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diazona's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Hero of Ages might be one of the most intense endings to an epic fantasy that I've ever read. I mean, they're always about saving the world in some form or another, but this is the first one I've seen where a planet was literally on the verge of falling apart. It makes for a very powerful reading experience, but it also makes the story kind of bleak on the way there.
Most of the book is about the struggles that Vin and Elend and their friends undergo in order to protect the people of the Final Empire from the evil (ish) deity (ish) that got released (ish) at the end of the previous book, while also dealing with the continual onset of the daytime mists. Humanity struggling against what is essentially a force of nature is always going to be a bit unsettling to read, and that's part of a good story, but there needs to be some hope, a vision of a path toward making everything okay at the end, and I felt like that was missing here. Given the events of the book and everything we learn about the powers of the destructive force they're up against, I wound up feeling like they really don't have a chance, and the only reason the book doesn't end with (spoiler alert?) the whole planet destroyed and everyone dead is a series of cosmic coincidences. I think the main issue is that, as much as the magic system has been very well fleshed out in terms of how it interacts with humans and the other creatures of the world, it's not well established how it works it comes to otherworldly beings and these abstract forces, and so all the interactions with Ruin feel like they're being made up as needed to drive the plot along. Much of the last part of the book, where these interactions take center stage, felt like it came out of nowhere, and (as with The Well of Ascension) I would have liked it better if there was more groundwork laid for that stuff earlier in the book so it didn't seem as arbitrary.
Despite my complaints, this was still definitely an enjoyable book to read. (Maybe I complain only because I find it worthy of complaining about - it lives up to my high expectations in so many other respects.) Like, even though the world is falling apart throughout the story, there are successes. The main characters have some good insights about Allomancy and the other metallurgical arts (i.e. magic), and there's a good amount of solid detective work, diplomacy, and military strategy that lays the groundwork for the final world-saving series of coincidences. And to be fair, some of these things that happen at the end are very much not arbitrary at all, like what gets revealed about the mists, and the history of the kandra - that was really well set up throughout the whole trilogy. The characters are well-written people with understandable motivations and personalities (except that I really don't understand Ruin's propensity for gloating), which made it easy to care about them and get emotionally invested in their quest, and in the end that's what I'm really looking for.
Despite my complaints, this was still definitely an enjoyable book to read. (Maybe I complain only because I find it worthy of complaining about - it lives up to my high expectations in so many other respects.) Like, even though the world is falling apart throughout the story, there are successes. The main characters have some good insights about Allomancy and the other metallurgical arts (i.e. magic), and there's a good amount of solid detective work, diplomacy, and military strategy that lays the groundwork for the final world-saving series of coincidences. And to be fair, some of these things that happen at the end are very much not arbitrary at all, like what gets revealed about the mists, and the history of the kandra - that was really well set up throughout the whole trilogy. The characters are well-written people with understandable motivations and personalities (except that I really don't understand Ruin's propensity for gloating), which made it easy to care about them and get emotionally invested in their quest, and in the end that's what I'm really looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
peasandpancakes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.75
I am still very much in doubt about my rating as this book had me hooked. But there were some chapters or passages within chapters that annoyed me. Especially the constant repeating about what people can do with their allomantic power. Yes, we were aware that Spook has superhuman enhanced senses because of his constant tin burning, thank you, I don’t need it confirmed every other sentence.
And I did love how this whole trilogy was set up. You think you know how the world works and this book shatters it all, and I loved it!
And I did love how this whole trilogy was set up. You think you know how the world works and this book shatters it all, and I loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, and Alcohol
heckin_hello's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
A nice culmination of the mistborn series, and overall a good book that was a fairly easy read! I don't personally love how everything was concluded, but I think Sanderson made excellent decisions regardless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, and War
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Ableism
moonbunny34's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Such an amazing end to this trilogy!!!!!!! This book makes me so emotional every time I read it. I love it so much! The whole book is great but the end is just so spectacular!!!! The plot twists are just top tear and the action is amazing! I definitely recommend!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury
lakinglaze's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was a wild ride and I was here for it! I loved the story and how dramatic and chaotic it was. I’ve really grown to love these characters and this ending was a roller coaster that really fit the tone of the series. I can’t wait to continue my Cosmere adventure!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
insomniacsun's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Con le rivelazioni in questo libro, rileggere il primo volume sarà una delizia e un'avventura completamente nuova, in cui mi cimenterò a breve di sicuro.
Il tono di questo libro era senz'altro più miserabile e cupo. Ripensandoci, he c'era da aspettarsi dal volume incentrato sull'Hemalurgy? Niente di buono poteva uscire dall'arte che ha dato origine agli Inquisitors, ma di certo non mi aspettavo l'estensione ad altre specie: quello sì mi ha preso alla sprovvista.
Sazed è partito da subito come tra i miei preferiti, ma raggiuntasi la conclusione dello sviluppo di questo meraviglioso personaggio, devo ammettere che sarà uno di quelli che rimarrà nel mio cuore per un bel po'. Sanderson avrà finito con te, ma rimarrai sempre nei miei pensieri, Sazed.
Finalmente un po' di meritato focus su Spook! I suoi POV sono stati tra i più coinvolgenti, e il vederlo crescere e maturare durante questa missione mi ha lasciato senza fiato e zittita mordendomi le unghie in più di un momento,
Unica pecca, che ripensandoci è un problema in tutta la trilogia, è la mancanza di personaggi femminili rilevanti fuori dalla sfera romantica: con tutta la frenesia nel primo volume, devo ammettere di non averci fatto caso subito, ma la cosa ha iniziato a pesare quando ogni entusiasmo per l'introduzione di una potenziale stella emergente femminile finiva inevitabilmente smorzato da un plateau nella personalità del personaggio, relegato ad essere semplicemente la nuova fiamma di uno dei personaggi principali. Decisamente deludente a lungo andare e mi preclude dal dare il massimo. So di non essere sola a sostenere la cosa e spero che la carenza non prosegui nelle prossime letture e che Sanderson abbia ascoltato e dato peso adeguato a queste critiche.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
giulianasbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
5⭐️ y ♾️
No puedo expresar con palabras lo que acabo de leer, estoy flipando.
Desde que descubrí a Sanderson en noviembre del año pasado, me puse como objetivo leer todos sus libros y, cómo no, compré el primer tomo de la saga “El Imperio Final” que no sólo me encantó, sino que me marcó de una manera indescriptible. Después leí el segundo libro y también obviamente me encantó ¿pero este? Estoy sin palabras. Creo que es el libro más denso y complicado de los tres pero me ha atrapado y me lo he leído en cuatro días, cosa que nunca hago porque es un libro de casi 800 páginas y me suele llevar más tiempo.
Los personajes siempre los voy a llevar en mi corazón. Sazed, Kelsier y Vin me han marcado de por vida y sólo puedo darle las gracias a este magnífico escritor por abrirme las puertas a su increíble universo llamado Cosmere y no puedo esperar más a seguir leyendo los otros libros.
Sigo sin entender cómo una persona puede tener tan magnífica imaginación y plasmarlo en unos libros TAN buenos. Cada libro que leo suyo me gusta más y más y me declaro fan incondicional de Brandon Sanderson con todas las putas letras.
Me duele mucho despedirme de estos personajes tan queridos pero siempre los llevaré conmigo. No voy a mentir: he llorado con el final, pero me he quedado completa, no sabría ni cómo lo explicarlo.
Y ¿qué más puedo decir? Esta saga de fantasía es increíble y se la recomiendo a todo el mundo, pero he de decir que es bastante densa así que no la escogería como la primera saga para leer si te estás introduciendo en la fantasía.
Todo en este libro ha sido perfecto, no tengo ninguna pega. Menuda puta locura.
No puedo expresar con palabras lo que acabo de leer, estoy flipando.
Desde que descubrí a Sanderson en noviembre del año pasado, me puse como objetivo leer todos sus libros y, cómo no, compré el primer tomo de la saga “El Imperio Final” que no sólo me encantó, sino que me marcó de una manera indescriptible. Después leí el segundo libro y también obviamente me encantó ¿pero este? Estoy sin palabras. Creo que es el libro más denso y complicado de los tres pero me ha atrapado y me lo he leído en cuatro días, cosa que nunca hago porque es un libro de casi 800 páginas y me suele llevar más tiempo.
Los personajes siempre los voy a llevar en mi corazón. Sazed, Kelsier y Vin me han marcado de por vida y sólo puedo darle las gracias a este magnífico escritor por abrirme las puertas a su increíble universo llamado Cosmere y no puedo esperar más a seguir leyendo los otros libros.
Sigo sin entender cómo una persona puede tener tan magnífica imaginación y plasmarlo en unos libros TAN buenos. Cada libro que leo suyo me gusta más y más y me declaro fan incondicional de Brandon Sanderson con todas las putas letras.
Me duele mucho despedirme de estos personajes tan queridos pero siempre los llevaré conmigo. No voy a mentir: he llorado con el final, pero me he quedado completa, no sabría ni cómo lo explicarlo.
Y ¿qué más puedo decir? Esta saga de fantasía es increíble y se la recomiendo a todo el mundo, pero he de decir que es bastante densa así que no la escogería como la primera saga para leer si te estás introduciendo en la fantasía.
Todo en este libro ha sido perfecto, no tengo ninguna pega. Menuda puta locura.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Gore, and Grief
Minor: Ableism
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-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
4.75
The overall world building by this book was fantastic and the way it ended was so brilliant. Honestly the only reason this doesn't get 5 stars, is the length, some parts could be shorter
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
anelya's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Slavery
elrize's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Just such an amazing story with so many twists. It was quite a wild ride!
There's a lot to talk about but I want to mention how much I enjoyed Vin and Elend's relationship. I was anticipating that something horrible is going to happen with Elend or through him, but it didn't. Their relationship was a really nice depiction of a strong bond without the conflict between them becoming some main focus. Rather, it felt like a realistic depiction of what it feels to love someone. Sometimes you disagree, but you don't stop trusting. It was refreshing, since most books feel like they have to make the characters immature and over-emotional when it comes to their romantic relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Blood