Sunday, November 13, 2016

The Alloy of Law / Brandon Sanderson

The Alloy of Law
(Mistborn, 1 of a new cycle)
by Brandon Sanderson

fantasy, young adult

copyright 2011
read in November 2016

rated 7/10: well worth reading

This is a by-the-numbers action fantasy for young adults. And yet... Sanderson makes those numbers really sing and dance!

The magic is great fun. Not new, I guess, since there are already three Mistborn novels. But new to me.

The characters are likeable stereotypes with strong moral values. And strong right fists, for fighting evil :-)  The love interest is... well... This is book one of a series, so the hero has two women and he is stuck with the one that he doesn't love.

There are a bunch of villains -- and a major plot thread -- left intact for future books. Yet this book wraps up very nicely. We are introduced to a reasonably small number of major characters. We meet and defeat a major villain. We are introduced to the villain for book two. Better yet, this villain is not just an extra, to catch our interest. Meeting the villain is a logical part of the wrap-up of book one.

This book can be read as a complete novel on its own. It stands alone -- yet leaves me wanting to read more. It makes me want to read the original trilogy, perhaps even before I read more of this second series.

The Mistborn world is imaginative and developing. Alloy is enjoyable but not a great book.

It won't open your eyes to any deep mysteries of science or humanity. It's just well worth reading. For an enjoyable and imaginative romp in an interesting world.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

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