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Mistborn [Dramatized Adaptation] #3, part 1
The Hero of Ages (1 of 3) [Dramatized Adaptation]
Who is the Hero of Ages?
To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness---the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists---is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.
Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. She can’t even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!
The conclusion of the Mistborn trilogy fulfills all the promise of the first two books. Revelations abound, connections rooted in early chapters of the series click into place, and surprises, as satisfying as they are stunning, blossom like fireworks to dazzle and delight. It all leads up to a finale unmatched for originality and audacity that will leave readers rubbing their eyes in wonder, as if awaking from an amazing dream.
To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness---the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists---is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.
Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. She can’t even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!
The conclusion of the Mistborn trilogy fulfills all the promise of the first two books. Revelations abound, connections rooted in early chapters of the series click into place, and surprises, as satisfying as they are stunning, blossom like fireworks to dazzle and delight. It all leads up to a finale unmatched for originality and audacity that will leave readers rubbing their eyes in wonder, as if awaking from an amazing dream.
7 pages, Audio CD
First published October 14, 2008
5 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Sanderson
473 books280k followersI’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.
During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.
Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.
November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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August 28, 2021
If you love Sanderson or if you don’t (yet) or even if you’re looking to give him another shot, you absolutely need to listen to these GraphicAudio dramatized adaptations! They really make his stories come to life with great voice actors and music/sound effects - even better than a regular audiobook. (In Book 3 of the Mistborn series, the same cast is used as before.) And fear not, you will not miss out on any of the plot! It's just an outright amazing experience and really worth the money.
Little bit of advice though: Wait until they have a sale going on as they are pricy and each book is split into multiple 7-hour parts. The good news is, there's about one sale a month; right now and up until 8/31/21 you get "Buy 1 get 1 free; buy 2 get 2 free; buy 3 get 3 free and so on" or 50% off on all series purchases. They have a good app and you also get the mp3 downloads - or you can have CDs delivered.
You can give it a listen here:
https://www.graphicaudiointernational...
If you're a fan of Sanderson, like me, you can find the entire Starlight Archive and Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, White Sand, and Alcatraz there. (Elantris, Warbreaker and White Sand can currently also be purchased via audible.)
I can also recommend the Michael J. Sullivan series available there: Legends of the First Empire and Riyria Revelations. Also, if you're into something a little more different, Sarah J. Maas' ACOTAR will be released later this year. (They have plenty of other authors so check out their website.)
I am so happy I discovered these adaptations last year! They are something to look forward to every day.
Little bit of advice though: Wait until they have a sale going on as they are pricy and each book is split into multiple 7-hour parts. The good news is, there's about one sale a month; right now and up until 8/31/21 you get "Buy 1 get 1 free; buy 2 get 2 free; buy 3 get 3 free and so on" or 50% off on all series purchases. They have a good app and you also get the mp3 downloads - or you can have CDs delivered.
You can give it a listen here:
https://www.graphicaudiointernational...
If you're a fan of Sanderson, like me, you can find the entire Starlight Archive and Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, White Sand, and Alcatraz there. (Elantris, Warbreaker and White Sand can currently also be purchased via audible.)
I can also recommend the Michael J. Sullivan series available there: Legends of the First Empire and Riyria Revelations. Also, if you're into something a little more different, Sarah J. Maas' ACOTAR will be released later this year. (They have plenty of other authors so check out their website.)
I am so happy I discovered these adaptations last year! They are something to look forward to every day.
July 20, 2020
This is a review for all three parts of The Hero of Ages
First and foremost, the production value is amazing, dialogs, score, voice acting. Incredible. Its combination with Sanderson's words? Out of this world.
I feel this book had a lot more depth than the first two, of course they were great too, but they pale compared to this one. I don't think either of them explored identity, religion and depression as well as this one.
I couldn't have imagined the ending based on The Final Empire's story, and I believe that's the thing that surprises me the most. As people well know I don't mind spoilers, I even seek them out from time to time. Yet, the few spoilers I had didn't prepare me for the story, and I even had confirmation of who the Hero of Ages was all along!
All in all, this was an amazing experience. Brandon didn't write a single line that didn't connect with the ending, that didn't go somewhere. This book was filled with explanations and answers to questions I didn't even think to ask in the first place.
The ending was incredibly satisfying as well. I may have cried for 20mins or more because of the adrenaline and everything that was happening but it was worth it.
First and foremost, the production value is amazing, dialogs, score, voice acting. Incredible. Its combination with Sanderson's words? Out of this world.
I feel this book had a lot more depth than the first two, of course they were great too, but they pale compared to this one. I don't think either of them explored identity, religion and depression as well as this one.
I couldn't have imagined the ending based on The Final Empire's story, and I believe that's the thing that surprises me the most. As people well know I don't mind spoilers, I even seek them out from time to time. Yet, the few spoilers I had didn't prepare me for the story, and I even had confirmation of who the Hero of Ages was all along!
All in all, this was an amazing experience. Brandon didn't write a single line that didn't connect with the ending, that didn't go somewhere. This book was filled with explanations and answers to questions I didn't even think to ask in the first place.
The ending was incredibly satisfying as well. I may have cried for 20mins or more because of the adrenaline and everything that was happening but it was worth it.
June 19, 2015
This is a review for the Graphic Audio version of the Mistborn Trilogy.
Review of The Final Empire
Review of The Well of Ascension
I listen to audiobooks all the time. I enjoy them a lot, even if I'm reading along, while listening. When I discovered that Graphic Audio produced these magnificent audios for the Mistborn Trilogy, I decided that I had to listen to them while reading my copies of the books.
For those who don't know what's the difference between Graphic Audio and common audiobook productions, the former has music, sound effects, and a whole cast (Yes! A narrator and one actor per character!)
The cast was great, they matched the character's voices I had imagined pretty well.
I can assure you, they are amazing. I can't explain it with words... just go and try them. They will change the way you think about audiobooks.
August 16, 2020
"I am unfortunately the Heros of Ages"
July 3, 2024
The perfect series.
I am retiring from reading
I am retiring from reading
June 9, 2016
A great ending to the trilogy.
So many twists. I was surprised at every turn and always there was some uncovered information that made sense in the whole story and not only for the sake of a twist.
I can't imagine anyone reading the first two books in the trilogy and then not reading this one but if you are somehow on the fence, definitely finish it. Also, the Graphic Audio production is great, as always.
I could do without the lovestories in this trilogy but I guess they were ok even if very predictable. Also, sometimes I felt the focus on religion is unnecessary and I was worried the author is trying to put religious messages in his work but I think my worry was misplaced as it fit with the world where gods may be real.
So many twists. I was surprised at every turn and always there was some uncovered information that made sense in the whole story and not only for the sake of a twist.
I can't imagine anyone reading the first two books in the trilogy and then not reading this one but if you are somehow on the fence, definitely finish it. Also, the Graphic Audio production is great, as always.
I could do without the lovestories in this trilogy but I guess they were ok even if very predictable. Also, sometimes I felt the focus on religion is unnecessary and I was worried the author is trying to put religious messages in his work but I think my worry was misplaced as it fit with the world where gods may be real.
September 8, 2024
Graphic Audio audiobook review:
This was a good conclusion to the story and the voice actors all were seamless in their characters. It was nice to see a side character like Spook have such an expanded and interesting development, however his whole side story felt irrelevant to the main story by the end. Elend's final scene was powerful and moving when listening to it with the audiobook's instrumental music and the background noise of battle.
One thing I disliked about this book is that it became overly complex in the world's history and the mechanisms of the world's magic. Each chapter opened with a quoted journal excerpt, however after a while these became excuses for adding explanation of how things worked. It told us instead of showed us.
Another issue I had was the reuse of voice actors within the same book. The voice actor for Hamm is very recognizable to me because he was a favorite of mine in another series. I swear he voiced a secondary character in this book, perhaps because Hamm himself is barely in it, but it was still noticeable to me and distracting. If by chance it wasn't the same voice actor, then they shouldn't have cast two people who sound so similar.
This was a good conclusion to the story and the voice actors all were seamless in their characters. It was nice to see a side character like Spook have such an expanded and interesting development, however his whole side story felt irrelevant to the main story by the end. Elend's final scene was powerful and moving when listening to it with the audiobook's instrumental music and the background noise of battle.
One thing I disliked about this book is that it became overly complex in the world's history and the mechanisms of the world's magic. Each chapter opened with a quoted journal excerpt, however after a while these became excuses for adding explanation of how things worked. It told us instead of showed us.
Another issue I had was the reuse of voice actors within the same book. The voice actor for Hamm is very recognizable to me because he was a favorite of mine in another series. I swear he voiced a secondary character in this book, perhaps because Hamm himself is barely in it, but it was still noticeable to me and distracting. If by chance it wasn't the same voice actor, then they shouldn't have cast two people who sound so similar.
September 6, 2025
(This is a review for all three parts of "The Hero of Ages")
A satisfying culmination of everything built up in this trilogy. For me this felt like peak "basic fantasy".
Compared to the previous two books, there were more separate plotlines with multiple points of view. I felt this worked really well, giving the book a bit more variation while all threads worked together.
If you start with Mistborn, you're going to want to finish the third book, too.
A satisfying culmination of everything built up in this trilogy. For me this felt like peak "basic fantasy".
Compared to the previous two books, there were more separate plotlines with multiple points of view. I felt this worked really well, giving the book a bit more variation while all threads worked together.
If you start with Mistborn, you're going to want to finish the third book, too.
May 24, 2017
3.75stars.
the atmosphere is great, as are the voice actors and narrator. I Just found this part of the story less engaging than the previous ones.
It has a lot of potential, though.. 😊
the atmosphere is great, as are the voice actors and narrator. I Just found this part of the story less engaging than the previous ones.
It has a lot of potential, though.. 😊
July 12, 2024
Things have taken quite a turn... 🤔
April 3, 2025
Liking this one a bit more so far than WoA. Enjoying Spook
April 20, 2023
ریویو در یوتوب
https://youtu.be/HKDenC1OPFE
https://youtu.be/HKDenC1OPFE
June 7, 2020
I love the ending but actually found this one slower than the rest, too much inner thinking with the character. Ten-soon portions always excited me, as well as Marsh. Also, I might just be burnt out after blazing through all 3 in a week.
December 23, 2015
85 %; listening to Graphic Audio, báječná záležitost
čteno ušima
Graphic Audio tomu dává jinou dimenzi
čteno ušima
Graphic Audio tomu dává jinou dimenzi
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2016
LOVE<3 <3 <3 <3
What else is new?
What else is new?
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews