Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Thread for the series buddy read of the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson


Books




The first three books are a trilogy to be read together.
Mistborn is an epic fantasy trilogy and a heist story of political intrigue, surprises and magical martial-arts action. The saga dares to turn a genre on its head by asking a simple question: What if the hero of prophecy fails? What kind of world results when the Dark Lord is in charge?

Books 4-6 are sequels that take place 300 years later.


Rules & How to
1. Identify the book you are commenting
2. Comments that give away any plot must ALWAYS be under spoiler tags

reserved

reserved

Can't wait to start the first book!

What reading schedule will this series have? I read the first book in February and would be interested in continuing the series.

I'm currently reading The Final Empire.

Oh Alex, of course you'd be here. :P

Of course I would! I enjoyed the first book even if I did not think it was perfect.

I'm reading the first book now. It's like pulling teeth.

You need to soldier through the book. The payoff is worth the initial effort of Part 1

Alex wrote: "What reading schedule will this series have? I read the first book in February and would be interested in continuing the series."

The idea was to begin the first book this weekend! And read one book each one or two months, depending on the everybody enthusiasm.

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I'm currently reading The Final Empire."

Hi Rachel! :p
Are you enjoying The Final Empire? I'll probably pick it up later today.

I'm really not enjoying it. I know a lot of people say how much they love it but I'm struggling with it. Alex keeps telling me to stick with it.

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I'm really not enjoying it. I know a lot of people say how much they love it but I'm struggling with it. Alex keeps telling me to stick with it."

:o
I first saw this book on a bookstore three years ago and got intrigue by the back cover description but never really bought it until this year. It seems that everyone is talking about this series and this author now a days, so my curiosity won me.

Hi everyone! I'm starting The Final Empire today.

Jackie wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm starting The Final Empire today."

:D

Juliana wrote: "I first saw this book on a bookstore three years ago and got intrigue by the back cover description but never really bought it until this year. It seems that everyone is talking about this series and this author now a days, so my curiosity won me. "

I've wanted to read it for a long time too. I heard such wonderful things. It's also his world he is building is like a larger big picture of his other books, kind of like Ringworld by Larry Niven. It's a different style and not a lot of authors do that. So, I find it interesting. I'm just struggling with the book.

Alex tells me to keep going but I'm struggling. Maybe reading this with other people will help me to keep going and perhaps it will pick up for me.

Is there a reading schedule for this? Like aim for 25% of the book a week or really informal?

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Is there a reading schedule for this? Like aim for 25% of the book a week or really informal?"

Jackie and I were thinking of something more informal, like what we are doing with the Wheel of Time. But 25% of the book a week sounds a good option.

@Jackie, what do you think of trying the 25% mark per week?

I will follow the discussion for the first book and read the rest of the series with you guys.

25% a week sounds good to me. It looks like the Prologue and Part One should put us right at 25% so that's what I'll plan to read this week. Looking forward to it!

Great, Alex and Jackie!!

Ok folk, so far I was only able to read the Prologue and the first chapter of Part One.

The Prologue let me intrigued about the world and the hint of magic that appeared.

I'm hopping to read more of the book during the next few days.

The fighting reminded me of The Matrix. Sanderson has created an interesting world.

Already read this series. Interested for a re-read.
Can I join ??

Yes, please join us.

Glad you're joining us, Akshay.

I love this series! Haven't read the last book yet and probably check in once in a while to join the discussions.

Good to have you two here, Akshay and Kathlleen! :)

Book 1: The Final Empire

Some of my initials thoughts...

Chapters 1 and 2: (view spoiler)[To me this idea of consuming and "burning" metals to fuel a power is quite original. I'm not sure yet if it is more like a magic or a mental power.
So far I'm intrigued about Kelsier, and looking forward to see how the author will let us know more about him.
I'm beginning to care about Vin, the poor girl seems to don't even know what/how she is doing it, and the possible consequences.
(hide spoiler)]

Book 1: The Final Empire

So far I'm enjoying it, and now I know what a Mistborn is. ;)

Chapters 3 and 4: (view spoiler)[
Kelsier has an impressive present when he wants it, although I'm questioning (probably pushed by Vin thoughts) that he is hiding something.

The main plan to overrule the Lord is quite simple. I think the major difficult it is to use the reason over the deepened impression that the Lord is immortal or invincible.

Could this "Eleventh Metal" be the Lord Ruler's kryptonite? Or even really exist?
(hide spoiler)]

Book 1: The Final Empire

I've only gotten through Chapter 3 so far but am finding it a good read. Just got caught up in reading other things. I'll try to catch up this week.

(view spoiler)[I find the consuming of metals very interesting too, Juliana. What a strange form of magic. Both Vin and Kelsier are likeable characters and I'm eager to learn more about both of them. I'm glad that Kelsier found Vin. (hide spoiler)]

Hi! I've read the first trilogy already, but I'd be keen to join in discussion and join in once you get to the second series, is that okay?

Great! Welcome, Niamh.

Book 1: The Final Empire

Finished Part One!
Overall I'm enjoying it, although so far the pace is slower than I was expecting. But nothing that bothers me.

Chapters 5 to 8: (view spoiler)[Kelsier still intrigues me, so far I'm liking his fun/easy almost reckless way of live. He seems to have a great knowledge and some wisdom.
His invasion of the keep provoked some interesting fight scenes.
Other positive aspect how his is trying to connect with Vin, the poor girl is a frightened little thing, strong but very mistrustful. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, and what do you guys think about the short texts above each chapter's beginning? It seems about a "hero", but who and from when?

To me Part one was a necessary evil. It was dreadfully slow but it laid groundwork for what is to come. This was my first (and so far only) read by Sanderson and I was questioning how he could get so much love yet be so boring. Luckily I kept going and he more than made up for it by the end.

Spoilerize the answer if need be but what did you think of Vin?

I'm ok with slow paced parts during where the world and background story is being set up, I just wasn't expecting it and so read it slowly and giving more time to other books.

About Vin, I sympathize with her (view spoiler)[and do think that she has some complexity, although no much of it was really showed so far. At first glance it almost feel like Sanderson didn't took as much care constructing her as he had with Kelsier and others crew members. But think a little about it I can understand how a abused child would be so paranoid about betrayal and give away so much little about itself and her personality.
She seems smart and perceptive but have some childish behaviors that for some can be quite boring. (hide spoiler)]
I'm hoping that Sanderson take a special care of her development on the next chapters.

I felt the same as you, Alex. I felt like Part One read like a game tutorial but it was absolutely necessary for the rest of the series to make sense.

I love the little extracts at the beginning of each chapter, sometimes when I found it was particularly slow going they'd be the only reason I was trying to get to the next chapter. They made me very, very curious.

I don't have a very solid memory of Vin from those first chapters, so I guess that says something! I think she was overshadowed by Kelsier.

Guys, with the end of the Wheel-a-ton challenge and other personal stuff I'm not having much time to devote for this book. I'll probably engage on it again after next week.

Same for me, Juliana. I've too many challenges going on to have much time for this book. I did finish Part One. Only two weeks late! Anyway, I'll get back to it as soon as I can.

Love this series! <3

I've got myself so covered up with team challenges that I still haven't finished this book. I just sneak a few pages in occasionally but I do intend to finish it.

My thoughts on The Final Empire:
I know everyone loves this series, and I enjoyed it, but it was only 3 stars for me. This book had the normal pluses and minuses usually inherent to true high fantasy to me. On the good side, the story was epic, and the powers were very cool. On the bad side, infodumps, the middle dragged and went into too much extraneous detail, there wasn't enough focus on the emotions of the characters, and the protagonists just seemed too powerful and skilled. Vin is just learning Allomancy, and yet she never makes mistakes. She starts out with more depth than some heroes and heroines, but ended up being a Mary Sue just the same. If you like high fantasy, this is probably a good one. But it didn't hit it out of the park for me like I was hoping.