Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson review

Mistborn is the first book in the Mistborn trilogy.

The first thing about this book that struck me was the magic system. Yes, it is a fantasy novel, and yes it has magic. But the magic system that Sanderson wrote is both brilliant and believable. Magic as it exists is not a wizard in a pointy hat and robe wiggling his fingers and making things happen with no explanation. It is based around the ingestion of base metals and their alloy to use certain powers. Each type of metal can do one thing. Not everyone has the ability to burn these metals, however. There needs to be a certain pureness in one's bloodline as related to nobility, to be passed down.

If a person is able to use a metal's power, they are known as Allomancers. An Allomancer that can burn just one type of metal is a Misting. But there are those very few individuals who can burn all the metals; these special people are called Mistborn.

The second thing that struck me about this first book is that the logic behind many of the social constructs are quite believable. The way communities form and operate, how the ruling class works, how the balance of power is regarded, all of these things and more have been thought through to the point of plausibility. You could believe that such a world would exist, and that is a beautiful thing.

The story of Mistborn is about a scrawny street urchin "skaa" (which is the term for humans that are not nobility) and her rise to power. Along the way, she is recruited by a unique skaa rebel in an insane plan to topple the Final Empire, which has been ruled by the immortal Lord Ruler for centuries.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I am.

Look for my reviews for books 2 (The Well of Ascension) and 3 (The Hero of Ages) after I'm done reading them. ^_^
/ [Avaz]

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