Introduction: Why I am diving into the Cosmere
For years, I've heard the name Brandon Sanderson mentioned alongside terms like "epic fantasy," "world-building genius," and "unique magic systems." As a child, I even read his Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series, but beyond that, I never got into his more famous books. That changes now. The Cosmere has always intrigued me, especially with the way fans talk about its interwoven worlds and overarching narrative. This blog will document my journey through Sanderson's sprawling universe — book by book, world by world.
How this blog works
I'm tackling the Cosmere one book at a time, and this blog will grow as I go. After each book, I'll share my initial impressions and overall thoughts. The posts will be spoiler-free at first, but as I go deeper into the series, I might make connections between the books — so be warned if you're not caught up!
Book 1: Mistborn: The Final Empire (October 14th 2024)
From the beginning, Mistborn: The Final Empire had me hooked. The heist plot, and the fascinating system of Allomancy completely drew me in. By the time I reached the end, I couldn't put the book down. It's been a while since I've felt this excited about a book series. The ending was so incredible — it left me eager to dive into the next book in the saga!
Book 2: Mistborn: The Well of Ascension (October 29th 2024)
Before starting this book, I'd heard it was considered the slowest in the series. Now, while I haven't read the final Mistborn book yet, I can see why people feel that way. The pacing at the beginning was very slow, yet the storytelling pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. By the time I reached the finale, it was completely worth it. The payoff was great, and the climax came together perfectly. Is this one of those "Sanderlanches" everyone keeps talking about?
Book 3: Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (November 14th 2024)
Before I dive into why I think this was an excellent book overall, let me start with what didn't quite work for me.
First, I'm not a fan of the "villain wants to destroy the world just because he's evil" trope, so that aspect fell flat for me. Additionally, I found the character arcs of the two main protagonists to be disappointing, especially considering I wasn't a big fan of theirs from the previous book.
That said, there were plenty of things I loved about how Mistborn Era 1 wrapped up. I particularly enjoyed the perspectives of the other characters, many of whom underwent fantastic development in this final book. Sanderson's knack for tying together seemingly minor details from earlier in the trilogy to create jaw-dropping moments in this book was truly impressive. We also gained deeper insight into the motivations of the previous villain (I'm tring not to give too much away here), revealing how his initial intentions were actually good. This added layer was both intriguing and satisfying to uncover.
Finally, the conclusion tied up all loose ends beautifully, leaving no dangling threads. It's always a pleasure when authors can wrap up a series so neatly.
Book 4: Warbreaker (November 30th 2024)
Warbreaker dazzles with its colourful world and unique magic system. Though it took me some time to grasp the concept of Awakening, it gave the story a nice flair. The real highlight, however, lies in its characters. The contrasting paths of the sisters Siri and Vivenna were both compelling and Lightsong, the witty, self-doubting “god” truly stole the spotlight.
Full of twists and political intrigue, the story constantly defies expectations. Sanderson brings the kingdom of Hallandren to life, from its opulent court of gods to its eerie army of lifeless soldiers. And, as always, the climactic revelations took my breath away! (You'll have to read the book to understand that pun!). Warbreaker is a remarkable standalone (so far at least), leaving a lasting impression with its fascinating world and characters.
Book 5: Tress of the Emerald Sea (December 11th 2024)
What set "Tress" apart from my previous Cosmere experiences is its distinct tone. While the others were more serious and had intense dramatic moments, this book charts a more whimsical course. The narrative is sprinkled with humorous asides, pseudo-scientific explanations and quirky observations about the world's mechanics, presented in a style that reminded me of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." This book also offered my first encounter with "worldhoppers". I was thrilled to discovered a character from one of my previous readings taking on a new role in this story.
Book 6: The Stormlight Archive: The Way of Kings
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