The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson, Book Review

I’ve settled in on this cold winter night with some icecream and milk, and I’m prepared to give my impressions of Brandon Sanderson’s book, The Well of Ascension. To start off, it is the second book in the Mistborn trilogy. A series of which I have quickly become a fan. As always, I strongly suggest that if you are thinking of reading The Well of Ascension, please start with the first book in the series, Mistborn. You will have a much better understanding of the characters and I highly recommend Mistborn.

One of the best characteristics about Mr. Sanderson’s work is that it is completely unlike any other fantasy novel I ever read. It drips of magic, wizards, and warriors, but the characters engage in so much more beyond the typical fantasy plot. At times it reads like a murder mystery with all of the twisted storyline of a CSI or Law & Order episode.

The system of magic, from the first moment it was introduced, is complete and well thought out, but as the characters grow, what you thought you knew about this realm of magic completely changes. The battle scenes are never redundant as the characters continue to uncover new ways to manipulate their magical powers.

Although magic is a large part of this book, what makes this book unforgettable is the kingdom warfare, political games, and complex characters. It is an exciting story that takes the best parts of my favorite authors and puts them into one package. It has Terry Goodkind’s depth and philosophy, Robin Hobb’s rich and complex characters, and the political and kingdom entanglement of George RR Martin.

I’ve finished my icecream and milk, so it must be time to wrap up this review. Overall, it’s an amazing story that that I can’t wait to dive back into for the third and final book, The Hero of Ages.

Rating: 10 out of 10