Mists and Metals

A heroine, a martyr, a god and a man in a dog’s body. What more could you need in the most enthralling fantasy world out there? Maybe a broken society with a tyrant at its head? Perhaps the occasional ball, where noble families dine, dance and politick? Maybe you even want a group of haggard revolutionaries looking to do the impossible. Well, this incredible realm of mysticism, heartbreak and triumph all exists in "The Mistborn" series by Brandon Sanderson. These epic fantasy novels are the best out there for a number of reasons and the ones I’ve already given you don’t even scratch the surface.

Sanderson has created a stunningly complex world and story with these books. Throughout the novels you are constantly questioning character motives, how things are going to play out and what’s going to happen next. Everything is connected in a way you would never foresee, which leaves you on the edge of your seat in a magnificent way. However, when you finally put the books down, you find yourself wanting for nothing.

There is no doubt that the ending is the most satisfying ending any reader could ever want. There will be tears, there will laughs and there won't be a single thing missing.

But I guess we should start at the beginning.

The novels largely take place in the city of Luthadel, which is the capital city of the Final Empire. It is a dreary world, for ash rains from the sky most days, leaving the streets covered in grey. Things only get worse as the sun goes down and the mist comes out. Most don't know why or how the ash falls and the mists fill the night, they know only to fear it. In fact, most are so superstitious of the mists that they dare not go out after the sun sets. Those who do go out at night hold the mists in a very different regard. Indeed, those who walk in the cloudy darkness relish the cover and curiosity that the mists provide. Those like the novel's beloved protagonist.

"The Mistborn" series follows the journey of a young street urchin named Vin. Beaten down, abused and skeptical to a fault, she finds herself working alongside a group of veteran rebels. Led by charmer Kelsier, this motley crew has set out to overthrow a man who has reigned for nearly a millennium. Vin is taken in by the crew because she shares the same strange abilities that Kelsier himself has… she can burn metals.

In Sanderson’s world a person who can burn one allomantic metal is known as a mistling, and one who can burn all of these allomantic metals is known as a mistborn. Burning these metals turns an average person into a sort of superhuman. These abilities are such an interesting twist on classic “superpowers.” As opposed to many traditional fantasy stories, you know exactly how the powers work and where they come from. There is absolutely a magical element to them, but they are more realistic than the powers you see within franchises like Harry Potter, Narnia and the like. This leaves the characters, and even the story as a whole, much more relatable.

As a mistborn Vin can give herself incredible speed, strength, emotional manipulation, and above all else power. All she needs to access these abilities are metals and someone to train her in the craft of burning them. Headman Kelsier takes her under his wing and becomes a mentor of sorts to the young mistborn. Whilst he’s teaching her how to hone her skills, he ends up gifting her something else just as valuable- the ability to trust.

Once Vin is pulled into the world of burning metals, assassinating enemies and overthrowing tyrants, she finds herself on an incredible journey of self discovery. The young woman’s place in Kelsier’s crew is that of a spy, set out to infiltrate their society’s noble ranks. Vin herself was not born into a life of royalty or even comfort. She is of the skaa people, most of whom end up as slaves or thieves. Accustomed to sleeping in alleys and scrounging for food, her new identity as a noble woman comes as a shock. Even more than that, Vin is now living a double life. By night she is a deadly knife, by day she is a dainty woman of the noble court.

Sanderson creates such an intriguing main character that it’s hard to believe that you will fall in love with all of the others just as much. But you will, it’s nearly impossible not to. The complexity of every single character is truly indescribable, but I’ll try my best to do them justice. There's Breeze, the seemingly self consumed egomaniac who is really just a big softy at heart. Sazed, the servant with the knowledge and compassion of a thousand men. Spook, the uncertain teen who just wants to help. TenSoon, the misunderstood creature who would commit treachery to save those he loves. Elend, the scholar who carries the weight of the world on quivering shoulders. And we cannot forget Kelsier, the charming leader who would stop at nothing to see the skaa people freed and the nobility toppled. By the end of the trilogy every one of these people will have a special place in your heart.

Brandon Sanderson is a master of the epic fantasy genre and "The Mistborn" series is a true testament to that.

There is war and there is love, there is hate and there is triumph. There are gods and there are mortals, there are monsters and there are heroes. The best part is some are both god and mortal, some both monster and hero. If you can believe it, some are even all four.

Nothing is as it seems and every minute detail is there for a reason. As soon as I finished the last book I wanted to go back and read them all over again just to catch all of the delicately placed intricate connections I had missed the first time. This world is astonishingly immersive. I’ve truly never read a series as well planned out and executed as this one. It’s the type of story where you feel like you really know the people inside it. The type of story that leaves you giddy when things go right and heartbroken when things go wrong. The type of story that you never forget.