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Name: The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, Book 3): Sanderson, Brandon: 9780765316899: Amazon.com: Books
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Now with over 10 million copies sold, The Mistborn Series has the thrills of a heist story, the twistiness of political intrigue, and the epic scale of a landmark fantasy saga.

Who is the Hero of Ages?

To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness--the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists--is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed.

Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. She can't even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson

The Cosmere

The Stormlight Archive
The Way of Kings
Words of Radiance
Edgedancer (Novella)
Oathbringer

The Mistborn trilogy
Mistborn: The Final Empire
The Well of Ascension
The Hero of Ages

Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series
Alloy of Law
Shadows of Self
Bands of Mourning

Collection
Arcanum Unbounded

Other Cosmere novels
Elantris
Warbreaker

The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series
Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
The Scrivener's Bones
The Knights of Crystallia
The Shattered Lens
The Dark Talent

The Rithmatist series
The Rithmatist

Other books by Brandon Sanderson

The Reckoners
Steelheart
Firefight
Calamity

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“A man is what he has passion about,” Breeze said. “I’ve found that if you give up what you want most for what you think you should want more, you’ll just end up miserable.”
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The nature of the world is that when we create something, we often destroy something else in the process.
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Never let your life depend on the competence of someone whose life isn’t also on the line.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This adventure brings the Mistborn epic fantasy trilogy (after 2007's The Well of Ascension) to a dramatic and surprising climax. Tricked into releasing the evil spirit Ruin while attempting to close the Well of Ascension, new emperor Elend Venture and his wife, the assassin Vin, are now hard-pressed to save the world from Ruin's deadly Inquisitors, the insidious lethal mists called the Deepness and the increasingly heavy falls of black ash that threaten to bury the land and starve its inhabitants. As the duo search for the last of the former emperor's cache of atium, source of the strongest Mistborn energies, they battle Ruin's forces as well as monsters and prophetic powers. Sanderson's saga of consequences offers complex characters and a compelling plot, asking hard questions about loyalty, faith and responsibility. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The Lord Ruler is dead, and Elend Venture is working on consolidating his rule. But the mist is becoming actively dangerous, ash falls almost constantly, and brutal earthquakes are shaking the world apart. The subtle, nearly omniscient Ruin is infiltrating both Elend’s army and his opponents. Fortunately, the stubborn Vin vows to discover a way to destroy him. When failure seems imminent, help comes from unexpected quarters. Sanderson pulls loose ends together, explains vague prophecies, and produces the Hero of Ages, and the Mistborn trilogy (The Final Empire, 2006; The Well of Ascension, 2007; and this book) concludes satisfactorily. --Regina Schroeder

Review

Praise for Brandon Sanderson and the Mistborn Saga

Over 10 million Mistborn books sold!

“One of the genre’s most beloved authors.”―TIME

“Sanderson raises the genre stakes… A fan favorite.”―The New York Times

“[Sanderson] is not a brilliant writer of epic fantasy, he’s simply a brilliant writer. Period.”―Patrick Rothfuss, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“The genre’s most popular writer… easily one of the most successful and prolific fantasy writers of the century so far.”―Esquire

“Epic in every sense.”―The Guardian

“If you’re a fan of fantasy and haven’t read the Mistborn trilogy yet, you have no excuses.”―Forbes

“A breathtaking saga that promises twists every step of the way… succeeds in celebrating what makes fantasy magical while simultaneously delivering a fresh adventure that’s endlessly entertaining.”―Paste Magazine, “The 50 Best Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far)” on Mistborn

“A fascinating world.”―The Washington Post on Mistborn

“Highly recommended to anyone hungry for a good read.”―Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author, on Mistborn

About the Author

Brandon Sanderson grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. He lives in Utah with his wife and children and teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University. His bestsellers have sold 34 million copies worldwide and include the Mistborn saga; the Stormlight Archive novels; and other novels, including The Rithmatist, Steelheart, and Skyward. He won a Hugo Award for The Emperor's Soul, a novella set in the world of his acclaimed first novel, Elantris. Additionally, he completed Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time®. Visit his website for behind-the-scenes information on all his books.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Hero of Ages

Book Three of MistbornBy Sanderson, Brandon

Tor Books

Copyright © 2008 Sanderson, Brandon
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9780765316899
Chapter One

Legacy Of The Survivor

Fatren squinted up at the red sun, which hid behind its perpetual screen of dark haze. Black ash fell lightly from the sky, as it did most days lately. The thick flakes fell straight, the air stagnant and hot, without even a hint of a breeze to lighten Fatren's mood. He sighed, leaning back against the earthen bulwark, looking over Vetitan. His town.

"How long?" he asked.

Druffel scratched his nose. His face was stained black with ash. He hadn't given much thought to hygiene lately. Of course, considering the stress of the last few months, Fatren knew that he himself wasn't much to look at either.

"An hour, maybe," Druffel said, spitting into the dirt of the bulwark.

Fatren sighed, staring up at the falling ash. "Do you think it's true, Druffel? What people are saying?"

"What?" Druffel asked. "That the world is ending?"

Fatren nodded.

"Don't know," Druffel said. "Don't really care."

"How can you say that?"

Druffel shrugged, scratching himself. "Soon as those koloss arrive, I'll be dead. That's pretty much the end of the world for me."

Fatren fell silent. He didn't like to voice his doubts; he was supposed to be the strong one. When the lords had left the town—a farming community, slightly more urban than a northern plantation—Fatren had been the one who had convinced the skaa to go ahead with their planting. Fatren had been the one to keep the press gangs away. In a time when most villages and plantations had lost every able- bodied man to one army or another, Vetitan still had a working population. It had cost much of their crops in bribes, but Fatren had kept the people safe.

Mostly.

"The mists didn't leave until noon today," Fatren said quietly. "They're staying later and later. You've seen the crops, Druff. They're not doing well—not enough sunlight, I'd guess. We won't have food to eat this winter."

"We won't last 'til winter," Druffel said. "Won't last 'til nightfall."

The sad thing—the thing that was really disheartening—was that Druffel had once been the optimist. Fatren hadn't heard his brother laugh in months. That laughter had been Fatren's favorite sound.

Even the Lord Ruler's mills weren't able to grind Druff's laughter out of him, Fatren thought. But these last two years have.

"Fats!" a voice called. "Fats!"

Fatren looked up as a young boy scrambled along the side of the bulwark. They'd barely finished the fortification—it had been Druffel's idea, back before he'd really given up. Their town contained some seven thousand people, which made it fairly large. It had taken a great deal of work to surround the entire thing with a defensive mound.

Fatren had barely a thousand real soldiers—it had been very hard to gather that many from such a small population—with maybe another thousand men who were too young, too old, or too unskilled to fight well. He didn't really know how big the koloss army was, but it was bound to be larger than two thousand. A bulwark was going to be of very little use.

The boy—Sev—finally puffed up to Fatren. "Fats!" Sev said. "Someone's coming!"

"Already?" Fatren asked. "Druff said the koloss were still a while away!"

"Not a koloss, Fats," the boy said. "A man. Come see!"

Fatren turned to Druff, who wiped his nose and shrugged. They followed Sev around the inside of the bulwark, toward the front gate. Ash and dust swirled on the packed earth, piling in corners, drifting. There hadn't been much time for cleaning lately. The women had to work the fields while the men trained and made war preparations.

War preparations. Fatren told himself that he had a force of two thousand "soldiers," but what he really had were a thousand skaa peasants with swords. They'd had two years of training, true, but they had very little real fighting experience.

A group of men clustered around the front gates, standing on the bulwark or leaning against its side. Maybe I was wrong to spend so much of our resources training soldiers, Fatren thought. If those thousand men had worked the mines instead, we'd have some ore for bribes.

Except, koloss didn't take bribes. They just killed. Fatren shuddered, thinking of Garthwood. That city had been bigger than his own, but fewer than a hundred survivors had made their way to Vetitan. That had been three months ago. He'd hoped, irrationally, that the koloss would be satisfied with destroying that city.

He should have known better. Koloss were never satisfied.

Fatren climbed up to the top of the bulwark, and soldiers in patched clothing and bits of leather made way for him. He peered through the falling ash across a dark landscape that looked as if it were blanketed in deep black snow.

A lone rider approached, wearing a dark, hooded cloak.

"What do you think, Fats?" one of the soldiers asked.

"Koloss scout?"

Fatren snorted. "Koloss wouldn't send a scout, especially not a human one."

"He has a horse," Druffel said with a grunt. "We could use another of those." The city only had five. All were suffering from malnutrition.

"Merchant," one of the soldiers said.

"No wares," Fatren said. "And it would take a brave merchant to travel these parts alone."

"I've never seen a refugee with a horse," one of the men said. He raised a bow, looking at Fatren.

Fatren shook his head. Nobody fired as the stranger rode up, moving at an unhurried pace. He stopped his mount directly before the city gates. Fatren was proud of those. Real, true wooden gates mounted in the earthen bulwark. He'd gotten both wood and fine stone from the lord's manor at the city center.

Very little of the stranger was visible beneath the thick, dark cloak he wore to protect himself from the ash. Fatren looked over the top of the bulwark, studying the stranger, and then he glanced up at his brother, shrugging. The ash fell silently.

The stranger leaped from his horse.

He shot straight upward, as if propelled from beneath, cloak whipping free as he soared. Underneath it, he wore a uniform of brilliant white.

Fatren cursed, jumping backward as the stranger crested the top of the bulwark and landed on the top of the wooden gate itself. The man was an Allomancer. A nobleman. Fatren had hoped those would all stick to their squabbles in the North and leave his people in peace.

Or, at least, their peaceful deaths.

The newcomer turned. He wore a short beard, and had his dark hair shorn close. "All right, men," he said, striding across the top of the gate with an unnatural sense of balance, "we don't have much time. Let's get to work." He stepped off the gate onto the bulwark. Immediately, Druffel pulled his sword on the newcomer.

The sword jerked from Druffel's hand, yanked into the air by an unseen force. The stranger snatched the weapon as it passed his head. He flipped the sword around, inspecting it. "Good steel," he said, nodding. "I'm impressed. How many of your soldiers are this well equipped?" He flipped the weapon in his hand, handing it back toward Druffel hilt- first.

Druffel glanced at Fatren, confused.

"Who are you, stranger?" Fatren demanded with as much courage as he could muster. He didn't know a lot about Allomancy, but he was pretty certain this man was Mistborn. The stranger could probably kill everyone atop the bulwark with barely a thought.

The stranger ignored the question, turning to scan the city. "This bulwark goes around the entire perimeter of the city?" he asked, turning toward one of the soldiers.

"Um . . . yes, my lord," the man said.

"How many gates are there?"

"Just the one, my lord."

"Open the gate and bring my horse in," the newcomer said. "I assume you have stables?"

"Yes, my lord," the soldier said.

Well, Fatren thought with dissatisfaction as the soldier ran off, this newcomer certainly knows how to command people. Fatren's soldier didn't even pause to think that he was obeying a stranger without asking for permission. Fatren could already see the other soldiers straightening a bit, losing their wariness. This newcomer talked like he expected to be obeyed, and the soldiers were responding. This wasn't a nobleman like the ones Fatren had known back when he was a house hold servant at the lord's manor. This man was different.

The stranger continued his contemplation of the city. Ash fell on his beautiful white uniform, and Fatren thought it a shame to see the garment being dirtied. The newcomer nodded to himself, then began to walk down the side of the bulwark.

"Wait," Fatren said, causing the stranger to pause. "Who are you?"

The newcomer turned, meeting Fatren's eyes. "My name is Elend Venture. I'm your emperor."

With that, the man turned and continued down the embankment. The soldiers made way for him; then many of them followed behind.

Fatren glanced at his brother.

"Emperor?" Druffel muttered, then spat.

Fatren agreed with the sentiment. What to do? He'd never fought an Allomancer before; he wasn't even certain how to begin. The "emperor" had certainly disarmed Druffel easily enough.

"Organize the people of the city," the stranger—Elend Venture—said from ahead. "The koloss will come from the north—they'll ignore the gate, climbing over the bulwark. I want the children and the elderly concentrated in the southernmost part of the city. Pack them together in as few buildings as possible."

"What good will that do?" Fatren demanded. He hurried after the "emperor"—he didn't really see any other option.

"The koloss are most dangerous when they're in a blood frenzy," Venture said, continuing to walk. "If they do take the city, then you want them to spend as long as possible searching for your people. If the koloss frenzy wears off while they search, they'll grow frustrated and turn to looting. Then your people might be able to sneak away without being chased."

Venture paused, then turned to meet Fatren's eyes. The stranger's expression was grim. "It's a slim hope. But, it's something." With that, he resumed his pace, walking down the city's main thoroughfare.

From behind, Fatren could hear the soldiers whispering. They'd all heard of a man named Elend Venture. He was the one who had seized power in Luthadel after the Lord Ruler's death over two years before. News from up north was scarce and unreliable, but most of it mentioned Venture. He had fought off all rivals to the throne, even killing his own father. He'd hidden his nature as a Mistborn, and was supposedly married to the very woman who had slain the Lord Ruler. Fatren doubted that such an important man—one who was likely more legend than fact—had made his way to such a humble city in the Southern Dominance, especially unaccompanied. Even the mines weren't worth much anymore. The stranger had to be lying.

But . . . he was obviously an Allomancer . . .

Fatren hurried to keep up with the stranger. Venture—or whoever he was—paused in front of a large structure near the center of the city. The old offices of the Steel Ministry. Fatren had ordered the doors and windows boarded up.

"You found the weapons in there?" Venture asked, turning toward Fatren.

Fatren stood for a moment. Then, finally, shook his head. "From the lord's mansion."

"He left weapons behind?" Venture asked with surprise.

"We think he intended to come back for them," Fatren said. "The soldiers he left eventually deserted, joining a passing army. They took what they could carry. We scavenged the rest."

Venture nodded to himself, rubbing his bearded chin in thought as he stared at the old Ministry building. It was tall and ominous, despite—or perhaps because of—its disuse. "Your men look well trained. I didn't expect that. Do any of them have battle experience?"

Druffel snorted quietly, indicating that he thought this stranger had no business being so nosy.

"Our men have fought enough to be dangerous, stranger," Fatren said. "Some bandits thought to take rule of the city from us. They assumed we were weak, and would be easily cowed."

If the stranger saw the words as a threat, he didn't show it. He simply nodded. "Have any of you fought koloss?"

Fatren shared a look with Druffel. "Men who fight koloss don't live, stranger," he finally said.

"If that were true," Venture said, "I'd be dead a dozen times over." He turned to face the growing crowd of soldiers and townspeople. "I'll teach you what I can about fighting koloss, but we don't have much time. I want captains and squad leaders organized at the city gate in ten minutes. Regular soldiers are to form up in ranks along the bulwark—I'll teach the squad leaders and captains a few tricks, then they can carry the tips to their men." Some of the soldiers moved, but—to their credit—most of them stayed where they were. The newcomer didn't seem offended that his orders weren't obeyed. He stood quietly, staring down the armed crowd. He didn't seem frightened, nor did he seem angry or disapproving. He just seemed . . . regal.

"My lord," one of the soldier captains finally asked. "Did you . . . bring an army with you to help us?"

"I brought two, actually," Venture said. "But we don't have time to wait for them." He met Fatren's eyes. "You wrote and asked for my help. And, as your liege, I've come to give it. Do you still want it?"

Fatren frowned. He'd never asked this man—or any lord—for help. He opened his mouth to object, but paused. He'll let me pretend that I sent for him, Fatren thought. Act like this was part of the plan all along. I could give up rule here without looking like a failure.

We're going to die. But, looking into this man's eyes, I can almost believe that we have a chance.

"I . . . didn't expect you to come alone, my lord," Fatren found himself saying. "I was surprised to see you."

Venture nodded. "That is understandable. Come, let's talk tactics while your soldiers gather."

"Very well," Fatren said. As he stepped forward, however, Druffel caught his arm.

"What are you doing?" his brother hissed. "You sent for this man? I don't believe it."

"Gather the soldiers, Druff," Fatren said. Druffel stood for a moment, then swore quietly and stalked away. He didn't look like he had any intention of gathering the soldiers, so Fatren waved for two of his captains to do it. That done, he joined Venture, and the two walked back toward the gates, Venture ordering a few soldiers to walk ahead of them and keep people back so that he and Fatren could speak more privately. Ash continued to fall from the sky, dusting the street black, clustering atop the city's stooped, one-story buildings.

"Who are you?" Fatren asked quietly.

"I am who I said," Venture said.

"I don't believe you."

"But you trust me," Venture said.

"No. I just don't want to argue with an Allomancer."

"That's good enough, for now," Venture said. "Look, friend, you have ten thousand koloss marching on your city. You need what ever help you can get."

Ten thousand? Fatren thought, feeling stupefied.

"You're in charge of this city, I assume?" Venture asked.

Fatren shook out of his stupor. "Yes," he said. "My name is Fatren."

"All right, Lord Fatren, we—"

"I'm no lord," Fatren said.

"Well, you just became one," Venture said. "You can choose a surname later. Now, before we continue, you need to know my conditions for helping you."

"What kind of conditions?"

"The nonnegotiable kind," Venture said. "If we win, you'll swear fealty to me."

Fatren frowned, stopping in the street. Ash fell around him. "So that's it? You saunter in before a fight, claiming to be some high lord, so you can take credit for our victory? Why should I swear fealty to a man I only met a few minutes before?"

"Because if you don't," Venture said quietly, "I'll just take command anyway." Then he continued to walk.

Fatren stood for a moment; then he rushed forward and caught up to Venture. "Oh, I see. Even if we survive this battle, we'll end up ruled by a tyrant."

"Yes," Venture said.

Fatren frowned. He hadn't expected the man to be so blunt.

Venture shook his head, regarding the city through the falling ash. "I used to think that I could do things differently. And, I still believe that I'll be able to, someday. But, for now, I don't have a choice. I need your soldiers and I need your city."

"My city?" Fatren asked, frowning. "Why?"

Venture held up a finger. "We have to survive this battle first," he said. "We'll get to other things later."

Fatren paused, and was surprised to realize that he did trust the stranger. He couldn't have explained exactly why he felt that way. This was simply a man to follow—a leader such as Fatren had always wanted to be.

Venture didn't wait for Fatren to agree to the "conditions." It wasn't an offer, but an ultimatum. Fatren hurried to catch up again as Venture entered the small square in front of the city gates. Soldiers bustled about. None of them wore uniforms—their only method of distinguishing a captain from a regular soldier was a red band tied around the arm. Venture hadn't given them much time to gather—but, then, they all knew the city was about to be attacked. They had been gathered anyway.

"Time is short," Venture repeated in a loud voice. "I can teach you only a few things, but they will make a difference.

"Koloss range in size from small ones that are about five feet tall to the huge ones, which are about twelve feet tall. However, even the little ones are going to be stronger than you are. Expect that. Fortunately, the creatures fight without coordination between individuals. If a koloss's comrade is in trouble, he won't bother to help.

"They attack directly, without guile, and try to use blunt force to overwhelm. Don't let them! Tell your men to gang up on individual koloss—two men for the small ones, three or four for the big ones. We won't be able to maintain a very large front, but that will keep us alive the longest.

"Don't worry about creatures that get around our line and enter the city—we'll have the civilians hidden at the very back of your town, and the koloss who bypass our line might turn to pillaging, leaving others to fight alone. That's what we want! Don't chase them down into the city. Your families will be safe.

"If you're fighting a big koloss, attack the legs, bring it down before you go for the kill. If you're fighting a small one, make certain your sword or spear doesn't get caught in their loose skin. Understand that koloss aren't stupid— they're just unsophisticated. Predictable. They'll come at you the easiest way possible, and attack only in the most direct manner.

"The most important thing for you to understand is that they can be beaten. We'll do it today. Don't let yourselves become intimidated! Fight with coordination, keep your heads, and I promise you that we will survive."

The soldier captains stood in a small cluster, looking at Venture. They didn't cheer at the speech, but they did seem a little more confident. They moved off to pass on Venture's instructions to their men.

Fatren approached the emperor quietly. "If your count is correct, they outnumber us five to one."

Venture nodded.

"They're bigger, stronger, and better trained than we are."

Venture nodded again.

"We're doomed, then." Venture finally looked at Fatren, frowning, black ash dusting his shoulders. "You're not doomed. You have something they don't—something very important."

"What's that?"

Venture met his eyes. "You have me."

"My lord emperor!" a voice called from atop the bulwark. "Koloss sighted!"

They already call to him first, Fatren thought. Fatren wasn't certain whether to be insulted or impressed.

Venture immediately jumped up to the top of the bulwark, using his Allomancy to cross the distance in a quick bound. Most of the soldiers stooped or hid behind the top of the fortification, keeping a low profile despite the distance of their enemies. Venture, however, stood proud in his white cape and uniform, shading his eyes, squinting toward the horizon.

"They're setting up camp," he said, smiling. "Good. Lord Fatren, prepare the men for an assault."

"An assault?" Fatren asked, scrambling up behind Venture.

The emperor nodded. "The koloss will be tired from marching, and will be distracted by making camp. We'll never have a better opportunity to attack them."

"But, we're on the defensive!"

Venture shook his head. "If we wait, they'll eventually whip themselves into a blood frenzy, then come against us. We need to attack, rather than just wait to be slaughtered."

"And abandon the bulwark?"

"The fortification is impressive, Lord Fatren, but ultimately useless. You don't have the numbers to defend the entire perimeter, and the koloss are generally taller and more stable than men. They'll just take the bulwark from you, then hold the high ground as they push down into the city."

"But—"

Venture looked at him. His eyes were calm, but his gaze was firm and expectant. The message was simple. I am in charge now. There would be no more arguing.

"Yes, my lord," Fatren said, calling over messengers to pass the orders.

Venture stood watching as the messenger boys dashed off. There seemed to be some confusion among the men—they weren't expecting to attack. More and more eyes turned toward Venture, standing tall atop the bulwark.

He really does look like an emperor, Fatren thought despite himself.

The orders moved down the line. Time passed. Finally, the entire army was watching. Venture pulled out his sword and held it high in the ash- scattered sky. Then, he took off down the bulwark in an inhumanly quick dash, charging toward the koloss camp.

For a moment, he ran alone. Then, surprising himself, Fatren gritted his teeth against shaking nerves and followed.

The bulwark exploded with motion, the soldiers charging with a collective yell, running toward death with their weapons held high.

Holding the power did strange things to my mind. In just a few moments, I became familiar with the power itself, with its history, and with the ways it might be used.

Yet, this knowledge was different from experience, or even ability to use that power. For instance, I knew how to move a planet in the sky. Yet, I didn't know where to place it so that it wouldn't be too close, or too far, from the sun.

All rights reserved. This work is protected under copyright laws and reproduction is strictly prohibited. Permission to reproduce the material in any manner or medium must be secured from the Publisher.

Continues...
Excerpted from The Hero of Ages by Sanderson, Brandon Copyright © 2008 by Sanderson, Brandon. Excerpted by permission.
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor Books; First Edition (October 14, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0765316897
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0765316899
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 18 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL750L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.72 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.55 x 1.7 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #11,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #481 in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy (Books)
- #752 in Fantasy Action & Adventure
- #1,217 in Epic Fantasy (Books)

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4.8 27,140 ratings

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Brandon Sanderson

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I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.

Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, comes out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that will see the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and Secret Project Four (with its official title reveal coming October 2023). These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.

November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. The third era of Mistborn is slated to be written after the first arc of the Stormlight Archive wraps up.

In November 2020 we saw the release of Rhythm of War—the fourth massive book in the New York Times #1 bestselling Stormlight Archive series that began with The Way of Kings—and Dawnshard (book 3.5), a novella set in the same world that bridges the gaps between the main releases. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. The fifth volume, Wind and Truth, is set for release in fall 2024.

Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, and various novellas available on Amazon, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.

I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, come out in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.

Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the Legion series, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. There’s a lot of material to go around!

Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart,The Emperor’s Soul, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.

I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.

Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.

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PraetorXyn

A fantastic climax with brilliant payoff

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024

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The Hero of Ages demonstrates exactly how much setup Sanderson put into this story and this world in the first two books, and pays off phenominally.

The twists and turns are fantastic. The action is probably the height of the series. The character moments are beautiful and poignant.

There's not much else to say, just read this trilogy.

An absolute must read.

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Kindle Customer

Couldn't put it down.

Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2023

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This was almost too fast paced,though i believe according to the intro that was Sanderson's intent. It could have been much longer, with a lot more development of side stories and characters but... Well, it was riveting. Hard to put down (i didn't, in fact) but there was still enough there for me to be heavily invested in the characters and wrapped up in the emotions and struggles. I believe he accomplished what he sought to. He created a page turner with great,big ideas and adventure and excitement and I'm very pleased with the ending. It's paradoxical, but I think it's partly BECAUSE it was so exciting and fast paced that I'm left wishing maybe it had gone into more detail or side stories.. Or anything to spend more time with the characters and not end so soon. But no. It was brilliant. And this isn't actually the end of the series so I can't wait to read on.

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Max

Outstanding conclusion to a trilogy

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024

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I loved the entire trilogy but this book took it to another level. The series is so well written with threads interweaving from the start. Sanderson made rules for his world and truly kept them. Twists and turns and excellent writing made this one of the best books ice read in years. Bravo!!!

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Jeremy Toburen

Refreshing Fantasy by an Excellent Storyteller

Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2008

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Hero of Ages is the final book of the Mistborn Trilogy. Sanderson wraps his first published attempt at an epic fantasy so nicely, you'd love to read another trilogy set in the same world. Hero of Ages depicts the struggle of mankind against entropy personified. Sanderson does an excellent job of creating an antagonist out of the god-like primal force that is threatening the world. Not many authors would even make an attempt at a villain that is so potentially nebulous, but Sanderson pulls it off.

His characterizations in Hero of Ages are not as strong as the previous books, especially Final Empire (the first book). However, that is to be expected in the final book of a trilogy. We already know the characters, we don't need lots of screen time with each one in order to understand their actions and rationalizations.

A problem that some people may have with the book is thinking that it is about Vin and Elend - the main characters from the first 2 books. They are main characters again, but they share the spotlight with many other characters - some of those characters play equally prominent roles in the outcome. In most fantasy series, subsequent novels are simply a continuation of the previous novel's story. Hero of Ages is a separate story from Final Empire and Well of Ascension. The characters and world are the same and the events in the first two books build up to the climax in the final book, but the third story stands by itself.

The pacing of the book is excellent. The short chapters and changes of viewpoint keep the action moving and there are few points where the story labors. The chapter bumps (the intros to each chapter) explain why the world is the way it is and provide a wealth of information about how things fit together. Sanderson ties up many loose ends using the narrative in the chapter bumps - as opposed to having an appendix or lengthy and derivative epilogue.

Without giving anything away - the story is true to itself. Everything fits together neatly, and certainly would be less of a story if changed in any way.

I've loved the series. It is fresh, exciting, and adds flavor to the Fantasy genre that's been missing for some time.

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Chip Hunter

Very highly recommended! Completely satisfied with the conclusion to the Mistborn Trilogy.

Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2013

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Sanderson's highly-original fantasy saga regains top marks with the final volume, THE HERO OF AGES. While the lack of a central antagonist, political squabbles, and loosening of restrictions on the magic system had resulted in a disappointing book two of the series, this one met the high standards we've developed for works of Brandon Sanderson. In THE HERO OF AGES, the politics are over and the heros are faced with a near-impossible challenge. Ruin has been released from his prison in the Well of Ascension, and has begun his work to destroy the world. Ash clogs the air, earthquakes and volcanoes destroy the land, and the mist kills. As a sentient force, Ruin once again fulfills the role of the story's Great Antagonist, a spot left empty since the death of the Lord Ruler. The Mistborn series truly comes full circle In this final volume of the trilogy, and by the end of the book you'll feel that you've heard the whole story. Very few loose ends and a final-seeming conclusion after a solid and resounding finale leave you rewarded and satisfied.

Like most Sanderson books, THE HERO OF AGES keeps you guessing with unexpected twists and surprising changes that shift the direction of the story. The characters continually change, and the challenges they face are not static, but endlessly evolving. In this book, Vin, Eland, Spook, and Sazed all fully mature, accepting their destinies and the people they need to become if the world is to survive. Sazed's quest to find the true religion takes center stage in THE HERO OF AGES, and while parts of that effort become repetitive, the masterful weaving of religion into the core of the story gives this final book something unique from the rest of the series. Still, strong characters and a wonderfully-developed setting are what earn the Mistborn trilogy a place in the very top of epic fantasy sagas. Overall, THE HERO OF AGES ranks well ahead of The Well of Ascension and slightly behind The Final Empire.

Allomancy, the magic system first described in The Final Empire, helped define Sanderson's new world and vault him up into the top-tier fantasy authors. The system was so compelling and well-developed as to be described by myself and others as the best magic system in all of epic fantasy. A system that was defined by strict rules and an almost scientific nature, allomancy was no mystical power that the hero must simply master in order to save the world, but a tool that certain people could use in predictable and limited ways. In The Well of Ascension, Sanderson focused on the uses and "science" of feruchemy, the previously-mysterious ability of Terris Keepers to store powers or memories in metal objects. He also expanded the used of Allomancy, notably with the discovery of duralumin, which in a way removed much of the limits from the magic and made Vin seem completely unstoppable. In THE HERO OF AGES, a third magic takes the spotlight, that of hemalurgy. This is a dark magic focused on the transfer of allomantic abilities from one individual to another by the use of a metal spike. It partially explains the spikes in the eyes of the steel inquisitors, and also gives Ruin the tool he needs to influence the world. Hemalurgy is another wonderfully well-developed system, and completes the magic system as a whole while explaining some of the mysteries that had persisted since the beginning of the series.

While this marks the conclusion to the Mistborn Trilogy, there is another book, The Alloy of Law, set in the same fantasy universe, but taking place a few hundred years in the future of the events from THE HERO OF AGES. I have not had the pleasure of reading it yet, but judging from the reviews, it is well worth adding to your list of Brandon Sanderson books to read.

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Kristy Langley

Beautiful Ending to this Epic Story

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024

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This book was amazing. It's the perfect ending to this trilogy. There were parts that were slow but in retrospect, those lulls were needed to world build and make the epic scenes hit harder. I'm so glad I took my time reading through this series. These are characters that I will miss.

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Paul S.

Beautiful books… all damaged

Reviewed in Belgium on April 16, 2024

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Amazon doesn’t bother with packaging anymore, but elsewhere if you care about your books- this set is beautiful otherwise and good value

Andrew

Fantastic series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2024

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This is a brilliant culmination to an intricately designed world, with several great twists and a narrative that kept me hooked the whole time.

Huitzi Daniel Rojo Inclán

Enjoy your first time with this book!

Reviewed in Mexico on June 28, 2021

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I am not what one would call an avid reader, I am not a Reviewer that has a lot of knowledge in books. But if you already read the first two books of this saga I don't think you will need me to convince you to buy this one. I will definitely read again in the future this saga, since I still need to explore the rest of Sanderson Universe.

Simera H

Sanderson Can Do No WRONG!

Reviewed in Canada on April 25, 2021

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The Hero of Ages is undeniably a satisfying ending to the Mistborn series which answered all my questions and more. I was left with a bitter sweet feeling after I swiped to the last page but satisfied that it could not have ended any other way. I loved the first volume, the 2nd was a decent transition to this big boy which almost was as excellent as the first.

I expected most of the plot twists so I wasn’t mind blown like other readers but, in the same time, I was awed by Sanderson’s imagination and his word building capabilities. He really is a master in this respect.

I also enjoyed the way the characters grew and the development of Spook, who was almost inexistent in the other two books. Tensoon and Sazed remained my favorite heroes and I am delighted with the way their storyline developed. The development of the main two characters, Vin and Elend, seemed less important that some of the secondary characters which I am not sure it was the intended result. I do not want to spoil anything so I’m not going to go into details.

Why only 4 stars? Please do not be mad at me but I have to admit that Sanderson’s writing is not that amazing. It is definitely not bad but I’ve read better written fantasy. Also, the dialogues were a bit flat and I love powerful words exchanges. Even the thought battle between Ruin and Vin seemed lifeless. Lastly, I wouldn’t have minded a bit of humor in the mix although I understand why Sanderson might have thought that it wouldn’t go well with the depressing atmosphere. I missed Kelsier’s wit, though.

"How did men believe in something that preached love on one hand, yet taught destruction of unbelievers on the other? How did one rationalize belief with no proof? How could they honestly expect him to have faith in something that taught of miracles and wonders in the far past, but carefully gave excuses for why such things didn’t occur in the present day?"

One of the most interesting themes for me was Sazed's search for the true religion and for the meaning of faith. he does try to answer some of the questions and doubts many of us have regarding a supreme being. Food for thought.

It is a series worth reading, I loved most of it and I will definitely read more Sanderson in the near future.

ALBERTO JOSÉ LÓPEZ FERNÁNDEZ

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Reviewed in Spain on January 30, 2023

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