The Well of Ascension

Mistborn, Book 2

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 28 hrs and 56 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.

The impossible has been accomplished. The Lord Ruler - the man who claimed to be god incarnate and brutally ruled the world for a thousand years - has been vanquished. But Kelsier, the hero who masterminded that triumph, is dead too, and now the awesome task of building a new world has been left to his young protégé, Vin, the former street urchin who is now the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and to the idealistic young nobleman she loves.

As Kelsier's protégé and slayer of the Lord Ruler she is now venerated by a budding new religion, a distinction that makes her intensely uncomfortable. Even more worrying, the mists have begun behaving strangely since the Lord Ruler died, and seem to harbor a strange vaporous entity that haunts her.

Stopping assassins may keep Vin's Mistborn skills sharp, but it's the least of her problems.

Luthadel, the largest city of the former empire, doesn't run itself, and Vin and the other members of Kelsier's crew, who lead the revolution, must learn a whole new set of practical and political skills to help. It certainly won't get easier with three armies - one of them composed of ferocious giants - now vying to conquer the city, and no sign of the Lord Ruler's hidden cache of atium, the rarest and most powerful allomantic metal.

As the siege of Luthadel 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.

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

©2007 Brandon Sanderson (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"All the explosive action any adventure fan could want." ( Locus)
"A great epic fantasy.... Fans of Terry Goodkind and Terry Brooks will find The Well of Ascension fulfilling, satisfying, and incredibly exciting." ( SFRevu.com)
"Vin's struggles with love and power inject the human element into Sanderson's engaging epic." ( Booklist)

A great follow up to TFE.

The buildup in this novel gets very intense. Some people think the story is a little slow in this book with slow progression, but I think it was fine pacing. A lot of interesting developments take place since the events of the first book. Sanderson keeps it interesting even after such a huge arc being wrapped up in the previous novel.

Recommending

Wonderful story! Kramer had a little less energy and inflection than his performance in the Stormlight Archive, but improved by the end. But I'm being picky. This product was very entertaining!

I LUV BRANDON SANDERSON!!

My siblings are the ones who introduced me to this author, and I have listened to not much else for the past 6 months. I love the story and the characters, but the one thing that bothers me is that, in my hopeless romantic brain, I think Zane should have lived, and found someone who loved him in a way that he could reciprocate. I know that’s me being biased, but still, if Sanderson could make “Mistborn: a secret history” work, he could surely make Zane survive. 👍👍🙌🙌🙌

An Incredible Follow-up

Once again Sanderson has managed a complicated, interesting, and detailed book. But, whereas many second books in a three book series, it is just as rich as it preceding book. These book are humongous and time consuming. There is no fluff or gratuitous bologna. even with a cliff hanger, there is still plenty that is resolved. Nicely done!

Keeps you till the end.

New favorite author. Sanderson is excellent at character development and delivers a unique story that keeps you on your toes.

Highly, highly recommended.

Absolutely loved it. Definitely takes off after a slower book #1. I couldn't stop listening!

Incredible

Another Brandon Sanderson masterpiece. I know the Stormlight Archives are considered his best work but so far I'd put the Mistborn series right up there too. 👌

Great book, cheesy narration

Loved the book, but the reader's voice can be a bit off at times making otherwise important spoken lines sound a bit...hoakie...

Not a bad story

I enjoy the idea of the story. It is well written and a very entertaining read. I am not a fan of Elend Venture however. I find him to be a bit dense. That doesn't ruin the story as he is not the worst main character I've ever read about. And there were a few flaws in the timeline such as the two day journey for Elend and Spook, that must have taken a week. 4 stars is my max rating for a story, as I have yet to find one that is perfect.

Yes please.

Even though this is the middle book in a trilogy, Sanderson did not hold back in the epicness. Twists and turns throughout the entire book, new characters with great backstories, and one really fun ride.

Also, Michael Kramer does an amazing job narrating.