Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn 1 - The Final Empire

The Final Empire is the first book of the (completed) Mistborn trilogy. For a thousand years the sky has been obscured by clouds and ash falls regularly in this dreary world. The Lord Ruler, a God-like figure who started out as the Hero of Ages, has ruled tyrannically ever since a world-changing event a millennium ago.

The rebels Kelsier, Vin, and their friends, fight to free the skaa people from slavery by overthrowing and/or killing the Lord Ruler and bringing down his system of ruling Houses and the subjugation or extermination of all other races and species.

The storyline follows the usual plot points of a team of underdogs working together accomplish the impossible. There is companionable banter among confederates, the unforeseen setbacks and recovery, and the love interest the puts the whole plan in jeopardy.

The usual issue of the traitor in the ranks is treated a little differently. Trust and betrayal is a central theme to the story. Kelsier is betrayed by his wife years ago; Vin is betrayed by her brother (after constantly promising that he is going to do so). How our heroes deal with their respective betrayals is central to the resolution at the end of this book.

Kelsier and Vin are both Allomancers; magic users in this world. Sanderson has devised a complex and 'scientific' magic system whereby metals and their alloys are swallowed and activated to produce different physical and magical effects. Although fairly complex, the different magics are clearly explained by the device of having Kelsier teach Vin all about magic.

Enjoyed the book very much: interesting, well-developed characters and good battle-magic action scenes. The plot moves slowly at first but the pace picks up quickly. There is good resolution at the end of the book; it could have easily been a standalone novel. Look forward to reading the next two books.