After finishing LOTR for the first time last year, I decided I wanted to dig deeper into the fantasy genre and try one of Brandon Sanderson's longer series. Many of my friends are obsessed with his books and told me the Mistborn series was a good entry point for the uninitiated.

Mistborn follows the classic YA-fantasy formula. Young, unsuspecting girl unlocks new exciting powers (and turns out to be something of a prodigy with them!), joins forces with a lovable crew of characters, takes on the bad guy that is oppressing her realm, and develops a crush on a cute guy along the way. Despite having such a well-used formula, Sanderson's "Mistborn" is so fun to read and honestly refreshing. Reading this book felt like having the best version of a dessert you've loved for years - I didn't know it could get this good and I was already such a fan!

Where Mistborn really excels over its peers for me is in its "hard" magic system. "Hard" magic is a term that Sanderson himself coined to describe magic systems that follow specific rules that are detailed to the reader in the narrative. "Soft" magic lacks these clearly defined rules - Tolkien's Gandalf is an example of this. His powers are never really explained to the reader and that's part of his wonder! This was my first experience with a hard magic system and I really enjoyed it and 100% agree with "Sanderson's Laws of Magic" particularly Law #2 "Weaknesses, limits, and costs are more interesting than powers." The limits of Allomancy are very clearly described early on and it makes it that much more exciting when characters come up with an exciting work-around or overcome an obstacle because the reader understands exactly what constraints they're working with.

Beyond the incredible magic system, Mistborn also has a truly lovable cast of characters that are well-developed over the course of the story. Vin and Sazed are definitely favorites of mine. I'm so excited to read the rest of the story and see what happens next. Typically the classic YA-fantasy formula ends with the toppling of the oppressive ruler, but the series has two entire book left! I'm very excited to explore what happens next and how the characters re-build their world after their oppressor is gone. I have an inkling that getting rid of the tyrant is the easy part and creating more just society in his stead will be much more challenging than expected. Can't wait to read Sanderson's take on this!

I am so blown away by Sanderon's worldbuilding. I have never read a series that's so well-drafted, so air-tight, so intricately layered. I said this in my review of "The Well of Ascension" but I can't get over it. This series truly reads as though Sanderson had every plotline fully developed beginning, middle, and end before he even sat down to write the first book. Finishing "The Hero of Ages", I, and I'm sure many other readers, are looking back at the first and second books thinking "How did I not see this coming in the slightest?!" Truly, what an incredible book with one of the best endings I've ever read. Fan of Sanderson's writing or not, the first two books are worth reading if only to have the proper context to then read this epic finale!

I loved how Sazed and TenSoon's story arcs developed throughout this book and its predecessor. I find their stories incredibly compelling. Sazed being absolutely shaken by the events of the previous novel, losing his faith and ideals, and struggling to find a path forward - it was so moving. TenSoon has a similar journey, abandoning his society and ideals when he realizes they're not right. I found these characters to be so inspiring and value-driven. I feel strangely emotionally attached to them and am sad to say goodbye with the conclusion of this novel!

Stoked to re-read this series in a few years and see all the things I missed along the way. I'm not 100% if I want to read the sequel series to this book, but I'll think about it!