Written by Brandon Sanderson and published in 2006, The Final Empire is the first installment of the Mistborn franchise – yet, 18 years on from its release, the novel reveals a harsh reality of a series that continues to beguile readers. The Final Empire‘s tale of honorable thieves, class discrepancy, and revolution lays the groundwork for a saga of novels spanning two different eras and soon to reach a third. A Mistborn movie is already in the works and there is even a Kickstarter for a Cosmere role-playing game. When it comes to modern-day fantasy series, Mistborn‘s popularity is unquestionable.
When ranking the Mistborn series, The Final Empire still sits at the top of the tree. Considering six novels have come out since, with Era One following the narrative of The Final Empire and a second collection creating a whole new world birthed from the original in Era Two, it is surprising that none of them have been able to knock the first of the series off its pedestal. There are clear reasons for its preeminence, but the situation reveals a surprising truth about one of the most popular modern fantasy series.
The Final Empire Remains The Best Mistborn Book In Brandon Sanderson’s Series
18 years after The Final Empire‘s publication in 2006, it still holds the title as the best of both eras. It has battled for the top spot with the third installment, The Hero of Ages, with both ranking exceedingly high in polls or ratings. Even though Goodreads ranks The Hero of Ages by a few fractional points in ratings more than The Final Empire, the first novel has almost double the number of review ratings and is still only 0.06 points below. This indicates that The Final Empire is solidly the favorite and draws far more eyes to its pages.
On other sites or personal rankings, The Final Empire generally holds the top spot, demonstrating how Mistborn‘s first entry remains its most popular. Having such a strong start helps to get readers hooked on the story, to continue to the end, and to wait for what is to come next, but there is a lingering disappointment when the next book just can not outdo its predecessor, even if only by a slim margin. That Mistborn still hasn’t found a way to improve on its original story after 18 speaks both to The Final Empire‘s strength and the relative weakness of other entries.
Why Mistborn’s Sequels Have Never Reached The Heights Of Book One
Brandon Sanderson’s first Mistborn book stands out as the most complete, individual reading experience in the Mistborn saga while also setting the stage for a larger story. Establishing world-building in a fantasy novel can be difficult, but every narrative needs that first step. Brandon Sanderson excels in this challenging task and The Final Empire proves it. Not only did the first novel design a well-rounded metallurgical magical system with Allomancy, but it also introduced one of the most popular female heroes in fantasy, Vin.
With the defeat of the Lord Ruler at the end, there is a feeling of resolution as the main plot is concluded.
Having a solid protagonist with enthralling relationships, like her mentorship with Kelsier, helps the reader emotionally connect with the character, and the first book lets the reader form that initial bond. Another major aspect of the first novel which makes it shine compared to the rest is its ability to stand alone. With the defeat of the Lord Ruler at the end, there is a feeling of resolution as the main plot is concluded. The uncertainty of what will happen to Scadrial afterward and numerous side plots open the doorway for the continuation of the series.
The Next Mistborn Book Has The Opportunity To Surpass The Original Story
Brandon Sanderson intends to write the next books in the Mistborn Saga in 2025 and complete the entire trilogy before having them published. This will allegedly update Scadrial’s technology into a futuristic setting and combine more modern aspects with fantasy elements. Technology and magic can either be a winning combination, with novels such as Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo or Heart of Veridon by Tim Akers utilizing it, but it is difficult to see that a fantasy novel so far into modern times can compete with the epic proportions of The Final Empire.
If Era Three is to top the fantastical masterpiece of The Final Empire, or even Era One as a whole, it is the journey of the protagonist and the world she lives in that needs to stand out. The improved technology could be a hindrance to its popularity due to die-hard fans of sword’n’magic fantasy fiction. However, the carefully crafted Allomancy and foundation of a long-spanning universe in the Cosmere at Brandon Sanderson’s disposal creates the opportunity to draw from everything that worked in his past novels to create a new leader of the Mistborn pack.
Source: Goodreads
Mistborn
The Mistborn series, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy, Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, including Era 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.
Books:
Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)
Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (2007)
Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (2008)
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law (2011)
Mistborn: Shadows of Self (2015)
Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning (2016)
Mistborn: The Lost Metal (2022)
- Created by
- Brandon Sanderson
- Character(s)
- Vin , Kelsier , Sazed , Marsh , Elend Venture , Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian , Wayne , Steris Harms
Summary
The Mistborn series, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy, Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, including Era 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.
