The Well of Ascension

Reread Jan 2021: This is a different experience on reread. Such a slow, slow burn. There are so many moving parts that take their time before being brought together in a spectacular finale. I am amazed yet again at how subtly Sanderson plants the hints to where all this is leading that I only now understand in hindsight. So many important conversations that blend in brilliantly.

Original review from 2016 below.

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The Well of Ascension is the second in Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. Usually it takes an entire series to defeat the bad guys so everyone can live happily ever after. But what if that was only the beginning? What if Frodo threw the ring into Mount Doom in Fellowship of the Ring? What happens after evil has show more been defeated? This is the question that Sanderson asks and is the main premise of book two. It is an absolutely brilliant take on a classic genre trope.

It turns out that killing the Lord Ruler was the easy part. Vin and the crew are back, trying to keep society held together long enough for Elend Venture to put a new, more fair form of government in place. This is no easy task in the best of circumstances and, naturally, these are NOT good circumstances. The city of Luthadel is in an extended siege when three separate armies surround the city. Food is running short. Various factions in the city are scheming for ways to take power for themselves. The mists are changing, lasting longer into the day and even killing people. Vin patrols the night trying to keep Elend safe from assassins. It also appears the crew has a spy in their midst. While she may be the most powerful Mistborn in the land, she is only one person. The only hope may be in the legend of the Hero of Ages and the Well of Ascension, the place that gave the Lord Ruler his power. Assuming it really exists.

The cast of characters has grown. Most of the crew members are given point of view chapters as are the main antagonists. Elend Venture goes on quite a character arc. He starts off as a scholarly nobleman with high ideals and quickly learns just how different book knowledge is from the real world. He is forced to answer the question if a good man can make a good king or if he must compromise his own beliefs to save his fledgling kingdom. Vin has come a long way from the shy street urchin she used to be. She fully embraces her Mistborn powers and continues to use her gifts in unimaginable ways, becoming the greatest Mistborn in recent history. Vin has finally learned the value of friendship, how to trust and feels devastatingly betrayed when she learns one of her closest friends is likely a traitor. While the other characters don't go on as big of character arcs, all are well rounded, fully fleshed out and believable. I particularly loved the interactions between Sazed and Tindwyl, the two Terris Keepers. As much as I loved Sazed in book one, it was great to have Tindwyl to provide a contrast as to just how different a Keeper is based on their field of study. I also really enjoyed being introduced to the kandra OreSeur. Kandra are an inhuman race that have become fully subservient to humans as a means of self preservation. They have the amazing ability to absorb the bones of other creatures and take up their shapes and mannerisms. This is both a useful and concerning ability. Throughout the story as OreSeur's background is revealed, he became a surprisingly sympathetic character.

With a shift in plot comes a shift in tone for the story. Instead of a hero journey the characters are forced to face the brutal reality of leadership. There are still heroic moments and a ton of allomantic action. However a larger focus is on the political situation. This slows the pace down considerably and allows for a gradual build in tension until events almost literally explode. Sanderson has a gift for turning typical fantasy tropes on their head and the ending twist is a great example that I did not see coming at all. The main downside for me was the weird, psuedo love triangle Vin gets stuck in. Its one of the fantasy tropes that has started to grate on my nerves over the years due to over use. Thankfully the story is resolved in such a way that I don't think this will be an issue in the third installment.

Over all, the second installment lives up to the promise of the first book. I can't wait to find out how Vin's story ends. show less

5 / 5

well hot dog. i remembered this ending being brutal, but i had no idea what i was signing up for - this is MASTERFUL plot work. MASTERFUL pacing. i almost feel like writing a review would be redundant: just read the damn book.

SANDERSON kicks ass once again, but this time he wrote a book about rebuilding something instead of tearing something down. and rebuilding is way, way, WAY more complicated. i loved this expansion of the series, it was (for all intents and purposes) a PERFECT sequel. elend and vin take on the challenge of running a new country… and it’s a lot harder than expected.

i will say, 85% of this book is steady building. but that 15% that’s action… is so unbelievably good. absolute jaw dropping shit. vin goes show more OFFF in this one dude. and i love that she struggles with killing, struggles with the morality of her actions. i love a morally grey character, and vin is KIND OF morally grey - she’s mostly good with a tendency towards violence. but i really enjoyed her crisis throughout this book.

elend comes so far in this one. he wins the award for most improved i believe. he steps into his own, becomes king, faces his father; this book should be called “elend grows up before our very eyes” because that’s what happens. and to be honest, the actual well of ascension doesn’t come into play until the final 10% of the book soooo. the majority of this book is politicking, stress meetings, and bad news. but it’s done so well that i have 0 complaints. SANDERSON does so much ground work in this one, and it’s a testament to the characters and worldbuilding that i didn’t get bored even once.

but let’s get real. i would read SANDERSON’s grocery lists. lmao.

***major spoilers ahead***

the ending? THE ENDING?! it’s so smart to take everything we’ve known about mythology and turn it right around. it’s all been a HOAX! a LIE! now we don’t know what to trust, and the characters feel the exact same way. god, i thought it was so clever. instead of fulfilling the prophecies, vin fell into a trap. she did everything right and it still led to destruction. FABULOUS! CHEF’s KISS! this book really took my expectations and shredded them.

i thought having elend lose the throne was such a powerful plot device. his uncertainty and vin’s fear of abandonment play huge roles in this installment, but they do overcome it together. their wedding was so sweet and spontaneous and i have loved getting more screen time with them. i will say, SANDERSON doesn’t write desire too well, but i am still deeply attached to their relationship, thank you very much.

i loved how loose ends from the first one come back stronger here - characters that we knew from the days of the lord ruler are back, but different. everyone is dealing with the dissolution of the empire in their own ways. the threat of starvation, the instability of the government, the mists that are now killing people - all these things create such a tense and dynamic atmosphere for book 2. the armies that surround luthadel only add to the pressure that elend is feeling, and we feel that pressure too as readers.

the church of the survivor is a really interesting addition. obviously kelsier was just a man, but he represented something bigger than humanity - hope. to see vin and the other crew members grapple with kelsier’s newfound status as divine, to experience vin’s discomfort with being deified along with kelsier… i think SANDERSON’s willingness to dive into religion in this way is brave and works really really well.

***spoilers ended***

these books are genius. they’re cool, they’re thoughtful, they’re moral, they’re entertaining - i love fantasy that reveals human nature. MISTBORN and the WELL OF ASCENSION do that so well. it’s like one big thought experiment about political autonomy and power. there’s a lot more to these books than the cool magic system, though that is dope. these books are crafted carefully, with a TON of attention paid to trust, faith, and loss. and failure! these themes are what make this series for me - i love cool shit, but i REALLY love cool shit with powerful thematic elements.

like i said: just read these books. no amount of babbling from me can ever convince you like the first few pages of MISTBORN. it’s dark, gritty, scary, sweet, heartbreaking, exhilarating… it’s literally some of the best fantasy available. do it. just do it besties. 5 / 5! show less

Welp, just finished Well of Ascension and WHAT THE FRICK.

OK, so when people told me the last 150 pages were the best, I believed them. Then I got to page 700, and I wasn’t so sure. Then I got to page 720 and WOW.

This book was just incredible. Despite what’s often said, I didn’t think it was “ too slow” or “more on the boring side of things” at ALL. I was extremely entertained throughout the entire thing. The politics were very interesting to me, too. Which was surprising, as I usually don’t die for politics.

But, baby, I died for these.

So let’s talk about Vin: she was great in this book. In the first book, I liked her, but she wouldn’t have gone on the list of my favorites. Now she is the best female character show more ever. Fight me. She has gone through so much character development and it is all so real and, at some point, will feel relatable to you. I know in this book, I connected with how she was feeling/where she was at more than in the Final Empire. She has so many layers and I love it.

I also loved the way this book tackled grief in such a subtle way. Maybe I’m overreacting, but I really resonated with the way Vin struggled coming to terms with the fact that those that have left us were not the idols we make them to be. They are human. And sometimes, we have to recognize that though we love them, we shouldn’t necessarily want to be them.

Elend, on the other hand, was just so GOOD. Again, I didn’t care for him in book 1, mostly because I felt I didn’t know him. Now I know him and he’s such a good, selfless person. It totally compliments Vin’s desire to believe in good and to trust others despite her past.

Speaking of complimenting Vin, I also grew to appreciate them more as a couple in this one. They convinced me to love them. I felt like we got all of the development that we missed in book 1. By the end, I really believed he loved her and she, him.

As for Zane, I have THOUGHTS.
I thought Zane was such an INTERESTING character. He was such a manipulative guy with such selfish motives. The moment you meet him, the little warning lights in your head start flashing. Still, there’s something about him that I just wanted more of. I loved the few times we got to read from his perspective and see what was really going on inside his head. It made me sympathize with him a little bit, and I love me a lovable “villain”.

Breeze is fabulous as always. No questions there.

Sazed is still one of my favorites, even if his perspective can get rather dry at times. The dryness almost makes sense for his character. (Also, he and Tindwyl were just the cutest imo.)

When I got to the plot twist at the end, I was so scared. I honestly felt a terror in me. I’d never felt that before in a book. Ever. I didn’t like it. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling for me.

But by the end of the next chapter, I was so excited and happy again. Sanderson, you blew me out of the water yet again (LOL no pun intended).

Also, I was shocked at the outcome of the whole spy thing. HOW DID I NOT GUESS THEM??? HOW WAS IT THE ONE PERSON I DIDN’T GUESS??? JEEZ. show less

For a majority of this book, not a lot happens. Elend tries to keep his new government running, Vin struggles to figure out who she is, Sazed and Tindwyl study a lot. Oh yeah, and there are three armies just hanging out outside the city.

The character progression, though, makes up for the lack of plot progression. It's fascinating to watch Elend morph from scholar to king, Sazed transform from scholar to warrior to agnostic, OurSeur (or whatever his name is) become friends with Vin, and Vin finally accept who she is. Sanderson has a remarkable talent for pacing and worldbuilding, but he's also a master at creating interesting characters that grow and evolve. I love just watching them.

I think I was asleep the last time I read this show more trilogy, because I thought most of the events of this book happened in the next one. I have no idea what happens in book 3, except for the last few pages. And I completely forgot the major detail that Elend becomes Mistborn. Not that I'm complaining or anything--it's been fun to re-discover these books. show less

The second Mistborn picks up a year after the first, and clearly the conceit is to consider the question of once you defeat the evil overlord.... how do you create an effective government to rule in his place? The book follows Elend and Vin's attempts to transition from well-intentioned renegades into viable government. It doesn't go well. I enjoyed this aspect of the book.

The problem, I think, is that it's also a book about someone who is embracing a magical destiny. This ultimately turns out to be a subversion, too, but I feel like the book's two purposes pull against each other rather than work together. Vin thinks she's supposed to go on a quest... but she spends months not going on the quest because to do so would disrupt the show more political plot line.

Like last time, I think Sanderson does a good job with the slow unspooling of character. The changes Elend and Vin go through are handled well; I continue to like Sazed, and this book gives Breeze some great scenes as well. I think Sanderson balances the cast better than in book one. That one had too many crew members who did too little; here, the ones who aren't interesting just aren't there very much, instead of constantly turning up in scenes to "humorously" quip at each other. My favorite, though, was OreSeur, Vin's kandra who is legally loyal but perhaps not always emotionally loyal. His conversations with Vin and eventually transformation were a real highlight of the book.

In my edition, the story runs over 700 pages; I do kind of feel like it could have been at least 100 pages shorter... but that's easy for me to say. And the putting of pieces into position is effective, because once the enormous climax came, I was totally invested; the defense of the city is great stuff with lots of great moments for all the key characters. The revelation of what's really been going on is well handled, and makes a great cliffhanger ending. So getting to the conclusion is a little rough at times, but once Sanderson reveals how the political plotline and quest plotline actually do coincide, the book pulls it off. show less

“Somehow, we keep finding ourselves in these situations.”

Let me start with the obvious: this book is not The Final Empire 2.0. If you go in expecting another tightly choreographed heist with a breakneck Sanderlanche, you might stumble at first. The Well of Ascension is slower, darker, and more politically claustrophobic. It’s less Oceans 11 and more Game of Thrones siege drama. And once I adjusted my expectations, I loved it for very different reasons.

What’s it about?
The Lord Ruler is dead. The Collapse has happened. Now Elend Venture sits on the throne of the Central Dominance, trying to build a democratic assembly out of the ashes of a thousand-year tyranny. But three armies surround Luthadel, each with a different claimant to show more power. And Vin? She’s trying to protect everyone while wrestling with impostor syndrome, trust issues, and the fact that a mysterious deepness is somehow still threatening the world.

The good (and there’s a lot):

Politics done right. Sanderson explores the messy reality of revolution: allies become rivals, idealism meets starvation, and holding power is much harder than seizing it. Elend’s arc from philosophical dreamer to reluctant king is genuinely compelling.

Vin’s internal struggle. She finally has friends, a home, a lover—and she’s terrified of losing them. Her fear of her own power (and her confusion over her abilities after the mists start acting strangely) gives the book real emotional weight.

Side characters shine. OreSeur (the kandra) gets a fascinating role. Sazed’s crisis of faith is heartbreaking and beautifully handled. Breeze, Ham, and even Spook get moments that made me care so much more about them than in book one.

The siege warfare. The tension of being trapped inside a city with dwindling resources, betrayals, and shifting enemy alliances is masterfully sustained. The battle sequences (especially near the end) are brutal and clever.

The last 150 pages. Classic Sanderson avalanche. Multiple reveals that recontextualize everything, including one twist that made me put the book down and just stare at the wall. The ending sets up book three perfectly.

Where it stumbles:

Pacing is uneven. The middle third drags. There are long stretches of council meetings, Vin brooding, and Elend philosophizing. I missed the tight, propulsive energy of book one.

Love triangle fatigue. There’s a brief, half-formed romantic complication involving Elend, Vin, and a certain nobleman. It feels forced and disappears almost as quickly as it appears. Sanderson himself has admitted this was a misstep.

Elend’s competence. I like Elend, but he goes from “idealistic reader of philosophy” to “battlefield commander” a bit too quickly. His transformation works thematically but strains believability.

Less magic innovation. Allomancy is still cool, but the novelty isn’t as fresh. We get more Feruchemy and a hint of something else, but the “wow” factor of discovering the system is necessarily diminished.

Final verdict:
The Well of Ascension is a bridge book, and it feels like one. It trades the first book’s satisfying heist structure for a messier, more anxious meditation on what happens after you kill the tyrant. It’s less immediately rewarding, but the character growth and the setup for The Hero of Ages make it indispensable. If you loved Vin and the crew, push through the slower sections—the payoff is worth it.

Who might skip it?
Readers who wanted more of the same (tight plot, constant action, simple good-vs-evil). This book asks you to sit with uncertainty and moral gray areas.

Who will love it?
Fans of political fantasy, siege narratives, and anyone who appreciates watching characters struggle with leadership, faith, and trust.

Bottom line: Not the strongest in the trilogy, but still a very good novel that deepens the world and the characters. And that ending? Worth it. show less

100 points/100 (5/5 stars)

They managed to defeat Lord Ruler in The Final Empire. Elend took over as king, but there are enemy armies at the gates threatening to take over the city and leave the Skaa in the same place they were before: slaves. And, something is going on with the mists. Elend, Vin, and their friends who helped the overthrow the Lord Ruler are left with two simple questions: How are they going to save the city, and Was it even a good idea to defeat the Lord Ruler at all?

This book was amazing from beginning to end. The Well of Ascension starts up about a year after the events of The Final Empire, and the world has already changed. Our characters were changed by the events a year prior, they're not the same people, but show more mostly for the better. You start the book thinking the end will be one thing, and you keep believing that, right up to the point where it takes you in a completely different direction, leaving you stunned.

The Well of Ascension is different in a lot of ways than The Final Empire. The first book of Mistborn focused more on the court, the magic, and the world. Well of Ascension focused on the characters. This book is almost entirely character-driven. We learn more about the people this series focuses on, than the world. I absolutely loved it. These characters are trying to find themselves, find who they are as people now that the world has changed. They want to better the world, but the world is so dark and dreary, and neither you nor they have any clue where to even start. They just know they have to last the coming winter.

My favourite character of the book, Tindwyl, exemplifies this fact so much. She comes in like a hurricane to change Elend into the person he wants to be, who he needs to be. She single-handedly fixed all of the problems I had with him as a character. Vin becomes even more amazing in this book. Unsure of herself, but desperate to protect those she loves, and their interests. The romance between Elend and Vin also changes from "well, that was a bit weird", to "that is so damn good I want to snuggle them both and love them and make them have many babies together". Sazed is a fucking hero. He was already good, but in this he lets his true nature fly and it is great. OreSeur is super interesting, and it is related to the mists, and holy shit you are not expecting to come out liking this character at the end, but you do! I really liked Zane at first, and I still do, but my feelings are changed and I'm conflicted, but he is still an amazing character.

The world-building is starting to change from where it was in the Final Empire, too. Vin manages to work with Allomancy a bit, to find new things, a new edge. Atium is basically non-existent due to scarcity. Plus, the mists are changing. They're becoming frightening. They're lasting into the day time, and they've become dangerous. We learn more about the past, about what happened to the world. But, it is never enough, you are left just wanting more and more information. The biggest stress I have from this book involves what happened in the past, trying to reconcile the way it should be with the way it is, as well as looking towards the future and what has to happen to get there again.

The prelude to war that is the coming of the three armies against the new city forces is very interesting, as well. You never quite know what is going to come of any of it. The layers upon layers of what could happen between any of the factions kept me entertained the whole time. With it, they bring new horrors to fight, a new Mistborn that is possibly capable of defeating Vin, family drama, and a most hilarious scene involving Breeze.

The best part of this book, by far, was the story being told in the beginning of every chapter. It is the story of the person who convinced the world that the guy who was going to become the Hero of Ages was indeed him. It isn't actually a long story. Yet, it repeats. And repeats. Over and over again. You know something is wrong. It has to be wrong. Something is wrong, but you can't figure it out. What is it? What is it?. WHAT IS IT. Well, you find out what it is, and it isn't what you expect it could even possibly be. Those beginning passages set up the end so damn beautifully.

I finished this book stressed out of my mind. I love it, but it took hours to calm down. I was ready to start the last, but also dreading it because "oh god what more can happen??". The ending is not what you are hoping for, it is not ideal, it is absolutely terrifying. It was amazing. show less