Calamity: The Reckoners Book 3 by Brandon Sanderson

This is the review for Calamity: The Reckoners Book 3 by Brandon Sanderson.  This is, obviously, the third book in this series and this review will likely contain spoilers.  If you have not yet read, though plant read, this series, read Steeheart and start the journey.  Otherwise, please continue to read!

At the end of Firefight, the second book in the series, we were left with a much damaged band of Reckoners.  The cell that was in charge of the city Babilar (formerly known as New York City) is nearly annihilated and the one-time patriarch, founder, leader of all the Reckoners, and father-figure to David, Prof , has let the darkness of Calamity take him over.  Also taken out was the Epic Regalia who was in control of Babilar.  Final count, Prof is gone, Megan is on the Reckoner's side and the Reckoners are on the run.

The series up to this point has been action packed and full of twists and turns.  This installment is no different.  We start off with the new leader of the remaining crew, David.  Yes, the kid who was barely allowed to join after pulling a dangerous stunt to get their notice, now runs the operation.  We get a good idea how that happened as time goes on.  David uses his leadership to keep the Reckoners and the story going.  Brandon Sanderson has always been a master at pacing and it really shows in this series and especially in this book.

One thing a reader can usually look forward to in a book sequel is character growth and that is exactly what we get this time.  Not only do we witness David's growth within the group but also with him as an individual.  David isn't the only one who grows.  We actually get some good looks into the lives and motivations of some of the others like Abraham, Cody and Megan.

Calamity: The Reckoners Book 3 is a very exciting and entertaining book that could be used to round out this series.  I think Mr. Sanderson hinted or outright said so but, I can see a way he could keep things going if he chose to.  This is marketed as a YA book and I would give it a PG13 due to it's violence.  There's no really objectionable language or mature content to worry about.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, March 23, 2016

 Action amp; Adventure, Brandon Sanderson, Dystopian, Purchased, Random House Children's Books, Review, superhuman, The Reckoners, young adult  Leave your mark

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Bands of Mourning (Mistborn #6) by Brandon Sanderson

Bands of Mourning is the 6th book in the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson.  During this review I will be revealing some plot points from the first five books and yes, by that I mean spoilers.  So, if you haven't yet started reading this series and intend to, I suggest you come back to this review once you've gotten this far.  After all, this isn't just a book series, it is a real adventure.

In the previous book, Shadow of Self,   Waxillium, Wayne and Marasi learn there's a kandra doing mischief.  Masquerading as various people and doing the one thing kandras aren't allowed to do, killing people.  Fortunately for the trio, there is another kandra sent by Sazed (now known as Harmony).   This one comes in the guise of a lovely woman named Melaan at a party. Melaan lets them know that the kandra they are going up against is named Paalm, a kandra who has lost one of the spikes that gives the kandra their sentience.  At the end of it all, when Wax finds that the kandra who had been causing all the problems was really Lessie, his dead wife. Waxillium had fallen in love with a being that was sent by Harmony  to guide him to a goal. This is just a small bit of what went on.

To me, this was a masterstroke by Sanderson to bring the characters to a pivotal moment.  The interplay and tension among these compatriots in nearly tangible in this installment.  I have to tease right here and say that, one of the casualties of these two books is a hero.  In the end it was a deed that needed to be done and there was another to take the place.  There seems to be almost a theme between Shadow of Self and Bands of Mourning.  An idea of the end of one being the beginning of another.  As proof, we see the end to some notions we had about these characters washed away just to allow them into more complex and real people.

The story itself is what we have come to expect from Brandon Sanderson. It's rich in detail and there is sufficient action and revelation to keep the reader fully engaged.  This one also has an even that I so wanted to happen but, was afraid would never come.

Being released so soon after Shadows of Self was a surprise and the book itself made it a very pleasant one.  There is quite a bit of violence a and some occasional innuendo all of which inches this one into the PG13 area for me.

 

 



 

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, February 03, 2016

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Magic, Mistborn, Purchased, Review  Leave your mark

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Shadows of Self (Mistborn Book 5) by Brandon Sanderson

This is a review of the fifth book in the Misborn series by Brandon Sanderson. If you have not read any of the previous books but, love books filled with action, adventure and romance, I highly suggest you stop reading this review, pick up the first book (The Last Empire) and work your way back here later.  I will likely touch on some aspects of the story that may reveal key elements of the previous books.  Things that are commonly referred to as 'Spoilers'.

When last we left Wax, Wayne and Marasi were  recovering from their battle to take down Wax's old friend Miles Dagouter.  Miles was another Twinborn and former Lawman whose Allomantic and Feruchemical abilities made him nearly unstoppable and almost immortal. Waxillium and his small crew managed the impossible and brought Miles down though, it was a hollow victory.  For, the one pulling Miles' strings not only got away, he turned out to be Wax' supposedly dead uncle, Edwarn Ladrian.  Coupled with the loss of his one true love, Lessie and his loveless betrothal to Steris  all gives Waxillium Ladrian little to celebrate at the end of the first book.

Unlike most series, the fourth book stays in the same world but, it moves far enough forward in time that many of the feats and people from before take on legendary status. Now, in Shadows of Self, the current heroes are having to deal with the results of the feats of those legends as well as a burst of technology and innovation none where accustom to.  It's that same spirit of experimentation that can make Steampunk so much fun.  I wouldn't classify this novel as Steampunk but, it does have that same feel.

This is an interesting second act to this half of the series in that, relationships one may count on to get a bit closer, don't.  While other character paths seem destined to collide.  Of course we get a better understanding for Wax, Wayne and Marasi but, it was certain things I thought I picked up on in Steris that surprised me a bit.  We even get a bit more in about Wax' first love, Lessie.  All in all, the character growth in this book is the best part of it.  Any time an author gets the reader to feel that much more involved with the people in a story I count it as a success.

That's not to short change the story by any means.  As we watch the characters progress, we also get to see what could be the beginnings of tremendous change in the world.  It's all brought along so gently and organically that even the reader may not pick up on it.

Shadow of Self is a book so entertaining one could easily try to finish it in one or two sittings.  There is quite a bit of violence and some language that's a bit suggestive of mature topics all which land it in the PG13 are for me.

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, December 16, 2015

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Magic, Mistborn, Review  1 Person left their mark

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The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson

This is technically the fourth book in this series.  A review of The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson does not require any spoilers of any of the previous books however, I do suggest you start at the beginning of the series.  It answers questions  on how and why some things happen as well as giving the reader a slight sense of superiority over the characters.  After all, we know what really happened over three hundred years ago!

From plains not unlike those of the mid-western US to city streets that may make a  19th century Londoner feel at home, Allomancers and Feruchemists use their skills and powers much as their ancestors once did.  If one is as fortunate as Mr. Waxillium Ladrian, you get abilities from both abilities.

Brandon Sanderson brings to life a character who is both comfortable and yet unsuited to live in either of the two societies he has called home throughout his life.  Waxillium may understand the hard rules of both the Roughs and the subtleties of the city but, that does not mean he is welcome by the inhabitants of either.  Through this story, we get to see this emerge and take real shape.  Much like most of the characters in this book as well as this series,   Mr. Ladrian is a well defined, well developed character that grows with the story.  Another hallmark to a Brandon Sanderson book is how a seemingly obscure side character can often come from and center and crucial to the plot.  I won't say more than that except that, one should not casually dismiss characters who seem to be part of the scenery.  You may see them again.

The scenery itself is a large part of the narrative.  Much as it was in the previous three novels, the scenes continue to set the mood and scope of the story.  Whether in a cramped train car or an open plain, the author brings in the setting like an extra character.

I've always liked the pacing of Brandon Sanderson's books and this one does not disappoint.  There never seems to be action for action's sake and the more peaceful parts are for more than simple exposition but, are placed well enough to give the readers a moment to catch their breath before moving us through the plot.  To be honest,  one may recognize some tropes but, I think there's enough twist to most of them to keep the readers engaged.

The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson is more than a continuation of the series, it is the series reborn into a new time.  I found it very entertaining and would have no problem recommending it for my 14 yr old to read. That earns it a modest PG13 rating mainly due to violence and some moderate adult conversations.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, December 02, 2015

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Magic, Mistborn, Purchased, Review  Leave your mark

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The Hero of Ages: Book Three of Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

This is the third book of the Mistborn book series.  If you have not read but, are interested in reading any of the previous books in the series, stop now for there are spoilers ahead and I would not want to ruin anybody’s journey.

In the previous books, we met Vin, lowest ranking thief in a gang of thieves and con artists.  After meeting Kelsier, a very talented mistborn, Vin finds she, too is mistborn.  After months of preparation, the two of them pull off the impossible, they kill the Lord Ruler, an immortal, sadistic tyrant.  In the middle of taking down the tyrant, Vin lost her mentor and was left to restore the known world with the help of her high born boyfriend.  Can they bring the world together and deal with the entities Vin encountered at the Well of Ascention?

This is the epic resolution to an equally epic story.  This is a world in upheaval.  Politically much of the aristocracy is fighting for power.  Socially the population trying to find its own way and rewrite its own rules.  Both climate and geological changes are adding to the disruption.  In this story, Brandon Sanderson has managed to not only mirror the character problems with those of the settings but, also to have them compliment and each push the others narrative further along.

Throughout these books, we’ve gotten to see the characters not just grow but evolve.  This is carried all the way to the very end of this book as well.  Vin and Elend are not the only two we get to watch mature but, they are the best examples of that growth.  We get to see characters that are young and self-absorbed become quite different as this story closes.  I received a comment recently about the choice of protagonist in the story.  The only problem is, I think the assumption of the identity of the true hero of this story was incorrect.  Of course I won’t mention it here but, I challenge everybody to find the answer for themselves.

This is truly and epic story as only Brandon Sanderson can create.  It is as detailed as it is entertaining and I am glad to see that the world lives on after the initial trilogy.  This gets a definite PG13 rating due to the violence.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, November 25, 2015

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Mistborn, Purchased, Review  Leave your mark

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The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, Book 2) by Brandon Sanderson

The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, Book 2) by Brandon Sanderson is the second book  in the Mistborn series.  If you have a thought to some day read the first book in this series, stop here until you have.  This review will certainly contain spoilers for t hat first book.

What does one do once you have overthrown a god?  That's the question is on the mind of Vin and her crew.  The Lord Ruler was not really a god but, to the people of Vin's world, he may as well have been.  On top of all that, Vin has to deal with seeing her mentor die as well as nearly dying herself.  At least the hard part is over and all she and Elend have to do is keep the world from falling apart.

This is where we find ourselves in the beginning of this book.  It's starts as  a rebirth of not just one culture but, all cultures that have dwindled and died under the iron grip of the Lord Ruler.  This is one of those books that answers the question left open by so many stories:  What comes after the ending?  Once evil is overthrown, what happens next?  And then the all important question, can the people left after such an event manage to do what is right and just?  Brandon Sanderson does a masterful job of taking the reader through these and many more answers to questions that come  after freeing  people.  It's handled not only logically but thoughtfully and draws you deeper and deeper into the situation at every turn.

'Hard times don't build character, they reveal it' or something to that nature is an axiom that takes center stage much of the time.  The characters we have come to know and love or hate are pushed to breaking point but at the end of the last book and here as well.  We get to see how it all shapes them and builds on what we know of them already.

The setting, of course, is sill the star of the show.  The sun, the ash and the mists are all still there and are a constant that these people must put up with.  Sanderson does an excellent job of letting the inanimate help shape the story.

This is a very entertaining continuation of the story.  While it is epic in length, it still leaves the reader wanting more by the end.  Which is good because, they aren't done yet.  It does have some violence which put's it into the PG13 rating for me.

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, November 18, 2015

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Fiction, Macmillan, Mistborn, Purchased, Review  Leave your mark

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Mistborn: The Final Empire (Book 1) by Brandon Sanderson

Usually, when somebody writes about elements and magic, they are referring to earth, water, air and fire.  For Vin Kelsier and other allomancers, they mean elements like iron, copper and gold as well as their alloys.  Allomancers use these metals to perform particular types of magic in the world created by Brandon Sanderson in Mistborn: The Final Empire.

This world can be either exciting and wonderful places or it could be oppressive and dehumanizing depending on what family one was born into.  Whether you were part of the peasant class known as the Skaa or if you were part of the nobility, nobody went out into the Mists at night.  Nobody except for the Survivor.

This is an epic novel written about classic struggles against tyranny, oppression and the unknown.  This is a time and place that seem to be created and managed by a single entity: The Lord Ruler.  Brandon Sanderson makes full use of the colors, textures and backgrounds of this world to convey a sense of the oppression so many these people under while also giving glimpses of color and opulence that show promise of what once was and still could be.  It's that idea that seems to motivate many of the characters.

Our main character, Vin, is a strong willed survivor who begins the story not really knowing how special she is.  One of the fortunate aspects of being an epic size story is that there is plenty of time to really develop characters.  Mr. Sanderson does just that with Vin, Kelsier and the rest.  Since it is such a long book, we not only get to know them but, we also see the characters start to evolve over a more natural feeling time period.

The settings and characters are all brought together to tell a story that on its surface seems familiar but, there are points and twists that keep the reader in the story to the end.  Even if you think you may have things figured out, one of the characters or events will come along and make you reassess your theory.

I've said it a couple of times earlier but, I think it bears repeating: this is a long book. It possibly could have been divided into two distinct books but, I think it would have lost something special about it.  It's a very entertaining  read.  It does have violence which earns it a moderate PG13 rating from me.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, November 11, 2015

 Brandon Sanderson, Epic, Fantasy, Magic, Mistborn, Orion, Review  2 People left their mark

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Firefight: Reckoners Book 2 by Brandon Sanderson

Now that Steelheart and Mitosis are no more, everything can go back to normal, right?  Of course not.  The thing about Epics is, there are plenty to go around.  The Reckoners find that getting rid of one tyrant makes room for at least one more.  Now, Newcago is trying to rebuild after being controlled by Steelheart for so long.  In the middle of all of that, the Reckoners need to send a small crew to help out the Reckoner group in New Babylon.

Just as with successful movies, making a sequel can be hazardous.  The author could cripple characters by making them too much like they were in the first book and not growing at all.  The author could demean the series by creating repetitive or meaningless plots and tropes.  Thankfully, none of that happens in Firefight, the latest volume in the Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson.

Now, this is a story line that lends itself well to the whole Monster of the Week feel.  It does that to an extent with this story.  As with all Reckoner's stories, there are new Epics are introduced with strange new abilities.  I don't want to give too much away but, David and his friends delve into the whole 'Epic' issue deeper than before.  Not the least of the questions being, can Epics rule justly.  That question can be seen as allegory for the current times question, can a dictator be better than the alternative.  The answer is, of course, dependent on who is asked.

The newer characters are good additions to the Reckoner's world.  They don't come off as 'cookie-cutter' though, many typical archetypes are represented.  The young and zealous recruit, the reluctant hero and of course the power hungry mastermind.  We can also add the disaffected drone in this story.  Obviously, Firefight makes an appearance in this book.  To say the character has twists to it is an understatement.  It's more like it was written on a Mobius Strip rather than paper.

Firefight  is a worthy addition to the Reckoners world.  Not only does it continue the story from the previous books but, it leaves us wanting more.  It brings to my mind the story arcs of Eragon and Harry Potter in that, we get to see a character grow from a single minded goal into a greater understanding of the world and their part in it.  This is a book that is intended for young adults and does a good job in that respect though it is a little heavy on violence.  I would put it at a mile PG13.

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, April 22, 2015

 Brandon Sanderson, Delacorte, Dystopian, Purchased, Review, superhuman, The Reckoners, Urban Fantasy, young adult  Leave your mark

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The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

In The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson takes us to a time and place that might have been.  In this telling, the United States of America has become the United Isles of America.  The reason for them being islands isn't immediately clear in this, the first book of the series.  North America seems to be broken up differently and the influences Europe had over the development of some areas is markedly different.  With that, the more striking difference between their reality and ours is the rithmatists.  They are able to use geometric shapes  and lines to influence the world around them and to create two dimensional constructs to do handle minor tasks.  Rithmatists are selected at 8 years old and trained to use rithmatics.  A large part of their training seems to be combat related.

The main character, Joel, is a young man who is very knowledgeable in the was of rithmatics.  He does not, however, have the ability to use rithmatics.    To make matters worse for Joel, he goes to a top rated school full kids of some of the wealthiest and most influential families.  I like the character and his humble approach.  Often we're given these characters with a chip on their shoulder but, not this time, not really.  I also like the character of his classmate Melody.  She sometimes comes off as a little bipolar at times but, there a certain honesty to her character.  The rest of the characters often don't measure up to these two.  Some characters a little light in development and a few are almost caricatures of the role they play in the story.  I was a little surprise to see that in a Sanderson book.  Most of his principle characters have sufficient depth to them.  He didn't always hit the mark in this book.

The story itself is strong and the world in which it occurs is intriguing.  I like steampunk used in real world design as well as in story settings.  Brandon Sanderson has managed to use it here in a way that isn't over the top but, still get that style-sense across.   The book uses some well known tropes throughout.  Some seemed a little too familiar to me.  I still stay true to my there's nothing new under the sun attitude but, I believe authors should be very careful not to get too close other literary properties when courting the same type readers.  I'll just say that a few times when the word "rithmatic" showed up the word "arithmancy" echoed in my head.

This is a very interesting read.  For teens, it shows promise to be an excellent series for them to follow.  The world and magic system Brandon Sanderson has built with this one is still a bit incomplete at this point but, there is great potential there.  There is some mild violence and no sexual content so, I give  this a PG rating for sure.  I'll be watching for the next in this series in the future!



 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, January 28, 2015

 alternate history, Brandon Sanderson, Fantasy, Purchased, Review, Rithmatist, steampunk, Tor Books, young adult  4 People left their mark

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Mitosis by Brandon Sanderson

What do you do once the bad guy is gone.  How do you teach a population to take charge of their own destiny.  How do you convince them they should?  These some of the questions that are brought up in this, the book between the  books.   Mitosis also gives us an opportunity to spend a little time with David and the team of Reckoners he is a part of while they deal with yet another Epic.  Can you guess the Epic's name? Yep, Mitosis.  This winds up being more than just a story of how to rid a city of an overbearing super-human.  This story is a beginning.  This is the beginning a new city and a new society.

Brandon Sanderson, as always, does a masterful job of not just telling the story but, bringing it to life.  Like making the perfect martini, blending science-fantasy with real world concepts to the point of near believability is more than art, it's a craft.  Mr. Sanderson uses one of my favorite devices in this endeavor: anecdote as allegory.  Some book series do an excellent job of illustrating that world's political intrigue with nuanced conversation and clever manipulation.  Sanderson uses things like a hot dog.  It may not be the most elegant way to impart information but it does start to pin point some of the problems and supposed solutions to the situation David finds his city in.

Most of the characters we loved from Steelheart are back.  There wasn't much need for development.  For me, it was like seeing how an old friend was doing.  The one who does show a bit of maturing is, of course, our hero, David.  The rest of the crew is a bit older than he is so, for him to be on the steepest learning curve only makes sense.

I think this is a very worthy addition to the franchise.  More than that, I believe it helps the audience transition from Steelheart to Firefight.  The series reads well without it but, it reads much better with it. This is a YA book and I won't hesitate suggesting it to my teenage son.  There is some violence and some relationship discussions so, it is still in the PG-13 range.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, January 14, 2015

 Action amp; Adventure, Brandon Sanderson, Dystopian, General, Publisher, Random House Children's Books, Reckoners, Review, Science-Fiction, young adult  1 Person left their mark

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Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

In the not too distant future, a major event called  The Calamity, changes random people and with that, the fate of humanity.  If that sounds a bit familiar it may be because it’s the basis for many post-apocalyptic stories.  Brandon Sanderson has freshened up this often used trope in his book Steelheart – Book 1 of the Reckoners Series.

In the Reckoners series, The Calamity, ordinary people are transformed.  The transformation gives these random people superhero like abilities and they become known as Epics.  These new powers result in a huge power shifts throughout the country.  Borders are redrawn and governments, though left in place, are powerless.  This story follows a young man named David.  When David was very young, he and his father where in Chicago when an Epic named Steelheart made his mark on the city.  David sees something nobody was never meant to see, the vulnerability of an Epic.  The resulting events become the catalyst that drive David to seek revenge and an end to all Epics.

The character of David seeks out a group of people known as the Reckoners.   Sanderson creates the group with many of the archetypes we’ve seen before like the whiny teen, the aloof love interest and the hard core gun enthusiast.  He doesn’t just use them as filler. He breathes a bit of life into them.  You either like, dislike or are oddly amused by these characters. In time, you start to slowly understand who this band of misfits are and how they function together.  You also see how they have reached this point through their backstories.

By telling the story through David’s eyes, Brandon Sanderson brings you into the story.  He keeps you there with a great combination of action scenes and plot twists.  His writing is easy to follow without being too simple or patronizing.  I like how in this book, he peppers the dialog with slang he created for the time period and it doesn’t sound contrived.

There’s a dose of reality in this story I found oddly refreshing.  The group seems to have more mistakes and missteps than true successes.  It’s not that I like to see the good guys fail, mind you.   I do think that showing their flaws and weaknesses can give the story that touch of reality that makes it easy for the reader to get drawn.

I like this book with its action and twists.  It kept me engaged the whole way. I would not hesitate to recommend Steelheart to anyone twelve years or older. I actually did suggest to my son when for a school assignment and he liked it.  There is violence and some young adult romance but, it’s actually all pretty mild.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series coming out soon.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sC9NtpXLH4&w=560&h=315]

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by Tynga at Wednesday, November 12, 2014

 Brandon Sanderson, Delacorte, Purchased, Reckoners, Review, Urban Fantasy, young adult  Leave your mark

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