Mistborn Was Everything I Needed

A Review of "Mistborn: Book One" by Brandon Sanderson

Cover belongs to Tor Books.

STAR RATING: ☆☆☆☆☆
Spoiler-free Review.

Irredeemable villains. Cool mentors. Complex magic systems. Female protagonist. Monsters. Fuck yeah.

My checked boxes aside, Mistborn was a refreshing and exciting read. I finished the book’s third act in one sitting because I couldn’t tear my eyes away. It was my first Brandon Sanderson read and I finally understand what all the fuss is about. I’ll definitely be returning to finish this series and start another of his.

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Mistborn answers the question: What if the chosen one failed?

Set in a dying world under the oppressive thumb of the Lord Ruler, an omnipotent being that’s enslaved half the population, a lowly street kid named Vin learns she’s capable of higher powers. Under the mentorship of Kelsier, the only known person to have survived the Lord Ruler’s slave camp and escaped his clutches, Vin dives headfirst into rebellion and political intrigue. Though the premise itself isn’t anything new—young girl learns she has powers and fights against the Evil Guy—Sanderson weaves in unique power structures, creative worldbuilding, and fleshed out characters that make Mistborn stand out.

My absolute least favorite plot device is when the main villain, who has killed or oppressed thousands, is somehow redeemed or made to feel sorry for (looking at you Steven Universe, Throne of Glass, and Falling Kingdoms). In Mistborn, the Lord Ruler and his goons are irredeemable pieces of shit. They’re scary. They’re powerful. The villains raise the stakes and keep audiences guessing at how our group of ragtag protagonists will outmaneuver a literal immortal.

Our main lead, Vin, is an untrusting and paranoid seventeen year old. She struggles to find alliances and fit in, and watching her character progression was so rewarding. I felt like her big sister. I giggled at her romances, I smiled at her achievements, and I was stressed on her behalf. She’s cold but not unkind. She’s clever but not undefeatable. She felt like a real person with flaws and goals of her own.

One thing I respected about Mistborn was Sanderson doesn’t shy away from the realistic parts of oppression, but also doesn’t write dark themes gratuitously. There are protagonists that succumb to harmful rhetoric against their own people. There are threats of gender-based violence from powerful men. There’s desensitization to violence. There are people who intellectualize revolution without partaking in it. There are some books (cough Divergent) that don’t seem to understand how corruption and oppression actually work, but Sanderson seems to have done his research.

There isn’t much more I can say without getting into spoilers. I recommend this book to anyone who likes high stakes fantasy or underdog stories.