Mistborn: The Final Empire
Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe I have found my new favorite author! I have now read Brandon Sanderson’s first two published works and both of them were absolutely amazing. You can see what I thought of his first book here. Mistborn: The Final Empire is the first book of a trilogy of which the first two books are already on the shelves. The final installment will be out in October of this year. This means that I won’t have to wait very long to finish the story.
The story told in this book is amazing and one of the best I have ever read. The action is well balanced with political intrigue and character development. The world that Sanderson builds for us is so engaging and it draws you into it immediately. The basic story premise, without giving too much away, is about a group of thieves in a world where an oppressive immortal ruler keeps a large portion of the populace down-trodden and subservient. It has been this way for one thousand years. The goal is to free the people from their state by overthrowing the government and it’s ruler. The problem is, the Lord Ruler as he is called, is immortal and attempts to kill him have failed every time. The magic system that is woven into the story is very unique and intricate.
One of my favorite things about this author is his ability to keep you guessing throughout the entire book. You think that either option one or option two could happen and you a pretty sure it is option one. In reality it is option three, that you never saw coming, that happens. The foreshadowing is there for everything but it is still hard to guess what is going to happen. Personally, I like this so much about the books I read that I really don’t try to figure it out too much. I like for the story to unfold on it’s own.
Another thing I am enjoying about Mr. Sanderson is that he seems to have a moral sensibility about him. I have read books that their authors seem to think that cursing and sex makes the story more real and believable. Sanderson apparently doesn’t agree with this philosophy but his books have just as real and gritty a feel as books that have this content. I know that there are people who won’t wait for marriage to have sex but there are people out there who would wait so it is just as believable to me if characters do wait. Reading is just one more avenue that we as Christians have to be discerning as to what we dwell on and put into our minds. I haven’t had to decide whether to put a book by Sanderson down based on my pursuit of holiness yet. That makes me happy.
If you enjoy a good fantasy novel then this book is definitely one you should pick up. If his first two books are this good, I am excited to see what his future books hold. If you have never read fantasy then try out his first book, Elantris. It is a stand alone novel so you wouldn’t be committing yourself to more than one book. I love immersing myself into another world for a little while. It helps me deal with the real world better. From what I have read so far, Brandon Sanderson is an author that I can do this with and be very satisfied.
Brian
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2 Comments
The question is:
Are you enough of a fan to read the 11 existing Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan so that you’ll be able to understand the 12th written by Sanderson?
Personally, I have no real problem with *characters* having sex before marriage–characters do (and should do) all sorts of immoral things that I don’t do. (At least I *better* have no problem with it–extramarital sex forms a central element in one of my stories, and is planned to intrude into two others.) What I *do* have a problem with is authors inviting readers to join them as voyeurs for elaborately-described and unnecessary sex scenes.
In any case, I’m glad to hear that won’t be a problem in Sanderson’s works. Now if the library would hurry up and get the book to me…..
Good point Scott. I should have elaborated more on what I meant but you did it for me
I agree with your point. I just detest authors giving me a two page scene.
As to the Wheel of Time, I have read 10 1/2 of them already but I would probably have to reread some of the last ones to catch up. I haven’t decided if I will do that or just read the last one to finish the story.