Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson - The ULTIMATE Guide

I'm on a mission to help you find your new favourite books.
This is an introduction to Mistborn, a pioneer of modern fantasy and a series that has LITERALLY changed my life! This is a DEEP dive into all seven Mistborn novels and the one novella. We'll look at plot twists, big mysteries, awesome characters like Elend and Wayne...
...and yes, the MAGIC system!
I'll also show you where Mistborn fits in regards to the rest of the greater Cosmere. And discuss the big goals for where this series is heading in the future.
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[@heloooniii]

I haven't been so excited about a KZbin-Channel in a while! Your videos truly make my day, because you do such an excellent job in breaking down the stories without spoilers and still saying just enough to make me want to read the books asap. Also, I finished The Last Empire a few weeks ago, but for no special reason didn't pick up the next book right away ... I guess I'm doing that now haha

[@TheIkathy]

Dear Book Guy, I'm by no means a new or casual reader. I don't need to be convinced by reviews to start - or not - a new series. In fact, I avoid booktubers because somehow they always manage to make me lose interest in a book, even when they are saying nice things about it. I watch booktube videos sporadically, mostly when I'm bored or there are tier lists that include books I've already read. That being said, you are the very first booktuber I wanted to subscribe to. The Throne of Glass video was recommended to me and I don't know what compeled me to watch it because I absolutely hated that series, but now I'm really glad I did. And I shared your video with my best book friend and she also loved you and subscribed to your channel. First of all, you are a very wholesome dude, which is refreshing. I like the technical aspect of your reviews (e.g. talking about TOG as a gateway to fantasy books). I love that you are not trying to make someone dislike a series, even when you didn't enjoy it yourself. You understand the concept of target public. At the same time, it's clear in your voice how much you love some of those series and you want to share this love with your audience. You also convinced me to start reading The Dresden Files, which I haven't heard of before. Finally, I love how you take some time to talk about representation inside the stories. I hope you'll also extend this attention to the authors themselves and review books written by non-white authors and/or authors outside from the US/UK zone. Thank you for the content!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Hey, great comment! I'm glad that even if you don't like most booktubers, you like my stuff. I work really hard to do NEW content and discussions that aren't done elsewhere, so it's nice to know that shows. Great point about representation. I 100% want to include more diverse authors soon. It's just that I'm in the early stages of growing a channel so I have to prioritize the big authors for attention. And unfortunately, most big authors are white men. 🤔 Which is problematic. But in time, I want to cover the Daevabad trilogy, Poppy War, and The Broken Earth. Just to start. 😀 Hope you keep watching!

[@paziis]

I love how you explain everything! I'm really hoping this video convinces new fantasy readers to give this series a chance! Love what you're doing with your channel!

[@rsfrogga234]

ah it was only a matter of time until Sanderson. nicee. Honestly as for the no sex...was one of the selling points for me. I'm tired of sex in the books I read. If I have to read about "blowing on her lady flower" or something similar once more I'm going to freak

[@icedzinnia]

Sex in books and movies is like including toilet use in a book or movie, to me. Unless it's literally a real scene or moving the plot along vitally, DON'T INCLUDE IT.

[@maybelore]

I started reading Mistborn but then I got Tress from the library and read it really fast so the other people waiting for it could read it. I didn't really like it most of the way through but I loved the plot twist. So that was technically my first Brandon Sanderson book. Now I can continue reading Mistborn. Thank you for this video can't wait for your next one, those are some big books! Also it was very refreshing to have cute kitty at the end of the video this time, keep up the good work!

[@kristine5801]

Your enthusiasm is infectious! I read Tress and found the tone wasn't to my taste but this sounds like a better fit

[@timdo3426]

This channels gonna go BIG, mark my words. Keep up these great videos man, I love them

[@matthewbackhouse6309]

Last week you convinced me to read GOT and now I’m all in on Mistborn lol, the 2nd era sounds like it will be right up my street, should be enough to keep me going for the rest of the year lol

[@martavarela8703]

Thank you so much for giving us this introduction to mistborn! for the first time i understood what are the eras and relaly love the way you explain it! Again, thank you!

[@TheTalkingCoyote]

These videos... so easy to watch. Love your shirt, too. Doing "The Dark Tower" eventually?

[@ksenijajemensek6126]

You explain so well and I love it ! I’ll start reading Mistborn series in February ( that’s my reading plan ), then by the end of the year Stormlight Archives. I love Brandon Sanderson’s writing style. And you’re the first yt creator who explained Mistborn series so well. Thank you 🙏

[@samsampier7147]

Your video made re-read Mistborn:Final Empire. I read it, thinking it was too My Fair Lady. I liked Kelsier. I didn't care for Vin or Elend. The rest of the crew was fine. But your video has made me go-read the book to see what I was missing.

[@Avid_Reader]

I enjoy your videos and your enthusiasm. Keep them coming!

[@federubiowenk2859]

Love your videos!❤ I found you because of the GOT video you did. I’m planning on binge watch the rest

[@lovelyflowergirl42]

LOVING this channel! Very nice to listen to your voice while playing video games.

[@renatosouza9261]

Thanks for sharing your personal history!!! Great video!

[@patriciasilva5292]

Hi! I found your Channel through the Robin Hobb video you did, I really like how you are enthusiastic about the books you talk about it also makes me excited ! :) I'm glad to have found your channel you are very underrated and for me it takes a certain type of Booktuber to actually enjoy their content as I can be a bit picky, but anyone who loveds Robin Hobb is a HUGE Green flag for me! :P . Great video and keep going ^_^

[@ieatsoapxd607]

Thanks for giving amazing book recs! Keep it up!

[@historydragonsandmagic]

Im really enjoying your channel! I have Mistborn on my Amazon wishlist. I do have Tress and I think I’m going to read that first.

[@lorifrederick2367]

I am new to the fantasy genre. I'm having fun. This looks like an excellent series..you gave a great description that was intriguing.

[@hanak69]

Nice video man thx for sharing your info, currently reading first book of the mistborn series. Hope I can continue it and read them all. :)

[@WigglesPK]

Another fire video. This is the series i plan to read next

[@MissArkenstone]

Have had mistborn first era in my TBR for so long that I might give it try after reading Orconomics 🤔 Great video!! 💜👍🏻😁

[@devilsownweaponhaha]

Awesome breakdown! Maybe you can do one on Elantris and Warbreaker too. I think they get super overshadowed by Mistborn and Stormlight.

[@dylanbeazer2506]

One of the reasons I love Mistborn is that each book is a different type of sub genre, Final Empire is a heist and Alloy of Law is a western as examples. He has said that he wishes he made a couple other members of the crew female. If a movie comes out he plans to make that change. Also would love a Powder Mage video, I see it on your shelf there.

[@cronkthebookguy]

I didn't know that about the sub-genres, but i see it now. Very cool! You're the first to comment about powdermage. Its very Sanderson-ish. :P

[@cronkthebookguy]

As yes I do want to do a video on it soon.

[@MajklAstarin]

The first Sanderson's book I read was Mistborn: Final Empire. At first, I didn't quite like it. I am not a fan of heist stories, but when it finally got more interesting I liked it more and more. After I read that I decided to put Mistborn to rest and since I was longing for another epic fantasy with a massive world and history like GoT which I finished recently as well, I started to read The Way of Kings. I am at 1/3 of the book and I am not that hooked yet. The world is very confusing now, but it's slowly making more and more sense. I hope I get hooked, because now, that thanks to you, I know about the Cosmere universe I got even more excited!

[@minceri9346]

Great Video! Starting Era 2, soon. What kind of kept me away from the magic cowboys for so long was actually The Gunslinger - The first book in the Dark Tower series, haha. I was just so confused most of the time, but I heard the next few books in the Dark Tower series should be way better.. hence why I'm really looking forward to your Dark Tower Video :)

[@lorifrederick2367]

Oh, ps, I just love your intro, especially all the books lined up in bed. Reminds me of when I was a kid. I never cuddled with a stuffed animal in bed, I was the strange kid who cuddled with my books. It brought me comfort, sleeping with my books 😂🤪

[@SlayronReads]

Another great video keep it up mann

[@Sandrineworld]

Love your intro !

[@michaelaporee260]

Just finished well of ascension so good!

[@AshleyRebecca]

Yaaaaasssss! Mistborn can absolutely make you a reader!

[@timothyburbage]

Another great video. I didnt know that the cosmere all take place on different planeta, or that Brando Sando is pushing the series through different industrial ages

[@layalialsudairy9992]

Thank you very much for a great video as usual. I have read mistborn era 1 , the 3 books and I loved them!!!! I never got to era 2 , I th8nk it’s because of the time period ( cowboys. ) it’s really not my thing.

[@WhiningMoon]

I have to agree that is one very cute cat! 🌻

[@lilianakhmelova6716]

Great video!!

[@Ulmo90]

Love Mistborn

[@mavalle89]

Spoiler Alert: I love that you mention not too much violence or gore but I still think on the scene where Vin charges Straffs army with her giant sword and cleaves a man and horse down the middle. I love the mistborn series, currently finishing book 3 of Era 1. This series got my love of reading back on track lol.

[@andygraf4997]

That Dark Tower image makes no sense if it’s supposed to where the different books overlap. Otherwise great work. Love your stuff

[@michaelaporee260]

I say it every video but seriously you are awesome! Wish we were friends great person and channel!

[@cronkthebookguy]

You can consider us friends now, ok? ❤Thank you, legend!

[@ryerye3147]

I struggled getting into Sanderson, I've even gone as far as saying I don't like his works; in the past, Lately I've been struggling with getting into new series; often ending with me taking it back to the library, so yeah.. the last Trilogy I've read and enjoyed was Fonda Lee's "The Green Bone Saga", and since then I've tried your "usual suspects" and to my frustration nothing really got my attention. I've only got back into reading maybe 9 months ago; 32 years old, and yeah I started when I had covid, and couldn't leave the house first reading "Memory Police" by Yoko Ogowa, and eventually going down the Murakami rabbit hole.. it was fun but I wanted a change.. I personally think reading just one writer back to back to back ruined it for me, I'm currently reading "The Passage" and am enjoying it; along with Karl Ove Knausgaard's 'My struggle' series.. and some random historical fiction books. My love of video games and especially growing up on games like Balders Gate have awakened a hunger for these kind of stories, so thanks for making these videos and helping me try a new perspective, sorry for the grammatical mess; I'm working that lol.

[@thatsci-firogue]

Sorry Book Guy, i tried and tried but this just isn't the series for me. Its awesome it had such an impact on you. 😊

[@cronkthebookguy]

That's ok, you have such a wonderful attitude about it. The series wasn't for you, but you like that it was good for me. That's how readers should support each other! 😁

[@martingabriel4324]

11:25 aware

[@adastra0]

Is this spoiler-free? I'm interested in Brandon Sanderson and looking for some spoiler-free opinions to help me decide...

[@nathhje]

Spoilerish if you know, you know The earring, the g*ddamn earring

[@cronkthebookguy]

RIIIIIIGHT?! It lives in my head rent-free. And yes my friend, that is exactly the plot twist I was referring too. Good pick up!

[@anonymoussage1125]

Which should i read first: mistborn or cosmere?

[@cronkthebookguy]

Hey friend. Mistborn is part of the Cosmere. It's mistborn, stormlight, and several stand alone books that all make up the cosmere. You can read them in any order.

[@feltrix334]

I do want to push back on parts of the parental warning. I think your grim dark may be showing a bit, because by many people's standards, Mistborn is quite violent. There are many battles with a lot of killing, oftentimes of people who aren't strictly speaking evil but are simply foot soldiers for bad people, which on its own could be considered quite violent. While the descriptions of gore aren't always gruesome, there are (SPOILERS) scenes like Vin caving in a man's skull with her own head, which are quite gruesome. Also, and this is a personal pet peeve, I don't think it's accurate to say the characters don't have sex. We just aren't shown sex scenes. I find it very difficult to believe that Vin, Elend, Wax, Wayne, MeLaan, and Steris didn't have sex (not all with each other) during the course of the series based on certain scenes and dialogue. If you prefer sex to be explicitly shown, that's fine, but it's not as though everyone is abstaining from sex. I would say the way sex is portrayed is relatively safe for young audiences, although the offscreen rape, I would argue, is something to worry about for younger readers, but I don't think everyone is ignoring sex as a reflection of Sanderson's religious views, he's just not showing us all the sex that happens. Overall, though, I really like the channel and the video!

[@FractalRealm]

I loved the first trilogy of the mistborn series. It was my first fantasy series and It was fantastic. I am not a fan of the western detective style so I struggled all the way through the second series and was not a huge fan of it.

[@kikipongo371]

subscribed on kitty yawn

[@Seraphina-Rose]

I wanted to like the Mistborn trilogy. I'd seen a lot of positive reviews. I got through them, but I didn't love them.

[@Ciervoaseado]

First era is somewhat ok, I like the ending very much and the worldbuilding keeps you interested, but second era is just plain garbage. Characters are stupid, humour is cringe and the way Sanderson writes is... let´s say it shows is more of a movies and videogames person that a reader.

[@heatherauton655]

I fell for the Mistborn hype and boy did The Final Empire bore me stupid, so incredibly YA but so many better gateway series out there. And on failing to write females well he is a master, it was truely bad. On plot oh my lord the convenience and predictability was enormous. In fact by the 50% mark on book 1 I had entire plot and twists for the 3 books worked out. In fairness I was re reading the debut Name of the Wind, same time as The Final Empire and the difference was stark. Plus listening to Daughter of the Empire by Feist and Wurts So Final Empire had no chance. Haven’t given up on Sanderson but Mistborn was just painful so I haven’t understood the hype yet I put it down to gateway nostalgia, and give credit to Mistborn pulling in new readers to SFF. I would rate Maas as a better gateway, perhaps because I am female, and felt sorry and embarrassed for Sandersons poor attempts at females. I was so sure I would love Sanderson and Mistborn, it was a lesson in trying to avoid assumptions 😊n

[@VickIngInTheSky]

Great video!