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Mistborn
Mistborn: The Final Empire
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PART TWO DISCUSSION
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Your enthusiasm reminds me of the excitement I felt when I read this not long ago. It's so good!
I'm happy when I see that the same elements that caught my attention also impressed others - Jay in this instance. Yes, Sazed's collected memories of all these 562 forbidden long-lost religions and their secret rituals and his struggle to keep them alive inside him and teach them to anyone interested was simply so touching! Is it me or the rest of you feel that Sanderson is making a connection, a comment, here for all these indiginous religions in the Americas or Australia that were brutally and deliberately wiped out by the arrival of the Europeans? I simply loved Sazed's response that all are crucial and must be studied and preserved, even if one seems to contradict others sometimes - what a difference to V.E. Scwab's narrative, ridiculing Christianity's every belief in that underground tomb of George III scene (yes, it made that negative of an impression on me that I still remember it). It's shocking - but in a great way for the suspense of the books - that no one in his group believes Kelsier has any chance of killing the Lord Ruler, yet they are willing to fight alongside him! Vin too. I was touched when she confessed to him that she knew quite well that from the moment she joined the resistance she probably wouldn't survive the coming Winter and that she had made her peace with it. I found this to be extremely heroic for all of them!
I also loved being introduced to the final Eleventh metal, Atium. Sanderson constructed this scene in which she discovers its powers allowing her to see her opponent's moves a split second into the future so well! I never quite grasped this "rule" for writers, "show, don't tell", but I think this must be it. Even more that this, though, what I loved reading the most was this secret Mistborn pathway connecting the Renoux estate to the capital of Luthadel, those metal beams buried just under the soil, permitting fast jumps travelling, where does he come up with all that?!... :O
I too believe now that those passages in italics in the begining of each chapter is the Lord Ruler himself reminiscing or justifying (?) his life to someone. Amazing trick, getting introduced to his inner mind before even getting a description of what he looks like! Like I don't know him yet but he's already creeping into my thoughts! I thought we were in a very linear, one-perspective story, now I begin to realize there are two (opposite?) perspectives, slowly coming together.... He's no God though for sure, he really started out as a very common guy. How did he gain all this immense power? We got a description of a statue in a town square depicting him defeating the Ascension, the Gravity, if I got it right? (I'm reading it translated) I hope all this is explained better in the next book - and may I just add how great a feeling it is to finally begin to understand after many years what that title "The Well of Ascension" must be all about! :)
In this Part Two we also get out first glimpse of Elend Venture, who I believe is a major part in the entire Trilogy. Vin is immediately drawn to him in that upper inner balcony and I can see why. In fact everyone who sees I'm reading this immediately goes "OMG Elend Venture <3, he's the reason I love this series", hahaha. I can't wait to find out more. I already love him cause 1) he's the heir to the most powerful House yet he's humble and not afraid to be critical of the Ventures, and 2) he's always reading a book!
Finally, a negative comment: I can't believe expert Kelsier let Vin follow him into Kredik Shaw towards the end of Part Two! He must have known the dangers. What is it in that hall that draws him so? It's the exact same place he was caugh in three years ago, those Steel Inquititors were in there last time too, he should have foreseen this. They were expecting him I think! And he never should have abandoned her there and left - I know the mission must come first but it felt SOOO wrong to me...! He left her there to get tortured and executed.... I hope that old notebook (written by the Lord Ruler himself?!) that Sazed brought back is worth it...
OMG I wrote so much, bye. :)
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It is very exciting! I'm really enjoying it :D
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That's true, Sanderson could definitely be making a connection to indigenous religions that were wiped out. Hahaha, yes very different from Schwab's limiting view. That part in the book still has a negative impression on me as well.
Oh yeah, how could I forget to mention the Mistborn highway! I thought that was really creative as well, and very useful!
When it finally clicked for me that the italic passages are the Lord Ruler, I was impressed! At first I found these passages a bit annoying, as I had no idea what they meant, but after discovering it is the Lord Ruler's perspective I now pay extra attention whenever I reach a new chapter.
I thought that was a great little puzzle for the readers to discover. As of yet the Lord Ruler has been completely faceless and we knew nothing about him, but know we've learned that we have secretly been reading his thoughts! No, he's definitely no God. It seems like he was meant to be some hero, but ended up abusing his power. I wan't to know more about this Ascension and how/why it came to be!
I really like all of Elend's witty dialogue, and how he doesn't even seem too interested in all the noble stuff. I'm on page 350 now (going to put up a few more discussions soon) and I'm excited to see how this character gets brought more into the story.
I KNOW, I couldn't believe that Kelsier let Vin follow him to the same place he was caught before. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S IN THERE. Hmm I wonder if Kelsier has a bit of an obsession over it; after all, who knows, it could be something that could help defeat the Lord Ruler.
THE STEEL INQUISITORS ARE BRUTAL.
The manner in which they killed every one of Vin’s old gang mates, and how they hanged Camon was gruesome.
“He hadn’t been hanged in the conventional fashion � the rope had been tied to a hook, then rammed down his throat. The bloodied end of the hook jutted from his skin below the chin, and he swung with head tipped back, rope running out of his mouth.�
Yeah� I wouldn’t want to mess with these guys in any way.
In my opinion part two was even better than the first part of the book. And that’s saying a lot.
Sazed’s description of all these other religions adds so much depth and realism to the world. Like at one point he stopped to say a “death chant of the Cazzi� a prayer meant to “awaken spirits of the dead so they may return to the mountain of souls�. I Have no idea what this mountain of souls is, but it’s so interesting how Sanderson has not only developed a world with fantastic characters and magic system, but also entire different religions. And how does Brandon Sanderson have so many books written already? I mean, some big fantasy authors take 10 years to write a single series.
Anyway, back to the story. I really enjoyed the description of the ball, and was very surprised that we saw Vin’s father there. At one point she will most likely have to confront him. I also like this Elend Venture character, although I feel like Vin is getting some feelings for him already� even though they hardly even met. We’ll have to see how his character gets more involved in the story.
AND FINALLY, we get to see what the Eleventh Metal, Atium, does once it is burned! Pretty badass indeed. It sucks how the Steel Inquisitors also use it though! When Vin flung herself into the air (by pulling on the castles spires in order to run from the Inquisitors, all while losing blood) I was on the edge of my seat. That part was so intense, and I feel like I can imagine it all so well.
Once Sazed brought her back, he mentioned something about his Metalmind, which seems to be an ability only Keepers have. I’m guessing this is how they are able to retain so much information and memories.
Right by the end we also get a bunch of info on the Lord Ruler. We learned of Khlennium, his ancient, pre-Ascension homeland. We also learned that he is basically invincible, and even walked out of a burning building barely more than a skeleton. Now that’s a creepy image!
What are your thoughts?
Let’s read more!
**KINDA SPOILER** On the very first page of Part Three, I think we finally discover who’s perspective we’re getting in italics at the beginning of each chapter! This time they mention Khlennium. GUYS I THINK WE CAN CONFIRM THAT THESE LITTLE BITS ARE FROM THE LORD RULER’S MEMORIES.