Mistborn

Anyone familiar with Brandon Sanderson's prolific writing knows that he puts a lot of time and energy in to his world building. It's truly amazing how detailed his worlds are and how he can possibly keep it all straight with all the books that he writes. He also has a penchant for magic and each of his realms has its own unique form of magic. In this case, it is Allomancy, the ability, unique to only a precious few, to use certain metals to produce certain effects.

Most Allomancers are only able to burn one of the eleven metals, but Kelsier, the survivor of the deadly mining caves of Hathsin, and Vin, the young thief, are Mistborn, able to utilize all of the metals to deadly effect. As members of the downtrodden race, the Skaa, they will use their abilities, Kelsier's persuasive skills, and his reputation as the only survivor of Hathsin, they set about with an elaborate plan to free the Skaa from the god-like Lord Ruler.

Sanderson spends a lot of time on his world building and on detailing his magic. I'm usually able to forgive the tell don't show - and am mostly able to do so here, but the over indulgence on these details is usually balanced out by interesting characters and a more intriguing plot - both of which are missing here. Kelsier and Vin simply failed to endear themselves to me. I felt nothing for their inner monologues and their pain and loss of loved ones, or for their ultimate goal.

I was somewhat interested in the logbook entries that precede each chapter, detailing the Lord Ruler's journey to save the planet. That was an interesting character with depth and a story that intrigued me, though we only got to see him in sparse moments, and only through the point of view of Vin and Kelsier.

Still, I do own the other two books in the series, and am curious to see what happens next, despite most of the story being surprisingly tide up at the end Mistborn.