Not initially compelling as you start in…but then it takes off like wildfire and you’re in the thick of this world and rooting for Vin and Kel (yes, another fantasy world Kel, ‘Kelsier’ here—though to be fair, this one was written nearly 20 years before Clare’s Kel in Sword Catcher, and about 10 years before Schwab’s Kell in her Shades of Magic series, and I’m sure Kel Kade is that fantasy author’s real name…I digress…).

The serpentine politics are easy to follow, despite the multiple characters and secret alliances made in public arenas, the rampaging gossip and rumours and the shifting loyalties…

I see why they call this brother the king of fantasy….

I was yanked into this molasses-thick plot driven by 4D characters at play in an immersive 4K setting, banging with shocks & twists, a yearning pre-romance, sorrowful tears and joyful tears, deep agony and righteous anger…The man gave it all in this novel—and we’ve only just begun the saga…

Thoroughly loved it.

The only thing I’d say was missing were dragons, but I hear he has other novels that feature hordes of fire-breathing reptiles… I just need to read more Sanderson… don’t know what took me so long…

Bonus (for me, at least): I can recommend this to my students & nieces in good conscience. Material, while deals with some adult politics and has battle scenes and deaths, is clean, with a cusslessly decent vocabulary and PG relationships. Thank you!