Name: Mistborn
Rating: 4.483372228704784 (857 reviews)
ISBN: 9780765311788

Brandon Sanderson

Experiencing an epiphany within the most daunting prison of the monstrous Lord Ruler, half-Skaa Kelsier finds himself taking on the powers of a Mistborn, and teams up with ragged orphan Vin in a desperate plot to save their world.

The Final Empire

Mistborn

Inés

"Yes," Sazed said. "Tell me, Mistress. What is it that you believe?"

Vin frowned. "What kind of question is that?"

Izzy 

“Our belief is often strongest when it should be weakest. That is the nature of hope."

Martina Mancarella

“if you let someone get close to you, it will only hurt more when they betray you”

“I think that’s the second time today you’ve told me that. you need to pay better attention —if you’d been listening to everyone else, you’d know that my sanity departed long ago”

“Did any of her friends really know her? Did she even really know herself?”

“You’re… not what I expected, Lady Valette.”

Christine Kraus

The right belief is like a good cloak, I think. If it fits you well, it keeps you warm and safe. The wrong fit, however, can suffocate.

Our belief is often strongest when it should be weakest. That is the nature of hope.

“‘Once maybe I would have thought you a fool, but… well, that’s kind of what trust is, isn’t it? A willful self-delusion? You have to shut out that voice that whispers about betrayal, and just hope that your friends aren’t going to hurt you.’”

A boxed set of the landmark fantasy from Brandon Sanderson, the man credited with breathing fresh life into Robert Jordan's WHEEL OF TIME. An epic fantasy set in a world where the Dark Lord has gained dominion over the world. A world of ash and pain. A world subjugated. But a world where magic can be drawn from metals. A world waiting for a new heroine, a new hope. A word of mouth bestseller in the USA Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy have now become a massive hit in the UK, introducing readers to the work of one of the genre's great talents. A master of world building, sweeping plots, believable characters and engrossing magic systems.

The Final Empire - The Well of Ascension - The Hero of Ages

Phil Linley

Book Review: Mistborn: The Final Empire By Brandon Sanderson Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn: The Final Empire is a masterclass in worldbuilding, magic systems, and character development, delivering an epic fantasy experience that lingers long after the final page. While the story’s beginning felt a bit slow for me—taking a while to fully engage with the dense setup—it was well worth pushing through. Once the story found its rhythm, I couldn’t put it down. The book introduces readers to a grim, ash-covered world ruled by the seemingly immortal Lord Ruler, a tyrant who has maintained his iron grip over society for a thousand years. The downtrodden skaa live in perpetual oppression, while the noble houses vie for power under the Lord Ruler’s shadow. Enter Kelsier, a charismatic rebel leader with a mysterious past and a daring plan to overthrow the Final Empire. Alongside him is Vin, a skaa thief with a rare and dangerous talent for Allomancy—Sanderson’s brilliantly crafted magic system based on ingesting and “burning” metals to gain supernatural abilities. One of the book’s standout features is its magic system. Allomancy is not just unique but also thoughtfully detailed and integral to the story’s action and strategy. Sanderson’s ability to tie magic into the plot so seamlessly elevates the stakes and makes each scene feel dynamic and purposeful. Vin’s journey is the heart of the story, and watching her transformation from a wary, mistrustful street urchin into a powerful Mistborn is both compelling and rewarding. Kelsier, too, brings an infectious energy to the narrative, balancing his darker past with a hopeful defiance that makes him the perfect leader for such an impossible cause. The supporting crew adds depth, personality, and often humor to balance the book’s heavier themes. While the first 15% or so felt like a slow burn, largely due to the necessary setup of the world and its complexities, the pacing quickly ramps up as the rebellion’s plan takes shape. Once Sanderson hits his stride, the twists, action sequences, and revelations come fast and fierce. The climax delivers a gut-punch of emotional and narrative payoff that makes the slow start feel insignificant in hindsight. For fantasy fans who love intricate plots, memorable characters, and meticulously designed worlds, Mistborn: The Final Empire is a must-read. It’s a book that rewards patience, and by the end, I was left in awe of Sanderson’s storytelling and eager to dive into the next installment. Rating: 4.5/5

Steph

I get it now. I finally understand why this series has such a massive cult following. From the first page, I was blown away by how intricately crafted the world is. The action sequences? Flawless. The pacing? Razor-sharp. Not a single word felt wasted, every piece of dialogue, every detail was placed with care, like puzzle pieces slowly snapping into place. This is one of those books where if you blink, you’ll miss something crucial because everything matters. And the magic system. Wow. Ingesting metals to fuel different powers? Absolutely genius. The fact that each metal has a distinct, well-thought-out function just adds another layer of brilliance. It’s not just unique; it’s intelligently unique. You can tell Sanderson really sat down and built this system from the ground up. And then there’s Kelsier. What a man. In a world ruled by ash and fear, he’s the spark, bold, charismatic, full of unshakable hope. I love that he’s not some dark, brooding hero. He’s been through unimaginable pain, and yet he smiles, he inspires, he believes. He’s not just a character, he’s a symbol. The kind of hero that makes you want to rise up and fight. The way Sanderson wrote him, he doesn’t just feel real. He feels mythic. What a ride. I’m already diving into book two, because there’s no way I’m stopping here.

Sara T-son

So, the only thing I knew about this book before I started reading it was that "it had an unusual twist of magic", to quote the guy who told me about it. And indeed it has an unusual twist of magic, not at all the kind that is in the Harry Potter-books and such, but this book is more about crossing the boundaries of the physical laws. It's a very exciting book, and you quickly draws into the world the author has created. It's an exceptionally good read.

Jennifer

The first 20% of this book seemed like an allegory of 1860s United States, i.e. slaves vs. plantation owners, or as the book calls them "skaa" and the "nobility". Then, as the narrative unfolds it sounds like a watered-down, Young Adult novel version of Game of Thrones, like serfs vs. knights, with some magic and superhuman powers and other-world beings, and, of course, a little romance. About 60% through, the story adds a layer of Bernie Sanders vs. Wall Street, focusing on the dangerous power of wealth and the poor masses, in addition to the other social and political allegory throughout. As Vin talked about the different houses of nobility, I kept thinking of the houses similar to the corporations that rule our economic world today. How can a small group of rebels riot against the "evil" corporations, or houses of nobility? Is it even possible? Allegory aside, I enjoyed the character development of a strong, young, badass, female protagonist. There is a lot of action, violence, and wit in this book and is a fun read, even if you ignore any type of modern day allegories.

From the author of the acclaimed "Elantris" comes the first novel in his Mistborn trilogy--a story which dares to turn a genre on its head by asking a simple question: What if the hero of prophecy fails? Reissue.

Chris Hilyer

My favorite of the trilogy. I love how grounded this one is. I wish the rest of the series stayed on this vibe.

Steve C

Aleksander.G

"Belief isn't simply a thing for fair times and bright days. What is belief, what is faith if you don't continue in it after failure."

That's what this book is about in a nutshell. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the intricately detailed magic system based on Metals. I loved all the primary characters. Kelsier and Vin will probably go down in my all time favourite list of characters. I loved the twists. There are few scenes that are so well written that they will remain etched in my memory for a very long time. 

This book is the entry point in the Mistborn Series and yet it could very well be treated as the final chapter. The book starts at a good pace, builds on in throughout the middle part and the last part is just one breathtaking ride on a roller coaster. I'm glad this is just the start of what's going to be one hell of a series!

Adwait Kulkarni

"Belief isn't simply a thing for fair times and bright days. What is belief, what is faith if you don't continue in it after failure."

That's what this book is about in a nutshell. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the intricately detailed magic system based on Metals. I loved all the primary characters. Kelsier and Vin will probably go down in my all time favourite list of characters. I loved the twists. There are few scenes that are so well written that they will remain etched in my memory for a very long time. 

This book is the entry point in the Mistborn Series and yet it could very well be treated as the final chapter. The book starts at a good pace, builds on in throughout the middle part and the last part is just one breathtaking ride on a roller coaster. I'm glad this is just the start of what's going to be one hell of a series!

so angry that it took me this long to read brandon sanderson. have not felt so deeply for a book series in a long while. 

˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶

Best fantasy book I’ve read. Super compelling story, great mix of characters, and action packed. I was saddened by the death of my favorite character, but it was truly important to the plot and made the book that much better. Would highly recommend this series to anyone interested in fantasy.

Kyle James

The Skaa, having slaved in misery for a thousand years under the corrupt, absolute power of the Lord Ruler, still manage to find hope, which rises once again when a criminal mastermind teams up with an unlikely heroine.

i stayed up until 4 am for 3 days to finish this book PR BGT. but i’m quite surprised by how easily this book was written. i expect some more difficult prose since this book was one of those they called high fantasy. BUT ITS GOOD NEVERTHELESS i don’t have to look up for lot of words. the world building was intense (as i expected) but the writting made it easier. kadang kadang ada beberapa phrase yg susah di comprehend sm otak gw tp beliau ini jg masukin karakter yg sama cluelessnya jd eventually dijelasin dgn bahasa bayi HAHAHHA SENENG DEH. trs jg penjelasan ttg every allomancy power dijelasin terus menerus jd beneran nggak usah dipikirin bgt. kadang tp suka bingung sih sm deskripsi maneuver mereka kl lg in action tp sebenernya gw jg bayanginnyq terbang terbang aja HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH. i believe there’s more to kelsier sih soalnya masa gt doang????? (i actually got myself spoiled tp gatau jg sih). i also feelt uneasy everytime kelsier talks or in action KAYAK ADUH GW TAKUT BGT APA YG BAKAL TWRJADI AJG tp kayaknya kl bikin cycle yg sama kyk di journalnya itu bakal mainstream dan predictable bgt gak sih jd gw sebenernya expecting a lot more twist di buku buku setelahnya. ALSOOOO vin sm elend lucu bgt WHAT THE FUCK kaget ternyata romance written by men bisa gemes jg HAHAHAH

hana

Sydney Butler

Good book but WHY DID KELSIER HAVE TO DIEEEE

Yusuf Khan

Good start and story over all but kind of week ending

Tyler Stone

genuinely just a GOOD time. read it like a TV show and enjoyed it deeply.

azza

I loved this book from the beginning. The characters are fully fleshed out and likable, their individual personalities and relationships are all unique. The flow was very smooth and well paced, and the plot was well thought out. He gave just enough detail that I could easily imagine being there while also not being too wordy. As all the pieces came together at the end, I can’t help but need the next book for how artfully crafted this was.

Well-paced, loved the magic system and world building and that I got to learn about it with Vin, leaving some questions unanswered. I wish Vin was a little more complex as a character, I feel that some of her motivations are one-dimensional, though she is starting to grow. First Sanderson book and liked it!

Caroline Piephoff

Could not put down, read and listened to the audiobook 

Kendall Lobdell

Took literally forever to read this book but SUCH a good series for fantasy lovers

Jacey Manning

An amazing world with a very unique magic system that I’ve never seen before. The character building was great with the main characters traumas and inner dialogue very heartfelt. Highly recommend. 

Anna

i think i’m just stupid i was so ready for like the two year lead up taking eight books i think i underestimated this man

Mistborn The Final Empire

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