Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn 2 - The Well of Ascension

The second book of the Mistborn series is equal, if not superior, to the an excellent first book in terms of quality of writing. Very often in the "big fat fantasy series" you find occasional tracts of awkward prose or stale dialog. Sanderson either has high personal standards or an excellent editor and team of proofers. The story continues (a year later) from the climactic overthrow of the Lord Ruler to a last stand against against the old ruling system represented by the siege of the capital city by no less than three invading armies.

Our protagonist, Vin, struggles with self-identity while defending her love-interest, King Elend. Political intrigue carries the plot forward as we discover more about this world. Through the study of ancient writings we also discover more about the mysterious events of a millennium ago that led to the creation of the Lord Ruler and the terrible changes to the environment.

The political shenanigans in the story seem incomplete and uninspired. Some interesting characters were set up early in the book to populate the new political system created after 1000 years of tyranny, but there is no payoff by the end of the book. Hopefully the last book will take up where this book left off. Its hard to tell if it was intentional not.

The window on the world is opened up a little more with more time spent looking at other species and races. A more global view of the conflicts that beset the ash-covered, mist-shrouded world is balanced against a love triangle of sorts that really doesn't do much for the story, and a "traitor in our midst" sub-plot that carried the story through some tedious protagonist hand-wringing chapters.

The best part of the book was moving the Terris Keeper Sazed up to the forefront. Through him we saw all of the additional "world-building" development in the book. The use of Sazed's feruchemical powers is contrasted against Vin's allomantic exploits. Sazed also gives us a (limited) look at the rest of the world, and a strong perspective on the events of the past that led to the current situation.

As with the first book there is a strong climactic conclusion with enough story left hanging to make you want to pick up the next book as soon as possible. Now that the Well of Ascension has been located and used "correctly" we are left with some surprises and more questions.