I have probably tried reading this book three times over the years, and I was never able to make it far. For my first attempt, I tried the audiobook but didn’t like the narrator. The second time, I forgot that I tried reading it before, and still didn’t like the narrator. The third time, I tried reading the actual book – but had to slog through the part I had previously read, because it had been long enough that I didn’t remember the story well enough to pick up where I had left off.
But it’s Brandon Sanderson. So, this time, I just pushed through and read the damned thing.
And I’m glad I did.
The premise was utterly fascinating to me. What happened if the hero destined to save the world failed?
Well kids, it ain’t pretty. The world is covered in ash. Strange and frightening creatures inhabit the land, and the world is blanketed by a thick mist during the night. The Lord Ruler sits atop his throne in the city of Luthadel, and the lowly skaa (peasants or serfs) toil beneath his oppressive thumb. On the streets of Luthadel there is a young street urchin named Vin. She’s spent her life amongst thieves, and (not long into the book) discovers that she’s an allomancer. Allomancy is the mystical power granted to the nobility by the Lord Ruler. She also meets Kelsier, a sort of Christ-like figure with the goal of overthrowing the Lord Ruler and bringing color back to the world.
That’s the basic set-up. I don’t want to give too much away.
If you’ve read Brandon Sanderson before (most of you have), you’ve probably read this series. If that’s the case – I agree with you. It’s really good. If you haven’t, and epic fantasy is even remotely your thing, you should pick it up. Not only is it well worth your time, but it’s probably the premier series of the last fifteen years or so.
But while I thoroughly enjoyed the book – I can’t help but feel that I’ve outgrown them. I think if I’d read it at 15, I’d already be finishing his Cosmere series (of which these are a part). Knocking on the door of 40, these books just don’t feel quite as magical as they should.
I kind of get this feeling every time I read something with a protagonist in their teens. I just don’t live that life anymore. Those characters don’t speak to me like they used to. Teenage characters, just like actual teenagers, just don’t speak to me. I don’t see the world the same way they do, and I don’t care about the same things they do.
Most of the time, at least.
This isn’t a knock against Brandon Sanderson or this book. I did care about Vin, and wanted her to reach her goals. I rejoiced at her successes and felt tension at all the appropriate moments.
But I think there is a half-life to these kinds of books, and if you don’t build the necessary adoration early, you can’t really access the nostalgia at 38. I think that’s what I’m probably missing, here. This should’ve been something I read twenty years ago and am now feeling nostalgia for. But it wasn’t, and I’m not.
None of this is stopping me from reading the sequel, though. That review should be coming soon.
I don’t think age is really a barrier here, as a general rule (though I’m not saying that might not be a valid reason for you). I started reading Sanderson in my late 20s and loved him immediately, although the original Mistborn trilogy isn’t my favorite of his. That goes to The Stormlight Archive by a long shot.
All I will say about what the books focus on going forward is keep going. It definitely did not do what I was expecting it to do. And the sequel trilogy is even more fun, I thought.
I loved the Steelheart series, and am greatly enjoying the Skyward series. I recently read The Rithmatist (which I still need to review, apparently), and generally enjoyed that one as well. I’ve never read anything by him that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed.
But I just kept having the feeling read The Final Empire that I would’ve loved it a lot more had I read this ten or twenty years ago.
I don’t think this “can’t” be enjoyed by someone of my age, but I do think it appeals to me less than it would have if I were younger.
I finally read my first Sanderson, Skyward, and loved it. Where would you suggest I go next in his works? Mistborn seems to be his most cited series when he is talked about but you stated a strong preference for The Stormlight Archive. As Sanderson is quite prolific, are there other works you would recommend instead? Your thoughts on the matter are appreciated, thanks.
I think it would depend on your preferences! I personally like to, when possible, read an author’s stuff in publication order. That way I can see how they improve as they go. But Sanderson is so prolific, that might be tough. If you’re looking for more YA, his superhero trilogy starting with Steelheart is fun. If you want a standalone fantasy to just get a taste for his style, I’d recommend his first book Elantris, or one he wrote several years later, Warbreaker. If you want a good intro to what he can do with epic fantasy, Mistborn is a good place to start, and it has a sequel series, three of the four books are out right now, that I liked even better.
If you want to see him in top form, writing his best work (in my opinion) start with Stormlight, the first book being The Way of Kings. The first three books are out right now, and the fourth is coming out in November. There are going to be six more books. He writes one in the series every 2 1/2 to three years. The first five books will be part one in the epic. Each book is 1000-1200 pages long, and he writes each book like a trilogy of fantasy books contained in one book. But this one obviously comes with the waiting, and the length, and that’s not to everyone’s preference.
Most of his adult fantasy books are all part of a shared universe he calls the Cosmere, and he has decades long plans of wrapping it all up in a trilogy a long way down the line. He’s very thorough and organized about it. But if you want to ignore all the Cosmere easter eggs in each book, you can. They’re very excessible.
I hope that helps!
Thank you, narfna! That is a very helpful break down of Sanderson’s work and an excellent guide to help me going forward.