I really appreciate your positivity in this video, which is kind of ironic given that this is a negative review. A lot of people who don’t like Mistborn (or any other popular piece of media) feel the need to make a long-winded rant about why they loathe it and how they’re anticipating all the hate they’re going to get for their take! That ends up becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s natural to feel isolated when you don’t like something everyone else seems to love, or when you love something everyone seems to hate. Both groups tend to lash out like cornered animals and escalate things unnecessarily By asking people to share why they like the book, you established a custom of understanding and good will. This is your first video that I’ve watched, but not the first negative review of Mistborn that I’ve consumed. I love Mistborn. I latched on to the mysteries, like the nature of Steel Inquisitors and Kandra, and what the heck a Koloss was. I wanted to know why and how the world was transformed. And with new metals already being discovered, I wondered what else could be out there. I also really enjoyed the action. Mentions of Pushes and Pulls didn’t bother me because it just helped me picture how the characters were using their environment. And the thematic exploration of how religion was “corrupted” and utilized by the Lord Ruler and Kelsier in ways that foil each other was super interesting to me. Kelsier’s questionable morality in general was fascinating to see revealed. Usually when I watch a negative review of something I love, I regret it. It feels like being ranted to and not being able to get a word in. I watch those reviews sometimes anyways, hoping it will improve my media literacy or something vague like that. This video I didn’t regret though. I appreciated getting to understand your perspective. I’m glad you shared it, and I like what you’re doing here.
Wow this was awesome. First off thank you for watching and thank you for your insight! This is all I wanted for this TH-cam channel is to have a conversation. Whether it’s a positive review or a negative review, I want to share ideas and perspectives with others. Sure, I may not enjoy what someone else reads. And they may not like what I read. But we can talk about it. Share our “why”. Have a conversation. That’s all I want. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Mistborn! After my long journey through Wheel of Time I’d honesty like to give Mistborn a reread just to see if I missed something. If I’m in the right headspace to potentially enjoy it. And if I still don’t like it, so what. I’ll for sure be trying Stormlight Archive! And I won’t stop until I finish book 2 (because everyone says that’s the best one in the series). Then I will share my thoughts! Thank you for hearing my thoughts and sharing yours! Means so much.
I really appreciate everyone’s insight. All I want with this channel is to talk books with people. Have a conversation. Share thoughts and recommendations. Thank you!
I think one of the things people like about his books is why I can’t be bothered to try them: “his magic system” talk. I guess in my head I always think is this a board game or a book? Idk maybe I’ll read one someday. Is it possible for something to be so recommended that you don’t want to try it? That’s where I am with these books.
I absolutely am in the same page with you when it comes to the VIRAL books on tik Tok or book tube. Pretty much any YA romantacy book. So pretty much anything by Sarah J Maas or Rebecca Yarros. Makes me sad when I walk in a barnes and noble or the book section at target and all I see are neon colored fantasy books. I avoid any of those books with a ten foot poll lol. Brandon Sanderson though, I will give him a couple more tries! What kind of books intrigue you? What are some of your favorites? My favorite book of all time is Name of the Wind.
I like his books because of the plot and characters growth. The plot is very interesting and the I actually cry with the characters. I read in english but i am not english-speaker so i cant tell if the writing is good or not.
This is going to sound a little weird, but I feel like a lot of the solutions you suggest to fix the pacing issues with Mistborn The Final Empire are actually present within The Well of Ascension, the sequel novel. Mistborn was Sanderson's attempt to essentially push the plot of what would happen in three books, all into one book. While he successfully wrote a novel doing this, all of Mistborn Book 1's problems stem from the lightning fast pacing. The exposition, the romance, the characters etc. all suffer from the extremely quick pacing of the first novel. Well of Ascension is a much slower paced book than Book 1, and actually gives its characters time to develop. I think if you were to read it, you'd find that Elend's arc in the book is exactly what you wished for Vin to go through in Book 1. I won't lie, some characters are still pretty one dimensional, I think Vin's inner conflict in Book 2 is particularly annoying (I just don't like Vin as a mc and it was Elend that kept me going), but I think Well of Ascension is definitely a step towards what you want from Sanderson. I'm fairly new to Sanderson myself, and I've peeked into my copy of Way of Kings, and that seems closer to the Robert Jordan/Tolkien giant epic fantasy that you want. Book 3 so far has been the best of the three books imo, but I have recency bias because I'm halfway through it right now.
I did read this book 2 years ago! So I know tastes change. After Wheel of Time I might give it another go and at least see the trilogy all the way through! I apprentice you hanging out and hearing my thoughts. Love that you took the time to share your own insight and experience with the series!
I've so far read the first two Mistborn books, and I'll admit, it's a bit smaller in scale than my usual style of fantasy. But this series was recommended to me as the ideal entry into Sandersons work, so I wasn't expecting something huge, I already know Stromlight is the big one (and probably more up my alley), but I'm still enjoying Mistborn a good deal. I'm real big on accepting things for what they are, and not focusing so much on what I want them to be. This is by no means going to be my favorite book. Not by a long shot, but I've definitely been having a good time with it. But I get where you're coming from. I'll add this, I think the world definitely expands a little bit in the second book. It still focuses primarily on Luthedel, but the world feels a little bigger. In case you ever think of returning some day.
I haven't read Mistborn, but I am 35% through The Way of Kings, because a) all the fans say it's THE thing of Sanderson's to read, and b) it's been on my list of things to read for a while; I figured since he's got a new one coming out in this series this week...why not. I am enjoying it, HOWEVER, all you say about Sanderson pedantically explaining things in Mistborn are still true here. It is not a complex book, regardless of what many say (I'm told it gets more involved later in the series). It has a lot of world building in it, which you may like (especially if you're a D&D DM), but for me, I'd like the ratio to skew more toward character: who these people are and why they make the decisions they do. The book has that, but it's a bit light. The ratio is skewed much more toward, "The DM will now explain what's in the room you've entered." This isn't literature, so if you're looking for that in modern form, I suggest reading a John Irving book. Granted, it isn't fantasy, but other than Lord of the Rings, I'm not sure how much of it one will find. I'd say that R.R. Martin's Song of ice and Fire comes MUCH closer. I read them before watching the TV show, and was infinitely more impressed with them than Sanderon's stuff.
YES! I read books and watch films for characters. Complex characters. Multidimensional. I don't like card board cut outs or empty vessels to just progress the story. That is why I love Name of the Wind. It is all about characters. Some say it is lacking and dull and mundane. But I think it is art. And storytelling at it's finest. Living in the shoes of a character and seeing them grow and navigate the complexities of life. The shows Arcane and Better Call Saul are some of my all time favorites. Why? CHARACTERS. Some of the best written characters on screen. The story and world building don't matter if you don't care for the characters.
@@Thomas.R.Howell Some day I'll read that Rothfuss book. I've heard good things! My hypothesis is those who really love Sanderson and can't critically assess its flaws (that perhaps it's more like a Marvel movie or videogame), haven't had good experiences reading real literature. If they wonder why I state Way of Kings isn't complex, it's because it doesn't challenge the reader to really think about what the author is saying and how they say it. And that's fine; I like popcorn entertainment too, but don't tell me it's complex 🙂
I get what are you saying, but i disagree about the lack of mistey in the magic system. I remeber, the first thing i thought when i read the final emprire was the lack of simmetry ( might be my background in physics), and i was right, there was more to the magic system. After more mstborn books, there is stil always something new in the magic system
Everyone says I need to continue through the trilogy! It was about 2 years ago when I first read Mistborn. I know tastes change over time. Maybe after wheel of time I’ll be in the right head space to appreciate Mistborn on a reread! Thank you for your insight! Means a lot
You sound like me when I first read Mistborn. I was so frustrated! I read the last two of the series & I actually really liked it. I’m still not used to his writing style but ultimately liked how the first era of Mistborn went. Sanderson is very open about how he writes & even says he’s not for everyone. I do plan on reading Stormlight. I’ve read Tress of the Emerald Sea & it was unique, fun but still lacking a bit for me to. On another note, I would love to see Mistborn era one turned into a show.
That's interesting... for me, Vin, specially in the first book, is. A LOT in her lowest. She has some trauma which she deals with throughout the whole book (the distrust issue). I'll give you that the first book has some exposition and is very fast-paced, but a lot of people are not into slow burn. I'll say this though, towards the end, you see how a lot of things connect from the first book.
I think you might like Stormlight Archive, it has all the things you said in this video. give it a chance!! :) (sorry for my English, it's not my native language)
Absolutely! I’m honestly excited to give it a shot. Everyone says the second book is one of the best in the series. Thank you so much for watching means so much!
It's refreshing to see the other side where people aren't just saying that the book is "just good, you should read it" Personally I think it's just okay. It had some highs and lows. But overall I think it's just okay
I appreciate that! It's kind of annoying seeing reviews that are extremely surface level. This was good. This was bad. Etc. TELL ME WHY it was good or bad. Tell me why I should read it or not read it. That way I can come up with my own conclusions and make my own decisions. And possibly have a conversation with the reviewer and share thoughts. That's why I made this channel. To give in depth thoughts and have conversations with people about books! Thank you for watching! I'll be talking about wheel of time and some other books I'll be reading soon!
I think Sanderson (from a plot perspective) is certainly simple, but if you're judging Sanderson's works by this book alone, you're missing out on a lot. And the "I want a more worldbuilding" comment threw me for a loop. You've barely scratched the surface of the "world" being built. Sanderson's Cosmere is one of the most complex and thoughtful in modern fantasy writing. I actually think starting with Mistborn might have been part of the problem, to some extent, as I do agree that I feel less connected to Vin and Kelsier than I do with many of his other characters. I initially didn't think I was going to like the Era 2 books, but I actually like them much more (both in terms of characters and plot) than the Era 1. I won't give spoilers, obviously, but I think the magic system (allomancy AND feruchemy) is applied much more thoughtfully in them as well (less random omnipotence) and it creates much more interesting interactions. I'd also say this: for what you seem to like in a book, Stormlight is a better starting point (re: characters). I think even Elantris might be a better starting point (and is where I started), but I don't think many would agree with me there.
Well, this video was a rollercoaster for me. I just finished reading The Final Empire and The Well of Ascension (back-to-back) and currently reading The Hero of Ages. While some of your criticisms are understandable, there were a few things where I just sat back and said out loud "did we even read the same book?" I guess the one we seem most dissimilar on is the point regarding mystery. So far, I'm wowed by the way the writing leaves breadcrumbs where I'm constantly getting answers to questions as I'm reading and new ones are arising constantly. It definitely gives me that "one more chapter" feeling where I wanna stay up just a little longer to see what's on the next few pages. It's actually really curious that you DIDN'T experience that. That said, I'm coming at this book from a VERY different angle. 1. My expectations were very low to begin with. I am NOT a fantasy reader. And I'm NOT impressed when everyone loves something. In fact, that's very sus for me. So I came in skeptical and with extremely low expectations. 2. I'm a scifi reader, but more accurately, I lean much more toward HARD scifi. 3. I had heard of the "hard magic" system employed by Sanderson, but rolled my eyes and assumed it be a bunch of a whimsical nonsense like almost every fantasy I've attempted to read (which is why I hate fantasy, it's all fluffy garbage with no rules and I can't stand it). 4. Being a hard scifi guy, this book IMMEDIATELY caught my attention because it's written like a hard scifi book. Ironically all your frustration with the explaining of the magic constantly just reminded me of the way hard scifi often gets written where everything is laid out rather mechanically so it doesn't really leave a lot of room for interpretation. It's like reading a logical argument in narrated form. And honestly it's the only time I've EVER read fantasy and immediately felt comfortable. I personally LOVE that aspect of it. It really grounds it for me. But in this case, I can TOTALLY understand why someone wouldn't like that, just like how many people can't STAND hard scifi for rather similar reasons sometimes. I haven't joined THE FANDOM or anything ( I don't really believe in those much and stay away from them mostly ). But part way through the third book and I think I've found an author I REALLY like and I can't wait to check out the rest of the Cosmere. I'm sold, personally. For a scifi nerd with managed expectations like myself going into this? I'd heartily recommend these books! For a fantasy reader? IDK, I honestly just don't know the genre well enough. Looks like most people like it though, but I think they might like it for slightly different reasons than I do.
I’m with ya on this one! Gave the final empire a go cos everyone raved about it, and was guttered to not feel the same as everyone else… loved your video and how you still spoke positively about Brandon Sanderson :)
Same here. I’ve been hearing nothing but great things about Sanderson’s books for years. Finally, I take the plunge and buy Mistborn. After a month of struggling through it, I figured maybe it’s a language thing. English isn’t my native tongue, so I thought I’d give it a shot in my own language. I grab the audiobook in Spanish. Couldn’t even make it halfway. Sanderson’s writing style is so basic that it didn’t win me over either. I just don’t see the appeal-neither the story nor the characters do anything for me. I guess it’s just not my thing. If anyone’s kind enough to point out where the magic, entertainment, surprise, and suspense are, I’ll gladly pay you back
This is pretty much spot on how I felt about Mistborn. Cool magic system, cool premise, but pedestrian writing style, lots of "telling not showing", mostly hollow characters. I didn't give up on Sanderson though and I'm glad I didn't. He's still not my favorite author (that's reserved for Sir Terry, GNU), as I prefer fantastic prose. However, his prose and writing style is better in his later works and Stormlight Archive is pretty fantastic. If you finish The Way of Kings and still don't like Sanderson, then you can say he's definitely not for you.
I read Way of Kings as my first Sanderson book, and reading Mistborn after Stormlight did feel way more tame in comparison. Obviously, this was one of Sandersons first published books and you can clearly see his improvement in Stormlight Archive. That being said, there is a LOT more mystery and plot twist reveals in the second and third Mistborn. The conclusion of Hero of Ages is incredibly well done in my opinion and the conclusion brought up the trilogy as a whole to me whereas my initial impression wasn’t that great (like yours). I hope that maybe once you get more into the Cosmere you will return to Mistborn!
Darn its a shame you didnt enjoy this book. Mistborn is to me what Name of the Wind is to you as it kick started my fantasy reading journey. I will say that the 2nd and 3rd books get much better though.
No problem with that at all! We all have our different tastes and likes and dislikes. I find it really cool when a book comes along at the right time of life, it just changes our world. Name of the Wind was that for me. Happy to hear Mistborn was that for you!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I love that you are a huge fan of Name of the Wind! Me too! I think I shall subscribe to you, sir, since we seem very much aligned in view-points 😂😂 That book is phenomenal and I just love how even people who DESPISE the book, admit whole-heartedly how incredibly written it is which always make me **inserts meme of Kermit sipping tea like a boss**
Honestly I had butterflies in my stomach posting this video because of how popular and beloved this trilogy is. I was afraid of posting an uncommon opinion. Thankfully I’ve found others who agree with me! What are some of your favorite books in fantasy?
@@Thomas.R.Howell It's well articulated so it's great. I would say lord of the rings and currently enjoying Malazan and ASOIF(didn't like the tv show tho). I am getting back to reading but, grew up reading mostly mysteries and legal thrillers.
I think when people hype up the first book, a lot of the hype is coming from the hype of the series as a whole. The first book is honestly not that impressive by itself. But the second and third books elevate its value through the roof. On its own, it is nothing remarkable, but it is indispensable to the trilogy, which is a masterpiece of modern fantasy. With this in mind, you should view the first book as just a prologue to the main story. The first book is not meant to blow you out of the water. It is setting you up for the grand epic that follows, just as The Way of Kings does for the Stormlight Archive. I would say a better starting point for Sanderson is Warbreaker or the Emperor's Soul. You can even just jump straight into The Way of Kings, though you will have to read Warbreaker before Oathbringer
I'm so happy I came across your video cause I thought I was losing my mind. Everyone on Booktube hypes this book up like its the greatest book ever written. Countless ones of them say its a great introduction into Fantasy. I've read fantasy for years but for some reason I never tried Sanderson. Not cause I thought he wouldn't be for me, its just other books and authors seemed more interesting at the time. So I normally read about 5 fantasy books at a time. I find that it keeps me not looking over at another book I want to read and dropping one less interesting for the newer one. So few weeks in I'm over here finishing two Dresden Files books A John Gwynne book, the last book of the Powder Mage Trilogy which are for the most part large books in themselves and I'm doing it in 2 to 3 weeks tops and here I am on like chapter 10 of Mistborn. Simply because I have to read it during the day cause if I read it at night I literally will fall asleep. I have to read like 3 to 4 pages at a time and every page my brain literally feels repelled by this book. Literally the first 20 chapters of this book are various training montages and not even good ones. The most interesting parts of those chapters are the Ball chapters and those are just mid. The side characters are forgettable. The main villain is almost non existent till the very end. I don't want a dump of information by no means but man make me feel something for this villain. Anything. I thought at the very beginning maybe Kelsier could be a character I would definitely be into but then after a few boring POV chapters I was like is this dude dead yet. By the time I got to the end of this book, I was outwardly rooting for the villain because I hated these characters so much. I was beginning to think something was wrong with me for hating this book. Glad at least there are a few people out there that feel the same.
You'd probably enjoy the Stormlight Archive if you like longer, drawn-out books like Wheel of Time, in fact what you were talking about with how Vin's story could have been improved, as in the character being at their lowest throughout the entire first book and then learning they have powers at the end, is literally just Kaladin's story (spoilers?)
@@Thomas.R.Howell Actually, I just started it! Very good, very intricate, and somewhat difficult to put down, even in the first few chapters which seem kinda slow in terms of plot, the characters are all distinct and the slow build-up of suspense and dread makes it an amazing read.
That’s awesome! Welcome to the journey! It’s one of the most immersive and detailed worlds I’ve ever experienced. The histories. the cultures. Every detail. It’s LONG but I’m totally fine with that! It’s worth it. And I’m excited for you!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I agree with this other commenter, if you like Wheel of Time, you'll like Stormlight Archives. I've finished WoT and am current with Stormlight. You're right that Sanderson's prose is pretty plain and easy-access, and he keeps it simpler on purpose. For the final books of WoT he does his best to match Jordan's style, and all things considered he does pretty well, but you can still see his own peek through from time to time. But where Sanderson excels is in yes, his magic systems, but more so in his plot structures. Lots and lots and lots of setup, so that everything comes together for the final act of the book in a really neat way. There's a reason people call it the 'Sanderlanche', haha. Mistborn, being his first published work, is kind of the exception in this regard, but if you do read Stormlight you'll see what I mean. He's one of those authors where I have a lot more appreciation for his works after the fact rather than while I'm reading them.
I'm about 75% of the way through the The Final Empire. I kind of agree with a lot of this, although the "There's always another secret" hook is keeping me interested and I do believe that the story is going to be worth my time. Having started this just after finishing a re-read of the first five A Song of Ice and Fire books, the world does feel a little thin in comparison - scenes feel like they are set in a theatre with painted backdrops, rather than living, breathing towns and cities. But, I am not bored, and can't see myself putting it down until I've finished at the least the first era.
You're speaking my language. I couldn't agree any more on literally every single thing you said. I hope you like some of the other Sanderson stuff if you give it a chance but IMO his style doesn't change enough, he still overexplains, info dumps, hold's your hand, uses dull prose etc. I like him for his plotting and I still like Stormlight and The Emperor's Soul but the way people talk about Sanderson really annoys me sometimes. Not that they're stupid for hyping something they love, I love enthusiasm, but that I often couldn't disagree more with much of what they say and I feel like we read two different books.
Love it dude. I think that isn't a bad thing that his prose are simple. It just isn't for me. But I won't write him off yet. I think as readers we have seasons of reading. Where some months we are only interested in a specific genre or something with crazy amounts of depth. And other days we crave just a junk food meal of a book. A rom com book. Something we can turn our brains off and enjoy. I know for a fact I will want to read one of his books eventually. And Way of Kings is that book. Just not right this second. What are some of your favorite books?
@@Thomas.R.Howell I feel ya. > What are some of your favorite books? Now this I love answering. I'll list authors or single books. If I list an author just assume I like everything by them. Kazuo Ishiguro Gene Wolfe Ulysses Infinite Jest Ursula K. LGuin Kafka on the Shore Kurt Vonnegut Terra Ignota Realm of the Elderlings Lord of Light Josiah Bancroft Fifth Season Dune (God Emperor is the best one) Discworld Tolkien And my favorite of all time is Malazan P.S. also please don't take this the wrong way but prose is a mass noun. Just a pet peeve of mine
@@Thomas.R.Howell Another thing. What I dislike about Sanderson's Prose isn't that it's simple. There is plenty of really great simple prose. Ishiguro, Vonnegut, Orwell, and Hemingway are excellent examples of this. Their prose is simple but not simplistic. Sanderson's prose is simplistic and claims to be windowpane but is anything but. It's clunky, blunt, and repetitive and so draws attention to itself. No one (with a brain) has said that simple prose can't have subtext, engaging dialogue, or naturalistic exposition. (Again see my examples) I wish someone would tell Sanderson that
I personally really loved the Mistborn series. The journey Vin goes on through the books, how religion is portrayed, the hard magic system, the commentary on the conflict bewteen rich and poor, The mystery in the last 2 books,.... I get the criticism but don't agree.
You are absolutely free to disagree. I would love to give it another try down the line. Right now I am reading the last three books of Wheel of Time which were written by Sanderson and I am loving what he has brought to that series!
@@Thomas.R.Howell If you're talking about classics in general, my recommendations to start with would be: Letter to His Father by Kafka (one of the most honest things I've ever read), The Martian Chronicles by Bradbury, or 1984/Animal Farm by Orwell (fantastic "sci-fi"), and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. These are all pretty easy to read and entertaining, with different levels of depth to analyze. If we're talking about Russian classics, the best things I've read (though I should mention I might be a bit biased because I'm a psychotherapist) would be: Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky (one of the best books I've ever read, with a fascinating theme; reading it feels like a fever dream in every sense), The Brothers Karamazov by the same author (Freud's favorite novel, actually haha; it tackles complex issues like justice, faith, family, etc.), Anna Karenina by Tolstoy (one of the best novels I've read in terms of narrative, with characters that have since stayed with me; Tolstoy provides a clear and detailed sociological analysis of the social and cultural state of late 1800s Russia), Fathers and Sons by Turgenev (a beautiful, short novel about the challenging generational conflicts between fathers and sons), and maybe lastly, another short novel by Dostoevsky that I think is the most accessible for starting with him, White Nights (it's really short, so I don't want to spoil anything). Sorry for the long answer, but I'm really passionate about this subject. I hope if you give any of these a try, you'll let me know what you think! :)
I'm sorta in the same boat for Book 1. I don't really mind how it's being written necessarily, but I find the magic system way too complex for its own good; way too hard to follow compared to his later works. I also just don't see the appeal in a heist story regardless of it being Fantasy or not. Haven't read all the way through but I'm reading it still despite my lack of general interest since I need to read books for my own work (I'm aspiring to become an Author myself).
Thank you. Everyone praised this book and I found it to be flat and dull, and the magic system was too clever for its own good. I've given him another try with The Way of Kings and so far it is much more interesting.
@@emanuelgonzalez7500 Mistborn was one of his first published books and his later works show improvement. I do have to say my initial impression of Mistborn was mixed but by the end of the trilogy and how he concludes the story made me a fan. I am way more interested in Stormlight Archives, which is his big epic and much more unique fantasy
Mistborn to me is an action movie. I like it but its not a slow burn by any means. Way of Kings is one that makes you sit and think. I also liked Elantris for that reason aswell. But i think Mistborn is the most action-ya-quick in and out. I think there are a lot of different places to start for different people, mistborn might not be yours but I think you may like it for its place later on.
Completely agree. Mistborn is so massively overhyped and that might have played into my feeling of being very underwhelmed by the end. Character work is too shallow for my liking and the world didn't feel lived in, felt surface level and like a little sandbox. Way too much exposition, too little ambiguity and nuance, too little mystery and intrigue
First things first, you were very nice about your dislike for the book and I can appreciate that. Second point, Vin being an orphan, underfed, betrayed, abused, and afraid of being "assaulted" all the time isn't low enough? Like how much lower do you want her to get?I can understand wanting a character to go through hardship, but you want more than that!? Sorry, I just wanted to point that out because it bugged me lol
I think for me I wanted to live through the low moments. See if play out in a more organic way rather than just have it told to me that It happened. ya know? Not to say she wasn't low enough. just wanted to live in her shoes a bit during those low moments. Hence why I enjoy Name of the Wind so much. The whole series is about living in the shoes of the character no matter how mundane it may be.
I appreciate your take and the review. I think in terms of The Final Empire enjoyment, I think I liked it a fair bit more than you did, though I had similar pain points--particularly with the speed and there being too much emphasis on the minutiae of the magic system's mechanics in the moment to moment action and not enough exploration on the magic's impact on the world itself. For as much fantasy and magic was at play in Mistborn, in some ways it almost felt lacking because its presentation was so mechanical and lacking in some of that numinous magical quality that makes fantasy so wonderful to daydream about. Based on your review, I think Stormlight Archive is more what you're looking for if you're planning on trying out more adult and fleshed out Sanderson writing. Since you're finishing up Wheel of Time, you'll get to see Sanderson's adaptability, and that should be more of a proper indication of whether you'll enjoy Stormlight Archive or not, even if it's not a true 1:1 comparison in writing style. Though I'm not a die hard Sanderson fan, I appreciate everything he's done for the industry, and we definitely need more Sandersons in the trad pub world. He's expressed interest on numerous occasions that he'd like to work with a game director like Miyazaki (after G.R.R.M.'s involvement in Elden Ring), and I think he's 100% the guy that would make that work beautifully based on how he thinks, plots, and writes.
Oh man, it's so refreshing to hear that someone else didn't love Mistborn😅 I really thought I was the only one. And I read a lot of YA! YA can have excellent prose (ie Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor) but the prose in Mistborn was painful for me to get through. Every time he referred to a horse as a "beast" I cringed. Just call it a horse! I agree with you, reading this magic system felt like reading a video game instruction manual. As I reflected on it, I also realized that this wasn't a world that I wanted to keep returning to. I know a lot of people enjoy urban fantasy-settings, but it's just not for me. It was so depressing, and yeah I get that's the point, but I read for escapism; give me the Shire over the apocalyptic city in Mistborn any day.
agreed - the first mistborn trilogy is more of a pre-teen fantasy story. I read them after finishing the first 3 Stormlight Archive books in order to understand more about the cosmere and have been pretty disappointed with the entire Mistborn series tbh. I'd absolutely recommend reading Stormlight Archive though, and even Warbreaker, from Sanderson's Cosmere novels. Some of the best fantasy novels I've ever read.
Also now curious what you thought of the Sanderson WoT novels, if you think it still feels simplisitc and video gamey. I'm sure you talk about it in another video, but I wont be watching that yet since I havent read those books yet, and definitely plan to.
so far I'm 150 pages into book 12 of WoT and I think Sanderson has done a wonderful job almost emulating Jordan's writing style. There hasn't been any whiplash from Jordan's last book (11) to now 12 by Sanderson. It's been a very smooth transition. I'm enjoying it!
It feels like a lot of your criticisms aren’t applicable to a book that’s part of a series like mistborn. If the book was a standalone, sure, but to write off the whole series just because the first book didn’t go deep enough or have enough mystery is silly. The rest of the series is basically built to answer your gripes. Also regarding the descriptors of the magic system as being repetitive is a little confusing. With a hard magic system and so many different combinations of powers it would be hard to describe an interaction without stating what is being burnt or pushed or pulled. Sure the writing style might turn you off with the simplicity of it, and that’s fine, but you can’t expect to know the highs and lows of characters or how much mystery is being revealed or how the characters develop or what mystery is still undiscovered by the first book alone
I have a love hate relationship with Brandon. I hated mistborn, it felt so YA and cringe to me. I also really like stormlight but also don’t like stormlight. The heavy focus on mental health is just depressing af to read. Like I read fantasy to escape, not feel like I’m doing more clinical’s in a psych ward.
I didn't love Mistborn (I DNF'd the series in the 3rd book, spoiled the ending on Wikis so I could read other Cosmere, then only came back to it when I wanted to read Mistorn Era 2) either but I *really* like Stormlight! Continue exploring the Cosmere! I will also say in hindsight that there is plenty of mystery in Mistborn- it's just hidden in plain sight lol.
I will! Thank you so much for the encouragement. I love Sanderson and just haven’t given his writing a full deep dive. And I’ve heard such amazing things about the Cosmere. Thank you for hanging out and sharing your thoughts!
I thought it was good in a functional sense, but definitely agree about the 'human' nature of it feeling a bit overly mechanical. Like the characters and cultures and such were an excuse to do an intricate magic system. It was his 2nd published book, and he improved greatly between that and Stormlight, which is one of my favorite modern fantasy series. Would recommend trying the way of kings if you're still interested. It has exactly that day-to-day feel and world-building focus without being about magic mechanics which you were saying you'd hoped this would be. That feels like it's about people more than about characters-as-plot-devices
I don’t have a lot of time to read books, so I listen to audio books instead while I’m working. My ADHD makes it hard for me to pay attention to a book, especially if it’s a book I’m not enjoying. I started listening to Mistborn on Audible and struggled getting started with it. It probably mostly had to do with the dudes voice being so dull but I want to give it another try. My brother loves Sanderson’s books so I’m sure I’ll like it once I get more into it
I rarely do audio books because I feel that the performer or reader can really make or break my experience. Plus I think an audio book can take away what I already had in my imagination in regard to characters and voices. But I do think Audio books can be great for people who don't have the time to read. I know two of the most well known readers for audio books are Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, and my goodness are they dull! Keep at it! Dive in! Try cracking a physical version open and read for 10 minutes a day! Then increase that to 20 minutes a day! Bit by bit you will develop focus and discipline! And enhance your reading!
Yeah the first book was like 6/10 for me, but it gets better from there, by the time I finished book 3 it reframed the first one and now I like it much more. The first one is a bit deceptive as characters seems pretty one note, the writing is a bit messy with too many repated words and the premise of a heist is really not for me, but later books adress my issues and the entire trilogy ranks decently high for me. I really enjoyed it in the end. Consider giving the other two a chance, it might surprise you. To a point that I think that the Final Empire was a bit of a red herring.
Dude, I've REALLY tried to like Sanderson and I just don't. I tried reading Mistborn and Stormlight but I just cannot. He looks like a pretty nice guy, though
He's a great guy and his communication with his fans alone makes me a fan of his. I still want to try Way of Kings. Currently I am reading the last three wheel of time books which were written by Sanderson. Loving it so far.
I too sort of wrote Sanderson off after I read the first Mistborn, but I ended up going back to him and legitimately really enjoyed the first Stormlight book. I'll definitely be going back to him, at the very least to continue Stormlight.
I totally agree with your insights. When I started Mistborn I had big expectations that were not fullfilled. Way too simplistic, YA vibes, superheroish-videogameish, formulaic. Not everything was bad, it had some really good elements (which were overshadowed by the not so good aspects, imo). It is almost impossible not to love Sanderson as a public figure. He has an amazing relationship with his fans, Writing Excuses was great, his current podcast is entertaining, and he uploaded his writing classes online, which I appreciate. However, Mistborn was not a great start. Stormlight Archive is my last hope on liking his work.
I also use Magic cards as bookmarks lol Mistborn is a great entry point for Sanderson. I'm a new Sanderson reader myself and the big draw is the whole "Cosmere" and interconnecting universe. I finished Way of Kings and have moved on to Words of Radiance, that series seems much more up your alley and takes you through the day to day of each of the characters the story follows. The worldbuilding is massive and there are a lot of mysteries and secrets. Although I haven't read them myself, if you're looking for something more challenging I keep hearing people talk about the Malazan series being "hardcore mode" for high fantasy readers so that might be another good choice for you to pursue in the future. You make great videos, keep it up
Love it! Do you still play magic? I'm debating on making a video on my 10 favorite magic cards lol I have Way of Kings on my list for sure. Just taking my time with my current reads. I have heard a bit about Malayan and I might give it a shot once I am 70 haha
@Thomas.R.Howell yea I still play magic. Mostly commander now, once a week with a dedicated group of friends. I would love to see some MTG content from you.
You and I clearly have similar tastes. I much prefer Wheel of Time (still my fav all-time fantasy series to date) over the Mistborn series, although I’ve come to appreciate Sanderson’s genius more over time. I think others have commented on this as well, but I think you’ll enjoy the Stormlight Archive more. Although the “hard magic” is still evident, there’s a lot more intrigue, slow burn, and “day in the life.” There’s also more emphasis on character development. I’m only on book 2 of Stormlight so far, but I can lay out with confidence the personalities and proclivities of the three main protagonists. Not sure what other fantasy you’ve read, but based on your expressed likes, I suggest: Joe Abercrombie: dark fantasy, depressing outcomes sometimes, but superb character building, witty prose, and remarkable twisting of tropes Robin Hobb: very slow plot, but immaculate character work, elevated prose, and immersive world-building
Thank you so much for hanging out and watching my other videos! I still plan on giving Stormlight a try for sure. But once I’ve finished WoT. I actually have the Farseer trilogy and plan on diving into that eventually too! LOVE slow day to day storytelling. Name of the Wind is my favorite book of all time and I’ve heard amazing things about Robin Hobb and the Farseer Trilogy. And yes! Another trilogy on my list the First Law is at the top for me! Can’t wait to dive into that! Soooo many books but I take my sweet time with them. I never want to rush through an experience.
I'm so sorry but I must delete your comment only because you are spoiling the book. Please comment again if you want without spoiling anything! Don't take it personally I just don't want anyone to be spoiled!
I started with The way of kings as my first Sanderson book and really liked it, then went to Mistborn later based on the same author and other people's recommendations. While I didn't feel the need to see more of Vin's backstory or slow growth I had very similar feelings about the Mistborn series to you. It is very borderline YA in the way it feels to read. Also based on the opening 3 minutes it sounds like you would love the Malazan book of the fallen series.
This was also my first Sanderson book, it was fine and I finished the trilogy. I don't disagree with what you said specifically about it being written for a younger audience and not being as deep as i would prefer. I read Stormlight Archive after, it was vastly better than the Mistborn series. A friend of mine recommended I read Way of Kings first but I didn't listen and chose Mistborn because it was shorter, that was a mistake, fortunately I kept reading Sanderson books.
Like some other comments have already said: the way your described what you wanted out of Mistborn basically describes how the Stormlight Archive is written! The whole The Way of Kings is basically just setup for the rest of the series where you have no idea what's going on and everyone is just in going through the trenches lol i think you'll like that one a lot more!
That sounds amazing. I love when an entire book is paced to be a set up piece for the entire series. I finished books 7-10 in Wheel of Time and is known as “the slog” yet all it was, was set up for the end! I’m getting close.
Not gonna lie....Stormlight isnt a HUGE step up in terms of maturity from Mistborn. I am not a fan of sanderson overall. i think his writing is oversimplistic and relies heavily on final act explosions to makeup for his typical mid-book slogs. His books are fine and fun but his fandom is a whole other thing.
Still haven't given his own works a try. However I am reading the final 3 Wheel of Time books which were written by him with the help of a ton of notes from Robert Jordan. It feels like he is emulating Jordan's style beautifully. While also adding his own descriptions and style on it. So far I am loving it.
Sanderson is an author that I have put a lot of effort into over the years. Many of my friends love his books and are very passionate about his creations. I want to share in that experience so I have tried many times to jump aboard the hype train but each experience has been unfulfilling. The Final Empire was a huge dud for me and Warbreaker had the same YA flavor I disliked in Mistborn. The Way of Kings was a substantial improvement but there was still something missing that prevented me from engaging with the text. Unfortunately, I think it’s Brandon himself that I have a problem with. His writing just isn’t for me. While his fantasies are impressively original and a breath of fresh air from the typical medieval Europe setting, the writing itself isn’t elegant, challenging, or clever. I probably would have loved these books in high school but now, in my early 30s, I have read so many other things that may tastes have changed significantly. I’m trying to read through Words of Radiance now because I want to participate in a buddy read for the fifth book in December but I keep setting it down after a few pages and rereading a Dorothy Dunnett book; an author you have to pay very close attention to because every sentence was purposefully chosen and through subtext is the only way you can fully understand the story, unlike Brandon where everything is spoon fed and shoved down your throat. It’s sad because it’s much more fun to like things than to dislike them but eventually you have to be honest with yourself and accept it. Update: I finished work early yesterday afternoon so I spent the afternoon and evening going through Words of Radiance. I’m beginning to come around and I’ve been enjoying it much more.
Man, I loved that series as it slowly progressed over the decades! ...but then the final book came out. The last half of that novel is so infuriatingly bad, it stamped out any and all the joy I'd once had for the series.
I’m currently about to finish the third book in the trilogy. It has got me back into reading. I can say honestly, you were doing yourself a disservice by only reading the first book. All three books were written back to back as kind of one continual story.
I have found that Brando Sando is not for me either. You invoke the term "adult" fantasy. Have you read any Guy Gavriel Kay novels? Or Malazan books, perhaps?
You are not the last person to suggest Malazan. Maybe when I am 40 or 50 I will give that world a try. I hear it gives on Elden Ring vibes and I am here for it!
Even though I personally enjoyed mistborn I can totally understand why someone wouldn’t like it. If you’re looking for a book or series with much more world building and character depth with lots of mystery I highly recommend Brandon Sandersons storm light archive series. There’s 4 books right now with a 5th coming out soon and I think it is significantly better than mistborn highly recommend it
Everyone has their own tastes in books! As a noob fantasy reader I started with Narnia and Harry Potter. They were good! But then I read Name of the Wind and it changed my life!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I started with The Hobbit,Lotr,Game Of Thrones than I got into Sanderson :D ... Stormlight Archive is something else though :) Pat Rothfuss is amazing but I think that he's a lazy f*ck for not finishing the trilogy :))
@@noname3609 HAHAHA I love that. I have tried so hard to avoid watching or reading anything about that man. It boggles my mind that someone like him wrote something so beautiful like Name of the Wind.
I am reading the second book at the moment and I am still feeling the same. There is a lot of details missing. I like the idea but characters are not deep enough thanks to Sanderson not giving them a solid background. I dont feel any sympathy to the main character Vin or Elend or anyone. Great success to do that in hundreds pages long books. 😒 Anyway hoping to hear more about my favourite character Sazed.
Thank you for the insight! That's why I stopped after book 1. I just don't think an author is going to change that much within the next book and provide more of that depth that I am wanting! Not slamming Sanderson. But his early stuff just isn't my cup of tea.
I think Mistborn 1 is rather ok. Books 2 and 3 take a huge step forward (in plot and character progression), in my opinion. But I still think Mistborn is just a fun series, not necessarily an incredible one. Stormlight, however, is my favorite book series hands down. I think the complaints you put forward are remedied in The Way of Kings. As an aside, the second Mistborn series uses magic in a much much better way.
I wasn’t a fan of Mistborn either. I love Stormlight Archive. You get more world building and more character development. You may want to give those books a try 👍🏻
My favorite part about The final empire how cinematic the fight scenes feel and also Kelsier Based on your criticisms of mistborn, I do think you would like stormlight! I also think you would like Well of Ascension (the second mistborn book) it focuses much more on Vin and is slower paced.
I think the critism about mistborn needing more depth in the world, I can understand though it's kinda one of the reason why it's also awesome, you expect it to be slower and takes it time to develop but no the last few hundred pages was like f*ck it, let's start pumping up and I love that, the way it subverted your expectations how the story would progress was awesome, I thought we would not fight the lord ruler until book 3 then he died at the very first book As for characters, I disagree at some extent(sazed, kelseir and vin were awesome though the rest kinda fall flat until the next book) but i think that's still fair As for your complaints about magic system, it's gonna be addressed in the next book directly, allomancy feeling a bit to video gamey and it honestly just demonstrates how it is literally the best magic system i have come across. It still manages to feel so magical despite how complex and systematic it is and, it's magic system just don't randomly add a new thing there's pattern and system to them(there is still lot of mystery), and book 3 manage to tied all of it together. I know I'm a random stranger so my opinion might not be so credible but let me just say that almost every review I've seen, 90 percent of the time mistborn magic systems is praise as one of the best if not the best, it's always mentioned at the very beginning and that's saying a lot, book 1 is only the scratch of mistborn magic. Great video btw ❤
WORST FICTION TRILOGY EVER! *spoilers* the whole plot is about the skaa rebellion (class of underprivileged people) and yet there is no insights on their livelihood, the rebellion is led by Kelsier who is not even a skaa and does not have any concrete reason for wanting to overthow the final empire THAN TO KILL THE LORD RULER. there are so many contradictions, Kelsier is shown to have lost his wife when she was killed by the lord ruler which could have been a good reason for his rebellion BUT he started growing unusual feelings towards his own apprentice and even doubts his wife to have betrayed him, which makes the whole rebellion look stupid. The skaa (after 1000 years of oppression) were not interested in fighting and kelsier claims to lead the rebellion for the skaa but he has absolutely no idea about the real struggles of skaa and seems to live in his own world and impossible goals. His own apprentice kills the lord ruler with a simple trick which has no explanation even though lord ruler had more powers than anyone and even believed to be immortal. Kelsier's own brother helped the apprentice to kill the lord ruler but there is no mention of him in the second book and nobody even thought or spoke about him. Elend, who had no magical powers was difficult to like in the beginning but I started liking his character because of his core principles and how he held on to it, but once he got his powers, he became the same as any other character which made me hate him even more. By the second book, I already wanted to give up reading. There is unnecessary drama and twists without any explanation. Few main characters are killed off just for the story but nobody is even shown mourning for them. Every conversation in the story feels empty, even the philosophical debates are having no depth. The love story between the apprentice and Elend is the lamest thing, they are started off as an unconventional pair, which could have a huge scope for developing into a deep romance but all they do is hide things from each other and it feels shallow to the point that all they do is just maintain their "duty" of protecting and trusting each other but it just seems like a facade because they never actually understood each other or even try to be real with each other, which made me cringe so bad when they had any sort of physical affection. This was a complete waste of time for me. The story is good upto the point where the apprentice killed the lord ruler but after that it is simply dragged to the author could make more money. Some side characters have been given no relevance to the actual storyline and the author has just added them in conversations to make them look involved. I would highly recommend reading scythe if you are looking for a meaningful and solid plot.
Stick with the series, it gets better, yes misborn is a bit YA but, its a easy read and juts blasts just by. There are some great pay offs. Plus Some twists the story takes.
I just finished the trilogy as my first Sanderson novels and I also wasn't a huge fan. The books are good but not great. I specially didn't care for the first book, The final empire, character development was terrible and I never cared for any of them. What kept me going was the awesome magic system and some of the mystery. What's even more strange, my favotire of the 3 by far was the second book, which is widely critizided by the majority of fans, somehow. It had great characters (sazed and oreseur), great political games in luthadel and an awesome seige. Third book for me was probably better than the first but not nearly as good as the second. Felt it was all over the place and didn't particularly liked how we got to that ending. All that mystery built up in 2 books imo was a let down at the end. Now, Im not sure if I should continue reading Sanderson with Stormlight or go somewhere else.
I get what your saying about the lack of mystique. That whole whiteboard flow chart scene is a big meme in my memory. It works good in cheeky in heist movies, but not in an Epic Fantasy. Book 2 is way better though, my favorite book of the trilogy.
The constant meetings and planning and write up of new plans got really repetitive. It came off cheesy. And messed with the pacing of the book for me. Also why I didn’t even bother with books 2 and 3, it felt like book 1 could’ve been split into 3 books. But I will have to give it another go!
I think both of the sequels (WoA, HoA) solves many of your problems, not to say you would love them. There's more complexity, political intrigue, mysteries, deeper character-work, etc. Stormlight would definitely suit you more, I'm curious as to why you didn't try it first.
I think I tried Mistborn because I saw it as an entry point to Sanderson's work. But I was also floundering as a reader at that time. I finished Name of the Wind and was on the search for something that could compete with Patrick's prose. I tried Witcher which was nice but then I tried Mistborn... and...well you know. But I for sure have Way of Kings on my list!
Mistborn is a phenomenal narrative with very weak characters. Like I was blown away by the ending, but I never cared about Vin or elend and they had no chemistry at all. The guy who went blind from overusing tin was agony to read.
I had the same kinda vibe with the Skyward series. I finished it this year. It all felt kinda ... empty. Interesting concept but god the characters. They were flat and one dimensional, nothing that happened ever seemed to shake them to their core, they were always the same they were at the beginning. I don't think I will ever pick up another Sanderson.
You know Sanderson isn't for everyone! Mistborn wasn't for me although I will for sure give Stormlight a try. What are some of your favorite fantasy books?
@@Thomas.R.Howell nowadays I read more Sci-fi than fantasy but I enjoy the Burton and Swinburne books, The locked tomb series, Bartimäus, Skulduggery Pleasant and Gunmetal Gods
I agree with you on this book and thought it was pretty boring and mid, but I read the sequels a few months after and thought they were way better. Honestly mistborn book 1 is my least favorite out of warbreaker stormlight archive and mistborn
It does suck when the first book in a series or trilogy is considered boring or mid. Usually the first book should grab the reader and excite the reader to dive further it. This book just didn't do that. Maybe down the line I will give it a second try while also giving the whole trilogy a try.
Tried it, failed. It's so YA... so cheesy, full of tropes, already in the first few chapters the 'skinny girl that no one notices... was noticed 😩' made me want to vomit tbh. Very tumblr-esque characters and the writing of the fighting was horrific. It took SO long to get through and really poorly paced taking you out of the action, for every one action there was another 5 lines of pulling on this and that metal. Ugh. As you mentioned, okay, at first, explain it to me. But after the first 2 times... I get it.... a 20 second fight takes likes 3 pages for no reason other than "push, pull, push, pull, cheesy cringe smirk, push.."
These were my gripes for sure when reading it two years ago! I kept rolling my eyes this way and that. The over explanation of the magic system just takes me out of the world. When the language is more subtle and less on the nose, I find myself lost in the writer’s world. This book’s language just took me out of it a lot. It sounds like I need to at least try book 2! What are some of your favorite books? In fantasy or elsewhere?
I felt the same. Didn’t feel adult at all, very YA indeed, the characters didn’t interest me at all, the magic system was repetitive… been scared to pick up booktube recommended fantasy since then
I am a fantasy noob, but indeed I heard a lot of Hobb’s work so it’s in my radar (and Abercrombie too) I really enjoyed a song of ice and fire. Am currently leaning towards starting the Witcher’s first short story collection. Would you recommend it?
@@davidpacheco5764 Oh my goodness I totally forgot about those. I would ABSOLUTELY! Recommend that series. Last Wish is a great book to start with. I am actually currently playing through the video game Witcher 3. So so good.
90% of videos about someone reviewing or talking about books starts with coffee or tea. Good review though. Nice to see a review about a book that isn't 30 minutes.
I like to keep things within that 10-15 minute range. Allow for pauses and natural conversation rather than constant jump cuts and no dead air. But also not crazy long to the point it gets boring! My wife and I love coffee! So have to include it in my vids lol Thank you for watching!
I had a very similar impression of it. The premise was interesting, but the execution was definitely lacking. It wasn’t the worst by any means, it was just very...meh. Great comparison of the magic system with games. It was so boring to read the same sequence of over-explained movements every time. I'm quite dissapointed as he's hyped up as master of worldbuilding, but I found it dull and flat. Perhaps other books are more developed as he got better as a writer. But I doubt he can create a sense of truly magical, rich world. Detailed and complicated doesn’t equal immersive in reading experience in my opinion. Just not exactly my type of fantasy, I guess.
That's what I am hoping for. His later books to have more depth and more of a world to get immersed in. What kind of fantasy books do you like? What are some of your favorites?
@@Thomas.R.Howell I'm in the process of finding out, actually, as I haven’t read too many fantasy series yet, but as historical fiction is my go to genre I may be biased towards the more historical settings and I love my fantasy to be...well...fantastic. Magical and a bit mysterious. I'm not really into sci-fi, so very hard magic systems may not be for me. But I have some grimdark fantasy (Joe Abercrombie) and more dystopian themes (The Broken Earth Trilogy) on my reading list and I can't wait to read them. I'll also be reading The Wheel of Time (which I think is of a more "traditional" fantasy type?), so if you ever make more videos on it, I'll definitely check them out.
I never like to recommend books by forcing it on people. I never like to say “oh you HAVE to read this book.” READ IT! READ IT! No. I have to understand that persons tastes before I suggest a book or series. That being said, Wheel of Time isn’t historical fiction, but it has LOADS of history and lore. Worldbuilding on so many levels. Truly a lived in world. Robert Jordan studied history and military history and it shows in his work. It’s not for everyone as I wouldn’t even recommend it to people off the cuff. But for history and worldbuilding alone, this series delivers on just that. Name of the Wind is my all time favorite fantasy book. It’s not historical fiction. But it’s also not your typical fantasy book. It’s very intimate. Focusing on one characters story. Naturally paced. Not everything is answered. You get to live in the shoes of the character and really endure his journey.
@@Thomas.R.Howell I get the impression that WoT is a bit Tolkien-like with all the world-building and lore. If that’s the case, fantastic. Tolkien was the ultimate master of creating worlds, however dated or boring this statement may seem with so many fantasy series around. I read The Name of The Wind some years ago and the writing was beautiful, the story compelling and intriguing, but I can't say I liked the main character. Too much of a Gary Stu, perfect hero who had to overcome obstacles type.
I have not dove into GoT yet! Right now I am on a Stephen King kick then I will be finishing the Wheel of Time. I'll see where my headspace is at and what I am wanting to dive into then!
I really appreciate your positivity in this video, which is kind of ironic given that this is a negative review.
A lot of people who don’t like Mistborn (or any other popular piece of media) feel the need to make a long-winded rant about why they loathe it and how they’re anticipating all the hate they’re going to get for their take! That ends up becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s natural to feel isolated when you don’t like something everyone else seems to love, or when you love something everyone seems to hate. Both groups tend to lash out like cornered animals and escalate things unnecessarily
By asking people to share why they like the book, you established a custom of understanding and good will. This is your first video that I’ve watched, but not the first negative review of Mistborn that I’ve consumed. I love Mistborn. I latched on to the mysteries, like the nature of Steel Inquisitors and Kandra, and what the heck a Koloss was. I wanted to know why and how the world was transformed. And with new metals already being discovered, I wondered what else could be out there. I also really enjoyed the action. Mentions of Pushes and Pulls didn’t bother me because it just helped me picture how the characters were using their environment. And the thematic exploration of how religion was “corrupted” and utilized by the Lord Ruler and Kelsier in ways that foil each other was super interesting to me. Kelsier’s questionable morality in general was fascinating to see revealed.
Usually when I watch a negative review of something I love, I regret it. It feels like being ranted to and not being able to get a word in. I watch those reviews sometimes anyways, hoping it will improve my media literacy or something vague like that. This video I didn’t regret though. I appreciated getting to understand your perspective. I’m glad you shared it, and I like what you’re doing here.
Wow this was awesome. First off thank you for watching and thank you for your insight! This is all I wanted for this TH-cam channel is to have a conversation. Whether it’s a positive review or a negative review, I want to share ideas and perspectives with others. Sure, I may not enjoy what someone else reads. And they may not like what I read. But we can talk about it. Share our “why”. Have a conversation. That’s all I want.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Mistborn! After my long journey through Wheel of Time I’d honesty like to give Mistborn a reread just to see if I missed something. If I’m in the right headspace to potentially enjoy it. And if I still don’t like it, so what.
I’ll for sure be trying Stormlight Archive! And I won’t stop until I finish book 2 (because everyone says that’s the best one in the series). Then I will share my thoughts!
Thank you for hearing my thoughts and sharing yours! Means so much.
i feel like anyone with any understanding of literature has to jump through a lot of hoops to say ' sanderson is simpleton bullshit for simpletons'
I really appreciate everyone’s insight. All I want with this channel is to talk books with people. Have a conversation. Share thoughts and recommendations. Thank you!
Love the jacket! Where did you get it from, if you don't mind sharing?
@@lovepiecozitsawesome Thank you! Brixton!
I think one of the things people like about his books is why I can’t be bothered to try them: “his magic system” talk. I guess in my head I always think is this a board game or a book? Idk maybe I’ll read one someday. Is it possible for something to be so recommended that you don’t want to try it? That’s where I am with these books.
I absolutely am in the same page with you when it comes to the VIRAL books on tik Tok or book tube. Pretty much any YA romantacy book. So pretty much anything by Sarah J Maas or Rebecca Yarros.
Makes me sad when I walk in a barnes and noble or the book section at target and all I see are neon colored fantasy books. I avoid any of those books with a ten foot poll lol.
Brandon Sanderson though, I will give him a couple more tries!
What kind of books intrigue you? What are some of your favorites?
My favorite book of all time is Name of the Wind.
I like his books because of the plot and characters growth. The plot is very interesting and the I actually cry with the characters. I read in english but i am not english-speaker so i cant tell if the writing is good or not.
This is going to sound a little weird, but I feel like a lot of the solutions you suggest to fix the pacing issues with Mistborn The Final Empire are actually present within The Well of Ascension, the sequel novel. Mistborn was Sanderson's attempt to essentially push the plot of what would happen in three books, all into one book. While he successfully wrote a novel doing this, all of Mistborn Book 1's problems stem from the lightning fast pacing. The exposition, the romance, the characters etc. all suffer from the extremely quick pacing of the first novel. Well of Ascension is a much slower paced book than Book 1, and actually gives its characters time to develop. I think if you were to read it, you'd find that Elend's arc in the book is exactly what you wished for Vin to go through in Book 1. I won't lie, some characters are still pretty one dimensional, I think Vin's inner conflict in Book 2 is particularly annoying (I just don't like Vin as a mc and it was Elend that kept me going), but I think Well of Ascension is definitely a step towards what you want from Sanderson. I'm fairly new to Sanderson myself, and I've peeked into my copy of Way of Kings, and that seems closer to the Robert Jordan/Tolkien giant epic fantasy that you want. Book 3 so far has been the best of the three books imo, but I have recency bias because I'm halfway through it right now.
I did read this book 2 years ago! So I know tastes change. After Wheel of Time I might give it another go and at least see the trilogy all the way through! I apprentice you hanging out and hearing my thoughts. Love that you took the time to share your own insight and experience with the series!
Dude, I really grew to like Elend a lot more in the second book.
@@the_third_editionthe best arc
@@leen-chan5818 I will never forget the 'he ate my horse' moment. 🤣
I've so far read the first two Mistborn books, and I'll admit, it's a bit smaller in scale than my usual style of fantasy. But this series was recommended to me as the ideal entry into Sandersons work, so I wasn't expecting something huge, I already know Stromlight is the big one (and probably more up my alley), but I'm still enjoying Mistborn a good deal.
I'm real big on accepting things for what they are, and not focusing so much on what I want them to be. This is by no means going to be my favorite book. Not by a long shot, but I've definitely been having a good time with it. But I get where you're coming from.
I'll add this, I think the world definitely expands a little bit in the second book. It still focuses primarily on Luthedel, but the world feels a little bigger. In case you ever think of returning some day.
I haven't read Mistborn, but I am 35% through The Way of Kings, because a) all the fans say it's THE thing of Sanderson's to read, and b) it's been on my list of things to read for a while; I figured since he's got a new one coming out in this series this week...why not. I am enjoying it, HOWEVER, all you say about Sanderson pedantically explaining things in Mistborn are still true here. It is not a complex book, regardless of what many say (I'm told it gets more involved later in the series). It has a lot of world building in it, which you may like (especially if you're a D&D DM), but for me, I'd like the ratio to skew more toward character: who these people are and why they make the decisions they do. The book has that, but it's a bit light. The ratio is skewed much more toward, "The DM will now explain what's in the room you've entered." This isn't literature, so if you're looking for that in modern form, I suggest reading a John Irving book. Granted, it isn't fantasy, but other than Lord of the Rings, I'm not sure how much of it one will find. I'd say that R.R. Martin's Song of ice and Fire comes MUCH closer. I read them before watching the TV show, and was infinitely more impressed with them than Sanderon's stuff.
YES! I read books and watch films for characters. Complex characters. Multidimensional. I don't like card board cut outs or empty vessels to just progress the story.
That is why I love Name of the Wind. It is all about characters. Some say it is lacking and dull and mundane. But I think it is art. And storytelling at it's finest. Living in the shoes of a character and seeing them grow and navigate the complexities of life.
The shows Arcane and Better Call Saul are some of my all time favorites. Why? CHARACTERS. Some of the best written characters on screen.
The story and world building don't matter if you don't care for the characters.
@@Thomas.R.Howell Some day I'll read that Rothfuss book. I've heard good things!
My hypothesis is those who really love Sanderson and can't critically assess its flaws (that perhaps it's more like a Marvel movie or videogame), haven't had good experiences reading real literature. If they wonder why I state Way of Kings isn't complex, it's because it doesn't challenge the reader to really think about what the author is saying and how they say it. And that's fine; I like popcorn entertainment too, but don't tell me it's complex 🙂
I get what are you saying, but i disagree about the lack of mistey in the magic system. I remeber, the first thing i thought when i read the final emprire was the lack of simmetry ( might be my background in physics), and i was right, there was more to the magic system. After more mstborn books, there is stil always something new in the magic system
Everyone says I need to continue through the trilogy! It was about 2 years ago when I first read Mistborn. I know tastes change over time. Maybe after wheel of time I’ll be in the right head space to appreciate Mistborn on a reread!
Thank you for your insight! Means a lot
@@Thomas.R.Howell funny since brandon sandrson wrote the last few wheel of time books lol
I also had doubts before reading the second book but trust me I finished the second book in two days. I'm a huge fan of Mistborn right now.
You sound like me when I first read Mistborn. I was so frustrated! I read the last two of the series & I actually really liked it. I’m still not used to his writing style but ultimately liked how the first era of Mistborn went. Sanderson is very open about how he writes & even says he’s not for everyone. I do plan on reading Stormlight. I’ve read Tress of the Emerald Sea & it was unique, fun but still lacking a bit for me to. On another note, I would love to see Mistborn era one turned into a show.
Mistborn would be an amazing show or video game
That's interesting... for me, Vin, specially in the first book, is. A LOT in her lowest. She has some trauma which she deals with throughout the whole book (the distrust issue). I'll give you that the first book has some exposition and is very fast-paced, but a lot of people are not into slow burn. I'll say this though, towards the end, you see how a lot of things connect from the first book.
I think you might like Stormlight Archive, it has all the things you said in this video. give it a chance!! :) (sorry for my English, it's not my native language)
Absolutely! I’m honestly excited to give it a shot. Everyone says the second book is one of the best in the series.
Thank you so much for watching means so much!
It's refreshing to see the other side where people aren't just saying that the book is "just good, you should read it"
Personally I think it's just okay. It had some highs and lows. But overall I think it's just okay
I appreciate that! It's kind of annoying seeing reviews that are extremely surface level. This was good. This was bad. Etc. TELL ME WHY it was good or bad. Tell me why I should read it or not read it. That way I can come up with my own conclusions and make my own decisions. And possibly have a conversation with the reviewer and share thoughts.
That's why I made this channel. To give in depth thoughts and have conversations with people about books! Thank you for watching! I'll be talking about wheel of time and some other books I'll be reading soon!
I think Sanderson (from a plot perspective) is certainly simple, but if you're judging Sanderson's works by this book alone, you're missing out on a lot. And the "I want a more worldbuilding" comment threw me for a loop. You've barely scratched the surface of the "world" being built. Sanderson's Cosmere is one of the most complex and thoughtful in modern fantasy writing. I actually think starting with Mistborn might have been part of the problem, to some extent, as I do agree that I feel less connected to Vin and Kelsier than I do with many of his other characters. I initially didn't think I was going to like the Era 2 books, but I actually like them much more (both in terms of characters and plot) than the Era 1. I won't give spoilers, obviously, but I think the magic system (allomancy AND feruchemy) is applied much more thoughtfully in them as well (less random omnipotence) and it creates much more interesting interactions.
I'd also say this: for what you seem to like in a book, Stormlight is a better starting point (re: characters). I think even Elantris might be a better starting point (and is where I started), but I don't think many would agree with me there.
Nah, his best book is Mistborn 1. And the Emperor's Soul perhaps. It just gets worse from here...
@@nitzeart Wild take, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion
Well, this video was a rollercoaster for me. I just finished reading The Final Empire and The Well of Ascension (back-to-back) and currently reading The Hero of Ages. While some of your criticisms are understandable, there were a few things where I just sat back and said out loud "did we even read the same book?" I guess the one we seem most dissimilar on is the point regarding mystery. So far, I'm wowed by the way the writing leaves breadcrumbs where I'm constantly getting answers to questions as I'm reading and new ones are arising constantly. It definitely gives me that "one more chapter" feeling where I wanna stay up just a little longer to see what's on the next few pages. It's actually really curious that you DIDN'T experience that.
That said, I'm coming at this book from a VERY different angle. 1. My expectations were very low to begin with. I am NOT a fantasy reader. And I'm NOT impressed when everyone loves something. In fact, that's very sus for me. So I came in skeptical and with extremely low expectations. 2. I'm a scifi reader, but more accurately, I lean much more toward HARD scifi. 3. I had heard of the "hard magic" system employed by Sanderson, but rolled my eyes and assumed it be a bunch of a whimsical nonsense like almost every fantasy I've attempted to read (which is why I hate fantasy, it's all fluffy garbage with no rules and I can't stand it). 4. Being a hard scifi guy, this book IMMEDIATELY caught my attention because it's written like a hard scifi book. Ironically all your frustration with the explaining of the magic constantly just reminded me of the way hard scifi often gets written where everything is laid out rather mechanically so it doesn't really leave a lot of room for interpretation. It's like reading a logical argument in narrated form. And honestly it's the only time I've EVER read fantasy and immediately felt comfortable. I personally LOVE that aspect of it. It really grounds it for me. But in this case, I can TOTALLY understand why someone wouldn't like that, just like how many people can't STAND hard scifi for rather similar reasons sometimes.
I haven't joined THE FANDOM or anything ( I don't really believe in those much and stay away from them mostly ). But part way through the third book and I think I've found an author I REALLY like and I can't wait to check out the rest of the Cosmere. I'm sold, personally.
For a scifi nerd with managed expectations like myself going into this? I'd heartily recommend these books! For a fantasy reader? IDK, I honestly just don't know the genre well enough. Looks like most people like it though, but I think they might like it for slightly different reasons than I do.
I’m with ya on this one! Gave the final empire a go cos everyone raved about it, and was guttered to not feel the same as everyone else… loved your video and how you still spoke positively about Brandon Sanderson :)
Same here. I’ve been hearing nothing but great things about Sanderson’s books for years. Finally, I take the plunge and buy Mistborn. After a month of struggling through it, I figured maybe it’s a language thing. English isn’t my native tongue, so I thought I’d give it a shot in my own language. I grab the audiobook in Spanish. Couldn’t even make it halfway. Sanderson’s writing style is so basic that it didn’t win me over either. I just don’t see the appeal-neither the story nor the characters do anything for me. I guess it’s just not my thing. If anyone’s kind enough to point out where the magic, entertainment, surprise, and suspense are, I’ll gladly pay you back
This is pretty much spot on how I felt about Mistborn. Cool magic system, cool premise, but pedestrian writing style, lots of "telling not showing", mostly hollow characters. I didn't give up on Sanderson though and I'm glad I didn't. He's still not my favorite author (that's reserved for Sir Terry, GNU), as I prefer fantastic prose. However, his prose and writing style is better in his later works and Stormlight Archive is pretty fantastic. If you finish The Way of Kings and still don't like Sanderson, then you can say he's definitely not for you.
YES! I too search for good prose. Poetic prose. Hence why I LOVE Name of the Wind.
I read Way of Kings as my first Sanderson book, and reading Mistborn after Stormlight did feel way more tame in comparison. Obviously, this was one of Sandersons first published books and you can clearly see his improvement in Stormlight Archive. That being said, there is a LOT more mystery and plot twist reveals in the second and third Mistborn. The conclusion of Hero of Ages is incredibly well done in my opinion and the conclusion brought up the trilogy as a whole to me whereas my initial impression wasn’t that great (like yours). I hope that maybe once you get more into the Cosmere you will return to Mistborn!
Darn its a shame you didnt enjoy this book. Mistborn is to me what Name of the Wind is to you as it kick started my fantasy reading journey. I will say that the 2nd and 3rd books get much better though.
No problem with that at all! We all have our different tastes and likes and dislikes. I find it really cool when a book comes along at the right time of life, it just changes our world. Name of the Wind was that for me. Happy to hear Mistborn was that for you!
@@Thomas.R.Howell
I love that you are a huge fan of Name of the Wind! Me too!
I think I shall subscribe to you, sir, since we seem very much aligned in view-points 😂😂
That book is phenomenal and I just love how even people who DESPISE the book, admit whole-heartedly how incredibly written it is which always make me **inserts meme of Kermit sipping tea like a boss**
@@juliall255 YES!!! What a great point on the people who hate the book but can not deny the beautiful prose.
I DNFed it. Felt like reading YA. I am sorry hope I won't get hate comments.
No need to apologize!
@@Thomas.R.Howell Thanks. The internet cam be a scarry place :)
Honestly I had butterflies in my stomach posting this video because of how popular and beloved this trilogy is. I was afraid of posting an uncommon opinion. Thankfully I’ve found others who agree with me!
What are some of your favorite books in fantasy?
@@Thomas.R.Howell It's well articulated so it's great. I would say lord of the rings and currently enjoying Malazan and ASOIF(didn't like the tv show tho). I am getting back to reading
but, grew up reading mostly mysteries and legal thrillers.
@@lewartofstory I might have to give Malazan a try. I hear it is a dense read.
I think when people hype up the first book, a lot of the hype is coming from the hype of the series as a whole. The first book is honestly not that impressive by itself. But the second and third books elevate its value through the roof. On its own, it is nothing remarkable, but it is indispensable to the trilogy, which is a masterpiece of modern fantasy. With this in mind, you should view the first book as just a prologue to the main story. The first book is not meant to blow you out of the water. It is setting you up for the grand epic that follows, just as The Way of Kings does for the Stormlight Archive.
I would say a better starting point for Sanderson is Warbreaker or the Emperor's Soul. You can even just jump straight into The Way of Kings, though you will have to read Warbreaker before Oathbringer
I'm so happy I came across your video cause I thought I was losing my mind. Everyone on Booktube hypes this book up like its the greatest book ever written. Countless ones of them say its a great introduction into Fantasy. I've read fantasy for years but for some reason I never tried Sanderson. Not cause I thought he wouldn't be for me, its just other books and authors seemed more interesting at the time. So I normally read about 5 fantasy books at a time. I find that it keeps me not looking over at another book I want to read and dropping one less interesting for the newer one. So few weeks in I'm over here finishing two Dresden Files books A John Gwynne book, the last book of the Powder Mage Trilogy which are for the most part large books in themselves and I'm doing it in 2 to 3 weeks tops and here I am on like chapter 10 of Mistborn. Simply because I have to read it during the day cause if I read it at night I literally will fall asleep. I have to read like 3 to 4 pages at a time and every page my brain literally feels repelled by this book. Literally the first 20 chapters of this book are various training montages and not even good ones. The most interesting parts of those chapters are the Ball chapters and those are just mid. The side characters are forgettable. The main villain is almost non existent till the very end. I don't want a dump of information by no means but man make me feel something for this villain. Anything. I thought at the very beginning maybe Kelsier could be a character I would definitely be into but then after a few boring POV chapters I was like is this dude dead yet. By the time I got to the end of this book, I was outwardly rooting for the villain because I hated these characters so much. I was beginning to think something was wrong with me for hating this book. Glad at least there are a few people out there that feel the same.
You'd probably enjoy the Stormlight Archive if you like longer, drawn-out books like Wheel of Time, in fact what you were talking about with how Vin's story could have been improved, as in the character being at their lowest throughout the entire first book and then learning they have powers at the end, is literally just Kaladin's story (spoilers?)
Love it! That sounds up my alley! Have you given Wheel of Time a shot? I know it isn't for everyone being 14 books long and all...
@@Thomas.R.Howell Actually, I just started it! Very good, very intricate, and somewhat difficult to put down, even in the first few chapters which seem kinda slow in terms of plot, the characters are all distinct and the slow build-up of suspense and dread makes it an amazing read.
That’s awesome! Welcome to the journey!
It’s one of the most immersive and detailed worlds I’ve ever experienced. The histories. the cultures. Every detail. It’s LONG but I’m totally fine with that! It’s worth it. And I’m excited for you!
Bet he'll complain kaladin is always on the low lol
@@Thomas.R.Howell I agree with this other commenter, if you like Wheel of Time, you'll like Stormlight Archives. I've finished WoT and am current with Stormlight. You're right that Sanderson's prose is pretty plain and easy-access, and he keeps it simpler on purpose. For the final books of WoT he does his best to match Jordan's style, and all things considered he does pretty well, but you can still see his own peek through from time to time.
But where Sanderson excels is in yes, his magic systems, but more so in his plot structures. Lots and lots and lots of setup, so that everything comes together for the final act of the book in a really neat way. There's a reason people call it the 'Sanderlanche', haha. Mistborn, being his first published work, is kind of the exception in this regard, but if you do read Stormlight you'll see what I mean. He's one of those authors where I have a lot more appreciation for his works after the fact rather than while I'm reading them.
Although I didn’t hate mistborn I do think it is overrated. Stormlight is much better so give Sanderson another shot.
Archive is still a simply-written book for a younger audience, literally the first thing the author complains on
I'm about 75% of the way through the The Final Empire. I kind of agree with a lot of this, although the "There's always another secret" hook is keeping me interested and I do believe that the story is going to be worth my time. Having started this just after finishing a re-read of the first five A Song of Ice and Fire books, the world does feel a little thin in comparison - scenes feel like they are set in a theatre with painted backdrops, rather than living, breathing towns and cities. But, I am not bored, and can't see myself putting it down until I've finished at the least the first era.
Do not believe people that tell you Stormlight is better. It's worse 😅
hahaha
You're speaking my language. I couldn't agree any more on literally every single thing you said.
I hope you like some of the other Sanderson stuff if you give it a chance but IMO his style doesn't change enough, he still overexplains, info dumps, hold's your hand, uses dull prose etc.
I like him for his plotting and I still like Stormlight and The Emperor's Soul but the way people talk about Sanderson really annoys me sometimes. Not that they're stupid for hyping something they love, I love enthusiasm, but that I often couldn't disagree more with much of what they say and I feel like we read two different books.
Love it dude. I think that isn't a bad thing that his prose are simple. It just isn't for me. But I won't write him off yet. I think as readers we have seasons of reading. Where some months we are only interested in a specific genre or something with crazy amounts of depth. And other days we crave just a junk food meal of a book. A rom com book. Something we can turn our brains off and enjoy. I know for a fact I will want to read one of his books eventually. And Way of Kings is that book. Just not right this second.
What are some of your favorite books?
@@Thomas.R.Howell
I feel ya.
> What are some of your favorite books?
Now this I love answering.
I'll list authors or single books. If I list an author just assume I like everything by them.
Kazuo Ishiguro
Gene Wolfe
Ulysses
Infinite Jest
Ursula K. LGuin
Kafka on the Shore
Kurt Vonnegut
Terra Ignota
Realm of the Elderlings
Lord of Light
Josiah Bancroft
Fifth Season
Dune (God Emperor is the best one)
Discworld
Tolkien
And my favorite of all time is Malazan
P.S. also please don't take this the wrong way but prose is a mass noun. Just a pet peeve of mine
@@Thomas.R.Howell
Another thing. What I dislike about Sanderson's Prose isn't that it's simple. There is plenty of really great simple prose. Ishiguro, Vonnegut, Orwell, and Hemingway are excellent examples of this. Their prose is simple but not simplistic. Sanderson's prose is simplistic and claims to be windowpane but is anything but. It's clunky, blunt, and repetitive and so draws attention to itself. No one (with a brain) has said that simple prose can't have subtext, engaging dialogue, or naturalistic exposition. (Again see my examples) I wish someone would tell Sanderson that
Did you read the whole trilogy though? You can’t fully see the depth of the 1st book without reading all 3 books?
I did not read the trilogy. The writing style and execution of the idea of Mistborn just didn't land for me. So I left after book 1...
I personally really loved the Mistborn series. The journey Vin goes on through the books, how religion is portrayed, the hard magic system, the commentary on the conflict bewteen rich and poor, The mystery in the last 2 books,....
I get the criticism but don't agree.
You are absolutely free to disagree. I would love to give it another try down the line. Right now I am reading the last three books of Wheel of Time which were written by Sanderson and I am loving what he has brought to that series!
Thank god, i tought i was the only one. Have you tried any russian classics?
I haven’t tried any classics 😂 I’m mainly a fantasy reader. The hobbit is the only “classic” I’ve tried.
What would you suggest?
@@Thomas.R.Howell If you're talking about classics in general, my recommendations to start with would be: Letter to His Father by Kafka (one of the most honest things I've ever read), The Martian Chronicles by Bradbury, or 1984/Animal Farm by Orwell (fantastic "sci-fi"), and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. These are all pretty easy to read and entertaining, with different levels of depth to analyze.
If we're talking about Russian classics, the best things I've read (though I should mention I might be a bit biased because I'm a psychotherapist) would be: Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky (one of the best books I've ever read, with a fascinating theme; reading it feels like a fever dream in every sense), The Brothers Karamazov by the same author (Freud's favorite novel, actually haha; it tackles complex issues like justice, faith, family, etc.), Anna Karenina by Tolstoy (one of the best novels I've read in terms of narrative, with characters that have since stayed with me; Tolstoy provides a clear and detailed sociological analysis of the social and cultural state of late 1800s Russia), Fathers and Sons by Turgenev (a beautiful, short novel about the challenging generational conflicts between fathers and sons), and maybe lastly, another short novel by Dostoevsky that I think is the most accessible for starting with him, White Nights (it's really short, so I don't want to spoil anything).
Sorry for the long answer, but I'm really passionate about this subject. I hope if you give any of these a try, you'll let me know what you think! :)
Could not agree more you hit the nail on the head with everything.
I'm sorta in the same boat for Book 1. I don't really mind how it's being written necessarily, but I find the magic system way too complex for its own good; way too hard to follow compared to his later works. I also just don't see the appeal in a heist story regardless of it being Fantasy or not. Haven't read all the way through but I'm reading it still despite my lack of general interest since I need to read books for my own work (I'm aspiring to become an Author myself).
Thank you. Everyone praised this book and I found it to be flat and dull, and the magic system was too clever for its own good. I've given him another try with The Way of Kings and so far it is much more interesting.
Saaameeee, but I probably won't give him another try with anything else
@@emanuelgonzalez7500 Mistborn was one of his first published books and his later works show improvement. I do have to say my initial impression of Mistborn was mixed but by the end of the trilogy and how he concludes the story made me a fan. I am way more interested in Stormlight Archives, which is his big epic and much more unique fantasy
Mistborn to me is an action movie. I like it but its not a slow burn by any means. Way of Kings is one that makes you sit and think. I also liked Elantris for that reason aswell. But i think Mistborn is the most action-ya-quick in and out. I think there are a lot of different places to start for different people, mistborn might not be yours but I think you may like it for its place later on.
Completely agree. Mistborn is so massively overhyped and that might have played into my feeling of being very underwhelmed by the end. Character work is too shallow for my liking and the world didn't feel lived in, felt surface level and like a little sandbox. Way too much exposition, too little ambiguity and nuance, too little mystery and intrigue
Highfive! Totally agree! I just wanted more from it. Such a sick concept. GIVE ME MORE.
First things first, you were very nice about your dislike for the book and I can appreciate that. Second point, Vin being an orphan, underfed, betrayed, abused, and afraid of being "assaulted" all the time isn't low enough? Like how much lower do you want her to get?I can understand wanting a character to go through hardship, but you want more than that!? Sorry, I just wanted to point that out because it bugged me lol
I think for me I wanted to live through the low moments. See if play out in a more organic way rather than just have it told to me that It happened. ya know? Not to say she wasn't low enough. just wanted to live in her shoes a bit during those low moments.
Hence why I enjoy Name of the Wind so much. The whole series is about living in the shoes of the character no matter how mundane it may be.
@Thomas.R.Howell Ok, then you might like stormlight, and maybe warbreaker.
It gets worse from here. I find Sanderson’s writing so brutally bad and I can’t quite understand the oceans of praise he receives.
The prose - oh no.
lolol
I appreciate your take and the review. I think in terms of The Final Empire enjoyment, I think I liked it a fair bit more than you did, though I had similar pain points--particularly with the speed and there being too much emphasis on the minutiae of the magic system's mechanics in the moment to moment action and not enough exploration on the magic's impact on the world itself.
For as much fantasy and magic was at play in Mistborn, in some ways it almost felt lacking because its presentation was so mechanical and lacking in some of that numinous magical quality that makes fantasy so wonderful to daydream about.
Based on your review, I think Stormlight Archive is more what you're looking for if you're planning on trying out more adult and fleshed out Sanderson writing. Since you're finishing up Wheel of Time, you'll get to see Sanderson's adaptability, and that should be more of a proper indication of whether you'll enjoy Stormlight Archive or not, even if it's not a true 1:1 comparison in writing style.
Though I'm not a die hard Sanderson fan, I appreciate everything he's done for the industry, and we definitely need more Sandersons in the trad pub world. He's expressed interest on numerous occasions that he'd like to work with a game director like Miyazaki (after G.R.R.M.'s involvement in Elden Ring), and I think he's 100% the guy that would make that work beautifully based on how he thinks, plots, and writes.
Oh man, it's so refreshing to hear that someone else didn't love Mistborn😅 I really thought I was the only one. And I read a lot of YA! YA can have excellent prose (ie Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor) but the prose in Mistborn was painful for me to get through. Every time he referred to a horse as a "beast" I cringed. Just call it a horse! I agree with you, reading this magic system felt like reading a video game instruction manual. As I reflected on it, I also realized that this wasn't a world that I wanted to keep returning to. I know a lot of people enjoy urban fantasy-settings, but it's just not for me. It was so depressing, and yeah I get that's the point, but I read for escapism; give me the Shire over the apocalyptic city in Mistborn any day.
The shire is so cozy! Let me live in the shoes of a hobbit! Although they don’t have shoes. Maybe slippers?
agreed - the first mistborn trilogy is more of a pre-teen fantasy story. I read them after finishing the first 3 Stormlight Archive books in order to understand more about the cosmere and have been pretty disappointed with the entire Mistborn series tbh.
I'd absolutely recommend reading Stormlight Archive though, and even Warbreaker, from Sanderson's Cosmere novels. Some of the best fantasy novels I've ever read.
Also now curious what you thought of the Sanderson WoT novels, if you think it still feels simplisitc and video gamey. I'm sure you talk about it in another video, but I wont be watching that yet since I havent read those books yet, and definitely plan to.
so far I'm 150 pages into book 12 of WoT and I think Sanderson has done a wonderful job almost emulating Jordan's writing style. There hasn't been any whiplash from Jordan's last book (11) to now 12 by Sanderson. It's been a very smooth transition. I'm enjoying it!
"I say this in every one of my videos, but I'm reading the wheel of time" 💀💀💀
The series is long what can I say lol. I will most likely continue to say it in every video just for fun haha
It feels like a lot of your criticisms aren’t applicable to a book that’s part of a series like mistborn. If the book was a standalone, sure, but to write off the whole series just because the first book didn’t go deep enough or have enough mystery is silly. The rest of the series is basically built to answer your gripes. Also regarding the descriptors of the magic system as being repetitive is a little confusing. With a hard magic system and so many different combinations of powers it would be hard to describe an interaction without stating what is being burnt or pushed or pulled.
Sure the writing style might turn you off with the simplicity of it, and that’s fine, but you can’t expect to know the highs and lows of characters or how much mystery is being revealed or how the characters develop or what mystery is still undiscovered by the first book alone
Stormlight is awesome.
I have a love hate relationship with Brandon. I hated mistborn, it felt so YA and cringe to me. I also really like stormlight but also don’t like stormlight. The heavy focus on mental health is just depressing af to read. Like I read fantasy to escape, not feel like I’m doing more clinical’s in a psych ward.
I didn't love Mistborn (I DNF'd the series in the 3rd book, spoiled the ending on Wikis so I could read other Cosmere, then only came back to it when I wanted to read Mistorn Era 2) either but I *really* like Stormlight! Continue exploring the Cosmere!
I will also say in hindsight that there is plenty of mystery in Mistborn- it's just hidden in plain sight lol.
I will! Thank you so much for the encouragement. I love Sanderson and just haven’t given his writing a full deep dive. And I’ve heard such amazing things about the Cosmere.
Thank you for hanging out and sharing your thoughts!
I thought it was good in a functional sense, but definitely agree about the 'human' nature of it feeling a bit overly mechanical. Like the characters and cultures and such were an excuse to do an intricate magic system. It was his 2nd published book, and he improved greatly between that and Stormlight, which is one of my favorite modern fantasy series. Would recommend trying the way of kings if you're still interested. It has exactly that day-to-day feel and world-building focus without being about magic mechanics which you were saying you'd hoped this would be. That feels like it's about people more than about characters-as-plot-devices
You hit the nail on the head. You explained it much more eloquently than I could have, but I agree with everything you said about this book!
I don’t have a lot of time to read books, so I listen to audio books instead while I’m working. My ADHD makes it hard for me to pay attention to a book, especially if it’s a book I’m not enjoying. I started listening to Mistborn on Audible and struggled getting started with it. It probably mostly had to do with the dudes voice being so dull but I want to give it another try. My brother loves Sanderson’s books so I’m sure I’ll like it once I get more into it
I rarely do audio books because I feel that the performer or reader can really make or break my experience. Plus I think an audio book can take away what I already had in my imagination in regard to characters and voices.
But I do think Audio books can be great for people who don't have the time to read. I know two of the most well known readers for audio books are Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, and my goodness are they dull!
Keep at it! Dive in! Try cracking a physical version open and read for 10 minutes a day! Then increase that to 20 minutes a day! Bit by bit you will develop focus and discipline! And enhance your reading!
Yeah the first book was like 6/10 for me, but it gets better from there, by the time I finished book 3 it reframed the first one and now I like it much more. The first one is a bit deceptive as characters seems pretty one note, the writing is a bit messy with too many repated words and the premise of a heist is really not for me, but later books adress my issues and the entire trilogy ranks decently high for me. I really enjoyed it in the end. Consider giving the other two a chance, it might surprise you. To a point that I think that the Final Empire was a bit of a red herring.
If I don't care about the characters I have a hard time enjoying the book. I got through the first book, but I don't plan to go any further.
Exactly! Well written characters are so vital for investment in a story/series.
Dude, I've REALLY tried to like Sanderson and I just don't. I tried reading Mistborn and Stormlight but I just cannot. He looks like a pretty nice guy, though
He's a great guy and his communication with his fans alone makes me a fan of his. I still want to try Way of Kings. Currently I am reading the last three wheel of time books which were written by Sanderson. Loving it so far.
I too sort of wrote Sanderson off after I read the first Mistborn, but I ended up going back to him and legitimately really enjoyed the first Stormlight book. I'll definitely be going back to him, at the very least to continue Stormlight.
I totally agree with your insights. When I started Mistborn I had big expectations that were not fullfilled. Way too simplistic, YA vibes, superheroish-videogameish, formulaic. Not everything was bad, it had some really good elements (which were overshadowed by the not so good aspects, imo).
It is almost impossible not to love Sanderson as a public figure. He has an amazing relationship with his fans, Writing Excuses was great, his current podcast is entertaining, and he uploaded his writing classes online, which I appreciate. However, Mistborn was not a great start. Stormlight Archive is my last hope on liking his work.
Love it dude. Have you tried Stormlight yet? What other fantasy books are some of your favs?
If you want something more complex try The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe. Its almost impossible to get it the first time you read it
I also use Magic cards as bookmarks lol
Mistborn is a great entry point for Sanderson. I'm a new Sanderson reader myself and the big draw is the whole "Cosmere" and interconnecting universe. I finished Way of Kings and have moved on to Words of Radiance, that series seems much more up your alley and takes you through the day to day of each of the characters the story follows. The worldbuilding is massive and there are a lot of mysteries and secrets.
Although I haven't read them myself, if you're looking for something more challenging I keep hearing people talk about the Malazan series being "hardcore mode" for high fantasy readers so that might be another good choice for you to pursue in the future.
You make great videos, keep it up
Love it! Do you still play magic? I'm debating on making a video on my 10 favorite magic cards lol
I have Way of Kings on my list for sure. Just taking my time with my current reads. I have heard a bit about Malayan and I might give it a shot once I am 70 haha
@Thomas.R.Howell yea I still play magic. Mostly commander now, once a week with a dedicated group of friends. I would love to see some MTG content from you.
@@HyenaHavok That's awesome! My wife and I have a group we play commander with on Thursdays!
Yes! I couldn’t finish Mistborn and couldn’t quite verbalize why. You put it beautifully, all the thoughts I had. Great review.
Thank you!!
You and I clearly have similar tastes. I much prefer Wheel of Time (still my fav all-time fantasy series to date) over the Mistborn series, although I’ve come to appreciate Sanderson’s genius more over time. I think others have commented on this as well, but I think you’ll enjoy the Stormlight Archive more. Although the “hard magic” is still evident, there’s a lot more intrigue, slow burn, and “day in the life.” There’s also more emphasis on character development. I’m only on book 2 of Stormlight so far, but I can lay out with confidence the personalities and proclivities of the three main protagonists.
Not sure what other fantasy you’ve read, but based on your expressed likes, I suggest:
Joe Abercrombie: dark fantasy, depressing outcomes sometimes, but superb character building, witty prose, and remarkable twisting of tropes
Robin Hobb: very slow plot, but immaculate character work, elevated prose, and immersive world-building
Thank you so much for hanging out and watching my other videos!
I still plan on giving Stormlight a try for sure. But once I’ve finished WoT.
I actually have the Farseer trilogy and plan on diving into that eventually too! LOVE slow day to day storytelling. Name of the Wind is my favorite book of all time and I’ve heard amazing things about Robin Hobb and the Farseer Trilogy.
And yes! Another trilogy on my list the First Law is at the top for me! Can’t wait to dive into that!
Soooo many books but I take my sweet time with them. I never want to rush through an experience.
The only reason imo to not like final empire is that one of the characters died in the end. I was so much in love with them.
I'm so sorry but I must delete your comment only because you are spoiling the book. Please comment again if you want without spoiling anything! Don't take it personally I just don't want anyone to be spoiled!
I started with The way of kings as my first Sanderson book and really liked it, then went to Mistborn later based on the same author and other people's recommendations. While I didn't feel the need to see more of Vin's backstory or slow growth I had very similar feelings about the Mistborn series to you. It is very borderline YA in the way it feels to read. Also based on the opening 3 minutes it sounds like you would love the Malazan book of the fallen series.
This was also my first Sanderson book, it was fine and I finished the trilogy. I don't disagree with what you said specifically about it being written for a younger audience and not being as deep as i would prefer. I read Stormlight Archive after, it was vastly better than the Mistborn series. A friend of mine recommended I read Way of Kings first but I didn't listen and chose Mistborn because it was shorter, that was a mistake, fortunately I kept reading Sanderson books.
Like some other comments have already said: the way your described what you wanted out of Mistborn basically describes how the Stormlight Archive is written! The whole The Way of Kings is basically just setup for the rest of the series where you have no idea what's going on and everyone is just in going through the trenches lol i think you'll like that one a lot more!
That sounds amazing. I love when an entire book is paced to be a set up piece for the entire series.
I finished books 7-10 in Wheel of Time and is known as “the slog” yet all it was, was set up for the end! I’m getting close.
Not gonna lie....Stormlight isnt a HUGE step up in terms of maturity from Mistborn. I am not a fan of sanderson overall. i think his writing is oversimplistic and relies heavily on final act explosions to makeup for his typical mid-book slogs. His books are fine and fun but his fandom is a whole other thing.
Still haven't given his own works a try. However I am reading the final 3 Wheel of Time books which were written by him with the help of a ton of notes from Robert Jordan. It feels like he is emulating Jordan's style beautifully. While also adding his own descriptions and style on it. So far I am loving it.
Sanderson is an author that I have put a lot of effort into over the years. Many of my friends love his books and are very passionate about his creations. I want to share in that experience so I have tried many times to jump aboard the hype train but each experience has been unfulfilling. The Final Empire was a huge dud for me and Warbreaker had the same YA flavor I disliked in Mistborn. The Way of Kings was a substantial improvement but there was still something missing that prevented me from engaging with the text. Unfortunately, I think it’s Brandon himself that I have a problem with. His writing just isn’t for me. While his fantasies are impressively original and a breath of fresh air from the typical medieval Europe setting, the writing itself isn’t elegant, challenging, or clever. I probably would have loved these books in high school but now, in my early 30s, I have read so many other things that may tastes have changed significantly. I’m trying to read through Words of Radiance now because I want to participate in a buddy read for the fifth book in December but I keep setting it down after a few pages and rereading a Dorothy Dunnett book; an author you have to pay very close attention to because every sentence was purposefully chosen and through subtext is the only way you can fully understand the story, unlike Brandon where everything is spoon fed and shoved down your throat. It’s sad because it’s much more fun to like things than to dislike them but eventually you have to be honest with yourself and accept it.
Update: I finished work early yesterday afternoon so I spent the afternoon and evening going through Words of Radiance. I’m beginning to come around and I’ve been enjoying it much more.
Hello Thomas, I recommend King's the dark tower saga. I think you might like it a lot. The first book is very introductory, but necessary
Thank you! Absolutely want to read that series!
Man, I loved that series as it slowly progressed over the decades!
...but then the final book came out. The last half of that novel is so infuriatingly bad, it stamped out any and all the joy I'd once had for the series.
I’m currently about to finish the third book in the trilogy. It has got me back into reading. I can say honestly, you were doing yourself a disservice by only reading the first book. All three books were written back to back as kind of one continual story.
I might dive back into the trilogy once I am done with Wheel of Time!
The best part take place in Era 2 with the Condra, I've never laughed so much while reading!
I’m so glad I came across this channel! These video book reviews are sooo nuttyyyy
lol
I agree. Malazan is My favorite. Sorry My English ...
Don't apologize! I have heard great things about Malazan. I might give that a go when I am 50 years old lol.
did you read the trilogy? Or just the first one?
just the first...
Really like your videos, keep it up!
Thank you!
I have found that Brando Sando is not for me either. You invoke the term "adult" fantasy. Have you read any Guy Gavriel Kay novels? Or Malazan books, perhaps?
You are not the last person to suggest Malazan. Maybe when I am 40 or 50 I will give that world a try. I hear it gives on Elden Ring vibes and I am here for it!
Even though I personally enjoyed mistborn I can totally understand why someone wouldn’t like it. If you’re looking for a book or series with much more world building and character depth with lots of mystery I highly recommend Brandon Sandersons storm light archive series. There’s 4 books right now with a 5th coming out soon and I think it is significantly better than mistborn highly recommend it
Thank you!
Elantris was my 1st Sanderson book, and I enjoyed that more than the mistborn trilogy
Damn,loved Mistborn as a noob fantasy reader 😊
Everyone has their own tastes in books! As a noob fantasy reader I started with Narnia and Harry Potter. They were good! But then I read Name of the Wind and it changed my life!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I started with The Hobbit,Lotr,Game Of Thrones than I got into Sanderson :D ... Stormlight Archive is something else though :)
Pat Rothfuss is amazing but I think that he's a lazy f*ck for not finishing the trilogy :))
@@noname3609 HAHAHA I love that. I have tried so hard to avoid watching or reading anything about that man. It boggles my mind that someone like him wrote something so beautiful like Name of the Wind.
I STILL haven't read LotR. Once I am done with WoT. I will for sure dive into it next year!
@@Thomas.R.Howell That's cool.I also recommend the Silmarillion,The Hobbit and Unfinished tales ! :)
I am reading the second book at the moment and I am still feeling the same. There is a lot of details missing. I like the idea but characters are not deep enough thanks to Sanderson not giving them a solid background. I dont feel any sympathy to the main character Vin or Elend or anyone. Great success to do that in hundreds pages long books. 😒 Anyway hoping to hear more about my favourite character Sazed.
Thank you for the insight! That's why I stopped after book 1. I just don't think an author is going to change that much within the next book and provide more of that depth that I am wanting!
Not slamming Sanderson. But his early stuff just isn't my cup of tea.
I think Mistborn 1 is rather ok. Books 2 and 3 take a huge step forward (in plot and character progression), in my opinion. But I still think Mistborn is just a fun series, not necessarily an incredible one. Stormlight, however, is my favorite book series hands down. I think the complaints you put forward are remedied in The Way of Kings.
As an aside, the second Mistborn series uses magic in a much much better way.
I wasn’t a fan of Mistborn either. I love Stormlight Archive. You get more world building and more character development. You may want to give those books a try 👍🏻
I'm excited!
My favorite part about The final empire how cinematic the fight scenes feel and also Kelsier
Based on your criticisms of mistborn, I do think you would like stormlight! I also think you would like Well of Ascension (the second mistborn book) it focuses much more on Vin and is slower paced.
I think the critism about mistborn needing more depth in the world, I can understand though it's kinda one of the reason why it's also awesome, you expect it to be slower and takes it time to develop but no the last few hundred pages was like f*ck it, let's start pumping up and I love that, the way it subverted your expectations how the story would progress was awesome, I thought we would not fight the lord ruler until book 3 then he died at the very first book
As for characters, I disagree at some extent(sazed, kelseir and vin were awesome though the rest kinda fall flat until the next book) but i think that's still fair
As for your complaints about magic system, it's gonna be addressed in the next book directly, allomancy feeling a bit to video gamey and it honestly just demonstrates how it is literally the best magic system i have come across. It still manages to feel so magical despite how complex and systematic it is and, it's magic system just don't randomly add a new thing there's pattern and system to them(there is still lot of mystery), and book 3 manage to tied all of it together. I know I'm a random stranger so my opinion might not be so credible but let me just say that almost every review I've seen, 90 percent of the time mistborn magic systems is praise as one of the best if not the best, it's always mentioned at the very beginning and that's saying a lot, book 1 is only the scratch of mistborn magic.
Great video btw ❤
I also had the same problems with "Tress Of the Emereld Sea " , Then I started "Way Of Kings " and so far loving it.
The guy writes so dang much and so fast! I can't keep up with his works lol. I will definitely give Way of Kings a shot sooner or later!
WORST FICTION TRILOGY EVER!
*spoilers* the whole plot is about the skaa rebellion (class of underprivileged people) and yet there is no insights on their livelihood, the rebellion is led by Kelsier who is not even a skaa and does not have any concrete reason for wanting to overthow the final empire THAN TO KILL THE LORD RULER. there are so many contradictions, Kelsier is shown to have lost his wife when she was killed by the lord ruler which could have been a good reason for his rebellion BUT he started growing unusual feelings towards his own apprentice and even doubts his wife to have betrayed him, which makes the whole rebellion look stupid. The skaa (after 1000 years of oppression) were not interested in fighting and kelsier claims to lead the rebellion for the skaa but he has absolutely no idea about the real struggles of skaa and seems to live in his own world and impossible goals. His own apprentice kills the lord ruler with a simple trick which has no explanation even though lord ruler had more powers than anyone and even believed to be immortal. Kelsier's own brother helped the apprentice to kill the lord ruler but there is no mention of him in the second book and nobody even thought or spoke about him. Elend, who had no magical powers was difficult to like in the beginning but I started liking his character because of his core principles and how he held on to it, but once he got his powers, he became the same as any other character which made me hate him even more. By the second book, I already wanted to give up reading. There is unnecessary drama and twists without any explanation. Few main characters are killed off just for the story but nobody is even shown mourning for them. Every conversation in the story feels empty, even the philosophical debates are having no depth. The love story between the apprentice and Elend is the lamest thing, they are started off as an unconventional pair, which could have a huge scope for developing into a deep romance but all they do is hide things from each other and it feels shallow to the point that all they do is just maintain their "duty" of protecting and trusting each other but it just seems like a facade because they never actually understood each other or even try to be real with each other, which made me cringe so bad when they had any sort of physical affection. This was a complete waste of time for me. The story is good upto the point where the apprentice killed the lord ruler but after that it is simply dragged to the author could make more money.
Some side characters have been given no relevance to the actual storyline and the author has just added them in conversations to make them look involved.
I would highly recommend reading scythe if you are looking for a meaningful and solid plot.
I read Skyward and didn't like it. It wasn't terrible, just too flat. Tried The Way of Kings, and it was boring! I paused the reading for the moment
what are you reading now?
@@Thomas.R.Howell I just finished Jurassic Park and started The Neverending Story
Stick with the series, it gets better, yes misborn is a bit YA but, its a easy read and juts blasts just by. There are some great pay offs. Plus Some twists the story takes.
I just finished the trilogy as my first Sanderson novels and I also wasn't a huge fan. The books are good but not great. I specially didn't care for the first book, The final empire, character development was terrible and I never cared for any of them. What kept me going was the awesome magic system and some of the mystery. What's even more strange, my favotire of the 3 by far was the second book, which is widely critizided by the majority of fans, somehow. It had great characters (sazed and oreseur), great political games in luthadel and an awesome seige. Third book for me was probably better than the first but not nearly as good as the second. Felt it was all over the place and didn't particularly liked how we got to that ending. All that mystery built up in 2 books imo was a let down at the end. Now, Im not sure if I should continue reading Sanderson with Stormlight or go somewhere else.
I get what your saying about the lack of mystique. That whole whiteboard flow chart scene is a big meme in my memory. It works good in cheeky in heist movies, but not in an Epic Fantasy. Book 2 is way better though, my favorite book of the trilogy.
The constant meetings and planning and write up of new plans got really repetitive. It came off cheesy. And messed with the pacing of the book for me.
Also why I didn’t even bother with books 2 and 3, it felt like book 1 could’ve been split into 3 books. But I will have to give it another go!
I think both of the sequels (WoA, HoA) solves many of your problems, not to say you would love them. There's more complexity, political intrigue, mysteries, deeper character-work, etc. Stormlight would definitely suit you more, I'm curious as to why you didn't try it first.
I think I tried Mistborn because I saw it as an entry point to Sanderson's work. But I was also floundering as a reader at that time. I finished Name of the Wind and was on the search for something that could compete with Patrick's prose. I tried Witcher which was nice but then I tried Mistborn... and...well you know. But I for sure have Way of Kings on my list!
"Things were too convenient, things weren't earned" oh if you had only read the other era 1 books.
haha
Mistborn is a phenomenal narrative with very weak characters. Like I was blown away by the ending, but I never cared about Vin or elend and they had no chemistry at all. The guy who went blind from overusing tin was agony to read.
I had the same kinda vibe with the Skyward series. I finished it this year. It all felt kinda ... empty. Interesting concept but god the characters. They were flat and one dimensional, nothing that happened ever seemed to shake them to their core, they were always the same they were at the beginning.
I don't think I will ever pick up another Sanderson.
Stormlight archive is absolutely amazing and the character development is top notch
You know Sanderson isn't for everyone! Mistborn wasn't for me although I will for sure give Stormlight a try. What are some of your favorite fantasy books?
@@Thomas.R.Howell nowadays I read more Sci-fi than fantasy but I enjoy the Burton and Swinburne books, The locked tomb series, Bartimäus, Skulduggery Pleasant and Gunmetal Gods
Love it. I haven’t tried scifi just yet. But I’ve got a couple series on my radar in that genre. Maybe later down the road!
I agree with you on this book and thought it was pretty boring and mid, but I read the sequels a few months after and thought they were way better. Honestly mistborn book 1 is my least favorite out of warbreaker stormlight archive and mistborn
It does suck when the first book in a series or trilogy is considered boring or mid. Usually the first book should grab the reader and excite the reader to dive further it. This book just didn't do that. Maybe down the line I will give it a second try while also giving the whole trilogy a try.
Tried it, failed. It's so YA... so cheesy, full of tropes, already in the first few chapters the 'skinny girl that no one notices... was noticed 😩' made me want to vomit tbh. Very tumblr-esque characters and the writing of the fighting was horrific. It took SO long to get through and really poorly paced taking you out of the action, for every one action there was another 5 lines of pulling on this and that metal. Ugh. As you mentioned, okay, at first, explain it to me. But after the first 2 times... I get it.... a 20 second fight takes likes 3 pages for no reason other than "push, pull, push, pull, cheesy cringe smirk, push.."
These were my gripes for sure when reading it two years ago! I kept rolling my eyes this way and that.
The over explanation of the magic system just takes me out of the world. When the language is more subtle and less on the nose, I find myself lost in the writer’s world. This book’s language just took me out of it a lot.
It sounds like I need to at least try book 2!
What are some of your favorite books? In fantasy or elsewhere?
I felt the same. Didn’t feel adult at all, very YA indeed, the characters didn’t interest me at all, the magic system was repetitive… been scared to pick up booktube recommended fantasy since then
What kind of fantasy are you into? Name of the Wind. Farseer Trilogy. The First Law trilogy. Might give those try?
I am a fantasy noob, but indeed I heard a lot of Hobb’s work so it’s in my radar (and Abercrombie too) I really enjoyed a song of ice and fire. Am currently leaning towards starting the Witcher’s first short story collection. Would you recommend it?
@@davidpacheco5764 Oh my goodness I totally forgot about those. I would ABSOLUTELY! Recommend that series. Last Wish is a great book to start with.
I am actually currently playing through the video game Witcher 3. So so good.
90% of videos about someone reviewing or talking about books starts with coffee or tea. Good review though. Nice to see a review about a book that isn't 30 minutes.
I like to keep things within that 10-15 minute range. Allow for pauses and natural conversation rather than constant jump cuts and no dead air. But also not crazy long to the point it gets boring!
My wife and I love coffee! So have to include it in my vids lol
Thank you for watching!
You'd get more enjoyment out of Stormlight, I think
I had a very similar impression of it. The premise was interesting, but the execution was definitely lacking. It wasn’t the worst by any means, it was just very...meh. Great comparison of the magic system with games. It was so boring to read the same sequence of over-explained movements every time. I'm quite dissapointed as he's hyped up as master of worldbuilding, but I found it dull and flat. Perhaps other books are more developed as he got better as a writer. But I doubt he can create a sense of truly magical, rich world. Detailed and complicated doesn’t equal immersive in reading experience in my opinion. Just not exactly my type of fantasy, I guess.
That's what I am hoping for. His later books to have more depth and more of a world to get immersed in. What kind of fantasy books do you like? What are some of your favorites?
@@Thomas.R.Howell I'm in the process of finding out, actually, as I haven’t read too many fantasy series yet, but as historical fiction is my go to genre I may be biased towards the more historical settings and I love my fantasy to be...well...fantastic. Magical and a bit mysterious. I'm not really into sci-fi, so very hard magic systems may not be for me. But I have some grimdark fantasy (Joe Abercrombie) and more dystopian themes (The Broken Earth Trilogy) on my reading list and I can't wait to read them. I'll also be reading The Wheel of Time (which I think is of a more "traditional" fantasy type?), so if you ever make more videos on it, I'll definitely check them out.
I never like to recommend books by forcing it on people. I never like to say “oh you HAVE to read this book.” READ IT! READ IT!
No. I have to understand that persons tastes before I suggest a book or series.
That being said, Wheel of Time isn’t historical fiction, but it has LOADS of history and lore. Worldbuilding on so many levels. Truly a lived in world. Robert Jordan studied history and military history and it shows in his work.
It’s not for everyone as I wouldn’t even recommend it to people off the cuff. But for history and worldbuilding alone, this series delivers on just that.
Name of the Wind is my all time favorite fantasy book. It’s not historical fiction. But it’s also not your typical fantasy book. It’s very intimate. Focusing on one characters story. Naturally paced. Not everything is answered. You get to live in the shoes of the character and really endure his journey.
@@Thomas.R.Howell I get the impression that WoT is a bit Tolkien-like with all the world-building and lore. If that’s the case, fantastic. Tolkien was the ultimate master of creating worlds, however dated or boring this statement may seem with so many fantasy series around.
I read The Name of The Wind some years ago and the writing was beautiful, the story compelling and intriguing, but I can't say I liked the main character. Too much of a Gary Stu, perfect hero who had to overcome obstacles type.
Cool concept but the writing was mediocre. Stopped after first book.
We can't be friends. Haha...!
oh noooo
Could you review A Game of Thrones. By GRRM. THE MYSTERY OF IT. you’ll love it.
I have not dove into GoT yet! Right now I am on a Stephen King kick then I will be finishing the Wheel of Time. I'll see where my headspace is at and what I am wanting to dive into then!