Mistborn Boxed Set I: Mistborn, the Well of Ascension, the Hero of Ages (Mistborn Saga) Mass Market Paperback – 31 Mar. 2020

To ensure I do this series justice, I've reviewed each book in turn)The Final Empire – Mistborn Book OneThe premise for this book is as follows:For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.This saga dares to ask a simple question: What if the hero of prophecy fails?*******This is the first Brandon Sanderson novel I’ve read. And it certainly won’t be the last.I found The Final Empire to be a fascinating and thoroughly absorbing tale, combining ancient prophecy, devilish conspiracies, social injustice, political intrigue and Hail-Mary heroics in a cauldron of suspense and high adventure.The world he has built is eerily provocative, and though ruined by ecological disaster in the far distant past, still exerts a hypnotic beauty that pulls the reader in and gets you caring about what happens. The characters are engaging and relatable. The magic system is a joy to behold. And before you know it, you’ve read over 600 pages without feeling drained.An excellent story. I look forward to more.The Well of Ascension – Mistborn Book twoThe Well of Ascension takes us back to Luthadel a year after the Dark Lord has been deposed. Far from making things better, the citizens of the land discover that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.Yes, the Final Empire is no more and the Steel Inquisitors seem to have vanished. But in their wake, uncertainty follows. Citizens at both ends of the social spectrum struggle to find balance in a new regime of tolerance. Only, there are those who don’t want to change. And they are quick to take advantage.Luthadel becomes surrounded by no less than three opposing armies, all intent on seizing the one thing that means anything: the former Emperor’s atium reserves. But those reserves can’t be found, and no amount of pledging or promises can make the invading commanders change their minds.In addition, we find our heroes facing their own personal crossroads. Elend is an honorable and well-meaning young man, but his naivety of the real world places everyone in danger. Vin is feared for her power. She did destroy the former emperor after all. But she is beset by doubts about her own motivations and ability to make lasting changes. And of course, she can’t really believe that a man like Elend would truly love someone like her. Sazed is a man caught between two worlds. That of a Keeper, and remaining a firm friend and confident to the people he has come to know and respect.And Kelsier’s former crew? For the most part, they take a back seat during this adventure, making way for several new characters who add a little spice to the mix. (I shan’t say more, as I’m always keen NEVER to give anything of the plot away.)This book is longer than the last one, (over 760 pages), and Sanderson lights a fuse at the beginning that burns slowly but surely toward a climactic finish. Very clever, as there’s a lot of ground to cover. But it’s done well. And what I particularly enjoyed was the time Sanderson took to reveal more about the Final Empire’s history, and the origins and interspecies relationships of some of its more mysterious races. (You’ll see).And the delicious twist at the end?The Well of Ascension is a most satisfying read, and I can’t wait to see how things are brought to a conclusion in the final book.The Hero of Ages – Mistborn Book ThreeThe Hero of Ages takes us into the closing chapter of the Mistborn trilogy, where we find events spiraling out of control in a headlong rush toward oblivion. Vin may have killed the Lord Ruler and gained access to the Well of Ascension, but her well-meaning choices released calamity upon humankind.The Deepness – the all-pervasive and malignant mist that terrorizes people at night – is getting worse; as are the ash falls and ever more powerful earthquakes that wrack the land from end to end. Crops are failing. Society is crumbling. Humanity trembles on the brink of extinction.They need the long prophesized Hero of Ages to step up and save them.But who might that be?A perplexing conundrum that Sanderson employs to lead you through the trials and tribulations facing Vin, Elend and their friends as they struggle to rally the remnants of their civilization into making a last stand against evil.And what a stand it is.Sanderson took his time in laying the foundations of this epic story. Wisely so, because its only here, at the end of a long and tumultuous journey, that all the signs, signals, references, half-truths and misdirection come together to help you solve a 1000 year old puzzle and finally discover who that hero is. And what a revelation we get, incorporating issues of faith, hope, loyalty, and sacrifice on a profound scale that reminds us of the frailty – and amazing strength during times of crisis – of the human condition.I particularly enjoyed the slow burn of this story arc. You have to take your time in laying out the jumbled pieces of a jigsaw, and it’s only as the narrative helps you piece everything together that you begin to comprehend just how vast the bigger picture is.An epic ending to one of the best trilogies I’ve read in a long while. Don’t miss it!

Having enjoyed the trilogy a couple of times on kindle I bought the physical box set as a gift for a relative of mine so thought i'd review it, my review for the actual books will get posted beneath. It's essentially the three basic paperbacks in a three sided box with the front open to pull the books out so the trilogy sits on your shelf easily. The box has fantastic artwork taken from the book covers in matching blue and white. The carboard is a little thin but does the job for what it is. It's a decent set, if you're going to invest and get them physically, this is the version to get. If you don't care for the box then it's easily recyclable leaving you the base paperbacks.Onto the actual book reviews. The series is in my opinion great, my favorite is book one introducing the main character Vin, a little street thief fighting to survive in the harsh world of the Final Empire, before long she learns she is a Mistborn, a rare type of person who can use various metals to fuel powers normal people could never manage. The magic system so to speak in this series is amazing. It is not unlimited, has it's boundries for what is possible with each metal and each metal only has one type of ability yet the author Brandon Sanderson always manages to make their usage interesting and varied within it's own rules. The action scenes can get pretty crazy at times due to this and it can be pretty exciting reading. The books are well paced and easy to read within the zone of young adult to adult (there is plenty of violence and action but it's not graphic or full of sex or anything), I loved most of the characters and the story all wraps up incredibly well by the end.That said the set isn't perfect with some sections in book two and three feeling a little slow and bogs down the pacing of the story with a couple of characters self pity over staying it's welcome but it doesn't get in the way of the series feeling fresh and at times exciting reading.Recommended.+ Nice looking physical set.+ Magic system is amazing.+ Great characters.+ Story comes together brilliantly.- Book two and three have some sections that feel a little slow at times.

An amazing trilogy! Vin is an amazing and relatable character whilst Elend is a wonderful person who is endlessly frustrating (because he will always do the right thing, even if it is not to his advantage). It intensely explores both the process of removing a tyrant from power and the aftereffects thereof. The only bad thing about the set is that the box is not that strong, meaning of you accidentally drop it, the sides can break. Read this dude, he writes amazing stuff!