maralaene's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my first book in the Sanderson Cosmere. I will admit, the sheer amount of world building and knowledge you need to acquire at the very start of this book meant that this book took me longer to really get in to. But once I did, I couldn’t put it down. And allomancy might be one of my favorite magic systems. Each metal is so unique and the way in which they function together is fascinating!
However, writing a spoiler free review is turning out to be…incredibly difficult! I have so many thoughts and even more questions that I can only hope will be answered in the next books.
Definitely worth a read (or a listen in this case! Highly recommend) if you love complex magic systems, found family, and unexpected twists in a fascinating story.
However, writing a spoiler free review is turning out to be…incredibly difficult! I have so many thoughts and even more questions that I can only hope will be answered in the next books.
Definitely worth a read (or a listen in this case! Highly recommend) if you love complex magic systems, found family, and unexpected twists in a fascinating story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Violence
verafogel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Spoiler
Although the first third if the book was rather slow I just got better and better. The hole philosophical debate of what would be a good nation, who should be in charge and why oppression is never justified was excellent.
By the end Elend and Vin's relationship felt a little as instant love but I still liked them though I would've appreciated to see the relationship develop a little more.
I still refuse to accept Kel died.
Spoiler
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
caskraft's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Grief, Body horror, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Murder, and Torture
Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, Child death, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
nirellis's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I have mixed feelings here. Overall I loved this book it got me mourning a whole fictional character which has never happened before. My only problem was that it was quite slow going there in the middle which made it hard to enjoy and there was little to no romance which was a bummer. The payoff from the ending was worth the journey though.
So my specific ratings:
Beginning of the book: 4 stars
Middle of the book: 3 stars
End of the book: 5 stars
“Lord Tyrant. I represent that one thing you've never been able to kill, no matter how hard you try. I am hope.”
- Kelsier
Kelsier ily <3
So my specific ratings:
Beginning of the book: 4 stars
Middle of the book: 3 stars
End of the book: 5 stars
“Lord Tyrant. I represent that one thing you've never been able to kill, no matter how hard you try. I am hope.”
- Kelsier
Kelsier ily <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, War, Abandonment, and Death
Moderate: Torture
applesodaperson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A very well done fantasy book!
Listened to on Audible for family book club.
Spoiler
I do wish there wouldn’t have been any redemption for vin’s brother thoughListened to on Audible for family book club.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
alba_marie's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Classism, and Death
Moderate: War and Sexual assault
andreiflorea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was a breath of fresh air. I am quite an avid fantasy reader and have always been fascinated by self-consistent magical systems, but wow. Brandon goes out of his way to create this very detailed account of how the magical system would work. It is so hard it is almost tangible.
Wit and character development drive the story. Brandon is not afraid to use his characters to full story arcs until they outlast their usefulness and then doing away with them. The writing is female centric, focusing on the main heroine, Vin.
As the book says, a retale of "what if the badguys won"? There is a darklord, it deals with a broken society divided in between nobles and slaves. My favourite topic is the persistance of hope despite the mountain of systemic despair. A must read.
Spoiler
Also I have to say this magical system is certainly the first of its kind. I have never seen anything like it before. The use metal based aracane arts blew my mind. It feels like alchemy meets bending the elements.Wit and character development drive the story. Brandon is not afraid to use his characters to full story arcs until they outlast their usefulness and then doing away with them. The writing is female centric, focusing on the main heroine, Vin.
As the book says, a retale of "what if the badguys won"? There is a darklord, it deals with a broken society divided in between nobles and slaves. My favourite topic is the persistance of hope despite the mountain of systemic despair. A must read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Slavery, and Violence
nyquilla's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, War, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Violence and Gore
Minor: Rape and Vomit
puttingwingsonwords's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Unique and interesting magic system, but all in all the story was... fine?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Genocide, Racial slurs, and Rape
fox_at_the_circus's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I loved this book and the world it was set in. The premise of it is so good and so is the magic system. And the characters are all just so good and well-written.
Vin and Kelsier as the main characters, a newby and a master, are a great way to give exposure and explain things to the readers, too, without it seeming out of place. And having them both as the POV characters is also a great way to show their relationship developing. And I loved their (father-daughter) relationship and also the other relationships in this book. The heist crew as found family planning a revolution, but also just joking around with each other was so fun to read. And the ball scenes with Vin and Elend were adorable and gave me YA-vibes.
I liked that, with the heist crew and rebellion leader working togethere, there were interesting discussions about what is needed and ethical for a rebellion. And even the crew having varying opinions on it, like Kelsier and Vin treating the skaa guards differently. Also Sazed and his mission to find a fitting belief for everyone and his thoughts on religion as something that suits you rather than fitting yourself into one was really interesting. Both very cool ideas and a fantasy book is such a good place to explore different ideas and views.
Also, the writing was so good! There were scenes in the beginning, that made me wonder about certain truths the world/setting, that later got resolved so perfectly. And also some plot twists where kinda pretictable, but the the real plot twist would be so much more than I could have predicted. Which really made me feel respected as a reader, because the puzzle pieces where all there and it didn't just ocme out of nowhere. And there's questions left open for me to definitely read the other books in the series!
Vin and Kelsier as the main characters, a newby and a master, are a great way to give exposure and explain things to the readers, too, without it seeming out of place. And having them both as the POV characters is also a great way to show their relationship developing. And I loved their (father-daughter) relationship and also the other relationships in this book. The heist crew as found family planning a revolution, but also just joking around with each other was so fun to read. And the ball scenes with Vin and Elend were adorable and gave me YA-vibes.
I liked that, with the heist crew and rebellion leader working togethere, there were interesting discussions about what is needed and ethical for a rebellion. And even the crew having varying opinions on it, like Kelsier and Vin treating the skaa guards differently. Also Sazed and his mission to find a fitting belief for everyone and his thoughts on religion as something that suits you rather than fitting yourself into one was really interesting. Both very cool ideas and a fantasy book is such a good place to explore different ideas and views.
Also, the writing was so good! There were scenes in the beginning, that made me wonder about certain truths the world/setting, that later got resolved so perfectly. And also some plot twists where kinda pretictable, but the the real plot twist would be so much more than I could have predicted. Which really made me feel respected as a reader, because the puzzle pieces where all there and it didn't just ocme out of nowhere. And there's questions left open for me to definitely read the other books in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Violence, Slavery, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Gore, Torture, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Body horror