Mistborn: First Empire is an imaginative, gripping story of survival and resistance, showing the best Sanderson and the genre of fantasy has to offer. 

---

Genre: Epic Fantasy

---

Rating: 5/5

This is, admittedly, my third time reading Mistborn: Final Empire. And although I’ve been a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson and of the Cosmere for years now, this read through was a very special, and little weird experience for me. You see, despite knowing the basic story beats and how the book ends, I had completely forgotten about what actually happens in the rest of the plot; it made me realize how much I’ve grown used to the magic of Sanderson’s world, and neglected to appreciate the stories I seemingly love so much. It was as if I was reading this book for the very first time again, something I was both ashamed of and adored. However, ultimately, going back to the world of Scadrial and meeting the characters of Kelsier, Vin, and Sazed (among many others) brought me indescribable joy, once again igniting my passion for these tales. Mistborn, after all, made me fall in love with the genre of fantasy when I was in middle school. 

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

In the Final Empire, under the governance of the Lord Ruler, exists two classes of the people. The first are the nobility, living with all the luxury that their money affords, who spend their time throwing elaborate balls and playing the game of politics every night. The second are the Skaa, living opposite lives to the noblemen, who are subjected to inhuman cruelty and treatment working in plantations or other types of physical labor. The Skaa are like animals, killed or tortured by the whims of any noblemen who they annoy. They are “owned”, so for as long as any of them remember, they’ve been working without basic necessities or rights. And despite the fact that there doesn’t seem to be anything different in how they look, the noblemen do not even consider them as human. This is why Kelsier, Survivor of Hathsin, is planning a Skaa rebellion to overthrow the Lord Ruler and the nobility’s rule; he collects a team of thieves, aiming to avenge his wife Mare who was killed in a mining facility. However, it is an uphill battle, with the most powerful being known, the Lord Ruler, making sure that the thousand years long society does not topple. 

Ever since my first read, I’ve always thought the plot was a refreshing take on what you normally see in fantasy. After all, Sanderson even calls the plot an answer to the question, “What if the tyrant won?” What we read about the Skaa and their treatment under the Lord Ruler exemplifies this: it is not everyday a story lacks any kind of hope or motivation for the oppressed. Yes, what we see in the book is inhuman, but the Skaa have been living that way for so long that they have accepted it and no longer want to rebel, since otherwise they at least get to live. There is no sugarcoating on what our characters go through, from losing loved ones to getting tortured, and that’s what makes their bravery and preservation so special in my heart. 

“I think given the choice between loving Mare – betrayal included – and never knowing her, I’d chose love. I risked, and I lost, but the risk was still worth it.”

The magic system of Mistborn is one of, if not the most, unique magic system you will ever encounter in fantasy: in this world, people who are born with the powers of Allomancy can burn certain metals to gain powers from them. For example, swallowing and “burning” pewter will give you improved physical strength and endurance, and “burning” tin will give you heightened senses. Since the quality is hereditary, only those with noble blood have a chance to gain these attributes–Skaa who can burn metals are children of a nobleman and Skaa, forgotten to be killed. To me, Allomancy is amazing; who would’ve thought to create a magic system where you can burn metals to gain magic? I may be used to it by now, but I sometimes still get amazed by Sanderson’s sheer imagination. 

In conclusion, reading Mistborn: Final Empire reaffirmed my love for Sanderson and his contribution to the fantasy. The way he builds his world and magic systems is unparalleled by any other, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to get into the genre. 5/5.

“But you can’t kill me, Lord Tyrant. I represent that one thing you’ve never been able to kill, no matter how hard you try. I am hope.”