disappointed if you are a fantasy reader who likes magic and knights and balls!

I just happened to pick up Brandon Sanderson's Alloy of Law at the library and was immediately impressed with the story telling and wordsmithing. As a result, and in preparation for a trip, I ordered the Mistborn trilogy for my touch pad. This trilogy precedes the Alloy of Law, and give a wonderful background to that story. Brandon takes a badly abused young girl, living in abject poverty, and moves her and the other folks through grand adventures, using brilliant techniques and unheard of skills. All three are page turners, and deserve your full attention. Outstanding entertainment.

Big Sanderson fan, this is an interesting world (possibly more interesting than it's characters - who are pretty good in themselves), and is pretty great to explore and see the story unfold. As is often true with Sanderson, the first book takes a little while to get going (he often has a lot of people and world building to introduce) but it's completely worth it by the end. Have fun!

He's no Robert Jordan but Brandon Sanderson can spin a pretty great tale. This series is very fast paced and a real page turner. Character development is decent but what really shines is the worldbuilding and how he's always teasing just a little more to discover. I absolutely love the creative magic system!

I understand this is a pert of his larger universe setting but the ending for me was unsatisfying unless it is picked up again to further close the plot line for this set of characters. However, having said that I feel this was an amazing read with the plot details and the character development. I was disappointed at the conclusions for some of the characters by the end of the book, but we always feel that way when it doesn't fit the way we thought a plot was going to end. Good long term planning with the trilogy and system of magic created for the series. My hope is that he brings everything back like I've been hearing and ties the whole universe pieces together ( Elantris, Mistborn, Way of Kings, etc) into a cohesive whole.

I'm usually pretty good at guessing the twist. he did a great job. the AH HAH came at the end.

Great series of three books with compelling characters and enough mystery to keep you hooked. Sanderson's writing can be a little verbose and tedious at times in this series, but it gets better with his more recent books (Stormlight Archive). I found myself skipping paragraphs at a time because he seems to recall bits from the previous books or earlier chapters thinking you may have forgotten the important stuff - almost like the beginning recaps on episodic TV shows. Without giving it away, I was not a huge fan of the fairly vanilla ending, but the rest is good enough for a read.

Although I took a little while to get into the story at first, I fell fast for this story and the characters. By the start of the second book, I couldn't put it down and had to read in every spare moment I had. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was left in the end satisfied with how it all tied together and craving more from Brandon Sanderson. I would definitely recommend this and have done so to all my friends and family!

fantastic book, not the first time I've read it or bought it but I wanted an e-book edition so the bundle made more sense

good story. very interesting plot development. I haven't finished the series yet. but by the time I got to the 3rd book it's become a bit lengthy and dragging... update added 4/19/15... I am now done with the book and have a greater appreciation for all the rabbit holes and how they all come together to create an amazing plot. Here's my only recommendation... if you got part way through and thought it was dragging, don't give up. the ending is absolutely worth plowing through!!

The epic story was engaging from start to finish, with memorable characters who have unique abilities and personalities. Sanderson has a way to introduce characters and then just as suddenly kill them off and you think, hey wait.. that can't happen, but it does and it works to advance the plot. No character is immune from a sudden plot twist and that is what is so engaging about his story telling as he is not afraid to let go and let the story unfold. A basic story of good vs evil and how both interact with this world Sanderson created.

I just finished this trilogy. They were right, it was indeed worth it to buy all 3 books at once. About the story, I simply can't say. It's beyond me. I will however, say that it has it all. I doubted myself, thought that I had maybe made a mistake, but it all paid out in the end. I fell in love with this trilogy very fast, the characters, the setting, the mysteries. What an author. I must also commend the writing. It was very light and it made reading this book a very comfortable experience. It felt like a... breeze... I'd say. That however,made it incredibly easy to keep me up at night! It was so easy to just keep going. During the final part of the third book I just didn't slept. It's 6:27 in the morning and I believe I began at 11:30 last night. How is this even possible? I don't know. I know that the Mistborn Trilogy is amazing. That I do.

I read a short story by Brandon Sanderson in an anthology called Dangerous Women. That made me buy this series. I love the story. The writing style is simple and compelling. I often find myself staying up late to read just one more chapter. The themes are huge: good vs evil, the temptations of power, class systems etc and yet the story is really concrete and believable for a fantasy. love it.

Man he is a fantastic writer! I was introduced to his writing when he was chosen to finish the Wheel of Time Series and found I loved his writing more than Robert Jordan's (the creator of the Wheel of Time) I then read his Elantris fabulous I recommend checking it out, then the short book Infinity Blade Awakening, did not realize this one was written to bridge two Apple Apps (Popular ones at that now that I researched it, makes me wish I owned an Apple Ipad :)). Now reading this mistborn, love it!