Summary
The Final Empire, the first novel in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy, catapulted the author to fantasy stardom upon its release in 2006. Set in a dystopian world where ash constantly falls from the sky and an immortal tyrant rules with an iron fist, the book introduces readers to a unique magic system called Allomancy, where certain individuals can gain supernatural abilities by ingesting and “burning” metals. Sanderson’s masterful world-building, intricate plot, and innovative approach to fantasy tropes won the novel widespread critical acclaim. The Final Empire made TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time.
Plot
In The Final Empire, the first book of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy, readers are introduced to a world of ash and mist ruled by the immortal Lord Ruler. For a thousand years, the oppressed skaa have lived under his tyrannical reign. The story begins when Kelsier, a half-skaa thief who discovers he has powerful Mistborn abilities, devises a plan to overthrow the Final Empire.
Kelsier recruits a skilled crew of Allomancers, individuals who can gain supernatural abilities by ingesting and “burning” certain metals. Among his recruits is Vin, a street urchin who learns she, too, is a Mistborn. As Vin trains to develop her powers, she infiltrates the nobility as part of Kelsier's scheme, posing as Valette Renoux at high-society balls. There, she meets and falls for Elend Venture, heir to a powerful noble house.
The crew's plan involves inciting a war between the noble houses and raising a skaa army. Their efforts, however, are met with setbacks, including a devastating attack on their recruited soldiers. The turning point comes when Kelsier confronts the Lord Ruler in Luthadel's city square, resulting in Kelsier's martyrdom. His death sparks a skaa uprising, fulfilling his true plan of becoming a symbol of hope for the oppressed.
In the aftermath, Vin faces the Lord Ruler armed with the mysterious Eleventh Metal. She discovers the Lord Ruler's true identity as Rashek, an ancient Terrisman who usurped the power of the Hero of Ages. In a climactic battle, Vin manages to separate the Lord Ruler from his power source, allowing her to defeat him. As the Final Empire crumbles, Elend Venture steps up to establish a new, democratic government in Luthadel, setting the stage for the challenges to come in the trilogy's subsequent books.
