The Final Empire: Mistborn, Book One, Review

 

A Great Start to a Mythic Series

In Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson introduces readers to a beautifully detailed world of falling ash, feared mists, and a system of magic called Allomancy. Royals and skaas (slaves) inhabit this gray world, controlled by the cruel immortal Lord Ruler.

 

Vin, an abandoned, traumatized, half-skaa teen survives her harsh life with a gang of thieves by keeping herself small and fading into the shadows, where she hopes no one will notice her. But when her circumstances change, Vin is brought into a new gang that recognizes her magic and needs her to visibly mingle among the royals she fears. Vin isn’t supposed to fall for one, especially not the heir to the most powerful Royal House in Luthadel.

 

I loved Sanderson’s relatable characters, imaginative system of magic, inventive creatures, and vivid setting. Embedded in Mistborn are themes of hope, trust, and friendship, and how difficult those are to attain. 

As soon as I finished Mistborn, I read the next two books in the trilogy! Five stars for all three!

AMAZON

 

Brandon Sanderson's Frugal Wizard: Book Review

 

Fans of Terry Pratchett’s offbeat humor and world building will enjoy Brandon Sanderson’s The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England.

This is the first Sanderson book I have read, and it is not linked to any of his other series. However, the fake author of the book-within-a-book, Cecil G. Bagsworth, has appeared in other Sanderson novels. (A fact I learned by reading the Postscript.)

 

Skewing towards science fiction, the novel is set in an alternate dimension of medieval England, which our totally unprepared, amnesiac hero suddenly finds himself. Sanderson cleverly embarks “Johnny” and the reader on a rollercoaster of partial memories, hopes, fears, love, and shame all while Johnny and his new friends struggle to survive Hoardamen, Vikings, gangsters from Johnny’s past, and Woden, an insecure god.

 

I appreciated the strong female characters and loved that the bizarre magic eventually made sense. Being inside John’s mind proved to be an excellent journey in self-discovery.

Manuscript Update

I have finally typed THE END on my manuscript for third book in the The Two Realms Trilogy!!!

Once I've done another read-through, revised and polished, I'll send it off to my fabulous editor, Barbara Millman Cole. Stay tuned for more updates.

Happy reading,

Ariella

AMAZON