She has also relied on an odd ability, which she calls Luck. The bulk of the narrative is from the point of view of 16-year-old Vin. Those are the Mistborn.Īuthor Brandon Sanderson has created an interesting collection of flawed and unexpectedly self-aware characters to populate his story. A very select few can access the powers of all ten pairs of metal. Most can only access the power of a single metal. Who can access these powers? The beneficiary has been born with a rare genetic gift, transmitted only through aristocratic blood lines. Zinc coaxes calmness from its target brass incites rage. Other metals are more interesting, however. Either property is an advantage to fighting an armored opponent. Iron pulls on nearby metals steel pushes. The most obvious paring relates to strength. Five pairs of metals have opposing properties. I loved this thoughtfully constructed fantasy, structured with scientific and psychological logic. That orthodoxy is supported by the Lord Ruler's epithets: “Ascended Avatar of God,” “Sliver of Infinity.” (p.164) The theocracy proclaims: This is how it was, how it is, how it will be forever. It's a small step to believe he must be a god. How else to explain his apparent immunity from death? His power is bolstered by familiar tools: strategic distribution of wealth, banned books, and terror. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler has ruled with brutal efficiency. The population is divided into two classes, the aristocracy and the skaa. Who could blame them? The reality is daily showers of black ash, an angry red sun, and by night a dense enveloping mist. Most, however, dismiss such stories as fairy tales.

The legends speak of lush greenery and a yellow sun.

Mistborn the final empire goodreads