Book Review: Brandon Sanderson – Mistborn: The Final Empire

Brandon Sanderson's The Final Empire is the first book in his Mistborn series. This fantasy novel tells the story of a gang with unique powers as they set out to pull off the most ambitious job imaginable: overthrowing the seemingly "immortal" emperor who has ruled for nearly a thousand years. Sanderson presents a fascinating fantasy world and a gripping story that keeps readers in suspense until the very end. Let’s dive into a detailed review of Mistborn: The Final Empire.

Book Review: Brandon Sanderson – Mistborn: The Final Empire

So, what kind of book is The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson? Here, there are no superheroes—but there is a gang with special powers. Usually, their jobs involve robbing nobles. Led by Kelsier, one of the underworld's top figures, this gang has a leader and members with unique abilities. In Sanderson’s fantastical world, some individuals possess special powers. I’ll go into more detail about this soon, but let’s first continue with a general review of the book.

I’ve read Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive series before, and naturally, I found myself comparing it to The Final Empire. While The Final Empire has a simpler plot, it is just as enjoyable. However, looking closer, you can see a much broader storyline and mysteries woven in. Especially intriguing is the seemingly impossible mission to overthrow an empire, which promises a satisfying conclusion—although some questions remain unanswered. This hints that the author has more in store for the series.

More: Book Review: Brandon Sanderson - The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)

Plot of Mistborn: The Final Empire

The Final Empire introduces readers to a world ruled by an emperor known as the Lord Ruler, who has held power for nearly a thousand years. Under his rule, something drastically changed, though no one truly knows how it happened. Only stories hint at the mysterious transformation that reshaped the world. Flowers now exist only in books and ancient tales, and ash constantly falls from the sky. These legends give only sparse details about the world as it once was.

“He had heard whispers of times when once, long ago, the sun had not been red. Times when the sky hadn’t been clogged by smoke and ash, when plants hadn’t struggled to grow, and when skaa hadn’t been slaves. Times before the Lord Ruler. Those days, however, were nearly forgotten. Even the legends were growing vague.”

In this bleak setting, a group of Skaa (the enslaved working class) rebels assigns an impossible task to a gang leader named Kelsier: overthrow the Lord Ruler. Even though the mission seems doomed to fail, each person has their reasons for accepting. The Skaa hope to raise an army, at least to seize the capital, while Kelsier and his crew aim to steal atium, a precious metal stored in the palace, and profit from the attempt. Leading the gang is Kelsier, joined by his allies Ham, Dockson, Breeze, and Clubs, each gifted with unique abilities. Together, they begin planning for a mission that offers little chance of success.

But why does it seem so impossible? For nearly a thousand years, the Lord Ruler has governed a unified world as the "Final Empire." With immortality and special powers, he is worshiped as a god by the people, making any thought of his downfall nearly unthinkable.

The Special Powers in Mistborn: Allomancy

In Sanderson’s world, magic as we know it doesn’t exist, but some people possess special powers, primarily among the nobility, although a few enslaved Skaa also display these abilities. These powers are called Allomancy, and those who can use them are known as Allomancers. The novel describes it as follows:

“Allomancy. The mystical power held by the nobility, granted to them by the Lord Ruler some thousand years before as a reward for their loyalty. It was basic Ministry doctrine; even a skaa like Vin knew that much. The nobility had Allomancy and privilege because of their ancestors; the skaa were punished for the same reason.”

Allomancers gain their abilities by “burning” specific metals within their bodies, which grant them powers. The eight basic Allomantic metals are iron, steel, tin, pewter, copper, bronze, zinc, and brass. For instance, an Allomancer burning iron gains the ability to push or pull metals, while one burning pewter gains enhanced physical strength. Some individuals can only burn one metal, and they are called Mistings. Those who can use all metals are known as Mistborn. The main characters, Kelsier and Vin, are both Mistborn, while others in their crew, like Ham, Breeze, and Clubs, are Mistings, each able to use only one specific metal.

“Many high noblemen only have access to a single Allomantic skill. People like that—those who can only perform Allomancy in one of its eight basic aspects—are called Mistings. Sometimes these abilities appear in skaa—but only if that skaa has noble blood in his or her near ancestry. You can usually find one Misting in... oh, about ten thousand mixed-breed skaa. The better, and closer, the noble ancestry, the more likely the skaa is to be a Misting.” 

In addition to the eight basic Allomantic metals, there exists a rare and valuable metal called atium, controlled exclusively by the Lord Ruler. However, there is another unknown metal, even more powerful than the others, which Kelsier believes may hold the key to defeating the Lord Ruler—though he has yet to discover how to use it.

“Allomantic theory teaches of ten metals: the eight basic metals, and the two high metals. There is another one, however, unknown to most. One far more powerful, even, than the other ten.”

The Mysteries of the Deepness and the Ascension

In Mistborn, a central yet cryptic event shapes the entire world: an event that took place about a thousand years before the story begins, when the Lord Ruler is said to have saved humanity by defeating a force known as the Deepness at a location referred to as the Ascension. This legendary victory supposedly granted him his powers and established his reign, but no one truly knows what the Deepness was or what actually occurred during the Ascension. What’s clear, however, is that after this event, ash began falling from the sky, and thick, fearsome mists enveloped the land each night, instilling fear in anyone who ventures outside during this time.

“He was...well, he was the Lord. He ruled all of the world. He was the creator, protector, and punisher of mankind. He had saved them from the Deepness, then had brought the ash and the mists as a punishment for the people’s lack of faith.”

The Lord Ruler’s journey to the Terris region marks the start of his rise to power, but exactly what he encountered and how he defeated the Deepness remains shrouded in secrecy. Through the characters’ discoveries, we learn that someone named Rashek, a Terrisman, may have been involved in these events. Yet Sanderson keeps many details a mystery, teasing revelations in the later books of the series.

Key Characters in Mistborn: The Final Empire

• Kelsier: The leader of the crew and a Mistborn skaa. Known as the "Survivor of Hathsin," Kelsier is the only person to have ever escaped the infamous Pits of Hathsin, where he was sent as punishment for trying to rob the Lord Ruler. He has a bold and charismatic nature, inspiring hope in others to rise against the oppressive regime.
• Vin: An orphaned young girl who is discovered by Kelsier while working in another crew. She is also a Mistborn, though she was unaware of her abilities until meeting Kelsier, who becomes her mentor. Vin grows into a crucial part of the plan to overthrow the Lord Ruler.
• Ham, Breeze, Dockson, and Clubs: Other members of Kelsier's crew, each bringing unique skills to the team. Dockson lacks Allomantic abilities, while the others are "Mistings," capable of burning a single type of metal to use one specific Allomantic power.
• Sazed: A Terrisman and a "Keeper" with vast knowledge of lost religions, cultures, and histories that the Lord Ruler has attempted to erase. As a Feruchemist, Sazed can store various attributes like strength or knowledge in specific metals to access later, a skill that differs from Allomancy and is unique to the Terris people.
• The Lord Ruler: The immortal emperor and godlike ruler who defeated the Deepness and brought about the ash and mists. He wields immense power and claims divinity, enforcing strict control over society and maintaining a caste system that keeps the skaa oppressed.

Feruchemy: Another Unique Power

In addition to Allomancy, Sanderson introduces Feruchemy, a distinct magical ability possessed only by the Terris people. Unlike Allomancy, which burns metals for immediate effects, Feruchemy involves storing attributes like strength, knowledge, or even health within metals worn on the body. These stored powers can be accessed later, granting abilities that go beyond those offered by Allomancy but are limited by the amount stored. Sazed is an example of a Feruchemist in the series.

My Favorite Aspect of Sanderson’s Writing Style: The Quotes

One of the most captivating aspects of Brandon Sanderson’s writing style is his use of quotes from fictional books in his worlds at the start of each chapter. We see this in both the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive. In The Final Empire, we eventually find out that these chapter-opening quotes come from the journal of the Lord Ruler himself, detailing his journey to power and the challenges he faced along the way.

I found these excerpts so intriguing that I wished Sanderson would write the full fictional journal as a standalone story. The way he uses these quotes to hint at the plot and give readers subtle clues makes the story even more engaging.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Mistborn: The Final Empire and look forward to reading the sequels. The ominous closing words of the Lord Ruler also hint at what awaits in the next books:

"You don’t know what I do for mankind. I was your god, even if you couldn’t see it... you have doomed yourselves..."

Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn: The Final Empire

Tor Books 

2006

541 pages.