Matthew B. (illiterati) reviewed on 12/21/2012

Meh. paper thin plot devices, cardboard characters, flimsy dialogue. I don't see how anyone can fawn after Sanderson. I feel like through the muddle, he has some original ideas but he can't manage to pour them onto the pages, much less into a plot. The "Hero" of legend was uninspiring, the ultimate caper was bland and overwrought, the "criminal masterminds" were neither masterminds nor much of any respectable sort of criminal, and the heroine was too whiney or introspective, neither of which drove the plot.

The main baddies - the Lord Ruler and the Inquisitors - had a few moments where they sparkled, mostly because they were more or less unstoppable, but even then that left you to wonder how anyone could survive confronting them.

And in the end, the story brought up too many questions left unanswered, but not compelling enough for me to care picking up the next book. Meh, I say. Meh.

The plot devices - starting a war, the "nobles", and the ascendance to god-hood - were barely credible.

As for political intrigue (and witty dialogue)? Try this on:

--"If you destroy the nobility, you won't be able to hold on for very long," Elend said. "We control the economy - the Empire will collapse without us." - Uhh, isn't that the point of a rebellion? To kick the oppressors out and start from scratch, even if the price of bread climbs a few sheckles? But when questioned, Elend replies, "You must hear me out... I've studied these things; I know what I'm talking about." Oh, well, with a compelling argument like that, who can argue with him? I mean, he's {finger quotes] learn-ed [finger quotes], right. Okay, Nobles, have your way with us, you know better. We won't overthrow you after all, even though you've raped and slaughtered and degraded our people. The economy *IS* that important, more so than the rights of our people. Human decency be damned. Carry on.

This guy teaches writing? Ugh.

If you want a good read, try George R.R. Martin or Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora. Locke is loaded with cunning dialogue, blood and guts, plot twists, and world building that will leave you breathless.

But Sanderson? How did the world lose the coin toss that allowed him to follow in Robert Jordan's footsteps? Save yourself the trouble and don't waste your time with Mistborn. More like, Stillborn...

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