Book Review | The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.

Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice.

One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will.

After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

No spoilers below for the the Mistborn series - just love.

The Alloy of Law is the fourth book in Sanderson's Mistborn series, but it's the first book of Mistborn era 2. In other words - the original Mistborn trilogy is era 1 and era 2 takes place 300 years after the original trilogy.

The final book in Mistborn era 2 comes out in November. I took long breaks between the first three Mistborn books (read them 2018-2020) so I wasn't sure I would be able to (or want to) catch up to book #7 by November. It turns out The Alloy of Law is so shallow compared to the original trilogy! I don't mean this in a bad way. The original trilogy was so deeply layered with worldbuilding and character development and magic - and The Allow of Law is just a fun read set in the same universe.

I had no idea how a western was going to work in the Mistborn world. Now I feel like an idiot. It's obvious now how fun gunslinging would be with Sanderson's magic system. The Alloy of Law reads like a steampunk superhero book without a lot of surprises, but I enjoyed it. I definitely want to read Shadows of Self in September and The Bands of Mourning in October to get ready for the era 2 finale. Nothing beats a Sanderson ending!

If you've never read Sanderson and you've made it this far - hey - the Mistborn series is a great place to start. Book 1 is The Final Empire - usually just referred to as "Mistborn". It's a very accessible trilogy and will absolutely build your trust in Sanderson's ability to tell - and finish! - a story. I've heard Warbreaker is another great place to start with Sanderson as it's an accessible standalone.

So what is Mistborn all about? The original idea was "What if the Dark Lord won? What would that world look like?" The first era is one of my favorite series of all time. A lot of people say they like era 2 even more. I'm still sceptical, but I'm excited to finally be reading it now! It's great to be back in this world.

4/5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐★

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Book Review | The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Warning: Lackluster review ahead. Proceed with caution.
Source: personal purchase. This is a review of my reading experience.

The Way of Kings is the first book in The Stormlight Archives series by Brandon Sanderson.

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.

Speak again the ancient oaths:

Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.

and return to men the Shards they once bore.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

I'm finally hooked on The Stormlight Archives, but this book was a struggle. I tried reading this back in 2011, I think, but I wasn't ready for it. The learning curve was too steep for me, and I had no reason to have faith in Brandon Sanderson at the time.

There's a reason no one can really explain what this book is about. It's a book of world building and character introduction. It's Sanderson so it has plenty of brilliant moments. I love all of those moments so much and I'm excited to continue on with this series, but The Way of Kings can't stand on its own, and it took me an entire year to get through it.

But like I said, it's Sanderson. I have fallen in love with these characters and the magic system, and I also have 100% faith that this series is going to be incredible.

If you haven't read Sanderson, I honestly wouldn't start here unless you are used to reading epic fantasy with a steeper learning curve. I'd start with the first Mistborn trilogy and go from there. That's not to say I don't recommend The Way of Kings because I do recommend it. It's not as accessible as his other works, but I know it will be worth the effort.

⭐⭐⭐💫★
3.5/5 stars

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Book Review | The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

The Well of Ascension is the second fantasy novel in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series.

Vin, the street urchin who has grown into the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of an empire. Three separate armies attack. As the siege 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.

Last year I read and loved the first Mistborn novel. I never wrote a full review of it because I wasn't sure exactly how I felt about it. I have personal preferences for how I want my stories to play out, and Mistborn challenged those in many ways. After letting it settle in my mind a while, though, I only had positive thoughts. By the end of the year I was already longing to reread it.

The Well of Ascension is the second book in the Mistborn series. In some ways I loved it even more than the first. I don't know if it better aligned with what I wanted out of the series or if I'm getting used to Brandon Sanderson's storytelling style. Either way, I think I'm going to be obsessed with this series.

I love the characters in The Well of Ascension and Sanderson's magic system is so much fun.

I think this series is the perfect bridge between YA and adult fantasy, but I recommend it to any fan of fantasy.

As a bonus - if you enjoy canine characters like Oy from the Dark Tower and Oberon from The Iron Druid, there's a dog character to love in The Well of Ascension as well.

I can't wait to see what happens in book three.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson | Audiobook Review

This is the not the first version I wrote of my review. The first version was a whole lot of fan girl spoiler action. I can't have any of the spoiler business on my blog so after getting it all out of my system, I scratched it and started anew.

Book Description

More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings — merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing — kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery — one that will change Rithmatics — and their world — forever.

Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings his unique brand of epic storytelling to the teen audience with an engrossing tale of danger and suspense—the first of a series. With his trademark skills in world-building, Sanderson has created a magic system that is so inventive and detailed that that readers who appreciate games of strategy and tactics just may want to bring Rithmatics to life in our world.

Review

I tried explaining what this book is about to my husband, and I bumbled through it rather incoherently. I'm not going to try to recreate that here. I will point you to the book description ^ to learn what The Rithmatist is about.

So, yeah. Basically these kids draw shapes with chalk to defend themselves against chalk creatures who can and will try to kill them.

It's kind of a nerdy book with the math and the unicorns, and I seriously loved it. 

I love when a book's excitement builds and builds for me. I was hooked early on because I like nerdy things, and I really liked Joel's character. Then students started disappearing and we started getting to know Melody and all of the teachers including that one new teacher you just know you can't trust.

Joel and Melody are trying to figure out who has been taking the kids, and a lot of awesome that I won't spoil ensues. I was so hooked to the story I was practically fist pumping for Joel and Melody in the end.

And the bad guy... I'm so excited about the bad guy, and I can't wait for the rest of this series. I mentioned the other day how frustrated I am that series books never give me a whole story anymore, but The Rithmatist gave me a complete story and a big dose of excitement over what's to come.

This is my first Brandon Sanderson book so I had no expectations going in, and I have no reference or comparison to his adult books. My library has two of his other series so I will be checking them out eventually.

If the book description sounds good to you, you should definitely read the book. The only comparison I have is it reminds me of Harry Potter. That's dangerous territory, I know, so take it how you will. As for me, I cannot wait to read the next book.

8/10: Great Read

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I listened to The Rithmatist on audio. The audiobook was narrated by Michael Kramer.