5 Stars
The Final Empire is Brandon Sanderson's second published novel, after Elantris, and the first volume of his Mistborn trilogy. As in Elantris, Sanderson makes his mark by turning a fantasy cliche on its head, imagining a world where a hero arose to combat a Dark Lord -- and lost. For a thousand years since, the immortal Lord Ruler has held complete power over a blasted world where a red sun burns in a smoke-blackened sky, brown plants struggle to survive amid rains of ash, and every night mysterious mists cover the land. The Lord Ruler's early supporters were rewarded with noble status and magical powers of "allomancy"; his opponents were crushed and cast into slavery.
It's in this evocative setting that a crew of expert thieves and con men (with, of course, hearts of gold) puts together an audacious plan to rob the Lord Ruler himself, and if possible destabilize his regime. In the model of a "heist story" like Ocean's Eleven, each member of the crew has a particular specialty, and most are "Mistings" with a single allomantic ability. They are led by the charismatic Kelsier, who is the rarest and most powerful kind of allomancer, a full "Mistborn".
The real focus of the story, however, is on the development of Vin, a young girl brutalized by a childhood on the streets. Vin is also a Mistborn, and if she can learn to control her abilities, she could become a powerful and dangerous figure, perhaps even a threat to the Lord Ruler. Recruited as Kelsier's apprentice, Vin is put to work as the crew's spy within the nobility, where she falls for Elend Venture, the kindhearted son of a ruthless nobleman. Vin and Kelsier are the central figures in the book, with most other characters largely filling in their appointed roles.
As the heist plot unfolds, some members of Kelsier's crew try to unravel the history of the Lord Ruler's ascension, which could provide the key to understanding and countering his power. Clues to this mystery are provided at the start of each chapter, but in both this backstory and the Mistborn trilogy as a whole, "there's always another secret" hiding beneath the surface, helping to keep things interesting and engaging.
If you're new to Sanderson's work, The Final Empire is a great place to start, featuring a captivating setting, layered plot and creative magic system. Although the start of a trilogy, it stands up on its own and tells a complete story, even while hinting at deeper issues -- "another secret" -- lurking behind the scenes. As with all of Sanderson's novels, The Final Empire is further enhanced by author commentary provided in chapter-by-chapter annotations on Sanderson's Web site.
(26 July 2009)
