The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

   2010; 1,252 pages.  Book #1 (out of 3) of the Stormlight Archives series.  New Author? : No.  Genre : Epic Fantasy; Military Fantasy; Sword & Sorcery.  Laurels: 2010 Whitney Award – Best Novel (winner); 2010 Whitney Award – Best Speculative Fiction (winner); 2011 David Gemmell Legend Award (winner); 2010 Goodreads Choice Award – Best Fantasy Novel (nominated).  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

    The Radiants have fled, abandoning the world to whatever fate the gods have ordained for it.  Of course, the Voidbringers are gone as well, although no one seems to know exactly why they  left and where they went.  This all happened eons ago, so it’s also possible that the Radiants and Voidbringers never existed at all, they’re merely legends concocted  over the centuries.

    Meanwhile the land of Roshar carries on without divine interference.  Kingdoms war with one another for land, power, and the precious gemstones and shards.  Even when a realm isn’t trying to invade some foreign land, its highprinces still pass the time fighting each other.

    Alethkar is one of the stronger kingdoms in Roshar, but it is fragmented into a dozen or so separate fiefdoms,  Each is ruled by its own Brightlord, and each refuses to cooperate in any way with any other brightlord.  They pay lip-service  to the King, but will only come to his aid if the kingdom as a whole is threatened.

    It would of course be beneficial to unite into one force and sweep over the neighboring lands in a wave of conquest.  But that would mean trusting each other and bowing to the king.

    Fat chance of that ever happening.

What’s To Like...

    The Way of Kings is the first book in Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series, “The Stormlight Archives”.  It is planned to be a 10-book series; but so far just the first three have been published.  The book’s style is similar to the author’s “Mistborn” trilogy: a sweeping tale of Sword-&-Sorcery; an extensively detailed world; a gazillion characters to meet and greet; and a complex and well-developed magic system.

    For the most part, the story chronicles the lives of three protagonists, each of which is struggling to come to grips with the overriding theme of The Way of Kings, “Honor above all else.”  That may seem like a straightforward concept, but Brandon Sanderson devises a diabolical set of situational ethics for each one.

    Kaladin is a doomed bridgeman, who paradoxically lives a charmed life.  He defies death in every circumstance, but those around him, whom he loves and cares for, all seem to die in his place.  Shallan is charged with saving the well-being of her family, but it will come at a cost of betraying the trust of someone she’s grown to respect and cherish.  Dalinar is a ruler, but has to decide if his devotion to a chivalrous Code of Honor is worth it when all those around him perceive him at best as a coward, and at worst as a lunatic.

    Three of the secondary characters are worth mentioning.  Syl is a sprite-like companion of Kaladin, who helps him through his dark times and learns from him about how self-contradictory humans can be.  Szeth is forced to obey every wish and command by whoever happens to possess the magic fabrial he's linked to.  And although Wit is presently relegated to being a court jester, it's obvious that isn’t his true calling.  For now, he supplies some much-appreciated witty repartee to the storyline, but I foresee bigger things for him as the series progresses.

    I enjoyed the philosophy debates between Shallan and Jasnah, chuckled at the discourse about Romance novels of pages 156-57, and liked the mention of an opiate called “firemoss”.  I was impressed with the author’s innovative way of introducing instant-messaging into a sword-&-sorcery setting.  I’ll leave it to you to guess how he accomplished that; I thought it was quite clever.

    The ending is superb, with everything building steadily to an exciting, protracted, and action-packed battle.  There are a couple chapters of 'epilogue’ content after that, and they are also quite enlightening.  At book's end, Szeth, Dalinar, Shallan, and Kaladin all reach pivotal points in their lives, and their futures are altered irrevocably.  This is not a cliffhanger ending, but there is a plethora of plot threads still unresolved that will whet your appetite for the sequel, Words of Radiance.  All  1328 pages of it.

Kewlest New Word...

Heliodor (n.) : a clear yellow variety of beryl used as a gemstone.

Excerpts...

    “Why did your father want to make a treaty with the Parshendi?” Shallan found herself asking as she walked.

    “Why wouldn’t he want to?”

    “That’s not an answer.”

    “Of course it is.  It’s just not one that tells you anything.”

    “It would help, Brightness, if you would give me a useful answer.”

    “Then ask a useful question.”  (pg. 653)

    Kaladin turned toward the stranger.  His flute was carved from a dark wood that was almost black.  The instrument seemed too ordinary to belong to a lighteyes, yet the man held it reverently.

   “What are you doing here,” Kaladin asked.

    “Sitting.  Occasionally playing.”

    “I mean, why are you here?”

    “Why am I here?” the man said, lowering his flute, leaning back and relaxing.  “Why are any of us here?  That’s a rather deep question for a first meeting, young bridgeman.  I generally prefer introductions before theology.  Lunch too, if it can be found.  Perhaps a nice nap.  Actually, practically anything should come before theology.  But especially introductions.”

    “All right,” Kaladin said.  “And you are …?”

    “Sitting.  Occasionally playing … with the minds of bridgemen.”  (pg. 997)

 “Respect is like manure.  Use it where needed, and growth will flourish.  Spread it on too thick, and things start to smell.”  (pg. 141)

    My quibbles about The Way of Kings are minor.  There are two maps in the front of the book, one of Roshar (which apparently is a supercontinent), the other of Alethkar.  But neither is particularly user-friendly when one is trying to determine the location of some city or kingdom cited in the book.  The Roshar map is particularly difficult, since it is spread over two pages and therefore has a huge crease running down its middle.  I read the mass-marketing paperback version, perhaps the Hardcover maps are better.

    There are short quotes of “final words of dying people” at the start of most of the chapters, but they were uninspiring.  But their significance is explained late in the book (page 1222), which means they will probably make a lot more sense in the sequel.  More importantly, there is no “Names and Terms” section at the back of the book, which is vital when you have dozens upon dozens of characters to keep track of.  I’d normally chalk this up to the whim of the author, but jeez, Mr. Sanderson, sir, you had a “Names and Terms” section in the Mistborn trilogy!

    Finally, keep in mind that religion plays a significant part in any Brandon Sanderson novel, and that’s true here.  He can occasionally tend towards “preachiness” at times (see chapter 33), but at least he isn't overbearing about it.

    9 Stars.  The incredibly high ratings that The Way of Kings gets at both Amazon and Goodreads are fully deserved.  My only concern is the pace of the publishing.  Next August will mark the ninth anniversary of Book One, with just two more installments added since then.  At this rate, it will be another 15-20 years before the series is finished.  Shades of Robert Jordan's WoT!!  That’s a long span of time.

Elantris - Brandon Sanderson

   2005; 615 pages.  New Author? : No.  Genre : Epic Fantasy.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

    Alas, Elantris!  Once upon a time, it was truly a golden city.  Magic flowed freely within its limits, and among all of its citizens, who were held to be gods, and revered for their healing touch.  If you lived elsewhere, and were very fortunate, the Shaod (the “Transformation”) would fall upon you and you’d be instantly transported to Elantris to live a new and glorious life as one of them.

    But something happened ten years ago.  The Shaod no longer exists.  Now, if you are very unfortunate, the Reod (“the Punishment”) will fall upon you and you’ll be banished to live within the black, grimy , death-filled gates of Elantris.  There is no cure for the Reod, nor any protection against it.  It strikes instantly, without warning, and without distinction.  Anyone might wake up one morning with hair falling out, and black splotches covering his or her skin.

   Even a royal prince.

What’s To Like...

    There are three main characters in Elantris: Prince Raoden of Arelon, Princess Sarene of Teod, and the Derethi high priest Hrathen.  For most of the book, the chapters rotate among the POV’s of this trio, and each has a different “slant”.  The Raoden chapters are mostly Action-oriented.  The Sarene chapters focus on courtly Intrigue.  The Hrathen chapters give some keen insight on the squabblings of Religion.  All three are expertly penned, and the varying themes keep the storytelling from bogging down. 

   There are a slew of supporting characters, all phenomenally developed; and a bunch of secondary storylines to keep you on your toes.  I found the theological debates between Hrathen and Sarene fascinating; and Harthen’s protégé, Dilaf, is a kewl study of “zealous evangelism”.  There is also a lot of wit and humor, such as Sarene’s (lack of) artistic talent.

    I liked the magic system, which is centered around glyph-like “Aons”, and which reminded me of my Mandarin Chinese classes from years ago.  Stroke order and perfect sizing of the glyphs are important, and there’s a handy glossary in the back of the book, giving a bunch of the basic Aon patterns.

    The world-building is somewhat limited, considering this is a 600-page Epic Fantasy opus.  For most of the story, our protagonists are confined to the titular city of Elantris, and its adjoining city, Kae.  The scene then shifts to Sarene’s home kingdom, Teod, for an exciting climax.  The last hundred pages or so are constant action, but overall, I found Elantris to be a character-driven tale, and superbly done in that respect.  I did end up caring about what happened to our three protagonists.

Kewlest New Word. . .

Caliginous (adj.) : misty; dim; obscure; dark.

Others : Revertiss (n., and a word Sanderson invented).

Excerpts...

    Raoden shook his head.  “Galladon, that is just a tiny part of it.  No one accomplishes anything in Elantris – they’re all either too busy squabbling over food or contemplating their misery.  The city needs a sense of purpose.”

    “We’re dead, sule,” Galladon said.  “What purpose can we have besides suffering?”

    “That’s exactly the problem.  Everyone’s convinced that their lives are over just because their hearts stopped beating.”

    “That’s usually a pretty good indication, sule,” Galladon said dryly.  (pg. 123)

    Roial chuckled, and Sarene followed his gaze.  Shuden and Torena spun near the center of the dance floor, completely captivated by one another.

    “What are you laughing about?” Sarene asked, watching the fire-haired girl and the young Jindo.

    “It is one of the great joys of my old age to see young men proven hypocrites,” Roial said with an evil smile.  “After all those years swearing that he would never let himself be caught – after endless balls spent complaining when women fawned over him – his heart, and his mind, have turned to mush as surely as any other man’s.”

    “You’re a mean old man, Your Grace.”

    "And that is the way it should be,” Roial informed.  “Mean young men are trivial, and kindly old men boring.  Here, let me get us something to drink.”  (pg. 398)

 Prince Raoden of Arelon awoke early that morning, completely unaware that he had been damned for all eternity.  (pg. 1, and the opening line in the book.)

    The quibbles are minor.  The key to removing the curse from Elantris seemed a bit less-than-epic, but at least it wasn’t the banal “find the Ultimate Artifact and deliver/destroy it” solution.  I felt like there was a continuity issue with one of the Elantrian gang leaders, Shaor.  She is identified as being Lord Telrii’s daughter on page 309, yet that never factors into the storyline.  Did the author change his mind as to how to resolve her?

    My biggest quibble is with the number of loose threads the Brandon Sanderson never ties up.  Galladon’s hidden past remains …well… hidden.  The military threat to the kingdom of Arelon is still there, not in the least bit diminished.  Kiin and Eventeo have some interpersonal issues to overcome  And the question of which sect - the Korathi or the Derethi – are blessed with the theologically-correct interpretation of god, is definitely open for further debate and bloodshed.

    All these loose ends scream to be resolved in a sequel, and according to Wikipedia, Brandon Sanderson has promised one.  However, he followed up Elantris with the fabulous Mistborn trilogy (reviewed here, here, and here), and then got the task of finishing up the late Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series.  So he has been rather busy of late.

    Still, one can only hope that the sequel to Elantris will eventually be written.

    9 Stars.  Subtract ½ star if you were hoping for a hack-&-slash story.  It’s there, but you have to wait a while for it.  It is worth the wait.

The Hero of Ages - Brandon Sanderson

   2008; 724 pages.  Book #3 (out of 3) of the Mistborn series.  New Author? : No.  Genre : Epic Fantasy.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

    The world is coming to an end, and there’s nothing to be done about it.  The only question is which unstoppable menace is going to deliver the actual coup de grace.

    At the top of the list is the ubiquitous and ever-falling black ash, which is choking out all plant life and fouling all the water.  Then there’s the mists themselves which are lingering longer and have started killing people.  Let’s not forget the thousands upon thousands of koloss, an endless wave of big, brutal, undead killing machines.  And last but not least, there’s Ruin Itself, released unintentionally by Vin, and probably more dangerous than the other three menaces combined.

    The world needs a miracle.  The world needs a Hero of Ages.

What’s To Like...

    The Hero of Ages is the concluding volume in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy.  The other two books in the series are reviewed here and here), and there’s no let-up in the fighting, the politicking, and the end-of-the-world drama here.  Indeed, the whole series showcases Sanderson’s masterful writing style and excellent storytelling.

    The chapters alternate with four different POV’s – Sazed’s, Spook’s, Vin/Elend’s, and March’s.  I like this structure.  It makes for very few slow spots, and the storyline, while complex, is remarkably easy to follow.  The world-building is once again very detailed and convincing.  Some new characters are blended in with the surviving members of the gang of rebels.  All are richly developed, and none (with the possible exception of Ruin) are pure black or pure white.  Indeed, quite a few characters seem to ‘lighten’ or ‘darken’ as the story progresses.

    There is a handy “Names and Terms” section at the back of the book; I used it quite often.  This is not a standalone novel, but Brandon Sanderson once again provides brief summaries of the first two books.  These are stashed at the back of the book, but mentioned in the Table of Contents so that readers new to the series can get quickly up to speed about what’s going on.

   The climax is simply spectacular – being somehow both entirely logical and yet utterly unanticipated.  I am in awe of the author’s ability to avoid a lame or trite ending.  The storyline is completely wrapped up in a most satisfying manner.  Brandon Sanderson did write one more book set in the Mistborn world, The Alloy of Law, but it takes place 300 years later, so I doubt it impacts this plotline.

Excerpts...

    “You know,” Elend added, “during those days when you refused to marry me, I constantly thought about how strange you were.”

    She raised an eyebrow.  “Well, that’s romantic.”

    Elend smiled.  “Oh, come on.  You have to admit that you’re unusual, Vin.  You’re like some strange mixture of a noblewoman, a street urchin, and a cat.  Plus, you’ve managed – in our short three years together – to kill not only my god, but my father, my brother, and my fiancée.  That’s kind of like a homicidal hat trick.  It’s a strange foundation for a relationship, wouldn’t you say?”  (pg. 239)

    ”Do you know why I dislike men like you, Venture? Yomen finally asked.

    “My insufferable charm and wit?” Elend asked.  “I doubt it’s my good looks – but, compared to that of an obligator, I suppose even my face could be enviable.”

    Yomen’s expression darkened.  “How did a man like you ever end up at a table of negotiation?”

    “I was trained by a surly Mistborn, a sarcastic Terrisman, and a group of disrespectful thieves,” Elend said, sighing.  “Plus, on top of that, I was a fairly insufferable person to begin with.  But, kindly continue with your insult – I didn’t mean to interrupt.”  (pg. 284)

 “In the end they will kill us, Elend said, voice loud, ringing in the cavern.  “But first they shall fear us!”  (pg. 701)

    Perhaps the most salient unique feature in the Mistborn series (and there are a lot of unique features here) is the role given to Religion.  Epic Fantasy and Religion are generally an awkward fit.  Most readers would much prefer the dragon to be zapped into oblivion by a wizard’s spell than for the heroes to pray it away .

    Although Religion plays a somewhat minor part in the first two books, it gets some center-stage time in The Hero of Ages.  I kept fearing that the story would degenerate into some sort of preachy sermon by Sanderson, but to his credit, this never occurs.  Furthermore, no particular Religion is heralded as being the One True Way.

    Instead, Sanderson contrasts the concept of Faith, inherent in any religion, with the Logic and Deductive Reasoning that are the bedrock for any society that relies on rational thought processes.  He seems to propose that the two can coexist.

    The reader can decide for himself whether he agrees with Sanderson's hypothesis.  To his credit, he tackles the difficult Fantasy/Religion issue with admirable skill.  Nevertheless, I hope this doesn’t become a recurring theme in his novels.

    9 Stars.  Add ½ star if you’re quite comfortable with mixing Religion with Fantasy, and wonder why more writers don’t combine the two genres.

The Well of Ascension - Brandon Sanderson

   2007; 763 freakin’ pages.  Book 2 of the Mistborn trilogy.  New Author? : No.  Genre : Epic Fantasy.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

    Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.  Elend Venture may be king of the Central Dominance, but there is one, then two, then three hostile armies laying siege to his capital city of Luthadel.  Everyone agrees that any one of those armies can take the city whenever they want.

    But it will cost the attacking army a significant portion of its fighting men, and in turn it will be vulnerable to either – or both – of the other two besieging forces.

    Of course, this matters little to Elend and his Mistborn, Vin; they'll have perished defending Luthadel.  But perhaps there is room to negotiate.  The three invading armies are of roughly equal strengths, which makes Elend’s weaker army a potential tie-breaker.  And negotiations can buy the Luthadel defenders some time.

    It would be even better if one or more of the invading armies could be inveigled to attack the other(s).  Alas, that would take some shrewd politicking, and Elend is a novice in the art.

What’s To Like...

    It’s  been two years since I read the first book in the series, Mistborn, but Brandon Sanderson made it easy to pick the threads back up, especially which Allomancers have what ability.  For those readers who are new to the series there is a brief backstory, but it’s tacked on in the Appendices at the end of the book.  The Well of Ascension is not a standalone novel, so it is advisable to either read the first book or the backstory.

    I am in awe of Brandon Sanderson’s ability to pen Epic Fantasy.  There are lots of plot twists, and the bad guys in particular seem to stay one step ahead of the good guys.  Some of the white-hats die in the story; some of the black-hats live to fight another day.  That's kewl.

    There are some new characters to get to know – most notably Tindwyl and Zane.  And some new beasties as well, most notably the Koloss and the Mistwraiths.  Plus a new alloy, Duralumin.  The Feruchemists play a larger role this time around, as do the Keepers.  I really enjoyed getting to know OreSeur the Kandra.

    The book is mainly focused on the siege of Luthadel, and this inherently means less action than in Mistborn.  But that consequently allows for greater character development, and Sanderson still manages to work enough action into the narrative to keep things hopping. 

    Since this is the middle book in a trilogy, the storyline suffers a bit from being neither the beginning nor the end of tale.  There is little progress on the overarching thread, which involves healing the land from the encroachment of the Mists.   The embodiment of this Evil, called The Deepness, is growing stronger and more deadly as time passes. Still, the immediate plotline thread – the siege of Luthadel – is fully resolved, so this is an entertaining read that presumably sets up the dramatic climax in Book 3

Kewlest New Word. . .

Mulled Wine (n.; phrase) : a hot alcoholic drink made of red wine mixed with sugar and spices and served hot or warm.  Traditionally drunk during winter.

Excerpts...

    “You know,” OreSeur muttered quietly, obviously counting on her tin to let Vin hear him, “it seems that these meetings would be more productive if someone forgot to invite those two.”

    Vin smiled.  “They’re not that bad,” she whispered.

    OreSeur raised an eyebrow.

    “Okay,” Vin said.  “They do distract us a little bit.”

    “I could always eat one of them, if you wish,” OreSeur said.  That might speed things up.

    Vin paused.  (pg. 334)

    “Nothing to worry about,” Spook said.  “Just a mistwraith.”

    “What?” Elend asked.

    “Mistwraith,” Spook said.  “You know.  Big goopy things?  Related to Kandra?  Don’t tell me you haven’t read about them?”

    “I have,” Elend said, nervously scanning the darkness.  “But, I never thought I’d be out in the mists with one.”

    Spook shrugged.  “It’s probably just following our scent, hoping that we’ll leave some trash for it to eat.  The things are harmless, mostly.”

    “Mostly?” Elend asked.  (pg. 716)

“I’m not a good person or a bad person.  I’m just here to kill things.”  (pg. 255)

    Religion has a larger role in The Well of Ascension than in most Epic Fantasies, and I’ve seen some reviewers knock Brandon Sanderson because of his religious upbringing.  Personally, I haven’t seen any “preachiness” in either of the first two books in this series.

    If there is a theological message here, it is “There are many religions in the world.  They are all of equal value.  Pick whichever one seems best suited for you.”  I have read other books that have been little more than a sham veneer for the author’s self-driven proselytizing.  This book, and this series for that matter, do not fall in that category.

    9 Stars.  Thus far, this is just about a perfect Epic Fantasy series.  Excellent world-building; a complex saga; installments published in a timely manner; and over and done with after only three books.  The closing volume, The Hero of Ages, sits upon my TBR shelf.

A Memory of Light - Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan

    2013; 909 pages.  New Author? : No.  Genre : Epic Fantasy.  Book #14 of the Wheel of Time series.  Overall Rating : 9½*/10.

    This is it!  Tarmon Gai’don (“Armageddon”) is at hand, and every nation (except the Seanchan) awaits its outcome with dread and hope.  Hordes of innumerable trollocs and myrddraal pour out of the Blight to do the Dark One’s bidding.  They are unstoppable; all the Forces of Light can hope for is to slow them down.  But all eyes are on Shayol Ghul, where Rand al’Thor, The Dragon Reborn, must do battle with the Dark One, in a fight that the prophecies say he cannot survive.

   And if the Horn of Valere is not blown at the right time, and if the seals imprisoning the Dark One are not broken at the right time, Rand stands no chance at all.  So each of the remaining Forsaken strives mightily to gain the horn and/or seals, in order to curry favor in their evil lord’s eyes.  Long odds for Rand, indeed.

What’s To Like...
    All your favorite heroes have gathered – including Moiraine, Thom, Logain, and my personal favorite, Loial.  Even the Tinkers make an appearance.  A Memory of Light is essentially one giant, 900-page battle.  This might seem excessive, but relative to the series as a whole, it is appropriately sized.

    Once again, Brandon Sanderson does a fine job of writing in the style of the late Robert Jordan.  You may get tired reading of 1,001 ways to kill a trolloc, but Jordan would’ve written it that way too.  Think of how many times a skirt was smoothed, or Nynaeve yanked on her braid.  The only difference I can see – Sanderson infuses the tale with some of his wit, which is IMHO a plus.  OTOH, if you are a Robert Jordan loyalist, be of good cheer.  He wrote the last 17 pages of AMoL (the Epilogue) before he died, it is most excellently done, and it’ll put a lump in your throat.

    There are lots of plot twists along the way, not all the good guys survive, and there are some loose ends after the dust settles.  Elayne’s still pregnant, and a couple of the Forsaken, although vanquished, remain alive.  The groundwork is laid for a new series of WoT tales – set at the dawn of the new age, and with the next generation of heroes.  I readily see Robert Jordan’s estate doing the “Robert Ludlum” thing.

Excerpts...
    “Do you really think he’ll reward you?” Perrin spat.  “How can you not realize that once you’ve done what he wishes of you, he’ll just discard you, as he has so many?”
     Slayer laughed.  “Did he discard the Forsaken, when they failed and were imprisoned with him in the Bore?  He could have slaughtered them all and kept their souls in eternal torment.  Did he?”
    Perrin didn’t reply.
    “The Dark One does not discard useful tools,” Slayer said.  “Fail him, and he may exact punishment, but he never discards.  (pg. 565 )

    “Tuon wants me to sit in judgment.  Any time a soldier is seeking the Empress’s mercy for a crime, I’m the one who is supposed to bloody hear his case!”
    “You,” Egwene said, “passing judgment?”
   “I know,” Mat said.  “Too much bloody work, if you ask me.  I’ve been dodging guardsmen all day, trying to steal a little time for myself.”
    “A little honest work wouldn’t kill you, Mat.”
    “Now, you know that’s not true.  Soldiering is honest work, and it gets men killed all the bloody time.”  (pg. 611)

“When the deck starts to look like it’s stacked against the Dark One, of course he will just add a few new cards to the game.”  (pg. 559)
    Let’s face it, we all know that Light will defeat Darkness in WoT, if only because some quotes from Loial’s book are given.  Loial would be dead and his book never written if the Light lost.  So how does Brandon Sanderson go about keeping us in suspense and turning the pages?

    Well, by making the bad guys every bit as ingenious, relentless, powerful, and full of surprises as the good guys.  Evil doesn’t just have one card up its sleeve, it’s got a whole deck.  Just as soon as the good guys recover from one deadly ploy, the Forsaken spin another one.  This is a superbly written piece of epic fantasy.

    A Memory of Light is not a standalone.  If you’ve read the first 13 books in the series, you are Dragonsworn and you know you will read #14.  If you are new to series, you have some serious reading (13 books, 11,000 pages, 3,700,000 words) to do before tackling this one.  But it is worth it.  9½ Stars.

Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson

    2006; 643 pages.  Full Title : Mistborn: The Final Empire.  Book #1 of the Mistborn trilogy, which paradoxically now has 4 books.  New Author? : Kinda.  Genre : Epic Fantasy.  Overall Rating : 9*/10.

    The Lord Ruler has reigned over the Final Empire for a thousand years.  For all extents and purposes, he is immortal.  There have been some uprisings over the centuries, but they were easily and thoroughly put down.  The Lord Ruler’s omnipotence is equaled only by his callous brutality.

    A fellow would have to be insane to try to organize another rebellion.  Ah, but Kelsier fully admits he’s crazy.  And he has a plan.  Which involves a street waif named Vin, who, like Kelsier, is a Mistborn.  And that makes her pretty special, even if she’s never heard of such a thing.

What’s To Like...

    The world-building is eminently believable, the plot is full of twists and surprises, and the characters are rich, varied, and deep.  Even the Lord Ruler has some redeeming qualities, albeit small and not apparent until the end.

    The magic system, called Allomancy, is refreshingly original.  Adepts ingest a given metal, and burn it to use its power as needed.  Each metal has its unique attribute.  Most  Allomancers can only use one of the metals.  They are called Mistings.  A rare few can use them all.  They are called Mistborn.

    In an appendix, Brandon Sanderson gives a list of the metals, what their users are nicknamed, and what powers they confer.  It is a very handy resource.  There is a second magic/metal system, Feruchemy.  It is less prominent in the story, and less powerful than Allomancy; but no less important. 

    Mistborn is really the story of Vin, as she is taught how to use each metal and becomes adept in combat, including fighting other Allomancers.  She also has to impersonate a noblewoman, mingle with high society, engage in espionage, and try to avoid any romantic entanglements.  Yeah, good luck with all that, Vin.

Kewlest New Word...

    Caliginous : dim, dark, misty, and gloomy.

Excerpts...

    Her hair had grown longer, and had been carefully cut by Renoux’s stylist so that it fell around her ears, curling just slightly.  She no longer looked quite so scrawny in the mirror, despite her lengthy sickness; regular meals had filled her out.
    I’m becoming... Vin paused.  She didn’t know what she was becoming.  Certianly not a noblewoman.  Noblewomen didn’t get annoyed when they couldn’t go out stalking at night.  Yet, she wasn’t really Vin the urchin anymore.  She was...
    Mistborn.   (pg. 283 )

    Vin leaned forward.  “What is it, Elend Venture? Why are you so intent on avoiding your duty?”

    “Duty?” Elend asked, leaning toward her, his posture earnest.  “Valette, this isn’t duty.  This ball... this is fluff and distraction.  A waste of time.”
    “And women?” Vin asked.  “Are they a waste too?”
    “Women?” Elend asked.  “Women are like... thunderstorms.  They’re beautiful to look at, and sometimes they’re nice to listen to – but most of the time they’re just plain inconvenient.”  (pg. 307)

“You don’t know what I do for mankind.  I was your god, even if you couldn’t see it.”  (pg. 639)

    Kelsier's grand plan is a product of brainstorming.  It is complex, and well thought out.  As with any piece of superb Epic Fantasy, things go significantly awry despite the meticulous preparations.  Mistborn is completely standalone, yet is part of a trilogy.  The first 2/3 of the book is good, and the tension steadily builds towards an exciting climax.  The last third of the book is fantastic.

    In short – powerful writing, well-developed characters, a captivating storyline, and a satisfying ending.  Is it any wonder that Robert Jordan chose Brandon Sanderson to finish up his Wheel Of Time opus?  9 Stars.

Towers Of Midnight - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

2010; 843 pages. Book #13 of the Wheel Of Time ("WoT") series. Genre : Epic Fantasy. New Author(s)? : No. Overall Raitng : 9½*/10.

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The Last Battle looms. Trollocs, Draghkar, and Myrddraal swarm south out of The Blight; and the Dark One is all but free from his prison. Meanwhile, Rand Al'Thor (the Dragon Reborn) and his closest associates - Perrin, Mat, Elayne, Egwene, and Nynaeve - attempt to rally the human kingdoms, who unfortunately at times seem more intent on fighting each other than the hordes of Evil.

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The Pattern in unraveling and for the first time ever, it seems possible that the Wheel Of Time will come to a halt.

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What's To Like...

This is the penultimate book in the series, and a lot of the threads in Jordan's far-flung universe are finally converging. That means there is plenty of action, and lots of progress in the plotlines.

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All the favorites are here (except Loial and the Ogiers. WTF ever happened to them?), including one or two that have been MIA for a while. But the bulk of the book focuses on Perrin and Mat as they make their way towards each other and towards Rand.

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For those of you who are less "plot-driven", there is still oodles of attention paid to the characters themselves and the detailed minutiae of their lives. The "handing-off" from the late Robert Jordan to Brandon Sanderson is IMHO seamless. Indeed, I'd go as far as to say that Sanderson has rescued the series. Based on Books 6 thru 10, I have a hard time believing Jordan would be capable of making as disciplined an effort to bring the series to a close.

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Kewl New Words...

Just one, and I can't find a plausible definition for it. Con (noun) : as in, "They wore con rising over their backs." (pg. 758). Maybe it's a made-up word.

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Excerpts...

Amys eyes narrowed. "You have grown much since we last met, Egwene al'Vere."

That sent a thrill through Egwene. "I had much need to grow. My life has been difficult of late."

"When confronted by a collapsed roof," Bair said, "some will begin to haul away the refuse, becoming stronger for the process. Others will go to visit their brother's hold and drink his water." (pg. 202)

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They entered the inn, known as The Grand Hike, which was crowded beyond usual because of the rain. The innkeeper was a friend of Birgitte's, however, and he had the bouncer toss out a drunkard sleeping in one of the booths to make room for her.

She tossed him a coin in thanks, and he nodded his ugly head to her - he was missing several teeth, one eye, and most of his hair. Best-looking man in the place. (pg. 357-58)

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"I haven't yet asked what Matrim meant by calling himself a married man in his letter. I expect a full report! No expurgations!" She eyed Mat, smiling slyly. "Expurgation means 'parts cut out', Mat. In case you weren't bloody aware."

He put his hat on. "I knew that." What had that word been again? Expirations? (pg. 295)

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Death is lighter than a feather. Duty is heavier than a mountain. (pg. 641)

I found Towers Of Midnight to be a complete treat. A number of long-standing threads get resolved, and the book ends with enough cliff-hangers and tension to give the WoT world a migraine.

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The only readers who might be disappointed in ToM will be those who hoped WoT would be a never-ending series. It still might. There is a hint about a time long after The Dragon Reborn comes and goes, with the Aiel and the Seanchan locked in a war of annihilation. Perhaps Sanderson can be teased into writing a sequel series.

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One note to new readers - this is not a stand-alone book. To enjoy ToM, you really need to read the first 12 books (plus the prequel), and each of those are 600-1100 pages long.

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For everyone else, the worst that can be said is that we will have to wait more than a year for the final book; and I'm still not convinced that it won't have to be split into two parts. Yet if anyone can pull it off, it's Brandon Sanderson. Good luck and godspeed to you, sir! 9½ Stars.

The Gathering Storm - Robert Jordan

2009; 766 pages. Genres : Epic Fantasy; Neverending Series. Book 12 in the "Wheel Of Time". Overall Rating : A.

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The series-ending trilogy begins. Brandon Sanderson takes over for the late Robert Jordan, reportedly using RJ's copious notes and emulating Jordan's style.

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TGS focuses on the two main characters in WoT. Rand tries to rally the kingdoms he's conquered and forge alliances with those he hasn't, all in order to resist the looming invasion by the Dark Lord.

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Egwene continues undermining the The Amyrlin Seat (Elaida) in the White Tower, while also trying to heal the deep divisions within Ajahs of the White Towers.

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What's To Like...

For a long-awaited change, there's great action and plot advancement. The other two ta'veren, Mat and Perrin, are being drawn towards The Dragon Reborn. Some loose ends (such as Sheriam and the Prophet Masema) are tidily wrapped up. There are a number of MIA's - Moiraine, Morgase, Elayne, and Loial - that presumably will get their due in the remaining two books. The ending of TGS is quite good.

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And if you're one of those readers who liked the plodding aimlessness of the last half-dozen books in this series, then some of the chapters here will make you happy too. A lot of pages are expended on Aviendha's recurring "punishments" and her incessant musings about their cause; and Rand traipses from one kingdom to another, brooding, b*tching, and generally being a PITA to be around.

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There are some minor drawbacks. The Gathering Storm is not a stand-alone book, and the Glossary won't help you much make sense of who's who and what the various fantasy world phrases mean. So newcomers are looking at 10,000 pages (2½ million words) as background reading before they can hope to make sense out of TGS.

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There is also some Jordanesque repetitiveness. There are umpteen "smoothing of the dress", "arms folded beneath the breasts", and "skirts divided for riding". Further, you are reminded a couple thousand times of the allegorical "coming storm".

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Excerpt - The bad guys' viewpoint.

"He has failed before and will fail again," Rand said. I will defeat him."

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Moridin laughed again, the same heartless laugh as before. "Perhaps you will," he said. "But do you think that matters? Consider it. The Wheel turns, time and time again. Over and over the Ages turn, and men fight the Great Lord. But someday, he will win, and when he does, the Wheel will stop.

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"That is why his victory is assured... When you are victorious, it only leads to another battle. When he is victorious, all things will end." (pg. 238)

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Excerpt - The good guys' viewpoint.

Thom chuckled. "We can't go back, Mat. The Wheel has turned, for better or for worse. And it will keep on turning, as lights die and forests dim, storms call and skies break. Turn it will. The Wheel is not hope, and the Wheel does not care, the Wheel simply is. But so long as it turns, folk may hope, folk may care. For with light that fades, another will eventually grow, and each storm that rages must eventually die. As long as the Wheel turns." (pg. 404)

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There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time...

For me, The Gathering Storm was a great read. Sanderson has continued, as he should, to pay homage to Jordan every chance he gets. But personally, I think RJ had lost control of WoT. The plotlines just continued to spread out further and further, and whenever RJ did try to rein them in, the result was stagnation. A fresh touch was needed, and Sanderson supplies it.

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So we'll give TGS a solid "A", and give Sanderson a heartfelt "Thank You" for his efforts. It will still take all his resources to bring everything together for the final showdown ("Tarmon Gai'don"), but Sanderson has two books to do it in, and a fair chance of pulling it off.