A review by margueritestjust
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense slow-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

This book felt like it melted my brain a little, in a good way.  I haven't read much of recent adult fantasy, and this was an amazing introduction to it!  My friend Ashley convinced me to read this book, and I'm so glad that she did!

This book is really interesting, because Sanderson has a very plain writing style, but this is not a bad thing and it doesn't mean that he's not a skilled writer (I did give this book 5 stars, after all).  His writing style is very reminiscent to me of the way that literary short story writers approach their craft.  Sanderson creates such a vivid world and vivid characters, and manages to evoke a wide range of emotions from his readers.  His strength lies in his specificity, both in his character work and his world work, but most especially his magic system.  He writes fantasy in a very realistic lens, which I appreciate and commend.

I loved Kelsier (another my type character for the books, lads), and I was really invested in his backstory and in what he represented thematically. 
  Also I will freely admit that I cried when he had died.  I didn't quite believe that he had, but the letters that he left for Vin?   “Remember to smile” and “I’ll tell Mare about you.  She always wanted a daughter." legit had me in tears
  I think Vin is really well developed through the course of the story, which was so nice to read.  She and Kelsier manage to be dual protagonists that equally hold their own, and watching the way that she grows was honestly a wonderful journey.  I loved all of the crew, especially Marsh (
When I thought he had died I was honestly so upset.  And then it turned out he was made into an Inquisitor?  It didn't ease the pain of Kelsier dying but it did help to significantly buoy my spirits.
)  

Also, I was fully on board the Elend and Vin train!  They were so adorable and honestly, I hadn't been expecting a romance at all in this book, but I wasn't mad about it.  The first time they met, I was immediately interested in their dynamic and chemistry, and that just lasted for the entire rest of the book.  

Sanderson also created a wonderful ending. 
  The reveal that the Lord Ruler wasn't the hero that had failed but instead was the one who had hated him was honestly not what I had been expecting.  But I think even more unexpected and surprising was the reveal that Reen had died trying to protect Vin, even when he sad that everyone would betray her.  It doesn't excuse who he was as a person, but it added complexity once again to this world.
  Sanderson really has a wonderful way of making everything come together during the final act of the story, and revealing new things in a way that is unexpected but makes total sense within the story that he's created.  

I would definitely say that this book is darker and more tense than I had been expecting, but perhaps that's just me in my first foray into the genre.  A lot of the plot is character-based - especially during the long con that they set up - but things quickly pick up during the middle to end of the story, and it doesn't really ever stop.  I definitely will be reading a romcom or two after this.  But I can't wait to continue on with the series and check out other things that Sanderson has done!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings