What I've Been Reading - April

What better to put on a reading and writing blog other than the good books I've been reading recently? Right. My thoughts exactly.

In April, I finished reading a total of...two novels. and believe me, that's not a lot. Do you remember that newsletter I sent out one or two months ago saying I read nine books in one month? Yeah, well, not this time.

But there's something amazing about these two books that I just have to share with you: They were written by the most talented, amazing author on the planet. Do you want to guess who it is? Come on, guess.... Do you have your name?

It was Brandon Sanderson.

The two novels I finished in April were the beginning of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. And if you've heard anything good about these novels...well, good. They were right.

Book #1 -- Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Cover Image:

Amazon Synopsis:

Once, a hero arose to save the world. He failed.

Ever since, the world has been a wasteland of ash and mist controlled by the immortal emperor known as the Lord Ruler.

But hope survives. A new uprising is forming, one built around the ultimate caper, the cunning of a brilliant criminal mastermind, and the determination of an unlikely heroine: a street urchin who must learn to master the power of a Mistborn.

My Review:

There are many things that make a novel worthy of 5-stars. Maybe it's the prose. Or the characters. Or the world-building. It could even be the plot arch. Mistborn here checked all those boxes. The prose was pristine. Clean, welcoming, gleaned of any misspellings or grammar issues. There was a wide variety of characters--tall, short, funny, serious--and they all had an essential part to the story. Everyone had a worthy past, relatable motives, and, most of all, each had a backstory worthy of his character. The world-building...I have no words for it. There is a concrete magic system and easy-to-understand culture and politics. Even Brandon Sanderson's made-up names and words roll off the tongue with ease. You know when you're reading a book and you have to stop every two seconds to sound out a name? Well, this was the opposite of that.

And the plot arch. The most dramatic, suspenseful, graceful slope toward the climax. A cinematic plot twist. And a final act that smacked me right out of my wits. Mysteries unfolded...Tales were told. People were grown, changed, created anew.

And the story ended with gusto.

Content Warnings:

• Suspense

• Violence

• Blood/Gore

• The Main Character, Vin, is beaten by her brother in the past (not described in detail)

• Public executions

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Notes (aka, the much less formal review):

OH MY GOSH!!!!!! If you've never read a fantasy novel, or if you're stuck in a reading slump, read this book. If you're looking for clean fiction with compelling storylines, read this book. If you're sick of reading worthless pieces of junk written by authors who have no idea what they're doing, read this book. If you want to read, read this book.

READ THE BOOK!!!!!!

This novel had me staying up past 1:20 IN THE MORNING to finish it. The suspense never stopped. I reached Act Two and my willpower crumbled. I read the last 100 pages in...oh man, I wasn't even paying attention to the clock...not short enough, that all I can tell you.

And if you've never cried over a novel before, if you want to know what it feels like, well then--

READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!

*clears throat* thank you. *bows*

Page Number:

534

Rating:

5-Stars

Book #2 -- Mistborn: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Cover Image:

Amazon Synopsis:

They did the impossible, ending the thousand-year reign of the godlike Lord Ruler. Now Vin, the former street urchin turned powerful Mistborn, and Elend Venture, the idealistic young nobleman who loves her, must build a healthy new society in the ashes of an empire.

As tensions grow in the wake of the uprising, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.

It may just be that killing the Lord Ruler was the easy part. Surviving the aftermath of his fall is going to be the real challenge.

My Review:

I screamed. Many times, I screamed silently into my pillow after a long night of reading past when I should have stopped. Hours after finishing the novel, I can still feel the impact. Five stars weigh heavy on the heart.

This novel was a flurry of mistcloaks, mystery, and catastrophies. Brandon Sanderson's world comes into full effect, the mythical Lord Ruler is vanquished, peace has come to The Final Empire. But...what now? Evil is gone, surrendered. Or has it?

Like the first book in the series, it packed a punch. Emotional. Formidable. Worthy of it's 10-million-copies-sold tagline.

And looking back, I probably should have paid a little more attention to cover design. This right here is the definition of a good cover artist. A good writer, all the more. I have been waiting to read this series for a very long time. And it paid off. In full.

Content Warnings:

• Gore

• Graphic deaths

• Violence

• Battle Scenes

• Blood

• Fighting

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Notes:

I didn't cry this time.

Does that make the book any less amazing??? NOPE! Favorite characters died, the world was about to end and GUESS WHAT!!! PLOT TWIST! EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE OKAY! Or are they?

I gasped so many times. I just love these characters. I love these people, these motives, these storylines. As much as I don't like marriage in novels, this marriage felt worth it. Yes, Vin was nearly dead and dying when she confessed her love (and I am NOT telling you to whom. That would spoil the story too badly) but she meant it. I could feel it radiating off the pages. And you know what makes feelings come off the pages late that? Good writing. Yes!!! YESSS!!!

Page Number:

598

Rating:

5-Stars

The End,