Brandon Sanderson's "Mistborn" trilogy - any good? - Page 4

HarryT · 10-26-2011, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbeman

For me, the Mistborn trilogy started out strong and ended with a whimper. The magic system is probably one of the more unique and detailed systems out of any fantasy series I've ever read and I truly enjoyed the entire series up until the very end. In fact it is the end of this series combined with the ending of Elantris that makes me wary of picking up the Way of Kings.

I really enjoyed the ending, personally. It came as a complete surprise to me.

dbeman · 10-26-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afa

What didn't you like about the end? I thought it was alright. Not entirely unpredictable, true, but I wouldn't consider it a disappointment.

Spoiler:

taosaur · 10-26-2011, 11:08 PM

I just wrapped up the audiobooks, and while the last three-ish hours took ages for me to get through, the last 30-odd minutes was very satisfying. The expository prefaces to each chapter did have me groaning toward the end there.

On the whole, there was more than enough here that was enjoyable that I'm glad to have 'read' the series, but I can't say it was crafted in a way that I'm particularly impressed with the author. The best of it was the characterization of most of the crew members and a few key villains (though not so much the 'Big Bad'), and the action scenes centered on one or two of the main characters (though not so much the military engagements). The worst of it was when he seemed to be writing self-congratulatory essays about his own world-building.

The magic systems and fighting styles were more superhero/anime than sword-and-sorcery style magic, to me. I would almost call them superpower systems rather than magic systems. On the whole, this series seemed to borrow more from Full Metal Alchemist and X-Men than Tolkien et al.

Bricorn · 11-03-2011, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

I just wrapped up the audiobooks, and while the last three-ish hours took ages for me to get through, the last 30-odd minutes was very satisfying. The expository prefaces to each chapter did have me groaning toward the end there.

On the whole, there was more than enough here that was enjoyable that I'm glad to have 'read' the series, but I can't say it was crafted in a way that I'm particularly impressed with the author. The best of it was the characterization of most of the crew members and a few key villains (though not so much the 'Big Bad'), and the action scenes centered on one or two of the main characters (though not so much the military engagements). The worst of it was when he seemed to be writing self-congratulatory essays about his own world-building.

The magic systems and fighting styles were more superhero/anime than sword-and-sorcery style magic, to me. I would almost call them superpower systems rather than magic systems. On the whole, this series seemed to borrow more from Full Metal Alchemist and X-Men than Tolkien et al.

OK, sold. Going on my TBR list now. Thanks.

ctol · 11-15-2011, 03:40 AM

Folks you might want to pick up the fourth book in the series. You can get excerpts of it for free at this inkmesh link:

http://inkmesh.com/ebooks/alloy-of-l...ndon+Sanderson

HarryT · 11-15-2011, 03:47 AM

Yes, I bought it a few days ago. Haven't started reading it yet.

taosaur · 11-15-2011, 02:49 PM

Elantris is my current audiobook, and I'm finding the world more intriguing than the one in Mistborn, and laid out more subtly, less brick-by-brick. Hopefully there won't be an exposition dump near the end like in Mistborn. Elantris is doing a lot more for my opinion of Sanderson as an author than the Mistborn trilogy did.

mewmartigan · 11-16-2011, 08:35 AM

I just bought Elantris for my Kindle last night. Reviews seem positive and I look forward to starting it soon.

afa · 11-16-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbeman

Spoiler:

Mistborn was envisioned by Sanderson as a "trilogy of trilogies", with the plan calling for the original trilogy serving as the lore for the events that will take place in the remaining books (which take places several centuries later). So when you look at it that way, it fits.

afa · 11-16-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taosaur

Hopefully there won't be an exposition dump near the end like in Mistborn. Elantris is doing a lot more for my opinion of Sanderson as an author than the Mistborn trilogy did.

Can't remember a significant infodump, but I do remember I was disappointed with the end. Felt a bit too rushed to me, specially considering that most of the book seems to have a slow build-up. And the ending was a bit too unresolved.

Shadowplay · 11-20-2011, 12:13 AM

Thought I'd chime in here as I finished the 3rd book, Hero of Ages, last night.

I enjoyed the series and particularly enjoyed the endings of the 1st and 3rd books. I thought the 2nd book and much of the 3rd book floundered around, but were still interesting enough that I had no trouble finishing them.

It's always bittersweet when author's do what Sanderson did here to the characters. It fits, it's epic (hence our love of epic fantasy, right?) yet of course it's a bit emotional!

taosaur · 11-20-2011, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afa

Can't remember a significant infodump, but I do remember I was disappointed with the end. Felt a bit too rushed to me, specially considering that most of the book seems to have a slow build-up. And the ending was a bit too unresolved.

I didn't have a problem with the ending. It definitely moved fast toward the end, going from zero to Dragon Ball Z in about six seconds, but Sanderson made good use of nearly all of the groundwork he laid down.

Latinandgreek · 11-20-2011, 07:09 PM

While the series was not perfect, I greatly enjoyed it overall and I look forward to reading the newest book in the series. I am also looking forward to reading the next book in his "Stormlight Archive" series.

Coralm · 11-22-2011, 09:09 PM

If you liked Mistborn and you don't want to get involved with the Stormlight Archives until more of them are ready, you can pick up Warbreaker to get your fix. It's actually my favorite of his and stands alone (although I did ask him via email once if he ever planned a sequel and he said yes).

mewmartigan · 12-05-2011, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coralm

If you liked Mistborn and you don't want to get involved with the Stormlight Archives until more of them are ready, you can pick up Warbreaker to get your fix. It's actually my favorite of his and stands alone (although I did ask him via email once if he ever planned a sequel and he said yes).

I just finished Elantris and really enjoyed it. I thought the ending was fine because the entire book was building up to it and then as someone else so eloquently put it...the last 40 pages or so went all Dragon Ball Z.

Spoiler:

I just picked up Warbreaker...according to Sanderson's blog, its almost like a sister book to Elantris with some of the same ideas but taken in a different direction.

I plan to read Misborn but won't bother with Stormlight until most of the books are out.

11-15-2011, 03:40 AM	#50
ctol Groupie Posts: 152 Karma: 303523 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Arizona Device: Nook, Fire Tablet, Windows RT Tablet Windows Phone	Folks you might want to pick up the fourth book in the series. You can get excerpts of it for free at this inkmesh link: http://inkmesh.com/ebooks/alloy-of-l...ndon+Sanderson Last edited by ctol; 11-15-2011 at 03:42 AM.

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10-26-2011, 11:08 PM	#48
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	I just wrapped up the audiobooks, and while the last three-ish hours took ages for me to get through, the last 30-odd minutes was very satisfying. The expository prefaces to each chapter did have me groaning toward the end there. On the whole, there was more than enough here that was enjoyable that I'm glad to have 'read' the series, but I can't say it was crafted in a way that I'm particularly impressed with the author. The best of it was the characterization of most of the crew members and a few key villains (though not so much the 'Big Bad'), and the action scenes centered on one or two of the main characters (though not so much the military engagements). The worst of it was when he seemed to be writing self-congratulatory essays about his own world-building. The magic systems and fighting styles were more superhero/anime than sword-and-sorcery style magic, to me. I would almost call them superpower systems rather than magic systems. On the whole, this series seemed to borrow more from Full Metal Alchemist and X-Men than Tolkien et al.

11-15-2011, 03:47 AM	#51
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, I bought it a few days ago. Haven't started reading it yet.

11-15-2011, 02:49 PM	#52
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	Elantris is my current audiobook, and I'm finding the world more intriguing than the one in Mistborn, and laid out more subtly, less brick-by-brick. Hopefully there won't be an exposition dump near the end like in Mistborn. Elantris is doing a lot more for my opinion of Sanderson as an author than the Mistborn trilogy did.

11-16-2011, 08:35 AM	#53
mewmartigan Guru Posts: 852 Karma: 8242060 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Oasis (2019)	I just bought Elantris for my Kindle last night. Reviews seem positive and I look forward to starting it soon.

11-20-2011, 12:13 AM	#56
Shadowplay Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 1096228 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Oasis	Thought I'd chime in here as I finished the 3rd book, Hero of Ages, last night. I enjoyed the series and particularly enjoyed the endings of the 1st and 3rd books. I thought the 2nd book and much of the 3rd book floundered around, but were still interesting enough that I had no trouble finishing them. It's always bittersweet when author's do what Sanderson did here to the characters. It fits, it's epic (hence our love of epic fantasy, right?) yet of course it's a bit emotional!

11-20-2011, 07:09 PM	#58
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	While the series was not perfect, I greatly enjoyed it overall and I look forward to reading the newest book in the series. I am also looking forward to reading the next book in his "Stormlight Archive" series.

11-22-2011, 09:09 PM	#59
Coralm Enthusiast Posts: 35 Karma: 87810 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: CT Device: Kindle	If you liked Mistborn and you don't want to get involved with the Stormlight Archives until more of them are ready, you can pick up Warbreaker to get your fix. It's actually my favorite of his and stands alone (although I did ask him via email once if he ever planned a sequel and he said yes).

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