From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)

Brandon Sanderson

Start date: February 21, 2018

Finish date: March 10, 2018

Discussion: Book Discussions

Discussion leader: Tanya (Novel Paperbacks)

Why we're reading this: Group Contemporary Novel discussion February 2018
#43 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll)…more
[close] Group Contemporary Novel discussion February 2018
#43 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
#20 on Locus Magazines Best Fantasy novels of the 21th century http://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCentu...
Secondary July Read 2012

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What Members Thought

Jan 07, 2019 Carrie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, part-of-a-series, epic-fantasy, assassin, own

All the love, Mistborn you deserve all the love.

34 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2009 Jim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3series, 2fiction, fantasy, 1paper

It was a pretty good story, but maybe I had my hopes up too much from all the rave reviews. While I never felt the book dragged or was hard to get into, I did enjoy the last third or so more than the first 2/3. The world is so different that a lot of setup was needed, but it was well done for the most part.

An interesting system of magic, but it took a longer stretch than most. At the end, we find out more about the Steel Inquistors that didn't do a lot for me. I thought that revelation, along w ...more

20 likes · Like · see review

May 17, 2012 flajol rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: love-these-books, fantasy, bath-time-reading

Whipped through this! I love books that are so entrancing you just want to shut the world away and devote yourself to the story.

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2015 Shhhh... Books rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

A+ for world building. The Allomancers were BAMF, and Kelsier was a completely intriguing character. I really liked Vin and the plot had me super intrigued. I loved her initial interactions with Elend.

Re-read in 2020. I was immediately sucked back into this story- funny how I remembered Vin (and El) so clearly but not Kelsior? I am rereading to break down and diagnose Sanderson’s unparalleled world building - which comes down to the question of how does the Lord Ruler rule? ((view spoiler) ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 08, 2013 Jenelle Compton rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read this book for TWO books of the month, and I'm really glad it was chosen. I'm trying to restrain myself from leaping into the next book in the series, because I believe it's a group read for next month :P

I really enjoyed this book, I generally liked all the characters, especially Vin/Valette. I found her growth from a suspicious little thief into the half noblewoman at the end to be interesting, and is partly why I can't wait for the next installment in the series. WHY is she so awesome?? ...more

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Jan 26, 2025 Scot rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Brandon Sanderson is truly a master world builder.

The Mistborn series starts out with a bang. The story unfolds as a gang of thieves plot a whole new world rising out of very dark times.

The story includes a series of really well thought out and developed characters that help bring it to life and the magic of the world is based on internal alchemy of metals in such a creative way. Though it took me awhile to really get going, once the fire caught, it burned like a beautiful conflagration.

I love ...more

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