The Final Empire

Mistborn Book 1

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 24 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

From number one New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action.

For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison.

Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark. Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot. But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life.

Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.

This saga dares to ask a simple question: What if the hero of prophecy fails?

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson

• The Cosmere
• The Stormlight Archive
• The Way of Kings
• Words of Radiance
• Edgedancer (Novella)
• Oathbringer

The Mistborn trilogy:

• Mistborn: The Final Empire
• The Well of Ascension
• The Hero of Ages

Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series:

• Alloy of Law
• Shadows of Self
• Bands of Mourning
• Collection
• Arcanum Unbounded

Other Cosmere novels

• Elantris
• Warbreaker

The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series:

• Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
• The Scrivener's Bones
• The Knights of Crystallia
• The Shattered Lens
• The Dark Talent

The Rithmatist series:

• The Rithmatist

Other books by Brandon Sanderson

• The Reckoners
• Steelheart
• Firefight
• Calamity

©2006 Brandon Sanderson (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

It got be'er

I still think the first part of this story could have done a better job introducing me into this world. but after you get over that hurtle, you're hooked. love the characters and reader. now onto the next one.

Hard to get into , but very good when u did

My husband bought me the book for xmas a two years ago started reading but was hard to keep my interest, Than this year he gave me Audible and I finished it and started the next in series

A great beginning and superb world building

I waited to check this series out although I'm a huge fan of Sanderson. The idea of "burning metals" was something that just didn't interest me but after finishing my last series I needed something that was going to keep me going for more than 6 hours at a time.

The narration also held me off since I didn't care for the duo Kramer narration found in his other series (same person being narrated by two people kept throwing me off but YMMV) but as a single narrator he does a fantastic job bringing all of the characters to life.

The magic system, history and social structure are all brought together is a well paced and understandable journey without gaping plot holes that require repetitive deus ex machina common in some lesser fantasy novels.

I actually felt what the characters felt instead of questioning why they felt the way they did and that is, to me, a sign of great writing.

An amazing start to what I expect to be an even greater journey as I continue the Mistborn adventure.

Great Book I'm Hooked

Can't wait to start the next Book. lots of surprises. I wasn't sure what to expect But I was sad When there was no more Book left to listen to.

Great story

Amazing story. Can't wait to read the rest. Starts out a bit slow but really picks up. Characters are interesting and fun to follow. Already purchased the second.

I was a skeptic

I thought that Sanderson was overhyped. I had tried Way of Kings but was unable to finish it. Now I have to go back and try again. I loved it.

WOW

it's been difficult for me to find a book I can enjoy for many years now. Growing up I was very into Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, Fablehaven and other such series. Now that I'm older, it's difficult for me to find book in that vein that aren't kind of raunchy or terribly predictable. This book, however, is neither. Sanderson is imaginative in his world building and creative in his character's problem solving while still being logical about the character's actions. while occasionally I was able to guess what would come in the next couple "pages," he kept me in the dark in test of how it would end the entire way. Laugh out loud funny at moments, with brilliant descriptive fight scenes.
I don't have much background listening to audio books, but I did enjoy the performer's reading.

wow

this book reminds me why I love the fantasy genre. Brandon Sanderson is master storyteller.

dry narration mediocre story

decent time killer, mostly predictable, and seems to try a bit too hard. under developed characters ect ect...

Outstanding Book Worth Every minute

What a great story. Excellent character development storyline and plot. Simply amazing work. I hope his other works are as good