July 17, 2018sarahylockwood

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Rate: 4/5

Medium: Audiobook

Overview (No Spoilers):

I always find myself in a bit of a blogging slump after my end of year push. Alas, I’m now three books behind so let’s start digging out of this hole before it gets any bigger!

Although Sanderson had been on my radar for years, my first introduction to him was in his Stormlight Archive series, which I’ve thoroughly fan girled over since finishing Oathbringer a few months ago.  As many of my fellow bloggers had recommended his other works and I’ve heard about the existence of many Easter eggs littered throughout in The Stormlight Archive, as he intermingles his Cosmere literary realms, I knew I had to pick up Sanderson’s other novels.  I was excited to start the Mistborn Trilogy and Sanderson did not disappoint in the least. Sure the details were not quite as flushed out or eloquent as his most recent series I’ve delved into, but the world building and premise contained everything and more I look for in a great high fantasy series. This unique literary world was delightfully complex, especially as it contains an intriguingly  and novel magic system. While The Final Empire had a surprisingly complete ending, I’m curious where this story will go as the slate is basically wiped clean for book two.  Also, I didn’t pick up on any of the Easter eggs scattered in The Stormlight Archive for this book one of the Mistborn trilogy. I’ll bide my time before I start Google searching any overlaps to avoid spoiling any upcoming surprises that this series has in store. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment of this series and can fully appreciate why this series has caught the attention of so many of my fellow high fantasy readers.

Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):

  • Kelsier dying was very terrible sad.  Especially as Vin grieves that someone else had left her behind. Cue the tears as Vin reads Kelsier’s heartfelt letter to her.
  • What did Vin’s father think as he learned he had a daughter, just before he was destroyed by the Steel Inquisitors?
  • Another heart wrenching moment is when we learned that Vin’s brother had died being tortured and protecting her!
  • Sazed was my favorite character! Will he find a religion that calls to Vin? What other powers does he have?
  • I was shocked that the Lord Ruler was killed in the end of this book! I fully expected this battle to continue throughout the three trilogies. What will happen now with his death? I was also surprised that the Lord Ruler was Rashek and not Alendi who was the narrator of the text that Sazed translated.  Will there be a new Hero of the Ages? What would have happened if Rashek had not killed Alendi?
  • How are the Steel Inquisitors made? Poor Marsh!
  • What exactly is the creature that was portraying Lord Renoux? Why was he helping Kelsier?
  • What is this greater evil that the Lord Ruler was warning Vin of in the end?
  • Will Vin and Elend continue their romance?

17 comments

  1. Glad to hear you’re reading through Mistborn. It’s by far my favorite series . . . like ever. I love Stormlight and the rest but I would probably be just as happy if he continued to write only Mistborn (although I don’t think there is any way he could).

    I’ve been following your reviews for a while and love that you don’t just summarize what happens but actually give your opinion on the book. Also it’s nice that you break up the post into spoilers and non spoilers. Will probably soon begin The Warded Man and I wouldn’t have without your review.

    Keep up the good work!

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Awesome review! I just finished the trilogy, and I have say Hero of Ages is my absolute favorite – it’s SO GOOD! Those three books and the Reckoners books are the only ones I’ve read by him. I’ve heard great things about Stormlight though!

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Glad to hear you enjoyed the Final Empire! This was my first Brandon Sanderson and have never read his other works, but I totally fell in love with the book!

    Liked by 1 person

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