Challenge Corner discussion

In a world where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night, an evil cloaks the land and stifles all life. The future of the empire rests on the shoulders of a troublemaker and his young apprentice. Together, can they fill the world with color once more?

In Brandon Sanderson's intriguing tale of love, loss, despair and hope, a new kind of magic enters the stage — Allomancy, a magic of the metals.

7% (view spoiler)[[I really loved the opening chapter. I thought that it was a great start to the book. I certainly didn't expect Kelsier to kill the lord and all of his soldiers and then set fire to the place. I wonder if we will see any of the skaa people again later on in the book.

I feel sorry for Vin. She lives a horrible, painful life. But I feel like she is also brave and resilient. She gets beat by her gang leader, but she keeps her head held high and does what she must to survive.

I am super curious about the magic system in this series. It definitely doesn't seem like anything that I've read before. Ingesting metals so that they do something in the stomach? And I wonder what exactly a Mistling or Mistborn is. It seems like it is a half-breed from a skaa and one of the nobles. That also makes me curious. It stated that the skaa and the nobles are different, but outwardly they look exactly the same. I am really loving this so far! (hide spoiler)]

13% (view spoiler)[I am really liking the magic system and I can't wait to learn more about the other metals and what they make a person do.

I was so happy when Kelsier put Camon in his place. He was worse than a brute. I liked seeing the different Mistings at the meeting. I liked the way that the characters played off of each other.

And we find out that Kelsier had a wife and that the Pits are actually mines for an extremely rare metal! I am excited to watch their plans to overtake the empire unfold. (hide spoiler)]

9%
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I really like this book so far! At first when Vin was using her Luck, I thought it was okay magic, but a little boring. The way it would slowly replenish over time seemed like a boring way to make sure the magic wasn’t too overpowered. I really liked it when I learned that she was ingesting metal through the water and burning it to use her power! That gave an explanation for why it worked that way! And it's really logical (for a magic system), the way the magic needs "fuel" to work.

I thought it was funny how the Lord Ruler was immortal, so he remembered who had been kind to him a long time ago and rewarded their descendants. It didn't really make sense - why not prioritize people who had been kind to him recently? But it makes more sense than inherited nobility in our world, where no one can even remember the original nobles, and that doesn't stop us!

It makes me mad that everyone around Vin constantly betrays everyone else! I hope she finds some better people to hang out with. I think maybe Kelsier is better, but we'll see.
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I agree!! The magic system is so interesting XD

20%
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Ugh, I kind of hate it when books have a Big Grand Plot with Ridiculous Stakes. I mean, it’s exciting, but I just prefer a more normal situation that I can easily imagine myself in. Also given the scale of what they’re doing, it’s kind of weird that they sit around writing everone’s comments on a chalkboard like in kindergarten, lol.

I really liked the description of how Kelsier used the Allomantic powers in his heist, though! Especially the way he used Pushing and Pulling on metal to basically fly! I can’t wait to see what the other powers are, I think so far I only know of six. (Pushing and Pulling on metals and emotions and increased strength and perception.)
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I love Kel's method of planning XD

And I love the explanation of the metals, it was quite complex but not too confusing, explained well.

I'm 77% through now I think.

31%
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The story is picking up, and it’s cool to see Vin learning more about how to use her powers. I’m a little bit annoyed that some of the “basic metals” are alloys, though. Logically, an alloy of copper and tin should give you a combination of the tin and copper abilities, not the opposite of the copper ability. Maybe it will make more sense as I keep reading, but right now I think it would be better if all the allomantic metals were elements.

Also the constant jokes about how Kelsier is insane are getting on my nerves a bit. Come on, that was funny once at *most*.
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Yeah so good right!

@Maddison, yeah, it is always fun to complain, haha, but overall I am really enjoying the book! I need to find more time for it so I can finish faster!

Caroline wrote: "9%"

(view spoiler)[I really liked the explanation for the metals being ingested too. I really like this magic system. It's so different from anything I've read before.

I kind of feel the same. I think that the current hierarchy of their government is really wonky. It really doesn't make sense.

I also hope that someone in Vin's life will treat her better one of these days. (hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "20%"

(view spoiler)[I don't mind a high stakes plot as long as it is written well. And so far this one is. I do know what you mean though. There are some books that have very unimaginable plots.

I also really liked the explanation and description of how Kelsier used his Allomantic powers. It really made it easy to visualize. (hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "31%"

(view spoiler)[I kind of thought that the metals were confusing at first, but I think that it makes more sense the more the story goes on. (hide spoiler)]

33% (view spoiler)[I really liked when Kelsier trained Vin. And I am glad to know what a mistwraith is. It definitely isn't what I expected.

So Vin will be posing as a noblewoman. I wonder how that will work out. And I wonder who or what Lord Renoux actually is.

I really like Sazed. I hope that he plays more of a role in the story. (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[I liked this book so much! The foreshadowing and the way that the plot was worked is genius. I was pretty stunned at some of the things that happened. I didn't expect Kelsier to die. I didn't expect the Lord Renoux imposter to be a sort of mistwraith. I didn't expect the Lord Ruler to be using Allomancy and Feruchemy in tandem to stay young, but it makes more sense than someone being immortal. So much went into this story. I am excited to read the next book. (hide spoiler)]

My Review

(view spoiler)[Wowza! A lot of times the hype surrounding a book is just that. Hype. It doesn't always add up to be as great as the hype proclaims. I've never been so thrilled to have my skepticism dashed. I had heard so many wonderful things about this series prior to reading this book, and I am SO glad that they are founded.

The world building in this book is truly incredible. I can only hope that the well that Sanderson fishes his ideas from never runs dry. This world was bold and completely original. This book was a breath of fresh air. Everything was incredibly detailed and well thought out. The way that the world was so meticulously melded is genius.

The character development in this book is just as awesome as the world building. Sanderson writes his characters with room to grow. The pacing of the character development is perfect. The reader can get to know the characters fairly quickly while building upon that to witness them grow and change. Details about the characters are given sparingly so that the development feels completely natural, all while creating a build up and want for more knowledge of the characters.

This plot is pretty epic. There are so many creative elements involved that it will blow your mind. When everything comes together at the end you will be in awe of all the masterfully crafted details and the way that they all interweave.

While I mainly read young adult fantasy, this book was still easy to pick up and get into. It did have a different vibe in general, but not in a bad way. I latched on to the story by simply reading the prologue. I don't think that this book would be hard for another fan of young adult books to enjoy. Sanderson makes it pretty easy to fall into the story.

I also have to add that I read the first six chapters of this book on ebook, and then I switched to audiobook. I quite enjoyed the audiobook version. I think that I will get the next book in the series on audiobook as well. If audiobook is your jam then I would recommend giving this book a shot on audio.

Overall, this book stands out like a shiny, sparkling unicorn in the herd of horses that the fantasy genre can sometimes be. And not just on the outside. On the inside, this book has plenty of shiny unicorn magic. I highly recommend this book, and I cannot wait to continue this series! (hide spoiler)]

I agree! So much happened in a way that kind of seemed like not a lot happened, if that makes sense XD

51%
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The description of how to use bronze and what it is useful for was really cool! I love how Sanderson is letting me learn more about each of the metals one or two at a time! Also, it's nice to know the reason why they classify metals as Push vs. Pull. I agree, it's not that intuitive for some of them.
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I know such good explanations.

75%
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I was worried the book would get boring once I understood the magic system, but so far it has not run out of new things to explain. I really like the Feruchemy system, especially the discussion of how it compares to Allomamcy. And I'm getting really curious to know what a kandra is!

Also, I feel so sad for Vin and Elend! I really like them together, and I wish they could just get married instead of dealing with this whole spy thing. It was so awful when Elend told Vin about the atium because argh she didn't want to know that! :( :(
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Finished!
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Wow, it felt like so much happened in the last few chapters! The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall I really liked the book. I'm looking forward to reading the next one as well!
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RESTARTING APRIL 6TH, 2023

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RESTARTING AUGUST 23RD, 2023


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Prologue - Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[WHY had I been putting this off for so long!!?? The worldbuilding in this one is so awesome, I am loving learning about allomancy and mistborns! Kell's introduction was a bomb and when he killed that cruel Tresting, it was a joy tbh. Vin sounds quite interesting herself and I am glad that both were introduced separately at first, the author giving us a gauze of who and what they are. I am very curious to find out what Kell and his crew are planning and now that Vin would be joining them as well, it is bound to be something mindblowing (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4-7: (view spoiler)[OMG the plan that Kelsier has come up with is literally insane but I love his crew members, they are a true sport! Each and every one of them has their own colorful personality and I loved all their interactions. Vin is right to be skeptical about it all considering the circumstances she used to live in before becoming a part of this crew, no wonder she keeps looking out for what the catch is. I am so excited to read all about how Kelsier and the crew manage to get rid of the garrison as the first step in their plan. Learning about allomancy, all the different metals and the powers associated with them was an adventure on its own (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8-15: (view spoiler)[Vin posing as a noblewoman is interesting, now that the heir of House Venture has taken an interest in her, I hope it doesn't land her in trouble. I actually really liked Sazed but the notes at the end of every chapter warning to be wary of Terrismen are making me suspicious if he'd turn on the crew. I wonder what the Lord Ruler is hiding in that building and come the inquisitors always know when Kelsier plans to break in. I feel like there is a mole somewhere. Vin needs to survive this somehow (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16-23: (view spoiler)[Vin has started liking Elend Venture i guess, although he seems like a decent enough fellow at the moment, like Kelsier I still can't bring myself to trust him completely. The way Vin is so hung up on him made me realise she indeed is still a child and needs to maybe learn a thing or two about the world. I agree with Ham, no amount of rebels seems enough to be able to throw down an entire empire. The Lord Ruler's logbook provides some interesting tidbits but I am still at a loss on how to connect it all. Sazed's keeper status was interesting and I hope to learn more about him. He has started to grow on me so I really wish he doesn't stab the crew in the back (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 24-32: (view spoiler)[Holy shit!! I was not expecting for their plan to fail so soon. Yeden turned out to be such a fool, his recklessness cost thousands of rebels their lives, it's a shame that Kelsier trusted him enough to leave him at the cavern. But i was surprised by his tenacity, he did not lose hope even once and came up with a new plan quickly. Vin truly fell in love with Elend along the way and her fighting off Shan was commendable. I wonder if they'd reunite in this book. Lord Ruler is quite powerful, i am curious to see how Kelsier and Vin manage to defeat him (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Wow, just wow. I don't even have words to describe how spectacularly amazing i found this book to be. Kelsier's death was surely a painful blow to all the readers but what Vin was able to accomplish was even more noteworthy. Sazed was a loyal friend till the very end and i feel bad that i even doubted him at some point. The Lord Ruler's secret was a terrible one and after everything the crew went through, i was so pissed by the way to kill him. I am glad that Marsh is alive and well but am still wishing that Kell was here as well. I miss him already (hide spoiler)]