Mistborn is an epic fantasy, one of a kind in both concept and delivery. 

The metal-based magic system is unique- I don’t think I’ve read any fantasy book with comparable lore. If anything, it reminds me a bit of how power is stored and recharged based on collectible items in some video games. Presenting the reader with such an unfamiliar concept places the author in a tough spot. We need exposition in order to understand what’s going on, especially since we have no general knowledge to draw from. This is no standard sorcery or fae magic that we may have learned about through other books and mythologies. 

Despite all this, Sanderson defies expectations by forgoing an early info dump and instead dropping the reader directly into the action. This decision makes the beginning of the book VERY confusing, but if you hold tight and pay attention, it all pays off. I found myself with enough of a grip on things to get really into the story around the 20% mark- a bit late, I know- but overall I ended up appreciating the journey.

Another barrier to entry into the world of Mistborn is Sanderson’s prose. Unlike other fantasy authors, Sanderson favors directness over flowery rhetorical devices. Fantasy is normally much richer in terms of descriptions of environments, which makes sense because this genre hinges on world-building. While the storytelling is ultimately effective, I would've appreciated a greater sense of atmosphere. This really just comes down to my personal taste as someone who really enjoys creative language and detailed sensory descriptions.

The character of Vin serves as a stand-in for the reader, we learn with her as she explores her newfound power and place in the world. Crumbs of lore dropped over time with an emphasis on information over imagery. I appreciated the inclusion of journal entries before each chapter as a way to contextualize the world with some history as well as to set up what I consider to be the most surprising reveal in the book:

that the supreme leader has actually killed the prophesied hero and stolen his identity

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Some of the foreshadowing is a little heavy-handed.

Kel’s martyrdom can be spotted from a million miles away. I also guessed early on that Vin’s brother didn't actually betray her, as this plays into her arc of learning to trust and rely on those who care about her despite her initial cynicism.

I would've liked to see more of a slow burn between Vin and Elend, while sweet, their ending didn't seem earned. If Sanderson didn't want to dedicate the time to establish their romance in this book, I think he could've laid the foundation & friendship here and it would've worked just as well. I’m not even spoiler-tagging their relationship because of how painfully obvious it is from their first meeting.

The sequel is set up nicely - I’m very curious to learn more about the mists, the kendra, and the big bad "deepness". Enough questions remain that we have a clear path forward, but enough closure is given to provide a satisfying conclusion to the first book.