Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson

This novel I found to be a page turner from start to finish.  Brandon Sanderson has created a tense world on the edge of violence where basic human values run at a low ebb.  In his world something unexplained has happened that has caused volcanism on a massive scale.  Many plants, animals and people struggle to survive his harsh world.  The world is ruled by one man, possessed of god like powers, who is utterly without mercy, corrupted totally by the power he wields.

The story that unfolds is the story of an individual, a girl called Vin, who is rescued fro the street by some thieves because of her ability to consume the energy of metals and perform acts of magic.  What follows is a transformation.  There is the transformation of Vin, as she discovers more about herself and what people are really capable of.  There is the transformation of her view of the world and the transformation of the members of the thieving crew, who become her first friends.

From the point of view of fantasy literature I thought this book was utterly brilliant.  The author has created a magic and a world that is very new and intriguing.  It is a powerful vessel that allows him to create heroes and villains that grip the reader.  The plotting in the book is wonderful and answers enough questions to satisfy the curiosity, but leaves enough threads hanging to leave you hungry for more of the same.  Thank you Mr Sanderson.