World: Post-apocalyptic, Victorian, Fantasy.
Races: Humans, Allomancers (humans with one type of magical abilities), Feruchemists (humans with a different set of magical abilities).
Magic System: The main characters all have magic powers (they are called Mistings), but the two protagonists have the complete set of those magic powers (they are called Mistborn). Mistings and mistborn inherit these powers but they must 'Snap' (experience a traumatic event) to use them. Another set of magic powers is called feruchemy.
Premise: Heist structure. A group of thieves gifted with magical powers gets hired to overthrow the god-like ruler of the oppressive 'Final Empire'.
The world has no connection to our own other than images of slave plantations from the American pre-Civil War South and a central city that feels like Victorian London without gunpowder or trains. Ash falls constantly, like London's Industrial Revolution soot, to lend the setting a bleak air without turning it into a complete wasteland. Sanderson's interest in world building feels limited to creating a dramatically oppressive society so you have no doubt that the rebels are the good guys.
All races in this world are described as human, but since those with magical abilities must inherit them (and this fact is central to the plot), magic users belong in a separate race category. Sanderson is often credited with coining the term 'hard magic system' indicating that magic spells have a well-defined cause, structure, and application. Soft magic systems generally do not provide explanations or limits to a spell caster's power beyond a little extra groaning here or there. In this book, explaining the magic system takes up a large part of the narrative.
Sanderson weaves all facets of the Misborn story together with great competence but what really sets this novel apart is dialogue. Packed with personality and nuance, each line draws a little chuckle or a bit of outrage. The ending is satisfying, and though it relies on a lot of last minute luck, it fits a respectable number of puzzle pieces together nicely. Overall, highly recommended.
Age recommendation: 13+
