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xavierroy recommends Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
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▾Member reviews

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Showing 1-5 of 45 (next | show all)

I got this through the Early Reviewers program, and it took me longer than I would have liked to finish. Sanderson is an good writer, but I feel as though his books have the same problem; too much of the book is spent building tension and plot. One big action scene in the first couple of chapters, then a ton of exposition and mounds of dialogue and discussion until the last few chapters. It's not that I don't appreciate those aspects of a book, but I prefer a balance. Dialogue and exposition, then have something happen. But I feel like I listen to Sanderson's characters discuss the same topics over and over until I just have to put the book down and move on to something else for a while.

All in all, this has been a decent series; once the story is over, I can appreciate the overall plot much more than when I'm actually involved in reading the books. (

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bibliophool | Oct 20, 2009 |

Better than the other two, still not a favorite (3 and 3/4 stars!). A lot more action and less politics in this one - even when Elend is (trying to) manipulate the obligator, it's more straightforward than we've seen in the previous books. And since it's the conclusion, a heck of a lot gets explained. The secrets of the kandra, the koloss, the Inquisitors, the Lord Ruler...Sazed, Spook, Vin, Elend... 'there's always another secret'. It was a good payoff for all the twistiness, but I'm still not going to reread the series. I will try other Brandon Sandersons - we'll see if this is always his style or just sometimes. And Warbreaker is supposed to be very different from his usual - again, we'll see. (

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jjmcgaffey | Sep 23, 2009 |

I got this book via the Early Reviewer LT program, and have been holding off reading it until I can get (and read) the first two of the series. Unfortunately, this is cutting in to my chances to get more ER books, so I started reading it anyway.

I find this book intriguing, but difficult to follow having come in on the third of the series. I felt the author didn't do much explaining at all, and pretty much expected the reader to know what the history was. This is not unreasonable, as it is the third book. Plus, I often find a lengthy, drawn-out review of the past boring in a new book. Unfortunately, it wasn't easy to get through, as I had little investment in the characters or story, and strongly recommend reading the first one and deciding whether you want to continue based on its merits, and not judging based on just the third book.

Homechicken | Sep 9, 2009 |

Little long and boring in spots with a ton of exposition and not enough action to keep the reader's attention. The writing itself was good, the characters were good, but the exposition slowed the pull of the story too much. Ending was very satisfying, however. (

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SLHobbs | Sep 1, 2009 |

In this third book of the Mistborn trilogy, Sanderson continues to follow the struggles of Vin and Elend as they attempt to create a perfect empire after the fall of the Lord Ruler. While I found Sanderson's Mistborn (book 1) thoroughly enjoyable and The Well of Ascension (book 2) tolerable, Hero of Ages was unable to captivate me. After multiple attempts this book has fallen into my "to be read later" pile. (

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akerm192 | Aug 7, 2009 |

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▾Common Knowledge

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Series (with order)

Mistborn Trilogy (3)

Canonical Title

The Hero of Ages

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Important events

Awards and honors

Whitney Award Nominee (Novel, 2008)

Whitney Award Nominee (Speculative Fiction, 2008)

David Gemmell Legend Award shortlist (2009)

Epigraph

Dedication

For Jordan Sanderson,
Who can explain to any who ask
What it's like to have a brother
Who spends most of his time dreaming.
(Thanks for putting up with me.)

First words

Marsh struggled to kill himself.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

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▾Common Knowledge (short form)

Canonical title	The Hero of Ages
Original publication date	2008-10-14
Series	Mistborn Trilogy (3)
People/Characters	Elend Venture, Vin, Sazed, Spook, Marsh, Ten-Soon
Important places	The Final Empire
Awards and honors	Whitney Award Nominee (Novel, 2008), Whitney Award Nominee (Speculative Fiction, 2008), David Gemmell Legend Award shortlist (2009)
Dedication	For Jordan Sanderson, Who can explain to any who ask What it's like to have a brother Who spends most of his time dreaming. (Thanks for putting up with me.)
First words	Marsh struggled to kill himself.
Last words	(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Finally."

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

▾Book descriptions

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0765316897, Hardcover)

Who is the Hero of Ages?

To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness---the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists---is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.

Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. She can’t even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!

The conclusion of the Mistborn trilogy fulfills all the promise of the first two books. Revelations abound, connections rooted in early chapters of the series click into place, and surprises, as satisfying as they are stunning, blossom like fireworks to dazzle and delight. It all leads up to a finale unmatched for originality and audacity that will leave readers rubbing their eyes in wonder, as if awaking from an amazing dream.

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:05 -0400)

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