785 pages
Published Oct. 13, 2008 by Tor Books.
This book is not only the third book in a trilogy, but it’s Act Three of the the three-act structure for the Mistborn Trilogy—it’s the part of the story where the heroes have discovered that what they thought was the problem all along was not the true danger, and now they’re fighting for not only their own survival but that of the world they live in. The mists are killing people and staying out much longer than they should. The Ashmounts are spewing more and more choking ash into the sky, burying the crops that everyone needs to eat to live. And Ruin, the creature Vin was tricked into freeing from its prison of a millennium, is loose to wreak havoc upon the land. Life under the Lord Ruler is starting to look like paradise in comparison.
While the first book in the trilogy turned the standard fantasy story on …
This book is not only the third book in a trilogy, but it’s Act Three of the the three-act structure for the Mistborn Trilogy—it’s the part of the story where the heroes have discovered that what they thought was the problem all along was not the true danger, and now they’re fighting for not only their own survival but that of the world they live in. The mists are killing people and staying out much longer than they should. The Ashmounts are spewing more and more choking ash into the sky, burying the crops that everyone needs to eat to live. And Ruin, the creature Vin was tricked into freeing from its prison of a millennium, is loose to wreak havoc upon the land. Life under the Lord Ruler is starting to look like paradise in comparison.
While the first book in the trilogy turned the standard fantasy story on its head, this volume (perhaps inevitably?) returns in a way to the tropes the first volume was a reaction against. Yet in this case the enemy is not a human or humanlike Dark Lord, but something more like a force of nature—entropy itself given a will and a guiding personality in the form of Ruin.
Ultimately, the book is about how the characters we have grown to love from the previous volumes—Vin, Elend, Sazed, TenSoon, Spook, Marsh, and others—find the courage and faith to fight on in the face of overwhelming odds, just as Kelsier taught them when he plotted the downfall of the Final Empire.
все на купу, але фінал, як це характерно для сандерсона, потужно драматичний. слухабельне :-)
This trilogy really came together so perfectly. So often I will find that I don't particularly like one book or another but in this case, Sanderson delivered three books that each felt unique and complete in themselves but also contributed to a cohesive narrative. Really looking forward to the next trilogy in the series.
Loved this book, as well as the other two in the trilogy. Fascinating character work, almost Dostoyevsky-like at times. The world doesn't really feel alive, although this is compensated by the astonishingly-realistic characters.
What an exciting end to an enjoyable series! This was emotional, intriguing, tense, exhilarating, and reflective. There was a lot to tie up in this book, and I found it surprising that Sanderson did it so well while also introducing new storylines and tying those up as well! It really speaks to his command of writing and storytelling.
As I generally say with Sanderson books, many of my past criticisms hold true. I felt that is was pointlessly long, and the excessive exposition was particularly noticeable in this book compared to the others. The pacing was fairly touch and go, though I commend Sanderson for getting to the action slightly sooner than the final 80 pages of a 400+ page book cough cough Stormlight cough and also the first two Mistborn books too.... The world building was great as expected, and I really liked how most of the characters …
What an exciting end to an enjoyable series! This was emotional, intriguing, tense, exhilarating, and reflective. There was a lot to tie up in this book, and I found it surprising that Sanderson did it so well while also introducing new storylines and tying those up as well! It really speaks to his command of writing and storytelling.
As I generally say with Sanderson books, many of my past criticisms hold true. I felt that is was pointlessly long, and the excessive exposition was particularly noticeable in this book compared to the others. The pacing was fairly touch and go, though I commend Sanderson for getting to the action slightly sooner than the final 80 pages of a 400+ page book cough cough Stormlight cough and also the first two Mistborn books too.... The world building was great as expected, and I really liked how most of the characters (new and old) completed their character arcs.
All in all, this was a fun trilogy to read! I definitely think this was my favorite one of the three, which is saying a lot considering the monumental task of wrapping up such a large story, but he did it again! Onto the next one. Now if only I could read his books as fast as he writes them...
I will just say: this is the most amazing fantasy series I've read in forever. And there is a plot twist that came from another galaxy and completely blew my mind, for real.
Just read it. You won't be disappointed.
I'll give Sanderson this: his ideas of "hard fantasy", meaning magic has to have rules and limitations and be entirely consistent works for some very nice world building. But I've just never been big on epic fantasy. I think my feelings on the whole trilogy were summer up by Sanderson's introduction in which he reported that he was so proud of the epic story he was able to tell in "only" three 700+ page books that would have taken someone else 10. And I just thought of all of the amazing stories I've read that have been single novels or 300-500 page book trilogies and had richer worlds, characters and settings. Sanderson needs to edit. He needs to realize that not every single perspective needs air time and tighter stories are better stories. Also, a world in which every city ruled by a non-noble degenerates into a Communist Russia stereotype …
I'll give Sanderson this: his ideas of "hard fantasy", meaning magic has to have rules and limitations and be entirely consistent works for some very nice world building. But I've just never been big on epic fantasy. I think my feelings on the whole trilogy were summer up by Sanderson's introduction in which he reported that he was so proud of the epic story he was able to tell in "only" three 700+ page books that would have taken someone else 10. And I just thought of all of the amazing stories I've read that have been single novels or 300-500 page book trilogies and had richer worlds, characters and settings. Sanderson needs to edit. He needs to realize that not every single perspective needs air time and tighter stories are better stories. Also, a world in which every city ruled by a non-noble degenerates into a Communist Russia stereotype and "all religions have a martyr figure and a good/bad duality" was a little much. I'm not big on the Christian manifest destiny, and I couldn't ignore it.
I love that magic is taken seriously, and a presented in a way that makes sense. Great epic storyline.
Contrairement aux deux premiers tomes qui m'avaient tout de suite embarqué, celui-ci m'a semblé un peu long à démarrer. Par contre, une fois qu'il est lancé, le récit devient épique, digne de ce qu'on attend du dernier volume d'une trilogie de fantasy.
Comme pour chacun des deux premiers tomes, Brandon Sanderson utilise des clichés de la fantasy pour les détourner et nous induire en erreur. Evidemment, comme c'est le troisième roman de la trilogie, j'ai été un peu plus méfiant et attentif au détail, ce qui fait que je n'ai été qu'à moitié surpris par la révélation finale, mais cela n'enlève rien au résultat : captivant et terriblement épique.
Dans l'ensemble, nous avons affaire ici à une très bonne trilogie de fantasy, qui a réussi à me réconcilier avec un genre dont je m'étais lassé. Je sais que l'auteur a écrit d'autres romans dans le même univers, mais se déroulant …
Contrairement aux deux premiers tomes qui m'avaient tout de suite embarqué, celui-ci m'a semblé un peu long à démarrer. Par contre, une fois qu'il est lancé, le récit devient épique, digne de ce qu'on attend du dernier volume d'une trilogie de fantasy.
Comme pour chacun des deux premiers tomes, Brandon Sanderson utilise des clichés de la fantasy pour les détourner et nous induire en erreur. Evidemment, comme c'est le troisième roman de la trilogie, j'ai été un peu plus méfiant et attentif au détail, ce qui fait que je n'ai été qu'à moitié surpris par la révélation finale, mais cela n'enlève rien au résultat : captivant et terriblement épique.
Dans l'ensemble, nous avons affaire ici à une très bonne trilogie de fantasy, qui a réussi à me réconcilier avec un genre dont je m'étais lassé. Je sais que l'auteur a écrit d'autres romans dans le même univers, mais se déroulant plusieurs siècles plus tard : je les lirai sans doute dans quelque temps, en espérant y prendre autant de plaisir qu'avec cette excellente trilogie.
What an ending... or last book of the series! Many books jump to answers and the reader is at a loss for an explanation, not here. All the clues were right in front of my face the entire time. You can tell this book was planned out. Things that happened in the first chapters of the first book make so much impact and are wrapped up unlike any other series I have read. It ends not as expected, or as I expected, but was brilliant. Really would like to know how Sanderson did this! No question about it, I will read his other series.
This was a fantastic conclusion to the Mistborn trilogy. There were times where I could see where the characters were going and what they would have to do before they did, which was ok because the journey was still entertaining. Brandon mentions in the preface that he was not originally satisfied with Sazed's story arc - whatever it was before he finished the book, I'm glad he fixed it. Brandon also left an easy opening for follow-on story that will be very different.
Fantastic ending to a suspenseful trilogy.
This was a fantastic conclusion to the Mistborn trilogy. There were times where I could see where the characters were going and what they would have to do before they did, which was ok because the journey was still entertaining. Brandon mentions in the preface that he was not originally satisfied with Sazed's story arc - whatever it was before he finished the book, I'm glad he fixed it. Brandon also left an easy opening for follow-on story that will be very different.
Fantastic ending to a suspenseful trilogy.
"The world was ending, and its gods had to die with it"
Now that's a way to wrap things up neatly.
Neat character arcs. Lots of action. Sazed's repetitive contemplation sits in stark contrast to the pacing of the other characters, but the depiction of his depression and the payoff of it all is glorious.
I'm not a fan of Sanderson's prose, so I'm hesitant to pick up the other books in this universe. Even after the tantalizing setup at the end of this book.
PS: I still think Book 2 was largely pointless. So much could have been written on the psyche of the skaa and the nobility after 1000 years of stability and oppression, and the political questions that arise after that event. Playing out those questions only in Elend's head - punctuated by declarations from Tindwyl - made it terrible. The sparseness of Book 2 made for a tight Book 3 though, and I'm thankful for these small mercies.
Satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Sandborn is primarily a world-building guy and this book, like his others, is far stronger on the consistency of magic rules and mechanics of power than it is in characters. There are some good exceptions though; Sazed's transformation through the book is well done if a little tiring at times as he sorts through every single religion in his memory for reasons to dismiss them. Spook is probably the best character in this book. The dialog is still rather stilted though and the characters are not the strongest point -- but this trilogy-finale ties up so many little loose ends that you didn't even were loose ends all the way back to the first book, that it's very satisfying anyway. And I did not see the final plot points coming, which I always appreciate. If Sanderson ever learns how to write people as well as …
Satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Sandborn is primarily a world-building guy and this book, like his others, is far stronger on the consistency of magic rules and mechanics of power than it is in characters. There are some good exceptions though; Sazed's transformation through the book is well done if a little tiring at times as he sorts through every single religion in his memory for reasons to dismiss them. Spook is probably the best character in this book. The dialog is still rather stilted though and the characters are not the strongest point -- but this trilogy-finale ties up so many little loose ends that you didn't even were loose ends all the way back to the first book, that it's very satisfying anyway. And I did not see the final plot points coming, which I always appreciate. If Sanderson ever learns how to write people as well as he creates world systems he'll have my undying fandom, but he's not quite there yet.
I'm giving this book 5 stars over the customary 4 star rating I would have simply because the "wrap-up" of the story is so complete! I don't know if I can explain this better, but Sanderson manages to tie up every single loose thread through all 3 books in this final book.
There are some minor slip-ups eg: When Vin is metal-less and fights Marsh (Yomen's chambers), she pulls a vial from him and recharges herself. Then she proceeds to burn duralumin, something that Marsh would definitely not have, because Inquisitors cannot burn it , but on the whole, I'm really impressed with Sanderson's ability to explain everything in his world, making it seem plausible and enhancing the reading experience tremendously.
