The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

In a world where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night, an evil cloaks the land and stifles all life. The future of the empire rests on the shoulders of a troublemaker and his young apprentice. Together, can they fill the world with color once more? 

In Brandon Sanderson's intriguing tale of love, loss, despair and hope, a new kind of magic enters the stage — Allomancy, a magic of the metals.

I do not know when I left reading international fantasy fiction. This book was the Book of month  for December on the FB Broke bibliophile page and I think it was enough for me to make another dive into fantasy fiction. This is my first Brandon Sanderson book and if the genral opinion has to be trusted , it is not his best. I mean really ?? Çause for me , this was such a great read to end the year with.

The empire , the characters and the rules that govern the society were set up very elaborate and with a good logic to back it up. Once you understand it , you would feel like a part of it. Let me first talk about Vin , the central character who is not a born heroine , but rather comes to take her rightful place and direction in life after she is found by the troublemaker , the survivor of Hathsin ,  Kelsier. Kelsier has done some pretty unbelievable things already and yet , he thinks of the impossible this time - to overthrow the Lord Ruler.

Oh boy , Lord ruler is one of the few negative characters whom I loved. I would have so much liked to know more of him and yet the way he is shown in the book , it is awe-worthy.  he is ruthless , calm , patient and yet there is an air of indifference to him. One of my favorite scene is when he meets Kelsier in the end. And before I forget , i loved Elend more than Vin . He is the usual misfit sort of person who has a lot of ideas on how to run things. He is kind of man I would fall in love with easily and I did. There is charm and certain innocence to him that keeps you rooting for him even in the second book.

Kelsier, Vin and the crew together make for a fun filled adventure. There are elaborate tales , enchanting parties, lovable casts and courage that shines in every page. Fantasy fiction was what hooked me to books whenever my interest faltered. This book was a Savior. My reading slump of one month got cured with this. And how awesome !!

My rating : 5/5

“But you can't kill me, Lord Tyrant. I represent that one thing you've never been able to kill, no matter how hard you try. I am hope.”

“I think given the choice between loving Mare - betrayal included - and never knowing her, I'd chose love. I risked, and I lost, but the risk was still worth it.” 

Read all reviews of this Triology  here

Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection

Urcanum Unbounded : The Cosmere Collection 

Book 2.5 of "The Stormlight Archive"

ISBN : 9780765391162
First Published : 22nd November, 2016
Genre : Fantasy
Pages : 672 (Hardback)
Publishers : Tor

AUTHOR : Brandon Sanderson

SYNOPSIS : Brandon Sanderson's first story collection: novellas and short stories set in the Shardworlds, the worlds of Stormlight, Mistborn, Elantris, and more.

An all-new Stormlight Archive novella will be the crown jewel of Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection, the first book of short fiction by #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson.

The collection will include eight works in all. The first seven are:
“The Hope of Elantris” (Elantris)
“The Eleventh Metal” (Mistborn)
“The Emperor's Soul” (Elantris)
“Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania, Epsiodes 28 through 30” (Mistborn)
“Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell” (Threnody)
“Sixth of Dusk” (First of the Sun)
“Mistborn: Secret History” (Mistborn)

FL SPEAK - 

Everyone knows my love for Sanderson.

So without much gushing (I'll try to limit it this time), let me get into the groove of reviewing this one. Arcanum Unbounded is what I said previously, a treasure trove. For the new readers, these short stories will open eyes and for the faithful ones, provide some much needed answers about the Cosmere.

I try to keep myself knowledgeable about the Cosmere. I do not follow it blindly lest spoilers ruin it. However I had completely no idea what was in store when I started this. The maps, the drawings, the little hints, it all comes together.

Kelsier. Remember Kelsier, the survivor of Hathsin? Apparently his story didn't get over . My jaw dropped open when I realized the implications of what he was upto. And trust me, the whole Cosmere will reverberate to his antics. For the first time in my life, I'm happy to be my age. If things go well, I will live quite long to finish this epic tale.

I had already read The Emperor's Soul before. But Sixth of Dusk (which btw is apart from the Cosmere) was new to me. So was White Sands which I believe is a marvel in itself. Here's to hoping more of that. But what completely blew me away was Edgedancer. Based in the Rosharan system, this more than a short story was a book in itself. A book between Way of Kings and Words of Radiance.

As per latest update at brandonsanderson dot com, Brandon has started working on his 3rd draft of Oathbringer. That means, it's a mere months away.

RATING : 5 outta 5

A Memory of Light - Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson

A MEMORY OF LIGHT

Final Book in the "Wheel of Time"

ISBN - 978-1-84149-870-6
FIRST PUBLISHED - Jan 08, 2013
PUBLISHERS - Orbit/Hachette
PAGES - 912
BINDING - Paperback
GENRE - Epic Fantasy

AUTHOR - Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

BEST-SELLERS - The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt, The Dragon Reborn

SYNOPSIS - For twenty years, The Wheel of Time has enthralled more than forty million readers in over thirty-two languages. A Memory of Light brings this majestic fantasy creation to its richly satisfying conclusion.

'And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died.' - From Charal Drianaan te Calamon, The Cycle of the Dragon.

In the Field of Merrilor the rulers of the nations gather to join behind Rand al'Thor, or to stop him from his plan to break the seals on the Dark One's prison - which may be a sign of his madness, or the last hope of humankind. Egwene, the Amyrlin Seat, leans toward the former.
In Andor, the Trollocs seize Caemlyn.

In the wolf dream, Perrin Aybara battles Slayer.
Approaching Ebou Dar, Mat Cauthon plans to visit his wife Tuon, now Fortuona, Empress of the Seanchan.
All humanity is in peril - and the outcome will be decided in Shayol Ghul itself. The Wheel is turning, and the Age is coming to its end. The Last Battle will determine the fate of the world. . .

Working from notes and partials left by Robert Jordan when he died in 2007, and consulting with Jordan's widow, who edited all of Jordan's books, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson has recreated the vision Jordan left behind.

EXCERPT - 

My arm will be my sword...

Hooves clattered on the ground. The Trollocs ahead hooted in delight, realising that their prey had transformed to retreat into a charge of men rushing right into their grasp.

My breast itself a shield...

Lan could hear a voice, his father's voice, speaking these words. That was foolish, of course. Lan had been a baby when Malkier had fallen.

To defend the Seven Towers...

He had never seen the Seven Towers stand against the Blight. He'd only heard stories.

To hold back the darkness...

The horses' hooves were becoming a thunder. So loud, louder than he'd have thought possible. He held himself straight, sword out.

I will stand when all others fall.

The oncoming Trollocs levelled spears as the distance between the two opposing forces narrowed.

Al Chalidholara Malkier. For my sweet land Malkier.

It was the oath a Malkieri soldier took during the first posting to the Border. Lan had never spoken it.

He did so now in his heart.

"Al Chalidholara Malkier!" Lan screamed. "Lances, set!" Light, but those hoofbeats were loud! Could six thousand make so much noise? He turned to look at those behind him.

Atleast ten thousand rode there.

FL Speak - [No spoilers]

This is what fans of The Wheel of Time waited for 22 long years. They waited when Jordan first wrote The Eye of the World, they waited when Rand became the Dragon Reborn, they waited when he created the Black Tower, they waited when the White Tower fell, they waited when the Forsaken laid traps, they waited when Rand cleansed Saidin and they waited for the Final Battle. No more, my friends. This 900+ book is only that. The Final Battle.

Hardcore fans like me may have already read the excerpt from the prologue "By Grace and Banners Fallen". And I know, friends, the emotion that swept through me then must have been coursing through you as well. Fear not, there is no let down. No quarter given back to the enemy. Brandon Sanderson has done the impossible. He has finished the tale.

Boy, where do I start? All the characters you met over the course of the first books are here. And you should see their roles man! They've been absolutely stunning. Its impossible to write a no-spoiler review without letting a few out. But I promise not to say anything important. Just a few hints here and there.

Remember the army Demandred was boasting about. Well, its here. Its here and its terrifying! Flaming Forsaken has channellers as well. Then there is Mazrim Taim. And Mat, oh Mat, fans of Mat will absolutely flaming love this book. He's here. He's here in more than half the book. Rand may have the shortest pages among the three. But we all know his is the most important one.

There are deaths. Burn you, but there are deaths. Jordan has saved all those in the last thirteen books only to finish them off in a heroic style here. So many deaths, so many lights extinguished, even the brightest flame of all. So be prepared folks. Be prepared.

It feels like the end of time. Now that the book is over, I don't see the pattern. The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. I'll simply have to move on. But its hard. It flaming hurts.

900 pages of action. The pace is flaming relentless. You couldn't have asked for a better way to finish the story. Yes, there will be questions. But the ultimate thing is that you'll be satisfied. More than satisfied. You will be awash with excitement and passion. One chapter is 190 pages long. And I can't wait for you to read that.

Readers and lovers of the "Wheel of Time", you're in for an epic ride, one final battle. You'll cheer, you'll shout, you'll cry when they fall, but you'll be with Rand, giving him your hope, you'll be with Mat, giving him your luck, you'll be with Perrin, giving him your strength and you'll be with millions of us fans, giving them our voice.

When Robert Jordan passed away in 2007 and Brandon Sanderson was asked to keep the flame burning, we had no idea we would see this day. Today, I want you to remember what Lan taught Rand all those years ago.

Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain.

And Brandon Sanderson has lit the brightest flame and saw us to the end. Thank you Sanderson. Thank you Jordan for the best days of our lives.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

My Rating - 5/5 stars

PRICE - INR 599/- [Flipkart Price] 

He came like the wind, like the wind touched everything and, like the wind was gone.

The Alloy of Law - Brandon Sanderson

THE ALLOY OF LAW

A Mistborn novel

ISBN - 978-0-7653-6854-6
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2011
PAGES - 392
GENRE - Fantasy
BINDING - Paperback

AUTHOR - Brandon Sanderson

BEST-SELLERS - the Mistborn trilogy, The Way of Kings, Warbreaker, Elantris

SYNOPSIS - [From the back cover]

In the three hundred years since the events of the Mistborn trilogy, science and technology have marched on. Scadrial is on the verge of modernity, with railroads, electric lighting, and even the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.

Yet even with these advances, the magics if Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in the reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for those attempting to establish order and justice.

One is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twiborn who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax must now put away his guns and assume the duties incumbent upon the head of a noble house - until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

EXCERPT - 

“So, Wax,” Wayne butted in. “Where did you say that bloke was who had my hat?”
“I told you that he got away after I shot him.”
“I was hoping he’d dropped my hat, you know. Getting shot makes people drop stuff.”
Waxillium sighed. “He still had it on when he left, I’m afraid.”
Wayne started cursing.
“Wayne,” Marasi said. “It’s only a hat.”
“Only a hat?” he asked, aghast.
“Wayne’s a little attached to that hat,” Waxillium said. “He thinks it’s lucky.”
“It is lucky. I ain’t never died while wearing that hat.” 

FL Speak - If you know me very well, then you know how much I'm going to talk about this book.

Ladies and Gentlemen, its Brandon Sanderson. And I've read "all" his books. And if you've read the Mistborn trilogy or my review of the same here, well, you'll need to stop whatever you're doing right now and focus on me. *uses the Jedi mind control technique on you*

Mistborn is over. If you've just discovered this trilogy and can't get over what happened in the end, and feel the loss of leaving the world of Scadrial behind, there is still hope for you. For the rest of you, welcome back. Although "The Alloy of Law" is still not a Mistborn novel, it IS a Mistborn novel. *see what I did there?*

Its been Three-frigging-Hundred since the events of the Mistborn finale. Kelsier is long gone. And Vin and Elend are now almost a myth or legends (whichever way you see it) Societies have advanced, Science is making rapid progress, there's motor cars and electricity, the old ways are dying out. But there are still Allomancers about.

Quick Flashback : Remember what an Allomancer is? Ofcourse! For the naive, they are people who consumes metals which allows them to do some astounding work. A mistborn who can consume STEEL can push on metals, allowing him to leap, almost-fly, run at break-neck speeds. A mistborn  who consumes pewter can increase his physical attributes. He can make himself stronger, faster, tougher. Someone who can consume cadmium can slow down time. There are lots, I don't need to go on. Read the damn books. Starting from the original trilogy. 

Also to note, a person can consume all the metals and he can just die. An allomancer can burn the metal in his stomach. A coinshot burns steel, he won't be able to burn iron even if he chugged it down his throat with brandy. 

Now, to the book. 300 years later, Allomancers still live and society has progressed. A certain Waxillium Ladrian is a Twinborn {someone who can use metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to change his weight} and he's our Indiana Jones-esque Sherriff of the Roughs. But when he's summoned to the city to fulfil his calling (which is to be a noble, aaarghhh), Wax decides to hang his boots. But a lawman can take off his badge, but he can never take off his sense of duty.

Enter his old pal Wayne. The fun starts here. Wax and Wayne receive news the shipments of Aluminum keep disappearing. Aluminum is fatal to Allomancers *don't roll your eyes, read the books* And when the bandits attack a wedding Wax was attending and kidnaps his almost-fiance, Wax decides to trade his darned-title-he-never-wanted-in-the-first-place for his pistols. And Wax, the ex-lawman goes hunting with Wayne and a certain pretty lady *snickers*

Things get a little too tough when the bad guy they face is almost immortal. And when the truth behind the real reason of hostages become clear, Wax realizes that this war has not even begun. And if he needs to get to the bottom of it, he has to come on top versus the immortal. (which is looking ridiculous at the moment)

Side Notes/
Another #&$%*@&^@&% book from Sanderson. (here the $#$%$! represents praise that I can't seem to put it in words.) 

If you've read Sanderson before, you know what to expect. A terrific story, a lot of action, some awesome banter and hilarious conversations and an exceptional magical system. New readers of Sanderson, will not feel left out in this book, as this is not a continuation, nor a new first book. It is a standalone. 

But, I would still suggest you to read Mistborn. This magical system was first started THERE!!! I miss copperclouds, tineyes, pewterarms, coinshots, rioters, lurchers *heh! feeling outta your depth again. Go read the books*

To say that Brandon is my favorite author at the moment, would be an understatement. He has incredible imagination! To think that he wrote Mistborn, Elantris, Stormlight Archive, Warbreaker with all different magical systems just blows me away. How is he doing what he is doing??? Oh and there might be two separate trilogies in the world of Mistborn hundreds of years apart. He's also writing for his 10-book epic "Stormlight Archive" and he just finished Robert Jordan's final book "A Memory of Light" which is coming out in Jan, next year *can't wait-can't wait-can't wait*

If you don't love his writing, you probably shouldn't even talk to me.

My Rating - 5/5 stars

PRICE - 350/- INR

P.S| I miss Vin :(

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson

THE WAY OF KINGS

Book 1 of 'The Stormlight Archive'

ISBN - 978-0-7653-6527-9
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2010
PAGES - 1258
BINDING - Paperback
GENRE - Fantasy

AUTHOR - Brandon Sanderson

BEST-SELLERS - Mistborn, Elantris, Warbreaker

SYNOPSIS - I long for the days before the Last Desolation. Before the Heralds abandoned us and the Knights Radiant turned against us. When there was still magic in Roshar and honor in the hearts of men.

In the end, not war but victory proved the greatest test. Did our foes see that the harder they fought, the fiercer our resistance? Fire and hammer forge a sword; time and neglect rust it away. So we won the world, yet lost it.

Now there are four whom we watch: the surgeon, forced to forsake healing and fight in the most brutal war of our time; the assassin, who weeps as he kills; the liar, who wears her scholar's mantle over a thief's heart; and the prince, whose eyes open to the ancient past as his thirst for battle wanes.

One of them may redeem us. One of them will destroy us.

EXCERPT - "What do we tell the people, Jezrien?" Kalak asked. "What will they say of this day?"

"Its simple," Jezrien said, walking away. "We tell them that they finally won. Its an easy enough lie. Who knows? Maybe it will turn out to be true."

Kalak watched Jezrien depart across the burned landscape. Finally, he summoned his own Blade and slammed it into the stone beside the other eight. He turned and walked in the direction opposite from Jezrien.

And yet, he couldn't help glancing back at the ring of swords and the single open spot. The place where the tenth sword should have gone.

The one of them who was lost. The one they had abandoned.

Forgive us, kalak thought and left.

FL Speak - Phenomenal. When it comes to Brandon Sanderson, one thing that comes to mind is that the book is going to be epic!!! The creator of Mistborn has come up with a new epic series 'The Stormlight Archive' and book 1 completely bowls you over. Sanderson has this unique ability of creating intricate magical systems (we saw them at Mistborn, Elantris, Warbreaker) and brilliant writing which confirms that fantasy is indeed in safe hands for another couple of decades.

The Way of Kings starts of with an assassination of the greatest King by a Shardbearer. A Shardbearer is one who uses Stormlight to move faster, use lashings (that you will learn about when you read the book, and I promise its awesome). A shardbearer also has the use of a Shardblade, a sword which appears out of mist in 10 heartbeats and can cut through any metal.

Five years later, the King's heir is still fighting against the Parshendi who hired the assassin in the Shattered Plains. The whole kingdom is at war and no one seems to be winning, but the promise of vengeance lets them continue on.

Kaladin, a young surgeon turned into a soldier before being branded into a slave fights to save his fellow slave comrades from dying in the war. As his group is made prey for the enemy so that soldiers may survive, Kaladin takes it upon him to do the only thing he can, fight back. Little did he know, the Gods have something else planned for him.

Shallan, a young girl, travels around the world to be the ward of Jasnah Kohlin, the most famous scholar and heretic, sister to the King. But her motives are less than pure as she prepares herself to perform the ultimate betrayal.

Dalinar Kholin, brother of the deceased King, loses his interest in the waging war. During highstorms, he is visited by visions of a time long ago, when the Knights Radiant still fought for mankind against the Voidbringers.

And finally, the killer who murdered the King, is back 5 years later, with a new bold and frightening mission.

The finale is explosive as sudden twists expose lies and betrayals at the highest levels. This is a MUST READ. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Brandon Sanderson is one of the finest writers to have emerged in recent years. And I believe this series will be one of the greatest in times to come. Can't wait for the next one, knowing it is a 10-book series !!

Speak again the hallowed oaths :

Life before death.

Strength before weakness.

Journey before destination.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

My Rating - 5 stars

PRICE - INR 394/- [Flipkart Price]

Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson

WARBREAKER

ISBN - 978-0-7653-6003-8
FIRST PRINTED - 2009
PAGES - 676
BINDING - Paperback
GENRE - Fantasy

AUTHOR - Brandon Sanderson

BEST-SELLERS - Elantris, The 'MISTBORN' Trilogy

SYNOPSIS - T'TELIR, capital of Hallandren, is a colorful city by the sea where gaily dressed crowds bustle through sunny streets and worship heroes who have been reborn as gods. Ruled by the silent, mysterious God King, the pantheon is nourished by offerings of Breath, the life force that keeps them alive and youthful.

Exiled in Idris, the former royal family reluctantly betrothed a princess to the God King. Arriving in T'Telir, she finds both the city and the marriage are not at all what she expected. Her only ally is Lightsong, a god who is skeptical of his own divinity, who fears that war with Idris is inevitable.

Meanwhile, another new arrival in T'Telir, one who bears the sentient sword Nightblood, makes cunning plans based on the unique magic of Hallandren, which uses colors to focus the power of Breath - plans that could change the world.

EXCERPT - Vasher approached, backlit by the lantern, the sheathed tip of the sword dragging along the floor behind him. Then he dropped the sword to the floor in front of Vivenna.

"Pick it up," he said.

She untensed slightly, looking up, though still huddled in the corner. She felt tears on her cheeks.

"Pick up the sword, Princess."

She had no training with weapons, but maybe...She reached for the sword, but felt her nausea grow far stronger. She groaned, her hand twitching as it approached the strange black blade.

She shied away.

"Pick it up!" Vasher bellowed.

She complied with a gagged cry of desperation, grabbing the weapon, feeling a terrible sickness travel like a wave up her arm and into her stomach. She found herself ripping away her gag with desperate fingers.

Hello, a voice said in her head. Would you like to kill someone today?
 
FL Speak - Just when you thought Brandon Sanderson did everything possible with Mistborn and Elantris, out comes Warbreaker. Though not appreciated by all, this book do manage to keep you hooked.

Vivenna, the eldest daughter of the exiled King of Idris, is to be married to the God King of T'Telir. This marriage was fixed 20 years ago, the day she was born. The King of Idris hoped that the marriage would be enough to stop the Hallandren's from going to war against them. And thus, Vivenna spent her 20 years learning the matters of court and politics to prepare herself. But the day she was to be sent, the King faltered with his decision. The youngest daughter was sent instead.

Siri finds herself in T'Telir and comes to realize that not everything is as bad as the Idris people thought. Although she couldn't be her wild self and had servants following her everywhere, she was in awe of the Gods and the power they held. The most important commodity in T'Telir was color. Everyone in Hallandren had Breath. The Gods held thousands of them while the common man held a couple of them. Breath helped a person to animate an object to life and make it do as he/she wished through verbal commands. The Gods were once normal men, who died and were sent back among the living. They were sent back because they had a glimpse of the future and were supposed to help the humankind reach or prevent it. But the Gods who made the treaty of marriage were long dead. The young Gods had no intentions on a truce and politics ruled the courts of the Gods. Siri gradually comes to fall in love with the God King when she realizes what the real truth was.

Vivenna, comes to Hallandren to save her sister from the monster God King she was supposed to marry. Together with a mercenary crew of extraordinary people, they fight to stop the coming war against her homeland. Somewhere in the city, Vasher makes an entry. Together with his sentient sword, he seems to be interested in the Gods as well as Vivenna and her crew. As the lines between truth and lies vanish, Vivenna's world comes crashing down into a war she must take part if only to set her sister free and her city. Treachery and twists prevent Siri from making a bolt to freedom as the undead soldiers of the Gods change owners and prepare for war.

Extraordinary plot! Fast paced, complex and an exceptional tale of magic, betrayal and mystery that will take your Breath away. Even though Sanderson has said that this is a standalone novel, there is a lot of stuff that can be filled for a sequel. And all Sanderson fans hope that he comes back to Elantris and Warbreaker one day.

My Rating - 4.5 stars. [more than 4 stars in all his books. Brandon Sanderson makes it look so easy]

PRICE - INR 332/- [Flipkart Price]

Elantris - Brandon Sanderson

ELANTRIS

ISBN - 978-0-7653-5037-4
FIRST PRINTED - 2005
PAGES - 622
BINDING - Paperback
GENRE - Fantasy

AUTHOR - Brandon Sanderson

BEST-SELLERS - the Mistborn Trilogy, The Way of Kings

SYNOPSIS - Elantris was the city of the gods. What power could have cursed it?

Raoden, prince of Arelon, was loved by all, including the princess he'd never met.
Where has he gone?

Hrathen, high priest of Fjordell, will convert the people of Arelon or kill them.
How will he decide?

Sarene, princess of Teod, was a widow before she was ever married.
Who can stand against her?

EXCERPT - Elantris was beautiful once. It was called the city of the gods: a place of power, radiance and magic. Visitors say that the very stones glowed with an inner light, and that the city contained wondrous arcane marvels. At night, Elantris shone like a great silvery fire, visible even from a great distance.

Yet, as magnicifient as Elantris was, its inhabitants were more so. Their hair a brilliant white, their skin an almost metallic silver, the Elantrians seemed to shine like the city itself.

And anyone could become one.

The Shaod, it was called. The Transformation. It struck randomly - usually at night, during the mysterious hours when life slowed to rest. The Shaod could take beggar, craftsmen, nobleman, or warrior. When it came, the fortunate person's life ended and began anew; he would discard his old, mundane existence, and move to Elantris. Elantris, where he could live in bliss, rule in wisdom, and worshiped for eternity.

Eternity ended ten years ago.

FL Speak - THIS!! This is what real fantasy is all about! Brandon Sanderson's debut novel. One of the finest novel of fantasy written in many, many years! And this is even before he wrote the Mistborn trilogy.

The above excerpt is one of the most powerful lines in the book and its in the very first page. Elantris starts with one helluva beginning.

Elantris is (or rather) was a city. The people who lived there were more or less like Gods. They had huge power, they were never cruel, they could heal themselves and they helped the people who seeked their guidance and help (most of the times, for free). And then, Elantris fell. More like it decayed. The chosen ones started growing splotches and dark patches on their skin, their hair fell off, it looked like they were all cursed. The transformation happened sudden in all the cases.

Ten years after the fall of Elantris, Prince Raoden woke up from his usual sleep and noticed that he had been chosen. His father, the King of Arelon, exiles him to the walled city of Elantris where all the cursed are put whenever one is chosen and informed his court and subjects that the prince died of an illness. Enter Princess Sarene of Teod, betrothed to the prince and even before ever meeting him, she has been told that she is now a widow.

At the same time, a high priest of Fjordell, sent to convert the people of Arelon into his religion before his ruler conquers the city. I have a kind of love-hate relationship with this guy because at times he is brilliant in his execution of plans and at times he is plain stupid to see the truth and makes me exasperated! Very soon, Sarene realizes that the rule of the king is waning and she decides to save the city before it falls on itself and be easy prey for the coming war. Back at Elantris, Raoden befriends a stranger and together they manage to save people from the ruling gangs and start a peaceful life before they are hit by the game of shift in ruling powers played by Sarene and the high priest, Hrathen.

I so, so, so badly want to reveal more about the plot but it would be an absolute disaster if i let everything out. This book is meant to be read. Who said fantasy needs to be in series or trilogies? Sanderson does a stellar job of packing an explosive plot in one single volume. I simply loved the way Sanderson created the character of Hrathen. A villain with a conscience is something of a rarity. The only mini drawback that i could find was the Prince Raoden's character reminded me a lot of Elend Venture from the 'Mistborn' trilogy. Same character setting, both being a do-gooder who relies on faith and a pure heart in others. That's a good thing about Sanderson's heroes. They are instantly loveable. But they are also a bit repetitive. Like Vin (mistborn), the character of Princess Sarene is also somewhat same. Sanderson like his female characters to be strong. Hell, even we like reading about them.

Move over George R.R Martin or Terry Brooks, Brandon Sanderson is fast becoming one of my favorite fantasy authors along with Robert Jordan and Tad Williams. Every book of his is a must read. I already reviewed his epic Mistborn trilogy. Read it HERE.

My Rating - 4.5 stars

E-Book link - click on ----> ELANTRIS

PRICE - INR 309/- from Tor Publications [Flipkart Price]

The Hero of Ages - Brandon Sanderson

THE HERO OF AGES

Book 3 of 'Mistborn' Trilogy

Read about the first two parts HERE

ISBN - 978-0-7653-5614-7
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2008
PAGES - 724
BINDING - Paperback
GENRE - Fantasy

AUTHOR - Brandon Sanderson

BEST-SELLERS - Elantris, Mistborn

SYNOPSIS - Killing the Lord Ruler to end the Final Empire was obviously the right thing to do, wasn't it? With the return of the lethal form of the ubiquitious mists, increasingly heavy ashfalls, and even more powerful earthquakes, Vin and Elend are no longer sure. Long ago, Ruin - one of the primal beings who created the world - was promised the eventual right to destroy all things. Now that Vin has been tricked into releasing him from the Well of Ascension, Ruin apparently intends to collect.

EXCERPT - MARSH STRUGGLED TO KILL HIMSELF.

His hand trembled as he tried to summon the strength to make himself reach up and pull the spike from his back and end his monstrous life. He had given up on trying to break free. Three years. Three years as an Inquisitor. Three years imprisoned in his own thoughts. Those years had proven there was no escape. Even now, his mind clouded.

And then, It took control.

FL Speaks - Astonishing! Book 3 starts one year after the events of Book 2. They survived the end of the Final Empire and the aftermath for 3 years. They survived the siege of Luthadel. But could they survive the very entity who Vin released? Can they survive the one who sole intention is to destroy?

The concluding part of the trilogy reveals that and much more. Revelations, connections and surprises, flow in a torrent of pages and it all leads to a stunning finale no one guessed about. Yes, we all know, they live happily ever after or the end of the world is postponed by some means. What we never guessed was the price they had to pay for it.

Vin and Elend gather their forces and march to secure Cett's kingdom where a cache of food or weapons are held. They already found a few and that was the last one they needed to control to prepare for the end of the world. Vin is still on the lookout for the atium that was hidden by the Lord Ruler since she believes that it will be a great weapon when they finally face the real foe. Meanwhile Ruin reveals his identity and proceeds to misguide people for his evil purposes. Even with the volatile Koloss army at their disposal, it looked like it was too less to face off against an evil that was far to strong and far too evil. The mists continue to kill people and Vin and Elend do not have the time to fight three wars at once.

Elend finally behaves like a ruler. He actually commands! And the best thing is, people actually love him. Gone are those days when he used to worry about every trifle thing. Gone are the times when he had Vin to save his skin. She still stays, but the shocker was that Elend Venture, Emperor, is now a Mistborn.

And you actually feel pity for the dead Lord Ruler. He did everything in his power to stop Ruin and dear ol' Vin, like a silly girl she is sometimes, let him/it free. Twists and turns make you go crazy with this book and you want to finish it as fast as possible and yet do not want the story to end. Some exciting moments that really grip you is the dance of Elend and Vin straight in the middle of the enemy's ball room they have came to conquer. This book belongs as much to Elend as it is to Vin. Not to mention Spook walking Kelsier's path.

The last 100 pages are totally gripping with fear, loyalty, courage, strength and honor at the face of death. Of all the entire crew of Kelsier's from the first 2 books, only a few survive the aftermath. All the hard work threatened to come undone when they realized Ruin was manipulating the ones Vin and Elend trusted. With nowhere to go and no one to help them, Vin and Elend with an unlikely group of newly born Allomancers,charge for a final assault with the hope that somehow everything will be alright again.

My Rating - 5 stars

E-Book Link - The Hero of Ages

PRICE - INR 290/- from TOR Publications (Flipkart Price)

The Well of Ascension - Brandon Sanderson

THE WELL OF ASCENSION

Book 2 of 'Mistborn' Trilogy

Read about Book 1 here

ISBN - 978-0-7653-5613-0
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2007
PAGES - 763
BINDING - Paperback
GENRE - Fantasy

AUTHOR - Brandon Sanderson

BEST-SELLERS - Mistborn, Elantris

SYNOPSIS - They did the impossible, deposing the godlike being whose brutal rule had lasted a thousand years. Now Vin, the street urchin who has grown into the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of an empire.

They have barely begun when three separate armies attack. As the siege tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.

It may be that killing the Lord Ruler was the easy part. Surviving the aftermath of his fall is going to be the real challenge.

EXCERPT - I write these words in steel, for anything not set in metal cannot be trusted.

**********************************

THE ARMY CREPT LIKE A dark stain across the horizon.

King Elend Venture stood motionless upon the Luthadel city wall, looking at the enemy troops. Around him, ash fell from the sky in flat, lazy flakes. It wasn't the burnt white ash that one saw in dead coals; this was a deeper, harsher black ash. The Ashmounts had been particularly active lately.

Elend felt the ash dust his face and clothing, but he ignored it. In the distance, the bloody red sun was close o setting. It backlit the army that had come to take Elend's kingdom from him.

FL Speaks - Pause. I need to take a breath. Amazing!! Who would have thought of writing a gripping tale after acheiving the impossible. They managed to deal with the Final Empire. They managed to free the people and kill the Lord Ruler. They paid the ultimate price with the death of the person who made it all happen, Kelsier. And now, when peace and stability should return, chaos reign supreme.

Extraordinary writing by Sanderson. Sanderson makes it possible to even love the tyrant and yet hate him. But the Lord Ruler is now no more. And they gang realise, that maybe it was a huge mistake killing him and ending his rule. Because now a greater power, far more evil is itching to break loose. Something that the Lord Ruler contained while he was still in power. The gang elect Elend Venture as the king and he delivers his promise of freeing the people. What they didn't realise is, a King does not have the luxury of listening to every single whim of a person, no matter how much he wants them to be independent. In his quest to being a people's man, Elend forgets that the same power he gives to the common man may soon become the end of his short reign.

Book 2 starts one year after Kelsier's death and the deposing of the Lord Ruler. Kelsier's own crew mates blame the dead Kelsier for giving the skaa people a hope and then dying without giving them a direction. (I assume you have read the book or will do so soon as i do not find the logic of recapping the entire book 1 in this review) Within a year of tasting freedom, Elend's city is surrounded by 2 armies and another one, albeit inhuman, on its way. It was a mexican standoff, with neither army willing to attack the city for the fear of being attacked by the third party when they are at the weakest.

Enter Tindwl, a Terriswoman, who comes to the city to help Elend be the King the people need to see. Soon enough, people start to respect him rather than dismissing him as the one who has dreams but no leadership. Eventually even that is not enough to save his capital as the very people he freed vetoed his rule. (unloyal bastards!) Brandon introduces a new character to the tale, Zane. Zane is a Mistborn assassin sent by Elend's father to kill his son. And then he meets Vin. (The expected happened. Stupid girl started to fall for the bad mysterious villain! Man, seriously, chicks give me a headache. I try not to get emotionally attached to these stuff knowing fully well its fantasy, but can't help myself. Woman!!! Get your priorities straight!!! Stick to one guy!) I was almost shouting at the book saying ELEND ISN'T THE BAD GUY! OPEN YOUR EYES. OPEN YOUR EYES. Sigh!, i will never be a good writer.

Anyway, the ending was brilliant. Despite that mini emotional heart attack, things almost ended well. Almost. The people who were studying the works and writings of the Lord Ruler to find a clue to defeat the mists led Vin and Elend to the mother of all mistakes! Gasp! Need the final part of the trilogy now!

My Rating - 4.5 stars.



E-Book Link - THE WELL OF ASCENSION

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Mistborn : The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson

MISTBORN: The Final Empire

Book 1 of the 'Mistborn' Trilogy

ISBN - 978-0-7653-5038-1
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2006
PAGES - 643
GENRE - Fantasy

AUTHOR - Brandon Sanderson

BEST-SELLERS - Elantris, Mistborn, The Hero of Ages

SYNOPSIS - Once, a hero rose to save the world. A young man with a mysterious heritage courageously challenged the darkness that strangled the land.

He failed.

For a thousand years since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist ruled by the immortal emperor known as Lord Ruler. Every revolt has failed miserably.

Yet somehow, hope survives. Hope that dares to dream of ending the empire and even the Lord Ruler himself. A new kind of uprising is being planned, one built around the ultimate caper, one that depends on the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind and the determination of an unlikely heroine, a street urchin who must learn to master Allomancy, the power of a mistborn.

EXCERPT - Sometimes, I worry that I'm not the hero everyone thinks I am.

The philosophers assure that this is the time, that the signs have been met. But i still wonder if they have the wrong man. So many people depend on me. They say I will hold the future of the entire world on my arms.

What would they think if they knew that their champion - the Hero of Ages, their savior - doubted himself? Perhaps they wouldn't be shocked at all. In a way, this is what worries me the most. Maybe, in their hearts, they wonder - just as I do.

When they see me, do they see a liar?

FL Speaks - Brandon Sanderson, i bow to thee. I picked this trilogy after a huge number of fantasy enthusiasts recommended it on goodreads. And oh boy, this is one of the best trilogies ever. Ever. Mistborn doesn't disappoint. Not even once. Not even for one page.

Mistborn is the story of a man called Kelsier and his group of thieves. Loyal and passionate to a cause, these people with certain gifts are the only hope of the oppressed skaa people. Together they plan and fail and plan again, because, if they fail, hope fails. They take the fight to the Lord Ruler, knowing fully well that its their doom. Yet, they do it, because the skaa need a reason to believe. The skaa need a hope to rise up. And when the tale of courage and power and magic meets the truth and treachery, the entire world hangs in balance.

Mistborns are those rare people who use metals for their powers. They swallow it and burn them in their stomach to do as they will. Depending on the metal, they can attack, run, fly, hide and do much more. Not all people are mistborn. Most of the people are the normal skaa's who are oppressed by noble families in the name of the Lord Ruler. Some of them are Mistings, people with control of just one metal and a very few of them are true Mistborns.

Enter the survivor of Hathsin, Kelsier.  The former thieving crew-leader brings up a daring plan to challenge the Lord Ruler. He and his friends search out Vin, a young girl of sixteen who showed signs of being a Mistborn. Vin, infiltrates the noble families as they attempt to create an all-out war between the families.

Every chapter starts with a mini paragraph of a diary entry by a person. You soon begin to realize that those are the notes of the hero who once rose to save the world. What led him to become the Lord Ruler they despised? What made the hero of people become a tyrant? That and much more is what makes this book a truly spectacular tale. You will love them, pity them, share their laughs and weep at the tragedies.

The truth is much more harsh and their struggle for freedom has unseen consequences. Brandon Sanderson is a master storyteller. A MUST READ!

My Rating - 5 stars
E-book link - HERE 

PRICE - INR 282/- from Tor Publications (Flipkart price)