Book Review: Mistborn: Secret History (Mistborn #3.5) by Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn: Secret History is a captivating novella set in the Mistborn series, specifically labeled as Mistborn #3.5. Positioned after the original trilogy, it’s a vital piece of Sanderson’s expansive Cosmere universe, focusing on the planet Scadrial. In this blog post, I’ll share my in-depth review of Mistborn: Secret History, covering its plot, key themes, and its significance within the Cosmere. Read on for a spoiler-free overview and detailed insights!
Mistborn: Secret History Book Review
Important Reading Note
Before diving into Mistborn: Secret History, a critical warning: do not read this novella without finishing the original Mistborn trilogy—The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. This novella contains major spoilers for the trilogy and may feel confusing without that context. It retells events from the trilogy but from a unique perspective: the Cognitive Realm, seen through the eyes of Kelsier, a pivotal character from the series.
Kelsier’s Return and the Cognitive Realm
For those familiar with the Mistborn trilogy, Kelsier is a beloved character whose fate was sealed in The Final Empire. In Secret History, Sanderson brings him back—not physically, but in the Cognitive Realm, a metaphysical plane between the Physical and Spiritual Realms. After his death, Kelsier encounters Preservation, one of Scadrial’s gods, but refuses to pass into the afterlife. Instead, he lingers in the Cognitive Realm, observing and attempting to influence events in the Physical Realm.
This novella serves as a “Kelsier story,” addressing fans’ longing for more of his journey. Sanderson reimagines Kelsier with his rebellious spirit intact, often meddling in events with mixed results—sometimes making things worse in his attempts to fix them. We learn that certain events in the original trilogy were shaped by Kelsier’s actions from the Cognitive Realm, adding new depth to the story we thought we knew.
Beyond Kelsier’s arc, Secret History explores the Cosmere’s broader mythology. It answers burning questions about Preservation, Ruin, and the divine powers known as Shards. Readers gain insight into how these gods came to be, their origins tied to the shattering of Adonalsium, the Cosmere’s original deity. This makes the novella a must-read for Cosmere fans seeking a deeper understanding of Sanderson’s interconnected universe.
See also: 30 best fantasy books, novels, and book series of all time
Plot Summary of Mistborn: Secret History
The story of Mistborn: Secret History centers on Kelsier’s journey after his death at the hands of the Lord Ruler. In the Cognitive Realm, he meets Preservation, a weakening god nearing the end of its power. Unwilling to move on to the afterlife, Kelsier remains in this in-between realm, engaging in heated exchanges with Preservation—whom he mockingly calls “Fuzz.” Their banter is both humorous and revealing, showcasing Kelsier’s irreverent personality.
As Kelsier observes the Physical Realm, he witnesses Ruin’s release, a catastrophic event indirectly caused by his plan to overthrow the Lord Ruler. Guilt drives him to join forces with Preservation to combat Ruin’s destructive agenda. However, Kelsier’s attempts to intervene often backfire, as illustrated in this poignant moment:
“Vin—glowing and radiant to his eyes—lay beside Elend Venture, clutching him and weeping as his soul pulsed, growing weaker. Kelsier stood up, turning his back toward the sight. For all his cleverness, he’d gone and broken the poor girl’s heart. I must be the smartest idiot around, Kelsier thought.”
Kelsier’s journey takes him across the world, where he encounters individuals and groups from other Cosmere planets, leveraging his skills as a thief to influence events. His actions in the Cognitive Realm parallel Vin and her allies’ fight against Ruin in the Physical Realm, creating a layered narrative that enriches the original trilogy.
The Cognitive Realm itself is a fascinating setting, and Sanderson’s explanation of its mechanics is both intricate and thought-provoking, as seen in this exchange:
“Kelsier sighed. ‘Then why was he able to come to the world of the dead?’ ‘It’s not the world of the dead. It’s the world of the mind. Men—all things, truly—are like a ray of light. The floor is the Physical Realm, where that light pools. The sun is the Spiritual Realm, where it begins. This Realm, the Cognitive Realm, is the space between where that beam stretches.’ The metaphor barely made any sense to him. They all know so much, Kelsier thought, and I know so little.”
Scadrial’s Gods and the Cosmere Universe
The title Secret History is fitting, as the novella unveils the hidden backstory of Scadrial’s gods, Preservation and Ruin, and their connection to the Cosmere’s creation. It explores the shattering of Adonalsium, the original god whose power was divided into sixteen Shards, each held by individuals who became gods. This is revealed through a conversation with Khriss, a Cosmere scholar:
“The Shards,” Khriss said, drawing Kelsier’s attention, “are not God, but they are pieces of God. Ruin, Preservation, Autonomy, Cultivation, Devotion... There are sixteen of them.” “Sixteen,” Kelsier breathed. “There are fourteen more of these things running around?” “The rest are on other planets.” “Other...” Kelsier blinked. “Other planets.” “Ah, see,” Nazh said. “You’ve broken him already, Khriss.” “Other planets,” she repeated gently. “Yes, there are dozens of them. Many are inhabited by people much like you or me. There is an original, shrouded and hidden somewhere in the cosmere. I’ve yet to find it, but I have found stories.“ Anyway, there was a God. Adonalsium. I don’t know if it was a force or a being, though I suspect the latter. Sixteen people, together, killed Adonalsium, ripping it apart and dividing its essence between them, becoming the first who Ascended.”
Kelsier, who never believed in gods during his life, is stunned by these revelations. The Lord Ruler, who proclaimed himself a god in The Final Empire, ruled for a millennium until Vin defeated him. In the Cognitive Realm, Kelsier learns even more shocking truths from two mysterious figures:
“A diverse group,” she said. “With equally diverse motives. Some wished for the power; others saw killing Adonalsium as the only good option left to them. Together they murdered a deity, and became divine themselves.” She smiled in a kindly way, as if to prepare him for what came next. “Two of those created this planet, Survivor, including the people on it.” “So... my world, and everyone I know,” Kelsier said, “is the creation of a pair of... half gods?” “More like fractional gods,” Nazh said. “And ones with no particular qualifications for deityhood, other than being conniving enough to murder the guy who had the job before.”
This novella thus serves as both a Kelsier-focused story and a gateway to the broader Cosmere, shedding light on the cosmic forces shaping Scadrial and beyond. It adds profound meaning to the Mistborn series as a whole.
Conclusion: Why Read Mistborn: Secret History?
In summary, Mistborn: Secret History by Brandon Sanderson is a delightful and insightful novella that offers a fresh perspective on the Mistborn trilogy while expanding the Cosmere universe. It’s a must-read for Kelsier fans, delivering a fun and emotional journey through his adventures in the Cognitive Realm. Additionally, it provides critical context for Scadrial’s gods and the Cosmere’s mythology, making it essential for readers invested in Sanderson’s interconnected worlds. Just be sure to read the original trilogy first!
To close, I’ll share a favorite quote that captures Kelsier’s essence as a thief with a grand purpose, one who sets off events leading to the downfall of multiple “gods”:
“Thievery was the most authentic form of flattery. What could be more satisfying than knowing the things you possessed were intriguing, captivating, or valuable enough to provoke another man to risk everything to obtain them? This was Kelsier’s purpose in life, to remind people of the value of the things they loved. By taking them away.”
Book Details:
- Author: Brandon Sanderson
- Title: Mistborn: Secret History (Mistborn #3.5)
- Publisher: Dragonsteel Entertainment
- First Published: 2016
- Pages: 169
- Also Found In: Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection
.jpg)
