Book Review: The Hero of Ages

Genre: Fiction/Epic Fantasy

Published by: Tor Fantasy

First Publication Year: 2008 

Author: Brandon Sanderson

As the third, and final, book in the trilogy, I was expecting something big. And Sanderson delivered on many counts. As the world is ending, dying around them, Elend and Vin and the few remaining members of Kelsier’s crew are up against impossible odds: Up against a god—Ruin—who is determined to destroy the world. Using clues left by the Lord Ruler in supply caches, Vin and Elend struggle to piece together how each event—the death of the world, the deaths in the mists, the constant fall of ash—connects to the Hero of Ages, to the ancient prophecies, to the Mistborn & Misting powers of Allomancy and the Terris peoples similar power, Feruchemy (storing physical attributes in metal to be used later), and creatures in the world.

In this novel, there is a lot of focus on the death of the world, how the past shaped the future, how the Lord Ruler recreated the world and had to deal with the consequences, reshaping humanity and the world to survive. Puzzles from previous books come full circle now, and questions are answered. Though, the conflict was stronger emotionally, rather than physically, the clues and answers kept me reading, eager to see how it all connected.

Characters that seemed to shine the most were, surprisingly, minor in the first two novels. Spook, a young man with the ability to burn tin, and the wise, scholarly Terrisman named Sazed. Spook’s transformation from an insignificant character to a leader was well done and his journey played a significant part in the world problem. Sazed’s journey in this book—his search for truth in the dead religions of the world—was significant in a way I never expected. To avoid major spoilers, I’ll not say anything more.     

This novel was a satisfying sequel to MISTBORN & THE WELL OF ASCENSION and uncovered much of the puzzling questions and revelations that the first two left unanswered, letting the trilogy come to a satisfying, fitting close.

Would I read this again: Yes.

My rating: **** (four stars)

Although this was a satisfying sequel and ending to the trilogy, it does suffer from a lack of tightness in plot structure, seemed too long at times, and doesn’t always deliver in terms of emotional impact or characterization. However, when it does deliver, it is done brilliantly and, in terms of plot twists and magic and the way Sanderson allows things to come full circle, the originality of this author shines.

Would I recommend this final novel in the Mistborn trilogy? Yes. If you enjoyed the first two novels and wish to see how Sanderson closes the series, I’d urge you to pick up this novel and find out.