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

Guerrilla's in the Mist

I didn't know what to expect here... ultimately it was the idea that... "The Hero had already come, and was now the Villain" that became a story topic I wanted to explore. Without giving away too much, I found something just as enjoyable... political intrigue, mixed with basically superhuman abilities... The series didn't disappoint

One of the classics at this point

I’ve just finished listening to this book for the third time over the course of about 10 years. Still incredibly entertaining. This such a good starting point into the Cosmere, and Brandon Sanderson continues writing at a crazy pace.

Give it time

As a newly, venturing out to bigger epic fantasy series reader, this one had a slow start and I was doubting if I could get into it. Give it time to unravel the world and build its rules while also giving characters personal moments and you will begin to settle in and enjoy. First Sanderson experience was a success and will be grabbing the 2nd book in this series for sure.

Clever storytelling

I’m always amazed at the creative minds of authors but Brandon Sanderson is on a whole different level. This story has an an entertaining plot and a well-rounded cast of interesting characters that you root for and care about.

Game of thrones mixed with Avatar the Last Airbender

The best way I can describe this trilogy of books is thinking it’s a mix of Game of Thrones & Avatar The Last Airbender.

The narration is spot on.

The story is perfect.

I really enjoyed the Hard magic system that Brandon used in the trilogy. As for the story, I enjoyed that he focused on character development above all else. This gave a perfect sense of understanding when characters made decisions. As the story progressed, you could see the characters evolve as their actions had consequences that changed the world around them.

I’m most impressed with the fact the I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next. Every time a big moment happened, or a piece of information was revealed, I was pleasantly surprised because it wasn’t a cliché trope that was anticlimactic. In a whole, speaking for the all three books, one of if not the best stories I have ever read.

Really good!!

I loved it. The novel was so well done! Can’t wait to read more! Aah!

nice

typing this to meet the minimum word requirement for a review out of passive aggression

New reader here

New reader and this is kinda my first fantasy. It take me a while to though all of it but by the end of this I was very much enjoying and cry 2 times. Can’t wait to read the 2 books.

Perfect Except for One Thing

Really enjoyed the story! Not Sanderson’s best, but still very entertaining with great characters and a lot of heart.

Not sure how many others do this, but I enjoy both reading and listening to a book. On my commute to and from work, I’ll listen to the audiobook. My one major gripe with this one is that the epitaph before each chapter is narrated in the audiobook at the end of a chapter. Not sure why. These should start the chapters.

Other than that, this was great. Michael Kramer is fantastic and superb as always.

Had to get used to the voice

I really enjoyed this wild ride! I wanted to learn more about the magic system and it seems Sanderson knew that and teased it in small tidbits... it sent me maddeningly craving for more.