Mistborn

by Brandon Sanderson

In honor of Koloss Head Munching Day on Monday I decided to review the MISTBORN trilogy, plus one. This is a high fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson. One of the reasons why I like Sanderson's books so much is because he is brilliant when it comes to the magic system. In the MISTBORN books he created Allomancy. This particular magic uses metals. When Allomancers ingest metals they can "burn" them to influence the world including dampening emotions or leaping great distances. The majority of Allomancers can only use one metal but there are a handful that can use all of them. They are known as Mistborn. The Koloss is a race in the MISTBORN books.

MISBORN – Trilogy
The MISTBORN trilogy is made up of: THE FINAL EMPIRE, THE WELL OF ACENSION, and THE HERO OF AGES. The series starts out with Vin. She is a mistrusting street rat who is hired by Kelsier to help with a heist. Before meeting Kelsier she knows that there is something different about her but she isn't sure what. Under Kelsier's tutelage she comes to understand that she is a powerful Allomancer. As the book progresses she and the other members of Kelsier's band grow to understand the political nature of the Lord Ruler, an evil man who has ruled for the last thousand years. Vin also meets a young heir named Elend who isn't like other lordlings she's met. What is she willing to do to help Kelsier overthrow the current regime and can they actually succeed when no one else has? The books go on to continue the development of Vin, Elend and their friends.

The series seems like it is going to go one way but there are several places where it takes a surprising turn. It is not as if the plot twists are unlikely or a frantic grab at trying to vary the story but they are well thought out and developed. Sanderson does a good job of not giving the reader what they expect but what will improve the story. In THE HERO OF AGES this is especially true when he wraps up the story.

The Alloy of Law
This last month a fourth book in the MISTBORN world was released. It is a standalone novel and blends fantasy with western. THE ALLOY OF LAW takes place 300 hundred years after the end of the series. The story follows Waxillium Ladrian a man who has come in out of the wild to the city. He is use to being a lawman but in the city he doesn't have the same power and instead is just a civilian. With a rash of robberies and kidnappings his self-restraint is put to the test. With two unlikely helpers they find themselves in the middle of the mess despite his effort to stay out of it.