Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn

[ellarien]

Opening entry of a fantasy trilogy; I think the title was subsequently given to the whole trilogy and this volume was retitled, but I got an older used copy -- mostly because it was the first of the tor.com giveaways and they hadn't quite got the formats down, so I was trying to read a very mangled copy on my Palm and getting frustrated.

The world is full of ash and dust and slaves; a thousand years ago the prophesied hero failed and the dark lord won -- or something like that; the exact nature of what happened back then is one of the unfolding mysteries of the series.

The magic system is interesting, with its use of different metals to confer or enhance physical and mental powers, but it’s very deterministic, and the physics of the way the practitioners go sproinging all over the landscape is more reminiscent of a video game than real life.

The main story is of a rebellion against the incumbent dark lord, by a motley group of mostly half-noble criminals – the slave class aren’t supposed to have powers, but there’s been enough interbreeding/rape that there’s a substantial underground; the main characters are a plucky young thief-girl who of course turns out to have extra-special abilities, a charismatic rebel leader, and a nerdy young nobleman with an interest in democratic government. In counterpoint, we get little snippets from the diary of someone a thousand years back – villain or fallen hero? It’s twistier than you think, and the twistiness carries over into the next volume.

Entertaining, not completely run-of-the-mill fantasy; the prose is competent but nothing special. Decent travel reading.

Comments

[amberdine.livejournal.com]

Agreed, though I probably liked Mistborn more than you did -- I am a total sucker for epic fantasy.

The steel inquisitors were just SO COOL. *shudder*

[ellarien]

Snark aside, I didn't dislike it, and I can think of worse hands to entrust with the conclusion of the WOT series. At least Mr. Sanderson has evidence of ability to finish things, and some interesting ideas. I'm just maybe getting a little old and cynical to be the target demographic.