Why I Didn't Like Mistborn By Brandon Sanderson | A Book Review (Spoiler Free)

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Thank you. Everyone praised this book and I found it to be flat and dull, and the magic system was too clever for its own good. I've given him another try with The Way of Kings and so far it is much more interesting.

I think Sanderson (from a plot perspective) is certainly simple, but if you're judging Sanderson's works by this book alone, you're missing out on a lot. And the "I want a more worldbuilding" comment threw me for a loop. You've barely scratched the surface of the "world" being built. Sanderson's Cosmere is one of the most complex and thoughtful in modern fantasy writing. I actually think starting with Mistborn might have been part of the problem, to some extent, as I do agree that I feel less connected to Vin and Kelsier than I do with many of his other characters. I initially didn't think I was going to like the Era 2 books, but I actually like them much more (both in terms of characters and plot) than the Era 1. I won't give spoilers, obviously, but I think the magic system (allomancy AND feruchemy) is applied much more thoughtfully in them as well (less random omnipotence) and it creates much more interesting interactions. I'd also say this: for what you seem to like in a book, Stormlight is a better starting point (re: characters). I think even Elantris might be a better starting point (and is where I started), but I don't think many would agree with me there.

You'd probably enjoy the Stormlight Archive if you like longer, drawn-out books like Wheel of Time, in fact what you were talking about with how Vin's story could have been improved, as in the character being at their lowest throughout the entire first book and then learning they have powers at the end, is literally just Kaladin's story (spoilers?)

I get what are you saying, but i disagree about the lack of mistey in the magic system. I remeber, the first thing i thought when i read the final emprire was the lack of simmetry ( might be my background in physics), and i was right, there was more to the magic system. After more mstborn books, there is stil always something new in the magic system

I think one of the things people like about his books is why I can’t be bothered to try them: “his magic system” talk. I guess in my head I always think is this a board game or a book? Idk maybe I’ll read one someday. Is it possible for something to be so recommended that you don’t want to try it? That’s where I am with these books.

I think you might like Stormlight Archive, it has all the things you said in this video. give it a chance!! :) (sorry for my English, it's not my native language)

Dude, I've REALLY tried to like Sanderson and I just don't. I tried reading Mistborn and Stormlight but I just cannot. He looks like a pretty nice guy, though

Thank god, i tought i was the only one. Have you tried any russian classics?

This is going to sound a little weird, but I feel like a lot of the solutions you suggest to fix the pacing issues with Mistborn The Final Empire are actually present within The Well of Ascension, the sequel novel. Mistborn was Sanderson's attempt to essentially push the plot of what would happen in three books, all into one book. While he successfully wrote a novel doing this, all of Mistborn Book 1's problems stem from the lightning fast pacing. The exposition, the romance, the characters etc. all suffer from the extremely quick pacing of the first novel. Well of Ascension is a much slower paced book than Book 1, and actually gives its characters time to develop. I think if you were to read it, you'd find that Elend's arc in the book is exactly what you wished for Vin to go through in Book 1. I won't lie, some characters are still pretty one dimensional, I think Vin's inner conflict in Book 2 is particularly annoying (I just don't like Vin as a mc and it was Elend that kept me going), but I think Well of Ascension is definitely a step towards what you want from Sanderson. I'm fairly new to Sanderson myself, and I've peeked into my copy of Way of Kings, and that seems closer to the Robert Jordan/Tolkien giant epic fantasy that you want. Book 3 so far has been the best of the three books imo, but I have recency bias because I'm halfway through it right now.

I'm sorta in the same boat for Book 1. I don't really mind how it's being written necessarily, but I find the magic system way too complex for its own good; way too hard to follow compared to his later works. I also just don't see the appeal in a heist story regardless of it being Fantasy or not. Haven't read all the way through but I'm reading it still despite my lack of general interest since I need to read books for my own work (I'm aspiring to become an Author myself).

Oh man, it's so refreshing to hear that someone else didn't love Mistborn😅 I really thought I was the only one. And I read a lot of YA! YA can have excellent prose (ie Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor) but the prose in Mistborn was painful for me to get through. Every time he referred to a horse as a "beast" I cringed. Just call it a horse! I agree with you, reading this magic system felt like reading a video game instruction manual. As I reflected on it, I also realized that this wasn't a world that I wanted to keep returning to. I know a lot of people enjoy urban fantasy-settings, but it's just not for me. It was so depressing, and yeah I get that's the point, but I read for escapism; give me the Shire over the apocalyptic city in Mistborn any day.

I didn't love Mistborn (I DNF'd the series in the 3rd book, spoiled the ending on Wikis so I could read other Cosmere, then only came back to it when I wanted to read Mistorn Era 2) either but I really like Stormlight! Continue exploring the Cosmere! I will also say in hindsight that there is plenty of mystery in Mistborn- it's just hidden in plain sight lol.

I also had doubts before reading the second book but trust me I finished the second book in two days. I'm a huge fan of Mistborn right now.

I’m so glad I came across this channel! These video book reviews are sooo nuttyyyy

Like some other comments have already said: the way your described what you wanted out of Mistborn basically describes how the Stormlight Archive is written! The whole The Way of Kings is basically just setup for the rest of the series where you have no idea what's going on and everyone is just in going through the trenches lol i think you'll like that one a lot more!

agreed - the first mistborn trilogy is more of a pre-teen fantasy story. I read them after finishing the first 3 Stormlight Archive books in order to understand more about the cosmere and have been pretty disappointed with the entire Mistborn series tbh. I'd absolutely recommend reading Stormlight Archive though, and even Warbreaker, from Sanderson's Cosmere novels. Some of the best fantasy novels I've ever read.

Not gonna lie....Stormlight isnt a HUGE step up in terms of maturity from Mistborn. I am not a fan of sanderson overall. i think his writing is oversimplistic and relies heavily on final act explosions to makeup for his typical mid-book slogs. His books are fine and fun but his fandom is a whole other thing.

I get what your saying about the lack of mystique. That whole whiteboard flow chart scene is a big meme in my memory. It works good in cheeky in heist movies, but not in an Epic Fantasy. Book 2 is way better though, my favorite book of the trilogy.

Mistborn to me is an action movie. I like it but its not a slow burn by any means. Way of Kings is one that makes you sit and think. I also liked Elantris for that reason aswell. But i think Mistborn is the most action-ya-quick in and out. I think there are a lot of different places to start for different people, mistborn might not be yours but I think you may like it for its place later on.