Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

So many things are falling into place here-Vin is getting more adept, both with allomancy and mingling with nobility...and the we all saw it coming romantic confusion

their plan is coming together...

and then Yeden goes nuts! ugh.

Looks like we need to brak out Plan B....

The Vin at the ball story with the Venture boy is losing me. I dunno what it is. I may just be becoming a bitter old man, but I'm rooting for the group to kill Elend. Which would make sense for there plans and make mad drama.

The more I read the passages t the top of the chapters, the more I think it is from the lord rulers hand. The book Sazed is translating.

Also I'm making the call. I think Marsh betrayed Kelsier when he went to the pits OR its being set up for at some point for Kelsier or Vin to suspect it.

I am agreeing with you on this Luke. The Marsh betrayal angle looks like a good call, I just hope it isn't for jealousy of Mara though.
I think the ministry knows what is going on, so Marsh could still be feeding them something's. Like how they sent two after Vin.

The ball is boring me. This whole side of the story is making it way to easy to put the book down and read another chapter of something else,

Push through the ball. Really. Pretty please. Lol. I finished the book and can't wait for end book spoilers. :)

Elend never bothered me. There's something about how he meets Vin that I love. I like him with his books ignoring all else, maybe because I've been known to do the same thing. And I like having a decent noble character.

Vin on the other hand...does bother me a bit. She's too much touchstone character. She either knows all so we do. Or she needs basic things explained to her so we can learn. She also goes from distrustful to trusting too fast. Too easy. And not being a clothes addict myself I got tired of her gowns.

Sazed is still a favorite character. I think he's one of the most subtle characters here. The one with the less stereotypes. Yes, he's a eunuch but he's not feminine, not overweight, and not lispy. I'm not being rude. It's just in most books I've read this is the case. I find his race and their side of the book's magic interesting. But mainly I like his humor. And loyalty to Vin. But it doesn't seem forced like it sometimes does with the others.

As for Marsh.....one of my favorite characters in this book....lol.

And the passages were one of the most memorable things about my first read...

Forgot, Vin also bothers me that she's mastering skills that it takes others years to.

I agree how you say Vin went from mist trusting to trusting too fast. its like her character totally changed over the space of a page.

I have really warmed to the crew though. Breeze, Ham, Marsh, Clubs and his apprentices, Dox and Renoux. This is whats holding me in so far.

Vin and Kelsier are leaving me a little cold though.

I did not think of the Marsh betrayal angle....but it could work!

I am struggling with this stupid ball. I will push on Traci I promise, but wtf!

I can see what Elend is doing, he even admits it; trying to frustrate his father and not be a typical noble. Now we get the other love interest, his fiancee and she wants to use Vin as well, yep yep easy one to follow. So here is where I sit shaking my head, Eland, who we assume to be an intellect, wanders away from his/vin's table leaving a book lying there that is likely to have him executed. We have already established that the Ministry attends these functions and wander at will. So given that, he is either stupid (unlikely), the Lord of everything is not that fussed about restricting literature about his rule as we think or its portrayed or this was a real lazy throw away writing to give Vin a sense of Eland.
Me thinks the latter.

I agree. I didn't stop to think of it that way. But Sanderson did leave the book for Vin to find. And no other reason. Sloppy writing. Sort of ties into my problem with Vin. She either already knows or learns everything. The girl has no handycap. The other characters make up the book for me. But I'm not a fan of Sanderson's writing of Vin.

I thought Elend was a bit stereotypical misunderstood heart throb too.

"He's different, see how his shirt is untucked"

LOL

I am hoping though that Kell gets some more growth, as Sanderson has started to give us some insights to the darkness of his character. How he casually carries a dead body round and dumps it, completely unconcerned that his contempt and disregard for nobles has him acting just like the people he despises. I really hope this part of the story develops. I think it will, since Vin has concerns about how he casually could kill Eland and whether he wants to take on a leadership role if the revolution was successful.
So I have hopes for this part of the story.

gods please don't make Marsh a jealous brother over his sister in law, I really don't want that be what I read next.

Ok finished book 3. Been somewhat lax in reading since I slid Skyrim into the Xbox.

My feelings are mixed so far. It is interesting enough, I really like the magical aspect of the metals. Some nice ideas of pushing and pulling etc I think Gold has something more to play as it seems a bit redundant by itself. My guess is that Vin will find a way to use gold with the metal given her by Saze and find some weird new ability. Well that is what I hope will happen as it is right there as a possible storyline.

The rest, is just kinda rolling along, very generic storyline, revolution, bad nobles/good nobles, class war, rising of the masses, the dictator, possible love interest, but wait, no a mis understanding to ruin young love, etc etc

The only other thing that is really keeping me wondering is Kell. There is a dark streak there, and its pretty black. I certainly feel he is hiding something, and I would image given power, he will struggle to hand it over and not take the opportunity of replacing the God of all rule. How sounded like a reasonable guy in the beginning.

I finished part 3 last night, I don't remember anything about gold or metal from Sazed?? I loved the army messing up, not what I expected. Still like Elend but the above comment about leaving the book is spot on. Also, given he leaves books unattended why does Shan need Vin to nosy?

Elend - Vin part of the book feels too much like an average YA book. Balls in the storyline feels half-baked as is characters in the balls. Elend's rebelious behaviour toward empire and politics may be intended to draw a gray line over very black-and-white depiction of good guys/bad guys but the delivery of the intended effect leaves more to be desired.

Pace of Vin's character developmet disturbs me, too. She thinks about dresses way too often. I won't begrudge her a for-the-very-first-time infatuation of her life but considering the background she came from, I wouldn't expect her to behave like a sheltered daughter of a minor noble. It was supposed to be her charade among nobility, not herself.

Like Helen, I like army messing up, too. All the preparation of army was dragging the story.

I really think the draw to these books is the magic system and world building. Character development seems to be not as well done...

From this section, I think Ham is my favorite character. I like his philosophizing (only spelled right), and just his attitude of responsibility.

I guess I am with many of you and got a little bored with the whole Vin/Elend/Ball thing going on there. Did not expect the destruction of the army so soon. Seems that Kell made a mistake making them think they were so powerful. Anyways, I thought this was the weakest of the first three parts, but it picked up toward the end. Looking forward to see where this goes now.

Traci wrote: "Push through the ball. Really. Pretty please. Lol. "

Now I understand what you mean, after finishing the book ;) I'm very glad that I decided to hang on.

I agree with all that Elend leaving behind the incriminating book was dubious. But I'm surprised to find that people weren't as equally skeptical of Yeden leading the army into that unplanned attack--and their doom. This just seemed to me like such an off-the-wall, umcharacteristic, idiot move. I didn't buy it at all. Even the explanation that Kelsier over-boosted their confidence did not come close to justifying Yeden's action, in my mind. I was, however, glad to see the plot take a new trajectory.

Sanderson sure does write great final action scenes for his sections!