jodean's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Gore, War, Death, Classism, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Grief, and Physical abuse
Minor: Body horror, Ableism, Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
missgarceau's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.75
Moderate: Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Body horror, Body shaming, Gore, Hate crime, Death, Rape, Physical abuse, Violence, and War
kirbylover16's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Vin is practically illiterate, as are most skaa, and it comes off quirky? Especially with Vin and Spook, and that rubs me wrong. The whole free will theme and religious tones are huge turnoffs. (apparently, Sanderson is a Mormon) Vin's mentor Kelsior is supposed to be charming, but he's not. He got worse as the story goes. Maybe I'm biased tho? Every mentor, grandfather/or father figure in media tends to be manipulative.
Spoiler
his fight dragged on way too long. When Vin and Elend showed up, I thought it would finally end, but nope it dragged some more.What made me want to read this book was the idea that the prophetic hero fails and the evil rules, but that's all in the background. The bad guy won centuries ago! We slowly get the hero's journal, but the story would be the same without it. (shorter at least) The better description is a magical heist with politics and slavery thrown in. I enjoyed the romance and sexual tension, but I don't think he met latter.
Spoiler
even tho there are not many interactions between Elend and Vin or Spook. The sexual tension I meant with Ham and Bree. Perhaps he realized that in the editing phase, and that's why towards the end, they make Ham have an off-scene wife and kids he hasn't seen in months. :(Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Abandonment, and Body horror
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Torture, and War
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
There isn't really any sex/skin, just one brief kiss described, some mentions of rape, whore houses, and underage sex. Vin does run around in boys' clothes and in her undergarments. Mostly for comic effect. Also, mental health/postpartum depression/suicide as Vin's mother kills her baby sibling and herself. Oh, and lots of murder, which we get to see very graphically. A shocking amount of beheading.lydiavsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
My rating feels harsh, but this is very much based on my enjoyment not the quality of the book. I did enjoy it, but it was also an effort to make myself read at times. In fairness, I have realised that fantasy isn't my genre, so this was never going to be 5 stars for me.
My main criticism is its just too long, 100 pages could easily be cut. I found the action scenes in particular just very drawn out and repetitive, but again that might just be me.
Vin is a character I like, but found myself easily getting frustrated with. Elend is fine. The romance in this book is sometimes almost sweet if you ignore the age difference. Sazed I love, obviously. Marsh I like a lot. Spook is really oofed in this one, he's a cool character who is just kinda dismissed as being a lil pathetic in this first book which is a shame. One thing that I think my opinion has really changed on upon reread is Kelsier. Really not a fan this time, I don't hate him but he just irritates me.
The ending was good, if a little (a lot) dragged out. Glad I reread it but also very glad to be done with it now.
Moderate: Death, Fatphobia, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and War
Minor: Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence