The Final Empire
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆
The Final Empire (Mistborn, Book 1) by Brandon Sanderson
There’s was something about this book that I didn’t like, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at first.
Let me start with what I did love: the magic system. In fact, I love all of Sanderson’s magic systems. With his “science of magic” philosophy, they’re some of the most thoughtfully constructed in fantasy. They’re easy to understand, integrated into character development and story progression, and governed by rules that prevent magic from being a convenient fix for every problem. (I can’t tell you how many magical schoolgirl anime I’ve dropped because their magic made no sense.) The Mistborn system, ingesting metals and burning them inside your body to heighten a specific sense or ability depending on the metal, is brilliantly inventive. It’s beyond anything I would have thought of.
The story itself is equally compelling. It follows a rogue Mistborn thief who reunites his old gang of allomancers for one last job: the ultimate heist to overthrow the Final Empire, steal its treasury, and collapse its economy. Alongside this, they aim to take down the immortal tyrant, the Lord Ruler; the so-called "Sliver of Infinity" and the closest thing to a god in this world. Legend has it he’s the same Hero of Ages who saved humanity from the Deepness a thousand years ago and reshaped the world into its current form: a desolate place where ash constantly falls, plants are lifeless brown, and supernatural mists cover the night.
Sanderson’s worldbuilding is exceptional, but what I admire most is how seamlessly the magic, story, and setting complement each other. The story’s darkness feels natural in a world so bleak, and the magic itself is a key driver of that bleakness. Everything fits together like pieces of a puzzle forming a fully immersive picture.
That said, there were aspects I didn’t enjoy. Much of the story focuses on Vin attending balls to infiltrate the nobility, which often felt tedious and unnecessarily drawn out.
After reflecting, I think the heart of my issue lies with the characters. Not what they are (because conceptually, they’re fascinating), but who they are. Their personalities often lack depth. Outside of the main four, Vin, Kelsier, Elend, and the Lord Ruler, I found it hard to keep track of the supporting cast. There wasn’t much to distinguish them from one another, and frankly, I didn’t feel invested in their fates.
Among the main characters, the Lord Ruler is the exception. Kept at a distance throughout the story, his myth builds anticipation, and when he finally appears, he delivers everything you hope he will: mysterious, imposing, and flawlessly executed.
The other three, however, were less compelling for me.
Vin’s constant trust issues made her frustrating, and at times she felt like she was just along for the ride.
Kelsier, while pivotal as the coup’s mastermind, comes across as emotionally closed-off and, beyond the plot-driving aspects of his role, falls into the same underdeveloped category as the supporting cast.
Elend intrigued me with his distant personality and constant plotting, but ultimately, he didn’t have a substantial impact beyond his romance with Vin.
It’s difficult to fully judge The Final Empire without reading the rest of the series. It’s not a bad book by any means, and its only major flaw in my view is the character depth. That said, I’m optimistic this will improve in later installments, especially given the widespread acclaim surrounding Sanderson’s work. I plan to continue the series and see how it unfolds.
