Review: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

Blurb:

Now with over 10 million copies sold, The Mistborn Series has the thrills of a heist story, the twistiness of political intrigue, and the epic scale of a landmark fantasy saga.

Who is the Hero of Ages?

To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness--the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists--is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.

Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. She can't even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!

Review:

“The life of a person is more than the chaos of its passing.”

The quote above really just encapsulates how I felt about this series!  Now that I’ve finished, I’m still wrapping my head around how many elements were introduced in Book 1! Sanderson excels at drawing our attention to specific details, like Vin’s earring, which turns out to be a pivotal plot point—what a wild twist!

In this trilogy, I found Book 1 the most compelling. The heist, Kelsier’s charisma, and the immersive worldbuilding set it apart for me. While Books 2 and 3 shifted focus to the political landscape and government dynamics, they maintained a strong connection to the characters I loved.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed the series. Sanderson skillfully reminds readers of past events in his opening chapter, which I greatly appreciate. 

After finishing this series, I’m eager to dive back into the Stormlight Archive. Having only read The Way of Kings, I’m excited to discover the little Easter eggs scattered throughout. 

“Why, Elend! That’s almost romantic - in a twisted ‘I’m going to make my wife want to kill me’ sort of way.”

Amazing action sequences with just the right amount of levity to keep the stakes but not to burn out the reader with all the dread.

I loved Spook so much and was thrilled he got to play such a roll in this one!  He absolutely reminded me of Daredevil, and seeing Sanderson move his character to the front, instead of creating a new character really made me happy. 

Sazed was another favorite; his personal examination of religion was something I have not seen in a fantasy novel like this!  I was so pleased to see how his arc wrapped up!

The character dynamics are highlighted in Sandersons writing with a pair like Vin and Elend!  While not a traditionally romantic couple, the show deep support and trust for each other.  Their bond is beautiful and while the ending made me sad, it felt right for them to go out like this. 

“I don’t necessarily need your help; I need your trust. Your hope. It’s something I’ve never had of myself, and I rely on yours.” Elend nodded slowly. “You have it.”

The worldbuilding in this series is exceptional. I enjoyed Sazed’s snippets at the beginning of each chapter and would happily read a book just about those insights! With terms like Shard and Worldbringer introduced, I’m left with plenty of questions. Knowing now that a Worldbringer is the Terris word for Keeper, or man who imparted knowledge, I have QUESTIONS. 

“She didn’t see death: she saw life. She saw faith.”

Sanderson excels at making compelling, loveable characters, and creating a world where he can unveil things one at a time!

Would I reread? Absolutely yes, I want to explore more of the Cosmere first, but I would love to revisit this series with a deeper understanding. 

Would I recommend? Yes! This series, especially book 1, is an excellent entry point for anyone looking to try fantasy. Sanderson does a fantastic job of establishing and reviewing the magical rules, making it accessible for new readers  

Recommended for Fans of Red Rising, Six of Crows and Lies of Loche Lamora