When I picked up The Final Empire, I was prepared to be disappointed. I had read Elantris (I gave it 4/5 stars) not too long ago, and while it was an overall enjoyable read, I did not consider it to be a work of art. The Cosmere hype, either online or in bookstores, was far too prevalent to actually be indicative of the text itself. 

The Final Empire is one of the best pieces of modern fantasy that I've ever read. 

The world of The Final Empire (Luthadel, and the surrounding territories) feels alive, with the history, politics, and inhabitants all rich and incredibly detailed. The Final Empire takes places thousands of years after the ascension of the Lord Ruler, and yet we are provided with enough detail that the world never feels foreign. The characters of Mistborn feel complete and, more important, act like normal people. Character growth is subtle, but satisfying, especially for only the first book in a series. While main characters like Kelsier and Vin will (understandably) steal the show, side characters feel impactful and integral to the story.

Mistborn has the best magic system in modern fantasy. Even better than the creation of magic such as Allomancy and Feruchemy is Sandereson's mastery over it. Any mention of its use, whether using magic for small, simple tasks or big, epic battles, is painstakingly detailed and technical. Reading about the magic as well as watching it unfold in battle gives us a full, clear, and concise picture of how it works.

Not to be understated, The Final Empire has excellent accessibility. There are plenty of fantasy series that I love (The Lord Of The Rings, The Wheel Of Time, etc), but would not recommend to the casual reader. I would, however, feel comfortable recommending Mistborn to anybody looking for a good book, not just diehard fantasy fanatics.