Here we are on this fine first Saturday of Summer, returning to the city of Luthadel to see how Vin, Elend and the rest of Kelsier’s gang have faired since the climactic, page-turning events at the end of Mistborn: The Final Empire. This group read is an experiment in formatting. Instead of everyone posting answers to a series of questions on their individual blogs, we will be having one site host the discussion each week. That way we can concentrate all conversation at one place. I’m interested in seeing how it works for this book.
I’m kicking things off by hosting Part One: Heir of the Survivor. Reminder to non-participants: after the jump and in the comments there will be spoilers. Reminder to participants: please restrict your comments to Part One.
Lets kick this discussion off, shall we?
I appreciated the return to Luthadel more after taking a break from it. Mistborn ended with so many rushes of emotion that I felt worn out after reading it, in a good way, of course. It was nice to rejoin Vin and Elend a year after the events of the battle with the Lord Ruler to see how their fledgling kingdom is bearing up. And as we saw, not too well. Those who participated in the first group read know that I had some difficulties with the authenticity of the interactions between Vin and Elend during the early parts of their relationship. The knowledge that we are now a year into the future and the way in which Sanderson shows us scenes of their devotion has helped tremendously to lay those doubts to rest. I enjoyed those personal touches in the chapters that made up Part One of this novel. I was also pleased that he addressed the elephant that would genuinely be in the room: how did Vin really feel about Kelsier? Were I in Elend’s shoes I would certainly be wondering about the relationship between them and what kind of attachment Vin may have had to him. After all, Kelsier was powerful and charismatic and was the center of this crew’s little world. Elend’s doubts and concerns would be very real and I thought Sanderson handled that brilliantly.
And as I’ve brought up the subject of Kelsier please allow me to make this statement: I really miss Kel! There is a spark that thus far is missing from The Well of Ascension for me. Well, not entirely missing as I don’t want to give the impression of not enjoying this. Perhaps I should just say that the fire has dimmed somewhat without his massive presence. He was a larger-than-life character and his absence thus far is felt keenly. I suspect that will fade as the story continues.
I am not the biggest fan of politics in my fiction and the (seemingly) long passages about the political atmosphere of the empire and the troubles with speech writing did not engender a great deal of enthusiasm. Here’s to more “intrigue” and less of straight politics for the rest of the read. On the plus side, I enjoyed the scenes with Sazed and the entry of the new and (improved?) Marsh into the story. The idea of mists appearing during the daytime intrigues me very much and while not a great deal happened in this first section apart from setting the stage and putting the players in motion, I liked the way in which Brandon Sanderson has woven in the idea of the Deepness from the earlier novel and given the idea that bad things are on the horizon, perhaps even more difficult to deal with than the Lord Ruler.
I had somewhat forgotten about the kandra and was not expecting him to play such a big part in the first section of the book. I actually found myself growing more and more interested in OreSeur, especially when his choice of new body was presented to him by Vin. And of course Vin is shaping up to be every bit as pivotal and as engaging of a character as she was in the first book. I look forward to being there as Vin learns more about herself and her still mysterious powers.
I think I’ll stop here and just open up the conversation. Discussion suggestions would be “How do you feel about the opening section of this novel as compared to the final sections of Mistborn: The Final Empire?”, “How do you feel the narrative works without the presence of Kelsier?”, and the very vague “What thoughts do you want to share about Part One of The Well of Ascension?”
I also am not quite as engaged with this novel so far as I was with Mistborn. I’m still enjoying it but it needs that special something to come forward soon! I definitely miss Kelsier’s presence — I feel I’m having trouble trusting that things will work out for the crew now. When Kel was around, I did trust that he could pull just about anything off because of his unique attitude and motivation. Vin is just so, well, negative that she’s bringing me down. If she can’t believe in herself, I can’t really believe in her either.
I’m ready to see more Sazed and maybe some interactions with other kandra — though maybe not the one that we’re bound to meet. I think when that is revealed (who got eaten?!?) it’s just going to make me sad.
Sanderson did definitely set the stage for doubt with his handling of Kelsier in the first book. He put the reader on notice that there was no promise of ‘happily ever after’ for one’s favorite characters. It makes the reader feel a bit unsettled and that can be a good thing, if the story is engaging enough to propel you forward despite your doubts. Thus far I engaged not so much because of the story itself, which is a bit slow, but because I’m already invested in these characters. I want to see what is going to happen next. And then next after that.
I’m glad Sazed is on his way back to Luthadel. I didn’t like the idea of him being away from the group, considering how vital he was when he was with them.
I also feel that Sazed is the only one who might be able to continue pushing forward Vin’s emotional growth. It seems that Elend just makes her doubt herself — not purposefully of course but he just doesn’t understand who she really is and what her destiny might be. He only sees her as she relates to him.
Yes, and one of the potential problems with Vin and Elend’s relationship will be this obsessive need of hers to protect him. It makes sense given what she’s lost in her life but her paranoia, though justified, cannot make for the basis of a thriving relationship, at least not over the long term.
The other thing about their relationship is the difference between the two – particularly I’m thinking in terms of mistborn and allomancy which Elend doesnt’ seem to have any of. It feels to an extent that he’s almost dismissed within the group (except for Vin of course). He really is going to have to step up a little bit more and properly take control. Actually, I think both of them need to swallow a self-belief pill. The whole group needs a proper leader after all.
Lynn 😀
That they do, and you are right, Elend is going to have to step out bravely the way he did near the end of the last book when he thought Vin was in danger.
I’ve actually found the reading really easy so far but I think that’s because with a second installment you’re already invested in the characters and you know the place and the magic so it’s not such a big learning curve. I can’t help missing Kel because I liked his character so much in the first one, in fact he was my favourite, so I was disappointed that he didn’t get his ‘happily ever after’. I also think the characters in the book are feeling his loss as much as we are. Elend is finding it difficult to live up to the myth and clearly Kelsier’s actions have given him this whole new hero worship status that all the others are struggling to live up to. I think the developments with Sazed and Marsh are intriguing and this whole new ‘Watcher element is very interesting. I also think that writing a year on is a very cunning ploy of Sanderson. We’ve moved foward apace and missed out all the chaos and confusion that would have followed the demise of the Ruler.
On the whole, I’m really enjoying the second novel and must confess that I’ve read further ahead so I’ve had to be careful here not to give away spoilery elements.
Can’t help feeling that this daytime mists element in the beginning of something bad. As much as everyone hated the Lord Ruler maybe he really was keeping something at bay. That and no atrium isn’t looking too promising!
Lynn 😀
I was intrigued by the mist figure that Vin saw and thought it was pretty cool until we went back to Sazed’s journey where we find out that the mists seem to have killed someone. I definitely think it’s the start of something bad too!
Did anyone else think initially that the mist figure was Kelsier, somehow come back Star Wars style, like Obi Wan? 🙂
Lynn, I have enjoyed it too and it was an easy read but I for me that is more because of my investment in the characters and less about this part of the story which was just a fair beginning.
I too am glad we didn’t have chapter after chapter of the immediate post-Kelsier-and-Lord-Ruler-dying chaos. That could have been brutal both to read and to write.
Actually, when I read about the mist figure, my first thoughts returned to the first book, when we read in those journal entries at the beginning of each chapter that a mist figure was following the group and tried to kill someone. Then, when we learned about the man being killed by daytime mist, I wondered if that was related as well.
I had forgotten all about that detail, thanks for the reminder. I bet there is some tie-in there.
Actually, I did thing the mist figure was going to be Kel – but I think that’s just my strange desire for him to return to the novel. I know what you mean about already being invested in the characters – I think that’s why I found it so easy to get into (and probably because we’ve not had a long wait in between books when you usually start to forget who people are! (or at least I do)).
I don’t particularly enjoy all the political goings on myself and definitely looking back I wouldn’t say that this book has the same level of action as book no.2. I think I read on somebody else’s blog recently that they hadn’t enjoyed the 2nd book and I think I had this in mind when I started reading and so I think I enjoyed it more than I expected – simply because I’d started with a feeling of trepidation.
I’m probably best if I don’t read anybody else’s reviews before I start reading because I can’t help letting them have an impact. Fortunately in this case it was a positive result, so, yay!
Lynn 😀
I also wondered if the mist thing would be Kel as well. I guess I just can’t let the man go yet. And thanks Amanda. I had forgotten about the mist figure in the journal entries.
I agree with Lynn: I enjoyed getting back into this universe and the beginning was a really quick read. I am glad that we didn’t have to go through the chaos following the death of the Lord Ruler, which would have been quite a boring read. It seems like we have returned for the next series of significant events that the crew will need to survive.
I feel sorry for Elend because he is such an idealist and he wants the Assembly to rule. However, the lack of public freedom in the past means that the Assembly members are incapable of working with one another. It will be interesting to see how he copes with his role as cat-herder as he tries to poke them in to giving the people a better future. He is going to need one of those frustration toys or to take up boxing if he wants to prevent himself from strangling them! 😀
The shadow of Kelsier could work for good or evil and it seems like nobody is taking control of how he is being idolised: this could go bad very quickly. I had hoped that someone would realise that he would become a legend or religious focus and that this would need to be managed. I hope Sazed will see the need when he returns otherwise we could see fanatics doing all kinds of crazy things in his name. I can understand how Vin finds it very difficult to be seen as his heir, but it is something that will need to be addressed head on. On a personal note, the loss of Kelsier is something akin to the fall of Gandalf in Moria: but I doubt that he will be reborn and turn up dressed in white!
I am very concerned about Vin’s state of mind at the moment. She seems to be heading towards total exhaustion, and needs to start trusting others to protect Elend. I like how their relationship has developed, but she desperately needs some support and the discovery of the second kandra will not help her. I am very suspicious of OreSeur because he sometimes twists the contract to fit his needs. I can’t help thinking that he knows things that would be very helpful, but he will not volunteer anything unless it is asked for very specifically.
Poor Sazed, trying to teach people who aren’t interested: I feel his pain. Just like Elend, he is being very disappointed by his high expectations of people. The whole idea of mist killing people is very disturbing and the disappearance of everyone at the Obligator base make me very nervous. I hope that Sazed and Marsh can get some answers, but I have a feeling that those answers will be unpleasant and scary.
Oddly enough I’m now quite enjoying OreSeur – but I think it’s because he’s now appearing as a dog! Somehow he seems more likable that way although I can’t deny I felt sorry for the actual dog itself! This whole contract thing is very dubious – Vin needs to make herself more familiar with it and exactly what she can expect. I can’t make up my mind totally yet – part of me thinks that Vin is just very mistrusting of everyone but then part of me starts to see the reason behind what she thinks.
I liked your reference to Gandalf and the really silly thing is that deep inside I really want Kelsier to make a return – how very stupid is that? If he did it would be ridiculous but I still keep thinking it might happen! Foolish consistency!!
Lynn 😀
I also seem to like OreSeur better as a dog (except for the flesh pocket thing). But yes, I think that he could probably be much more helpful if Vin would just accept the contract and decide to actually make use of it. There has to be more to it than just being a bodyguard.
I agree with you Kristen…completely.
Yes, I was trying to forget about the whole flesh pocket thing (or trying to pretend I never read that bit).
Lynn:D
I too think OreSeur as a dog is a great character. I like that he can use the dog’s strengths to actually be a better protector/companion to Vin. He isn’t necessarily trustworthy, and yet I wonder how much of that loyalty that dogs have will start coming out through his actions, if any at all. I do really like the idea of her having an animal companion. Hopefully he can help sniff out the imposter.
I’m really enjoying OreSeur’s character as well. I agree that he seems to twist things to his advantage, but I think that might be a natural reaction to the hostility Vin gives him.
Although I felt sorry for the dog, I did enjoy Vin’s badass way of dealing with it! 😀
Me too. I think Sanderson tried to make us less sympathetic for the dog since it was a mean ol’ cuss.
I miss Kel too! The spark is missing without him. I do like Vin, and Elend and the others but so far, I have not been quite as engaged. I think that is because none of the other characters have quite filled Kel’s role. I am starting to see some sparks with the chapters featuring Sazed and then Marsh’s appearance. Breeze’s entrance into the story has had some intrigue too. I do not mind the politics, but I also like politics in general. But I agree, I think the political aspect has dragged on a bit too much. BUT, I am also thinking and hoping that Sanderson is creating the base for what is to come. That maybe something will be lost without political understanding.
A few things that do stand out to me…
Vin is slightly boring. That surprises me, she is too much a fighter, and not thinking with much of an open mind in regards to Elend’s vision. She is negative and that disappoints. Elend – I feel slightly sorry for him. He does not have the people’s respect yet. I really hope he gains the respect because he really does have such great intentions. I do wonder if his vision for a free government…free people…will come to true reality.
I most curious about the watchman, and also about who else is a kandra.
Anyway, I am enjoying the story but not to the same level as Mistborn.
I totally agree and it was something that I did worry about when Kel died in book No.1. I didn’t feel that any one of the other characters could fill his role as a main lead – in fact I was really surprised when Sanderson made the decision to write him out. Don’t get me wrong, I do like the other characters but at the moment I don’t feel that any one of them is charismatic enough to take over. Kel was the one with the vision and in spite of everything he had this whole ‘cheeky chappy’ thing going on, always defiantly smiling, plus he was the first into the fray. I hope that Vin is going to step up a bit, she’s definitely come on as a Mistborn but her character is a bit flat somehow. I think OreSeur’s role is definitely coming on and I’m hoping for more development there.
Lynn 😀
I certainly think the Void we are sensing with Kelsier’s loss is a purposeful part of the story and I cannot imagine Sanderson not eventually writing in someone to fulfill that role. We saw flashes of that potential in Vin when she fought the Lord Ruler. I think the whole group is acting very naturally in the loss of such a charismatic leader, it just doesn’t make for the most exciting reading.
Vin is being very negatively focused right now and she does need to snap out of that and get her head screwed on straight. She will go mad if she keeps trying to defeat any and all possible threats to Elend.
I always saw Vin as the main protagonist, never Kelsier. He was there, he was a hero, but he felt like a tragic hero the whole time, while Vin was the one who was really going to carry the series.
It strikes me that Kel’s death was very essential to the success of the rebellion, but it also allows us to see what happens after the “happily ever after” has been achieved. It shows that defeating the Lord Ruler was not the only thing that needed to happen. It reminds me a little of the Iraq war when Saddam Hussein was deposed and then the allies were amazed that perfect democracy didn’t magically appear. Everyone plans for the war, but not for the peace that follows! 🙁
That is so very true. These kind of situations always remind me of The Lord of the Rings and the idea that although Middle-earth was saved, it was not saved for everyone, particularly in the case of Frodo, who never fully recovered from the wounds he received physically and also psychologically. We don’t always get the ‘aftermath’ story and I find the idea that we are getting some of that to be fascinating.
It’s interesting that you say Vin is boring. I find her the most fascinating character! I love the conflict that she’s going through, not knowing her place, trying to stay invisible when everyone wants to worship her. Huge conflict. I can’t wait to read more about her!
Kelsier was definitely doomed from the start. He was such a larger-than-life character. And while I agree that Vin really was the main character in the first book as far as the story being centered around her, I think Kelsier was the more dynamic character and that Vin played off him better than she plays off anyone else. I’m hoping that the return of Sazed will give her a more worthy character to play off of for the rest of the book. I don’t find her boring, but I can see how she could get boring on the track she is currently on. I trust Sanderson enough to believe that won’t happen.
It seems like Mr Sanderson is very interested in the way religion and power are inter-related: there is the hint that Kelsier could easily have become a second Lord Ruler if he had lived. We see the same dilemma with Elend: I feel like he knows the direction that the people should take, but he is trying very hard to let them make that decision themselves rather than just stepping in and telling them what to do.
I think so too and I’m finding that interesting. In the past I would have shied away from books that had that focus but since reading Dune especially I am much more interested.
Yep, Dune springs to my mind as well when thinking of Kelsier: I am really hoping that his ideology doesn’t get as derailed as Paul’s
I also related to the “finding Vin boring” statement but I think it relates more to her growth — or lack thereof. I mean, it’s been a YEAR and she still hasn’t dealt with being the Heir of the Survivor at all? She hasn’t figured out politics even a little bit? It’s “boring” that she’s not trying to improve herself at all but just to fit her old self into this new world.
I’m not sure I’d agree that she hasn’t got politics figured out. It seems that while her way may not be great in political idealism, it might work better than Elend’s approach has so far…
Your statements, Kristen, are probably really valid criticism of Sanderson’s writing in the first section. While overall it was fine not every part of the story “feels” like a year has passed. I think he did a great job with making Vin and Elend’s relationship have a little more weight, which would have understandably happened after a year, but there are also parts that read very much like the setting is just after Kelsier’s death rather than an entire year later.
The first part of this book really does nothing more than set the framework for what it going to happen later in the book.
I agree with you that Kelsier’s absence is very noticeable, especially in the opening section. He was such a wonderful charismatic character that there really was no way he wasn’t going to overshadow parts of this book.
Overall the book does focus more on political intrigue, with Elend and co struggling to keep the city together after the fall of the Lord Ruler. I liked seeing the fact that the crew from the first book is still around to help in this book. Obviously Vin is the uniting factor, but everyone in the crew was very capable at their jobs, and who are you going to find that would be more prepared for an impossible task like ruling a country when you just deposed the only leader they’ve known for 1,000 years?
Sazed is easily one of my favorite characters in the series, and it’s great to see his viewpoints expand in this book. OreSeur is another fun character, and the Kandra are really interesting.
It does, Adam, and while we all know that I think it is just par for the course with second books of a trilogy. Its hard to balance between not having too much set up and rehashing of the previous book and having enough that the book can somewhat stand on its own.
Sazed was great in the last book and he is one of the characters I am most interested in going forward. There is so much potential with the character and while he was vital in the first book I think Sanderson hasn’t scratched the surface yet on what could be done with this character.
Well, as you know, this is a reread for me. It was nice to go back to Mistborn after some of the books I’ve been reading lately! My first time reading this book, I loved the way it opened. I was drawn in right away, and I thought Vin’s battle with the assassins was a great way to gloss over a reminder of how allomancy and the main metals worked. I was less fond of the politics – still am on reread – but I enjoyed meeting each character and seeing how they’d changed in the past year. I was intrigued by the Watcher, and completely distressed to learn about the spy possibly killing and imitating one of the members of Kelsier’s crew.
Honestly, I didn’t miss Kelsier at all. Kel was never the major protagonist for me, and his death didn’t affect me like it did everyone else. For me, the series was always about Vin and her story, and in this section, there is so much here about Vin that I was completely invested without needing Kelsier to make the book come alive. I was particularly struck by her conflict between people knowing who she is and wanting to remain completely inconspicuous. She doesn’t have that choice, and she doesn’t know how to deal with it. I suspected from the beginning that that was going to be a major part of this book.
I think as I step back from it a bit to evaluate the various shared thoughts about Kelsier and Vin what I am finding is that Kelsier brought out more interesting aspects of Vin for me and I liked the way they played off each other and they way each character’s story was juxtaposed against the other. I’m not finding a character who is in any way a mirror to her yet in this second book and I think that takes some of the sparkle off her. But again, I think this is all planned and is a very natural part of an overall character arc so I’m not worried that my feelings are going to change much. She was a well written character in the first book and I suspect she’ll continue to grow as the series pushes on.
I won’t say any more and risk spoilers, but yes. 😀
In many ways she needed to become independent, and she could never truly do that with kel still in the picture. She should now grow to her full potential, I hope! 🙂
That is indeed the case. And I personally would rather that Kelsier died heroically rather than somehow becoming corrupted and becoming an even worse Lord Ruler.
Most of Part I was what I expected, and I enjoyed reading it. There is political wrangling, Elend and Vin deepening their relationship, Sazed trying to fulfill his dream of teaching the masses.
As said by others, I was a bit surprised the kandra is playing such a large role. But it did set us up to understand the significance of that extra set of bones….hmmm…..
And it is great having Breeze back. His solution to give Elend more time to figure something out is genius and desperate at the same time.
I am also very intrigued by the Watcher and by whoever is killing folks in the mist. I have to wonder if they are the same person.
I was surprised by the kandra as well, pleasantly so. Had I been told he would be playing a larger role I’m not sure I would have been excited about it, but I’ve been very happy with it thus far.
At this point I’m actually a little less intrigued by the Watcher. I’m sure I’ll grow more so, but I felt his introduction into the story was a bit off and so I’ve been less interested in him/her/it.
I was very happy when Breeze came back too! And I was definitely intrigued by the Watcher right away. Plus the mist killings. The first time I read through this book, I wasn’t sure if the Watcher and the mist figure were the same person or not.
I have a horrible suspicion that the Lord Ruler was responsible for keeping the mist, or whatever is in it, under control so that it didn’t eat people . . . oopsie! 🙁
That is certainly what was hinted at in the last book and I don’t think it was a ruse. I think that for all his obvious faults, the Lord Ruler may have been doing one good thing and that was keeping the Deepness at bay.
I used to know a guy who swore reading the first installment in a series until he had the full series in hand and ready to read. Oh sure, he’d pick up each addition to the series, saying he’d been burned too often by early novels in a series going out of print just as the final novel in each series was released and then being stuck haunting used book stores to find volume one (this was in the days before Amazon and E-Bay….how did we ever live?!?).
It was an interesting way to approach reading series and every time I pick up the first installment in a new series, I can’t help but think of him.
As I read the second installment in the Mistborn saga, I couldn’t help but also think of my reaction to people who are just “discovering” the Hunger Games for themselves. I read the novels as they came out and I feel a certain amount of envy for those who only have to wait as long as it takes to pick up the next novel in the series or load it up on the ol’ e-reader to find out what happens next. I had to wait a WHOLE YEAR in between each book, for heaven’s sake!
But then you get to something like the Mistborn novels and I’m the fortunate one. I only have to wait as long as I want to between the first three installments to find out what happens next. And believe me, I was curious to find out what happened next. At the end of Mistborn, the plan had come together–maybe not in the way we expected, but our heroes had met their stated goals for the book. And now comes the interesting part of things, at least for me–dealing with the consequences (both intended and unintended) of the first novel.
Of course, the biggest is that, sure we’ve replaced the Lord Ruler, but now what? What kind of powers will be wanting to step in and fill the vacuum left behind? We see glimpses of that here, with various armies riding in an an attempt to lay claim to the power and possibly fill the void left by the Lord Ruler. And while we root for Elend because he was one of the characters we got to know in book one and he’s now a full fledged love interest for Vin, I can’t help but wonder what a novel might look like from the point of view of his father or the leader of the other army who just rolled into town.
This first section felt a bit like both a catch-up and putting our pieces into play for what’s going to unfold next. We don’t pick up right away, but it’s been a year since the events of Mistborn. Vin and Elend are romantically involved and it feels a lot more authentic here than it did at the end of Mistborn, but things aren’t perfect. Elend keeps proposing and she keeps not answering. Interesting dynamic and I wonder how long this can last before those who are ruled perceive it as a weakness.
I also liked the reaction to the death of Kelsier and the small group that wants to make him the focal point of a new religion. I’m really hoping Sanderson pays off on that later in this novel or in the next installment. Since we got to know Kelsier, foibles and all in the first book, it should be interesting to see how the cult building up around him views him, especially as we get farther out from his death.
I thought it was really interesting that Vin refused Elend’s offer of marriage especially in the context of politics. Has she not thought at all about how it makes Elend appear to the people? Everyone talks about his “mistress” and that’s never a good thing for a politician. He might have a stronger, more respected position if she became his wife. But it seems that she is willfully ignoring politics, just like she willfully refused to read books in Mistborn.
Perhaps she sees a larger picture too. An unwed king is one that might be maneuvered into making an alliance through marriage. Like in Dune where Duke Leto remained unmarried but Jessica was his loyal concubine all those years. Duke Leto’s son Paul chose the same road too because of the political wrangling, or rather dangling, folks on a string with the hope of an alliance through marriage.
I thought that was interesting as well, although I’m not sure that it had political motives. Vin still seems like she’s not entirely certain of herself or her place in society, and I don’t think she’ll marry Elend until she’s ready.
Yep: this is why Elizabeth I never married: while she was still single everyone could be politically manipulated.
After the exciting and heartbreaking end to the first book I couldn’t wait to pick up the next installment. But I did and I think that is a good thing since I may have been disappointed. The speed of this novel does not compare yet to the first, or at least with the end. There is a lot more set up going on right now, which is good since I love stories that surprise me. Patience has never been my best quality.
I will admit, that I also miss Kel and his charisma and rashness. So far I am struggling somewhat to get past all of the political intrigue. However, it does feel good to get back into the story. It is like visiting old friends to see how their lives are going.
For me, I’m really curious to see where Sanderson will take us. Yet, does he have to have every character roll their eyes. I didn’t notice that as much as some of the group did last time, but it isn’t escaping my notice now.
And I’m really interested to see how the idealistic Elend survives the political harshness of his world. I loved the twist that his own father is trying to defeat him. Families and politics always make fascinating reading.
“like visiting old friends” – that is exactly how I felt when I picked this up!
I love that quality about good stories…I feel like I know the characters and I’m standing right there while all the action is happening.
I am so so very happy that Sazed is a point of view character in this installment. He was one of my favorites from the first book, and I’m glad that we’ll get to see more of him.
I think that this book takes a bit longer to get into because it does take some time to set up the story and fill in the gaps between where this book begins and the first one left off. It was a bit slow during the first few chapters, but by the end of this section it had already started to pick up. I’m exceedingly curious about that other Kandra. Who has been replaced, and who is he working for?
I am so so very happy that Sazed is a point of view character in this installment. He was one of my favorites from the first book, and I’m glad that we’ll get to see more of him.
I think that this book takes a bit longer to get into because it does take some time to set up the story and fill in the gaps between where this book begins and the first one left off. It was a bit slow during the first few chapters, but by the end of this section it had already started to pick up. I’m exceedingly curious about that other Kandra. Who has been replaced, and who is he working for?
I’m also a huge fan of the attention that’s still being paid to understanding Allomancy. Having access to another metal is going to make Vin a better Allomancer, even without Atium.
I do like Sazed – he’s just so reasonable and I do want him to return to the crew. I’m also really curious about the other Kandra – it’s really creepy. I’m enjoying the whole OreSeur being a dog now – it just lends him a different sort of quality!
Lynn 😀
Mhm. I’m wondering if Vin’s distaste for OreSeur is warranted. I was curious when OreSeur was talking about the Contract as being central to what the Kandra are, and I’d like to learn more about their philosophies and obligations.
I know, I’m not sure it is. Okay, I understand her distate for him but at the end of the day he was fulfilling his contract with Kel wasn’t he? This whole Kandra concept is pretty intriguing. You have to hand it to Sanderson for coming up with these strange new ideas.
Lynn 😀
I was a little put off that Vin is so opposed to the Kandra and his eating Kel, but it was what Kel wanted. And it doesn’t seem like the Kandra has any choice but to follow the contract. I have to keep reminding myself that she is a teenager.
Yeah, I couldn’t understand her POV with the Kandra – maybe it’ll turn out to be intuition and everything isn’t as straight forward as it seems but at the moment I feel it’s almost a little unfair.
Lynn 😀
I worry that it could bend the intention of the contract to suit itself, but I might just be cynical.