@@techiemikey Lerasium is the metal that turns you into a mistborn. Brandon retconned atium so that actually the thing we see in Era 1 is an atium/electrum alloy, so to burn that atium you need to be able to burn electrum. Anyone can use pure atium but it has a slightly different effect which we haven’t seen in the books yet.
@@techiemikey Yes, everyone can burn any god metal. Regular people being able to burn lerasium to become mistborn is the thing that required this change, because Brandon wanted there to be more consistent rules about how things like god metals work.
@@fakjbf3129 that's fair, but the original post only said atium. I did forget about the retcon, but either preservation changed nothing, or changed it so people can burn godmetals. Not just atium. Although, while thinking of it, I never understood how feruchemy was supposedly there one that wasn't about preservation only, when the one requiring you to destroy metal was.
Sazed being The Hero of Ages was spoiled for me because I listened to the audiobook. The narrator used his accent for reading the blurbs at the beginning of each chapter.
It’s always fun seeing someone experience the end of Hero of Ages for the first time. One of the things Brandon Sanderson excels at is writing satisfying endings that tie all of the major elements of the book/series together in ways you might not have expected, but always in ways that feel right. As for Sazed being the hero of ages, since I listened to the audiobooks of the series it was a bit more foreshadowed because the narrator uses Sazed’s accent for the chapter epigraphs written from the hero’s perspective. (And you are right that Sazed is referred to as Harmony now that he is the vessel of Ruin and Preservation.) I do hope you give The Stormlight Archive a chance at some point, because it is, in my opinion, Brandon Sanderson’s best series. I know it’s a big commitment, but I assure you that the payoff is well worth it
Vessel is the word you were looking for. Vin became Preservation's vessel. When a person takes up a power like Ruin or Preservation they're considered a vessel of that power. As for the previous vessels, Leras and Ati (Which is where the metals Lerasium and Atium get their names from). To get their story we're all waiting for a story called Dragonsteel. Which Brandon has hinted at that he'll probably write eventually. But there's a wiki, the 17th shard, where people have been trying to assemble all this lore from hints in the books, and Words of Brandon, which are quotes from Q&A Sessions or other public comments from Brandon.
So excited for you to jump into the broader cosmere. You will get answers, but you will get more questions! Try to catch up with the four stormlight books before 5 comes out in December!
You should go reread the epigraphs especially the first few of this book. You had it correct for a bit that they were Sazed but pivoted off him, and knowing it's him makes the first chapter's epigraph crazy. Chapter 3 is a pretty dead giveaway... "i think". I'll probably do a read along with you for best served cold since it's right on top of my TBR.
I wish I read this comment earlier, I am close to finishing best served cold because I went to England for 10 days and needed something to read! I’ll for sure post about it but missed the chance to read along with you
The whole time you kept saying that sazed and his power was the balance even though u never pinned down the end for real. Hearing that I knew u would like the ending. Glad u enjoyed!
It was so great to see how close you came to predicting Sazed's solution. You had talked about all the pieces of the puzzle but you just didn't put them together. It was so difficult to resist commenting on it. Next, in my opinion: 1) New Spring 2) Elantris 3) Warbreaker After that, decide between mistborn season 2 or stormlight archive. Season 2 is finished, however, so I lean towards that.
It’s such a great ending to the trilogy, really bringing it all together. There’s always another secret! There’s more things you can learn about Ruin and Preservation, but most of their story will come in a later series, to be called Dragonsteel, which will be the origin series of the Cosmere. It’s a good idea to take a breather between Mistborn and anything else. And Secret History is amazing!
I have read secret history but not era 2. I really enjoyed secret history but there is definitely a bunch of wtf stuff that happens that a lot of went over my head (I had read a other cosmere books so got a few references here and there). It was still really interesting but you definitely know you are not fully understanding the details. If you want alternatives and are not ready to dive into stormlight (I'm in early words of radiance right now) I would recommend either warbreaker or emporers soul. I really enjoyed both. Warbreaker is similar length to a mistborn and emporers soul is a novella and a fairly quick read. Fyi, emporers soul is set on the same world as Elantris but a totally different area with different characters and magic. No need to read Elantris first. Elantris is worth reading at some point but my least favourite cosmere so far. I will also mention that I found way of kings to be a bit of a slog (that might be heretical). I think it was partly because I only have a little time to read each day or two and therefore such a large book seemed to drag. I am however immensely enjoying the start of words of radiance and trying to make more time to read (if only to keep in front of you to see your predictions 😂)
OK, why do people recommend an order in the most insane way possible? If you need Warbreaker to understand parts of The Stormlight Archives, the series, just read it before Way of Kings. No need to break up the books.
I was in the same boat, I was convinced that the hero of ages was Vin the whole time. Until I just thought the hero of ages was just a big sham setup by Ruin. I was completely mind blown, but once you know all the pieces definitely fall into place
For the limited "screen time" they're a fascinating character! Well deserved MVP. Also, Marsh's story reminded me of Dune's Alia. Maybe, she's the inspiration. One of my favourite characters ever. Was a fun journey! Hope to see more from you in the future😉
Now look for Mistborn Secret Histories! It's critical to read the main trilogy first because there are major spoilers. But now that you've got that done, pick up Secret Histories while this trilogy is fresh in your mind.
I enjoyed you got to finish this wonderful story. Every time in your previous reactions you kept saying "balance" a lot and I thought you would figure out the twist of who the Hero of Ages would be and the combined name Harmony literally is balance. MVP to you and your reaction videos.
Hi Connor, ty for finishing the series. I haven't read Joe Abbercrombie so I won't be watching the next series as I don't want to spoil it but I'll be back in the comments when you return to Sanderson. On Secret History next, you absolutely can read it, but there are concepts from the cosmere that you won't be aware of yet and it will make SH have less impact. It will also make certain reveals in later cosmere books have less impact as well. One of which is quite major. As long as you're ok with that risk then it's ok.
Glad to see you enjoyed the ending as much as I expected you would. It is a good idea to take a short break before reading another Sanderson story but Secret History straight after is a good call. Also the 'spoilers' people warn of for era 2 are so minor you likely won't recall by the time you get there. Especially if you break for another author etc.
There was a moment in book 3 where I think sazed repeats the prophecy and it says the hero will bare the weight of the world on his arms. And I'm like, oh like sazed with his copper minds on his arms... It still didn't hit me that he was the hero.
“absolutely not, I was miles away” lol!! But to be fair, I was like not even on the same continent, I was completely shocked when I read it!! Well done in your predictions, loved hearing them from a first time reader of the series ❤
Do you remember the obligator transportation heist Vin’s crew leader was involved in at the start of book 1? One of Brandon’s cooler out-of-books reveals: had they gone through with that, they would have uncovered the Lord Ruler’s secret atium shipments. They probably would have been slain by inquisitors before they could have figured out the details but Ruin would have known.
Brandon has said we will get more of the story of Leras and Ati (the original Vessels of Preservation and Ruin respectively) later. In regards to your thought about Vin still being (mostly) the same person after taking up Preservation, we've learned that early on the Vessel's mind is still in control, but over the eons it slowly gets subsumed by the Intent of the Shard.
Prepare for some heavy Cosmere connections in Secret History. And the recommended reading order is to read Warbreaker before Stormlight. A great standalone story on its own.
Vin had so much development in book one that it would have been an absolute marvel if she could develop passed that by a wide margin. Genuinely such a good trilogy.
When I finished reading Hero of Ages, I was absolutely blown away. The ending was so conclusive, so satisfying, and so amazingly written, that I felt resolved and complete as a person. I didn't even want to speak for a few hours, just because I felt so satisfied and concluded, not just the book but me myself.
I felt very much like that at the end of the Wheel of Time, I had to go for a walk to process the fact it was over and all the emotions of the last year of reading it. I enjoyed Mistborn trilogy a lot, it was way above average for sure, some amazing storytelling, especially how neatly everything was wrapped up. Enjoyable and logical magic system. I enjoyed a lot of the characters but now I am past it I don't think there are any characters that I completely loved. For example, some characters that I loved from other series I think about them more than the series when I look back, Mat from the Wheel Of Time, Sand Dan Glokta from The First Law Trilogy, and many more from books when I was young. I just feel I was missing that from Mistborn. I am now reading Stromlight Archive and I enjoy Kaladin and Dalinar much more than anyone from the Mistborn trilogy. Just my opinion. Great trilogy though
@@conorreads Love your take on it. At the time I read it, Mistborn blew me away. I have to agree that I also don't think back to loving characters as much as I could've. I also followed up Mistborn with Stormlight, and the characters have a lot more depth and I like them so much more, even though I adored the characters in Mistborn. Stormlight characters have so much depth, so many inner struggles that we see them fight through, that it makes a stronger bond and gives everything so much more satisfaction. Kaladin and Dalinar are amazing characters and following their development is a lovely journey within the wonderful story. Personally, I think just as highly about Navani, Jasnah, Shallan, Syl, Pattern, and Adolin.
Noone sticks a landing like Brando. It is known. It's why with all the trepidations i have around stormlight 5, they are basically made redundant because ive seen him smash endings outta the park multiple times now.
I would strongly discourage you from continuing with secret history, it's amazing but takes away from major reveals from Mistorn Era 2, it's best read after the Bands of Mourning. I think if the Stormlight Archives is too much of a commitment (Although it is 110% worth it), Warbreaker, Tress of the Emerald Sea or Emporer's Soul are better continuations of the cosmere, as they are all standalone stories.
Just finished this series. So much fun to watch you get so close to the Harmony resolution, but not quite reach it. You made some excellent predictions! Not sure if you've started already, but I would wait to read Secret History till later. It was released immediately after the Bands of Mourning, and I think it's a better read there. Not a big deal either way, but just my two cents. If you don't want to dive into Stormlight yet, I would recommend one of the stand alone stories. Warbreaker and Ellantris are both great. Personally I'd recommend Warbreaker first. Elantris was Brandon's first published novel and is a little rough around the edges. Also, your playlist for sci-fi/fantasy reads is missing a bunch of videos. I had to go search for them on your channel. Just thought I'd let you know!
I didn’t get quite the same emotional impact from Mistborn as WoT (partially because of the length difference, as you note), but I agree that the kandra reveal was clutch. I think the earring reveal was apparent before the end, but I will say that Vin’s weaponization of the earring in book 1 against the Lord Ruler did serve as a nice diversion to steer a casual reader away from ulterior motives for its existence. I didn’t guess it was Sazed, but my wife did, because she listened to the audiobook version, and Michael Kramer (the narrator) would speak the epigraphs in Sazed’s voice! Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts about “Best Served Cold.” Some consider it the best Abercrombie book; some actually don’t like it at all. It’s divisive!
I guessed it was Sazed but guessed very late, basically when Vin attacked ruin the 2nd time after Elend died. My first thought was that they where going to crate balance by annihilating each other. Then my mind went to Brandon Sanderson being mormon and not the type who would leave a world without a god, and Sazed popped into my mind as the only one who would be able to handle balance and not get frustrated by it like Ruin warned Vin she would become.
you're definitely going to like dragonsteel when it comes out (that's supposed to be the backstory of all the gods and one guy who shows up a lot but i don't think you noticed)
In regards to your MVP award, I gotta disagree strongly. (Fair warning this comment is a bit of a rant, but I still really enjoyed your videos and predictions and look forward to seeing you read more of the cosmere.) Yes, Rashek may have had good intentions (debatable, but let's go with it for now), however the actions that he took far outweigh them imo. He had blood fountains that sprayed the blood of the innocent people he executed into the air to strike fear into the hearts of the skaa. He set up a centuries-long breeding program (and all the horrors that entails) with the intention of creating a docile servant class. He set up a system in which women were literally raped and murdered. And this is your nominee for most valuable guy? Also, let's talk about those good intentions of his. He killed Alendi out of jealousy and spite (presumably) before he even knew anything about Ruin. (Maybe Kwaan told him, but I kinda doubt it.) Yes, he didn't release Ruin, but that was mostly out of greed for his own power. And what did he do with that power? Screwed up the world massively and almost killed everyone on the planet. Yes, he fixed it, but did so by making everything objectively shittier. The other feruchemists he (effectively) killed by tuning into mistwraiths, just so no one else would be able to do what he could and challenge him. And then he set himself up as a god to live forever and have absolute control, just so he could take up the power again in a thousand years. Partly this was to not let Ruin out, but I think mostly just so that he personally could have another shot at the Well. And in terms of his authoritarian government, I don't believe that it was the only or even the best way to keep Ruin at bay. Even just spreading the information far and wide about Ruin and what it could do (on metal plates ofc so it couldn't be altered) would've gone a long way to making it harder for people to be manipulated into letting it out. It seems pretty clear to me that the Lord Ruler set things up the way he did because he liked it that way. It kinda baffles me that the narrative tries to pull this "he was a good man" bs at the end, but that's just my take.
Rashek was a bad (or at least very selfish) person, that’s why he was selected by Kwaan. Once he understood he did what he could to succeed in stopping ruin. I think him understanding the power of ruin and the reach ruin has led to a lot of his decisions. There were better ways to do things but his level of consistency and did keep ruin influence to a minimum. Best performance over the 1000 years of history we know off at this point. Plus he held the secret alone, as he knew ruins power, heavy stuff. Very flawed, quite evil and uncaring for the people as individuals. But very very impressive run as the alternative to ruin!
@@conorreadsTrue, but I would argue that being the better alternative to a god of destruction hell-bent on killing all life on the planet isn't a very high bar to pass.
No I agree, but considering the hard part of the job is stopping the all seeing highly influential god of destruction on its never ending quest to power I’d say it still counts
Awesome, just a note that secret history spoils something from an era 2 book that it was published around the same time as, so long as you're good with that it's not too crazy but it will ruin (no pun intended) a surprise
im probably too late now but mistborn a secret history will spoil bands of mourning slightly and was meant to be read after edit: i just saw the video that you finished the book RIP
funny, on your first video from hero of ages you said it must be sazed, because he is the guy who would write a book. And I thought it was so sad because you discovered it so early. And then you lost it again completely
To clarify: Preservation didn't make anyone into a Mistborn, he just made them able to burn Atium.
Do you mean lerasium?
@@techiemikey Lerasium is the metal that turns you into a mistborn. Brandon retconned atium so that actually the thing we see in Era 1 is an atium/electrum alloy, so to burn that atium you need to be able to burn electrum. Anyone can use pure atium but it has a slightly different effect which we haven’t seen in the books yet.
@@fakjbf3129 ok... But then it was adjusted to burn the god metals, not just atium, right? Because people could burn lerasium.
@@techiemikey Yes, everyone can burn any god metal. Regular people being able to burn lerasium to become mistborn is the thing that required this change, because Brandon wanted there to be more consistent rules about how things like god metals work.
@@fakjbf3129 that's fair, but the original post only said atium. I did forget about the retcon, but either preservation changed nothing, or changed it so people can burn godmetals. Not just atium.
Although, while thinking of it, I never understood how feruchemy was supposedly there one that wasn't about preservation only, when the one requiring you to destroy metal was.
Sazed being The Hero of Ages was spoiled for me because I listened to the audiobook. The narrator used his accent for reading the blurbs at the beginning of each chapter.
A few people said the same thing!
It’s always fun seeing someone experience the end of Hero of Ages for the first time. One of the things Brandon Sanderson excels at is writing satisfying endings that tie all of the major elements of the book/series together in ways you might not have expected, but always in ways that feel right.
As for Sazed being the hero of ages, since I listened to the audiobooks of the series it was a bit more foreshadowed because the narrator uses Sazed’s accent for the chapter epigraphs written from the hero’s perspective. (And you are right that Sazed is referred to as Harmony now that he is the vessel of Ruin and Preservation.)
I do hope you give The Stormlight Archive a chance at some point, because it is, in my opinion, Brandon Sanderson’s best series. I know it’s a big commitment, but I assure you that the payoff is well worth it
Vessel is the word you were looking for. Vin became Preservation's vessel. When a person takes up a power like Ruin or Preservation they're considered a vessel of that power. As for the previous vessels, Leras and Ati (Which is where the metals Lerasium and Atium get their names from). To get their story we're all waiting for a story called Dragonsteel. Which Brandon has hinted at that he'll probably write eventually. But there's a wiki, the 17th shard, where people have been trying to assemble all this lore from hints in the books, and Words of Brandon, which are quotes from Q&A Sessions or other public comments from Brandon.
So excited for you to jump into the broader cosmere. You will get answers, but you will get more questions!
Try to catch up with the four stormlight books before 5 comes out in December!
You should go reread the epigraphs especially the first few of this book. You had it correct for a bit that they were Sazed but pivoted off him, and knowing it's him makes the first chapter's epigraph crazy. Chapter 3 is a pretty dead giveaway... "i think". I'll probably do a read along with you for best served cold since it's right on top of my TBR.
I wish I read this comment earlier, I am close to finishing best served cold because I went to England for 10 days and needed something to read! I’ll for sure post about it but missed the chance to read along with you
The whole time you kept saying that sazed and his power was the balance even though u never pinned down the end for real. Hearing that I knew u would like the ending. Glad u enjoyed!
My readings after Mistborn was: The Scadrian System Essay and Eleventh Metal (from Arcanum Unbounded) and now halfway into Elantris.
It was so great to see how close you came to predicting Sazed's solution. You had talked about all the pieces of the puzzle but you just didn't put them together. It was so difficult to resist commenting on it.
Next, in my opinion:
1) New Spring
2) Elantris
3) Warbreaker
After that, decide between mistborn season 2 or stormlight archive. Season 2 is finished, however, so I lean towards that.
It’s such a great ending to the trilogy, really bringing it all together.
There’s always another secret! There’s more things you can learn about Ruin and Preservation, but most of their story will come in a later series, to be called Dragonsteel, which will be the origin series of the Cosmere.
It’s a good idea to take a breather between Mistborn and anything else. And Secret History is amazing!
I have read secret history but not era 2. I really enjoyed secret history but there is definitely a bunch of wtf stuff that happens that a lot of went over my head (I had read a other cosmere books so got a few references here and there). It was still really interesting but you definitely know you are not fully understanding the details.
If you want alternatives and are not ready to dive into stormlight (I'm in early words of radiance right now) I would recommend either warbreaker or emporers soul. I really enjoyed both. Warbreaker is similar length to a mistborn and emporers soul is a novella and a fairly quick read. Fyi, emporers soul is set on the same world as Elantris but a totally different area with different characters and magic. No need to read Elantris first. Elantris is worth reading at some point but my least favourite cosmere so far.
I will also mention that I found way of kings to be a bit of a slog (that might be heretical). I think it was partly because I only have a little time to read each day or two and therefore such a large book seemed to drag. I am however immensely enjoying the start of words of radiance and trying to make more time to read (if only to keep in front of you to see your predictions 😂)
it's time to read way of kings!!!
Read that and then pause to read warbeaker before reading the sequel.
CANT WAIT!!
OK, why do people recommend an order in the most insane way possible? If you need Warbreaker to understand parts of The Stormlight Archives, the series, just read it before Way of Kings.
No need to break up the books.
I was in the same boat, I was convinced that the hero of ages was Vin the whole time. Until I just thought the hero of ages was just a big sham setup by Ruin. I was completely mind blown, but once you know all the pieces definitely fall into place
The thing is, I thought the narrator was Sazed and that he would be hero of ages early on and then talked myself out of it!
For the limited "screen time" they're a fascinating character! Well deserved MVP.
Also, Marsh's story reminded me of Dune's Alia. Maybe, she's the inspiration. One of my favourite characters ever.
Was a fun journey! Hope to see more from you in the future😉
I thought so too, I haven’t watched or read dune yet you know
Now look for Mistborn Secret Histories! It's critical to read the main trilogy first because there are major spoilers. But now that you've got that done, pick up Secret Histories while this trilogy is fresh in your mind.
If you don't want to commit to a big Book I recommend Warbreaker, great stand alone read in the cosmere.
I enjoyed you got to finish this wonderful story. Every time in your previous reactions you kept saying "balance" a lot and I thought you would figure out the twist of who the Hero of Ages would be and the combined name Harmony literally is balance. MVP to you and your reaction videos.
Right on the precipice and never got it! Thankyou
As you've wrapped up Era 1, I reckon you should listen to Silk and Ashes by Stormlyte. It's a neat Vin character song.
Hi Connor, ty for finishing the series. I haven't read Joe Abbercrombie so I won't be watching the next series as I don't want to spoil it but I'll be back in the comments when you return to Sanderson.
On Secret History next, you absolutely can read it, but there are concepts from the cosmere that you won't be aware of yet and it will make SH have less impact. It will also make certain reveals in later cosmere books have less impact as well. One of which is quite major.
As long as you're ok with that risk then it's ok.
Thanks for the info mate, I appreciate you looking out for me and my reading experience
Glad to see you enjoyed the ending as much as I expected you would. It is a good idea to take a short break before reading another Sanderson story but Secret History straight after is a good call. Also the 'spoilers' people warn of for era 2 are so minor you likely won't recall by the time you get there. Especially if you break for another author etc.
Yeah I will read some Joe Abercrombie and then go into secret history I think
There was a moment in book 3 where I think sazed repeats the prophecy and it says the hero will bare the weight of the world on his arms. And I'm like, oh like sazed with his copper minds on his arms... It still didn't hit me that he was the hero.
And if you reread Book 1, that is the very first epigraph. It's really well set up.
“absolutely not, I was miles away” lol!! But to be fair, I was like not even on the same continent, I was completely shocked when I read it!! Well done in your predictions, loved hearing them from a first time reader of the series ❤
Thanks Adub, it was great fun to read this.
Do you remember the obligator transportation heist Vin’s crew leader was involved in at the start of book 1? One of Brandon’s cooler out-of-books reveals: had they gone through with that, they would have uncovered the Lord Ruler’s secret atium shipments. They probably would have been slain by inquisitors before they could have figured out the details but Ruin would have known.
I never thought of that
Brandon has said we will get more of the story of Leras and Ati (the original Vessels of Preservation and Ruin respectively) later. In regards to your thought about Vin still being (mostly) the same person after taking up Preservation, we've learned that early on the Vessel's mind is still in control, but over the eons it slowly gets subsumed by the Intent of the Shard.
I am very interested in the original vessels
Prepare for some heavy Cosmere connections in Secret History.
And the recommended reading order is to read Warbreaker before Stormlight. A great standalone story on its own.
Vin had so much development in book one that it would have been an absolute marvel if she could develop passed that by a wide margin. Genuinely such a good trilogy.
Yeah she does go a long way in the first book
When I finished reading Hero of Ages, I was absolutely blown away. The ending was so conclusive, so satisfying, and so amazingly written, that I felt resolved and complete as a person. I didn't even want to speak for a few hours, just because I felt so satisfied and concluded, not just the book but me myself.
I felt very much like that at the end of the Wheel of Time, I had to go for a walk to process the fact it was over and all the emotions of the last year of reading it.
I enjoyed Mistborn trilogy a lot, it was way above average for sure, some amazing storytelling, especially how neatly everything was wrapped up. Enjoyable and logical magic system. I enjoyed a lot of the characters but now I am past it I don't think there are any characters that I completely loved.
For example, some characters that I loved from other series I think about them more than the series when I look back, Mat from the Wheel Of Time, Sand Dan Glokta from The First Law Trilogy, and many more from books when I was young. I just feel I was missing that from Mistborn.
I am now reading Stromlight Archive and I enjoy Kaladin and Dalinar much more than anyone from the Mistborn trilogy. Just my opinion. Great trilogy though
@@conorreads Love your take on it. At the time I read it, Mistborn blew me away. I have to agree that I also don't think back to loving characters as much as I could've. I also followed up Mistborn with Stormlight, and the characters have a lot more depth and I like them so much more, even though I adored the characters in Mistborn. Stormlight characters have so much depth, so many inner struggles that we see them fight through, that it makes a stronger bond and gives everything so much more satisfaction. Kaladin and Dalinar are amazing characters and following their development is a lovely journey within the wonderful story. Personally, I think just as highly about Navani, Jasnah, Shallan, Syl, Pattern, and Adolin.
Noone sticks a landing like Brando. It is known. It's why with all the trepidations i have around stormlight 5, they are basically made redundant because ive seen him smash endings outta the park multiple times now.
Yeah he did a great job
I would strongly discourage you from continuing with secret history, it's amazing but takes away from major reveals from Mistorn Era 2, it's best read after the Bands of Mourning. I think if the Stormlight Archives is too much of a commitment (Although it is 110% worth it), Warbreaker, Tress of the Emerald Sea or Emporer's Soul are better continuations of the cosmere, as they are all standalone stories.
Be aware that Mistborn: Secret History has minor spoilers for Mistborn 6: The Bands of Mourning
So if you burnt enough atium to become a savant you would become ruin it would require a huge amount more then the lord ruler ever had
Just finished this series. So much fun to watch you get so close to the Harmony resolution, but not quite reach it. You made some excellent predictions!
Not sure if you've started already, but I would wait to read Secret History till later. It was released immediately after the Bands of Mourning, and I think it's a better read there. Not a big deal either way, but just my two cents. If you don't want to dive into Stormlight yet, I would recommend one of the stand alone stories. Warbreaker and Ellantris are both great. Personally I'd recommend Warbreaker first. Elantris was Brandon's first published novel and is a little rough around the edges.
Also, your playlist for sci-fi/fantasy reads is missing a bunch of videos. I had to go search for them on your channel. Just thought I'd let you know!
Thanks for the recommendation, strange that the videos are missing I’ll check on that
Mistborn is incredible, Stormlight is also amazing in it's own way.
Wow you know Vin was being talked to by Ruin before we even get introduced to Ruin. Interesting
I had finished the series at this point
Bro really just said "Inquisi-uh"
I didn’t get quite the same emotional impact from Mistborn as WoT (partially because of the length difference, as you note), but I agree that the kandra reveal was clutch.
I think the earring reveal was apparent before the end, but I will say that Vin’s weaponization of the earring in book 1 against the Lord Ruler did serve as a nice diversion to steer a casual reader away from ulterior motives for its existence.
I didn’t guess it was Sazed, but my wife did, because she listened to the audiobook version, and Michael Kramer (the narrator) would speak the epigraphs in Sazed’s voice!
Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts about “Best Served Cold.” Some consider it the best Abercrombie book; some actually don’t like it at all. It’s divisive!
The emotional impact isnt even on the same planet as the emotional impact of WOT. WOT took 14 months of my life lol I felt like I had lived there.
I guessed it was Sazed but guessed very late, basically when Vin attacked ruin the 2nd time after Elend died.
My first thought was that they where going to crate balance by annihilating each other.
Then my mind went to Brandon Sanderson being mormon and not the type who would leave a world without a god, and Sazed popped into my mind as the only one who would be able to handle balance and not get frustrated by it like Ruin warned Vin she would become.
you're definitely going to like dragonsteel when it comes out (that's supposed to be the backstory of all the gods and one guy who shows up a lot but i don't think you noticed)
Wow a cryptic comment, makes me wonder what I missed……
@@conorreads He'll make a more prominent appearance in Secret History, so don't worry about that too much.
yes read secret history now that is fresh on your mind
I was wondering if the lord ruler had been laundering atium into his metal minds. This works too amd it lead to an epic ending.
Best review!
I can confirm that we do have some basic insight into the man who became Ruin. However, I'll leave you to find that out yourself lol/
In regards to your MVP award, I gotta disagree strongly. (Fair warning this comment is a bit of a rant, but I still really enjoyed your videos and predictions and look forward to seeing you read more of the cosmere.)
Yes, Rashek may have had good intentions (debatable, but let's go with it for now), however the actions that he took far outweigh them imo. He had blood fountains that sprayed the blood of the innocent people he executed into the air to strike fear into the hearts of the skaa. He set up a centuries-long breeding program (and all the horrors that entails) with the intention of creating a docile servant class. He set up a system in which women were literally raped and murdered. And this is your nominee for most valuable guy?
Also, let's talk about those good intentions of his. He killed Alendi out of jealousy and spite (presumably) before he even knew anything about Ruin. (Maybe Kwaan told him, but I kinda doubt it.) Yes, he didn't release Ruin, but that was mostly out of greed for his own power. And what did he do with that power? Screwed up the world massively and almost killed everyone on the planet. Yes, he fixed it, but did so by making everything objectively shittier. The other feruchemists he (effectively) killed by tuning into mistwraiths, just so no one else would be able to do what he could and challenge him. And then he set himself up as a god to live forever and have absolute control, just so he could take up the power again in a thousand years. Partly this was to not let Ruin out, but I think mostly just so that he personally could have another shot at the Well.
And in terms of his authoritarian government, I don't believe that it was the only or even the best way to keep Ruin at bay. Even just spreading the information far and wide about Ruin and what it could do (on metal plates ofc so it couldn't be altered) would've gone a long way to making it harder for people to be manipulated into letting it out. It seems pretty clear to me that the Lord Ruler set things up the way he did because he liked it that way. It kinda baffles me that the narrative tries to pull this "he was a good man" bs at the end, but that's just my take.
Rashek was a bad (or at least very selfish) person, that’s why he was selected by Kwaan. Once he understood he did what he could to succeed in stopping ruin.
I think him understanding the power of ruin and the reach ruin has led to a lot of his decisions. There were better ways to do things but his level of consistency and did keep ruin influence to a minimum.
Best performance over the 1000 years of history we know off at this point.
Plus he held the secret alone, as he knew ruins power, heavy stuff.
Very flawed, quite evil and uncaring for the people as individuals. But very very impressive run as the alternative to ruin!
@@conorreadsTrue, but I would argue that being the better alternative to a god of destruction hell-bent on killing all life on the planet isn't a very high bar to pass.
No I agree, but considering the hard part of the job is stopping the all seeing highly influential god of destruction on its never ending quest to power I’d say it still counts
Awesome, just a note that secret history spoils something from an era 2 book that it was published around the same time as, so long as you're good with that it's not too crazy but it will ruin (no pun intended) a surprise
im probably too late now but mistborn a secret history will spoil bands of mourning slightly and was meant to be read after edit: i just saw the video that you finished the book RIP
funny, on your first video from hero of ages you said it must be sazed, because he is the guy who would write a book. And I thought it was so sad because you discovered it so early. And then you lost it again completely
I had it and lost it lol, story of my life
Hated it. First book average. Second and third are a disaster. A complete mess