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auliasbookcorner · 2 years ago

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Review: The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3) by Brandon Sanderson

Book 14 of 2022

Start Reading Time: 15 August 2022

Finish reading Time: 15 September 2022

Page Count: 572

TRIGGER WARNINGS: VIOLENCE, DEATH, BLOOD, MURDER, GENOCIDE, GORE

This is the spoiler-free part of the review. I will put up a spoiler alert before going into the review that contains spoilers.

I feel like a shell of myself after finishing this Trilogy.

After reading THAT ending.

I feel hollow.

This might be the worst book hangover yet.

That ending may have ruined me (pun very much intended).

It's been a week since I finished reading it, but I still can't form thoughts, and I've been procrastinating instead of making this review. It's like my brain has been turned upside down and inside out, and my psyche feels like it has just finished a marathon and is too tired to function.

BUT OH MY DEAR GOD DO I LOVE IT.

This has happened to me before and it was when I finished The Poppy War, and for those of you who had read that whole Trilogy, you know what I'm talking about. Once again, I feel so crushed but also, happy? Because that ending, as crushing as it is, it is just SO RIGHT. This feeling is so confusing but it's also the feeling I crave. It's this feeling that make me truly appreciate this gift of being able to read and getting lost in this fantasy world, and to cease to exist in the real world and forget all of it's problems for a while, only to fight evils with magical powers and to be given hope that goodness will win in the end. And, of course, it makes me appreciate that there are brilliant people like Brandon Sanderson who have written these amazing books so that ordinary people like me can read them, and that there are epic books like these exist in this world, waiting to be read by anyone who's willing.

I'm just so overwhelmed by all these feelings, so excuse me if this review will not make that much sense, I'm just a mere vessel of overwhelming love and gratitude for this series right now. I'm so happy to be able to visit The Final Empire and to get to know Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Spook, Sazed and everyone else. These characters have been living rent free in my mind since I started reading this series, and I know they will be comfortably staying there for a good while. I'm also so grateful for all of the moral lessons, food for thoughts and challenging arguments that made me reflect and question myself to be better.

I'm also so grateful that Brandon Sanderson is a wizard who writes books at breakneck speed because there are more books in this series, although it is set in a different era, and there will be one more trilogy set in a different era, AND there are novellas too! I'm so happy to be able to visit this world again someday when I read the next Mistborn books, even though Kelsier, Vin, Elend, and the crew won't be there anymore. I will most definitely reread this Trilogy, if Mr. Sanderson ever stops giving us new awesome books to read. JK, I will reread it even if there are new books to read, and I hope Brando Sando keeps releasing new books.

Having said all of that, I do have my criticisms of this book, though. I do have some issues with it, which I will explain later in this review, as I always think that no matter how good a book is, there is always room for improvement, and it is just my own humble opinion, which many others may not share. Nevertheless, these issues don't diminish my enjoyment of the book, I enjoyed this book and this trilogy as a whole thoroughly, and it has become my new obsession that I will never stop talking about for a really long time. I will always find some ways to bring it up in conversations, reviews, discussions, etc, so that everyone will be so curious about it and will eventually read the books for themselves. Well, that, or they may just get fed up with me, block me on everything and get turned off about the books because of me. Hopefully, it's the first one. Anyway, let’s get into the synopsis and the review:

It's been three years since Vin found the Well of Ascension and Elend was turned into a Mistborn. Things have gone worse than ever; now the ashes fall down even harder, killing the crops and food is becoming more and more scarce. The mist now comes even in daylight, making it harder for people to see, and a lot of people who go into the mist have fallen ill, and there are earthquakes happening more and more often each day. Things are grim to say the least.

Vin realized that when she released the spirit from the Well of Ascension instead of keeping the power of the Well to herself, she might have unknowingly started the end of the world. So, now Vin is desperate to find a way to save the world, and along with the help of Elend and the rest of the remaining crew: Sazed, Breeze, Ham and Spook, they're doing their best to find the Lord Ruler's storage caches filled with food and other supplies that he had left scattered across the Final Empire. They gather and distribute the food and other supplies they found in the storage caches to the people living in Luthadel and other regions that they have traveled to in search of the caches, which have pledged their allegiances to Elend and Vin as their new Emperor and Empress. However their supplies are growing thin each day, and the ashes are piling on the ground more and more, and everyday more people have fallen ill to the mist.

One of the most important things they found in each of the storage caches besides the food and other supplies, is the message from the Lord Ruler written on a piece of metal so it couldn't be corrupted. The message gives them clues about the location of other storage caches. They hope once they've found all of the storage caches, they will find an answer to their question; how to save the world from ending.

But, their mission to get to all of the storage caches is far from easy, since there are some regions that are refusing to be ruled by Elend and Vin, but Vin and the crew had no other choice but to get to all of those storage caches. The final two storage caches are located in Fadrex, a region that's now ruled by a former Obligator who's awfully loyal to The Lord Ruler; and Urteau, now ruled by a Noblepeople-hating skaa who worships The Survivor and is very religious.

Meanwhile, Sazed is still very deep in depression since losing Tindwyl, and he can't seem to bring himself to wear any of his metalminds nor find any meaning in the work he used to be so passionate about, and he feels guilty about that too. TenSoon is being accused of treason, he tries to explain to his people that the end is near and that they have to play their part in helping the Hero of Ages in preserving the world, but no one believes him. Marsh seems to be losing his hopes of ever being able to control himself again.

Things are worse than ever, and their chances of saving the world seem to be slimmer and slimmer everyday. Will they save the world in time? Find out how they, once again, did the impossible in this mind-blowingly epic end to this trilogy.

🚨SPOILER ALERT🚨

From this point forward in the review, I will mention spoilers, plot twist and the ending. So, if you don’t wish to be spoiled, you can skip the rest of the review and come back to this review once you’ve finished reading this book.

Buckle up people, because here's my long and dramatic rambling rant about the best things from the book that got me so obsessed with it:

MRS. VIN VENTURE, MISTBORN EMPRESS EXTRAORDINAIRE. I mean, she really went through it in this book. I gotta say that this book is NOT good to Vin, like, at all. Well, except she did get to finally go to a ball and dance with Elend in the early parts, but after that, it all just went downhill for her. She got held hostage by Yomen, her best friend Sazed is depressed, her other friend TenSoon is away and being accused of treason, she thought she was The Hero of Ages and put all the burden on herself to save the world, she found out that Ruin has been gaslighting the hell out her since she was a baby, and in the end she had to watch her husband being decapitated, and she was never The Hero of Ages, she was just someone that Ruin had picked since she was just a baby, to manipulate into releasing him from his prison because she had all the right criteria. Our homegirl was not having the best time, and I was stressed out for her. But I'm also so incredibly proud of her. She went from being a paranoid little street urchin into a bad-ass young Mistborn who killed the powerful and immortal tyrant, then she became an Empress who took control of thousands of Koloss, saving thousands of lives, and made the ultimate sacrifice for the survival of the entire world. She's truly one of the most amazing female protagonists I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Vin was not special, she was never the Hero of Ages, she didn't have special powers that other Mistborn doesn't have. it's true that she had heightened power with bronze which enable her to cut through copperclouds, which is the result of the hemalurgy that her late mother did to her, taking the power from her baby sister who was a Seeker, but other than that, she was just another Mistborn. What made her special is her being strong and resilient even long before she knew anything about Allomancy and realized she has Allomantic powers. What made her special is her still having faith in the goodness of others even when they had failed her time and time again. What made her special is her having compassion and treating others with respect and justice, having faith in people to be good. What made her special is just her being her. Sazed is damn right, Vin is special, but not because of the powers that she possesses, not because of the titles she holds, or the people she associates with. Vin's special because she simply is a special person.

I really thoroughly enjoy Vin's journey, and even though that ending wrecks me, I'm happy, proud and glad for how she ended up in this story. I'd like to think that now she's peaceful and happy in the heavens with Elend, Reen, Kelsier, Mare, Dockson, and Clubs.

But I am so far from being done talking about Vin lol. Despite having the shittiest times in this book, Vin still has the most badass moments, most wholesome moments, and cutest moments, and I'm here today to tell you all about it. Every time she fights anyone, be it the Koloss, Marsh, or those twelve inquisitors, I swear it's like Brandon Sanderson really TURNED IT THE FUCK UP for all these fight scenes because they truly got me so riled up. I freaking love reading those fight scenes, as brutal as it was, Vin was so fucking badass, she got me rooting for her like never before. Then when she's trying to give Sazed comfort in this scene:

"“There was a time,” she said, “after I’d taken the power at the Well of Ascension, when I thought Elend would die.” “But he did not,” Sazed said. “He lives still.” “It doesn’t matter,” Vin said. “I thought him dead. I knew he was dying—I held that power, Sazed, power you can’t imagine. Power you’ll never be able to imagine. The power to destroy worlds and remake them anew. The power to see and to understand. I saw him, and I knew he would die. And knew I held the power in my hands to save him.” Sazed looked up. “But I didn’t,” Vin said. “I let him bleed, and released the power instead. I consigned him to death.” “How?” Sazed asked. “How could you do such a thing?” “Because I looked into his eyes,” Vin said, “and knew it was what he wanted me to do. You gave me that, Sazed. You taught me to love him enough to let him die.”"

Side note about that quote, I feel like with most romantic stories, they'd ask, would you die for me? But with Vin and Elend, it's "I love you enough to let you die, because I know it's what you wanted", and that just proves that their love is superior, and it destroys me all over again. Will I get to know a love story this good ever again?

And this quote about Vin's growth:

"Vin was not fury. She was not terror. She had grown beyond those things. She had seen Elend die—had held him in her arms as he did—and had known that she had let it happen. Intentionally. And yet, he still lived. Every breath was unexpected, perhaps undeserved. Once, she’d been terrified that she would fail him. But, she had found peace—somehow—in understanding that she couldn’t keep him from risking his life. In understanding that she didn’t want to keep him from risking his life. So, she no longer fought out of fear for the man she loved. Instead, she fought with an understanding. She was a knife—Elend’s knife, the Final Empire’s knife. She didn’t fight to protect one man, but to protect the way of life he had created, and the people he struggled so hard to defend. Peace gave her strength."

Reading that part again after knowing how they ended up in the book is like a punch to the guts.

And the cutest moment has got to be that ✨ball scene✨, when Elend was pretending to read when they danced, to annoy Vin. Aaaaakkk that scene is what got me through that ending, in my head now Vin and Elend are dancing happily in a beautiful ballroom in heaven. However, in retrospect, rereading that scene I'm annoyed because their plan to quietly sneak into the storage cache when Elend is distracting Yomen is just SO STUPIIDDD!! OH MY GOD!!! I'm disappointed in Elend, tbh, because he was supposed to be a scholar, which means he's supposed to be very smart, right? Well, he's not very bright to actually go through with this plan. I'm just over here reading about them coming up with this poor plan and actually going through with it, knowing Yomen already set up traps for them like:

But, nevertheless, that ball scene with them dancing for the first (and even though by then they didn't know it yet, it's also their last) time, is just TOP TIER, it's the cutest and and the most romantic scene I read in a while. I'm so freaking happy for them, for my stupid and delusional babies, since they actually think their plan will be successful lol.

I also have to mention one of the cruelest things Ruin did to Vin, is to appear to her using Reen's likeness. Yes, that scene. And I have to tell you that I had a near heart attack thinking that Reen had been alive this whole time, that he never loved her and he didn't die protecting her, and was under Ruin's control. I think my heart stopped for a hot second. That was so freaking cruel of Ruin, to both Vin and me. I feel pranked by Brando Sando for that. Because you read my previous reviews of Book 1 and Book 2 of Mistborn, you'll know that I sympathize with Reen. But Vin was so smart because she knew that it's not really Reen, and she didn't get as emotional as I did.

And finally, that ending just cemented my love for Vin for the rest of my life, I keep coming back to her last words over and over again because I just find it so beautiful and comforting. I don't know other ways to express how much I love her, she's just the best thing about this trilogy, she's such an inspiration and she gives me so much happiness and hope just by reading her story.

"You created the thing that can kill you, Ruin, Vin said. And you just made one huge final mistake. You shouldn’t have killed Elend. You see, he was the only reason I had left to live."

ELEND. I cannot believe I used to hate this man. I legit hope that I spent more time appreciating how great and solid of a character he is. Just like his wife, I think Elend has gone through amazing transformation personality wise, and I really enjoyed reading about his growth (and my growth too, lol, because I went from hating him for being the new leader of Luthadel after Kelsier died, to liking him in Book 2, and now after reading that ending, I'm a raging fan of his).

Also, to think that my criticism of the first book is the Vin-Elend romance 🤡🤡🤡, but now I think it is one of the best romance in fantasy, because of the trust they have for each other (i mean... self development whooooo??!! lol). Even though, yes, some may say that their relationship is lacking in passion, but for me personally, it just feels refreshing to read about romance without reading multiple sex scenes, especially in the setting that this story takes place in, where the world is quite literally coming to an end. The fact that their fates ended so tragically, but also so in a way that is so beautiful (in that Epilogue after Sazed had put Elend back together), I think that has got to be what got me sobbing reading that ending. Their sacrifices for the preservation of the world. Just imagining them laying there lifeless, side by side, knowing what they've gone through, I get teary eyed just thinking about it. I would even go as far as to say that their romance is one of the best things about this book, for me personally. I'm a sucker for tragic love stories and theirs ranks pretty high for the most tragic love story, for me. I love it, I'm obsessed with it, if my SO doesn't love, support and trust me like Elend did Vin, and if I can't love, support and trust him like Vin did Elend, I don't want it. I mean just look at the material:

"He looked across the cabin at her, sitting on the bed, expression distant as she thought about things that shouldn’t have to be her burden. Even after leaping about all night, even after their days spent traveling, even with her face dirtied by ash, she was beautiful. At that moment, Elend realized something. Vin didn’t need another person worshipping her. She didn’t need another faithful believer like Demoux, especially not in Elend. He didn’t need to be a good member of the Church of the Survivor. He needed to be a good husband."

"It seemed a flimsy ruse to her. And yet, she knew that was because she could see Elend’s confusion, could read his lies in his eyes. She understood him, as he understood her. It was an understanding that required love. And she suspected that was something that Ruin would never be able to comprehend."

I mean, if I can't communicate via telepathy with my partner like that, I don't want it.

But back to Elend, I really like reading about his growth through him progressing his morals and political ideologies. Throughout all of his changes, since he was just an heir to the most powerful house in Luthadel, to him becoming a Mitborn and an Emperor, one thing about him doesn't change, and it's that he's a good person who wants to help and make things better for people. He dreaded that he'd become the next Lord Ruler, because he truly just wanted to be a good leader who wants what's best for his people, very much the opposite of the Lord Ruler. And that moment when he realizes that he had to be someone that he doesn't like, because being an emperor is never something that he ever wished to be, but he knows he had to be that in order to help the world to be better since the circumstances around him requires him to. Since he had previously tried to be a good and idealist leader but then is voted out of his leadership by the very people he chose to lead alongside him, and with the laws he himself made, and then the leadership title goes to someone else with nefarious intentions, and threaten the well being of his people, which made him think that he had failed as a leader that way. So he was stuck in this place where he's forced to be someone he hated being, but he's doing it for the well being of the rest of the world, how can you not sympathize with him for that?

"“What kind of monsters are we?” Fatren asked in a hushed tone. “The kind we have to be,” Elend said."

"He looked out over the blackened canal waters. “It doesn’t control me, Vin. I don’t agree with most of the things the Lord Ruler did. I’m just coming to understand him—and that understanding worries me.” She saw questions in his eyes, but also strengths. He looked down and met her eyes. “I can hold this throne only because I know that at one point, I was willing to give it up in the name of what was right. If I ever lose that, Vin, you need to tell me. All right?” Vin nodded. Elend looked back at the horizon again. What is it he hopes to see? Vin thought. “There has to be a balance, Vin,” he said. “Somehow, we’ll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and whom we need to be.” He sighed. “But for now,” he said, nodding to the side, “we simply have to be satisfied with who we are.”

It must be one of the hardest things to do, to go against your wishes, ideologies and moral values for a very selfless reason. For that, Elend deserves the title of the best leader, and I truly respect him for that.

His last speech before he went outside the cavern to fight the Koloss, even in his last moments he was inspiring others to make sacrifices for the survival of other people, when he himself knew that he'll die in that battle, once again just proves that he was a great leader and an amazing human being. I truly hope I spent more time appreciating and cherishing him and Vin since Book 1, and I will surely do that every time I reread this trilogy.

SAZED. I love him so much, so reading this book is hard sometimes, especially the chapters with his POVs. He was severely depressed, and honestly, I relate so hard, like it resonated with me so much and that is why it is hard to read lol. But also, it's even worse because we have come to know and love him as this amazing wise man, who's so passionate about his work, and so you know how when your loved one gets sick, it hurts and saddens you more than when you yourself get sick? Yeah, it's like that for me with Sazed. He was the one who gives advice to everyone in the crew, the one who's hopeful, and now he had become the opposite of that; he doesn't have hope, and he's the one who needs advice from others in the crew (and I have to mention also that it's so heartwarming and wholesome how almost everyone in the crew stepped up for him and tried to help him in one way or another). It's so crushing to read, especially as a fan, like I've been a raging fan and hyping him up since book 1.

However, you'll never know pure joy and satisfaction without knowing hardship first, and after all that Sazed had gone through in this book, after knowing him to be the most selfless, pure and kindhearted person who lifts up others around him, to find out that he was always destined to be the Hero of Ages, it's like one of those rare moments when the DVD logo hits the corner, it's like when the math formula makes sense to you, it's like when the little plastic containers fit into your drawer perfectly; IT FELT SO SATISFYING. I mean, because it just makes sense, and it fits him so much. He IS the Hero of Ages and I feel like he is the one who's most deserving of that title, no offense to Vin, because I really do love her to shreds, and she is also a hero, both her and Elend are heroes, after what they did for the survival of the world, but they're not the hero that is meant to last forever, because my babies deserve peace, and I'm so glad that it's what they get, even if it's in their deaths.

Also, the title just fits Sazed so much better since he has all of that knowledge about other religions and so I feel he's better equipped for the job, and he did a marvelous job of making the world a better place in the end. But you know what kills me, is that when he realized that he is the Hero of Ages, he was immediately in denial, saying that he's no hero and even the first words he'd written in the book he left for Spook is "Unfortunately, I am the Hero of Ages". I mean, excuse me Sir, what do you mean unfortunately? We're all honored and grateful to have you as the Hero of Ages.

Even though it was hard to read and it makes me cry multiple times, reading Sazed's journey in this book is just something I'm really grateful for, because it gives me so much hope, and just like when I read about Kaladin finding hope and meaning in The Stormlight Archives books, their stories inspire me so much. I really appreciate Brandon Sanderson so much for making these kinds of stories and including the representation of depression in his epic fantasy books, because to me, a person battling depression who's reading about a depressed character overcoming their depression and helping other people, and being something larger than life in their stories, it's nothing if not inspiring hope.

SPOOK. The Survivor of the Flames. I've been rooting for him since he was just an incoherent and shy little teenage boy tailing his old uncle around in Book 1. If you'd told me two books ago that this shy little guy who awkwardly tried to court Vin but get rejected, would turn into this bad-ass young man with extremely heightened senses who would save a city by going into a burning building and getting the water to flow through the water canals and thus extinguishing the fires that were destroying the city, I would say that is so awesome and I'd read these books faster to get to that point, because I always knew that he's meant for greatness.

To say that I love him would be an understatement, I feel like I'm his Mom, like I gave birth to him and I am so incredibly proud of how he turned out to be in this book, and I was also so protective of him. Yes, I mothered the hell out of him in this book, and when I found out that the voice in his head is definitely not Kelsier, I was yelling for him to not listen to that voice anymore. Reading that part when he was being manipulated by Ruin stressed me the fuck out. And when he struggles while flirting with Beldre, I was screaming for them to just kiss and make it official. I was so protective of him and their relationship, because after what happened to Sazed and Tindwyl in book 2, I just don't have a lot of faith in Brandon Sanderson to let these two to end up happily together, and I am so happy to be proven wrong by the ending.

We need to discuss that "Lestibourne" flashback scene, because when I get to that chapter, I legit had to put the book down and scream into a pillow.

"“You have a name, boy?” Spook opened his mouth, then stopped. His old name didn’t seem like it would do any more. “Lestibournes,” he finally said. The old man didn’t bat an eye. Later, Kelsier would decide that Lestibournes was too difficult to say, and name him “Spook” instead. Spook never did figure out whether or not Clubs knew how to speak Eastern street slang. Even if he did, Spook doubted that he’d understand the reference. Lestibournes. Lefting I’m born.Street slang for “I’ve been abandoned.””

It fucking hurts my soul, because he's my sweet baby boy, he didn't deserve to get hurt like that, especially when he was so little. It's been awhile since I last felt pain like the one I felt when I was reading that scene, and it was when I read The Kite Runner (if you know, you know). It made me also very grateful for Kelsier to give him the name Spook, because I think Kelsier must know the meaning behind the name Lestibourne, even when no one else in the crew knew, including Spook's own uncle, Clubs, and I think Kelsier truly cared for Spook that's why he gave him the name, which also just makes me love Kelsier more.

Spook also struggles with insecurity issues in this book, which breaks my heart every time. He'd assumed that he had joined the crew by default because his uncle was in the crew and he worked with his uncle, he believed that Kelsier would never willingly choose him to be in his crew if it wasn't for his uncle. And add to that the fact that he had left his uncle to die in Book 2, there's no wonder why my guy was so insecure and felt guilty AF. But to find out that he had been kind of inflicting abuse on himself by burning Tin nonstop to the point where his senses are so heightened that he had to cover his eyes with cloth in daylight, because he was so desperate to be useful and to prove his worth, it pains me. But in the end, he really did prove his worth, and he did help and save so many people in that city and the world by sending that message to Vin. And in that ending note in the book from Sazed,

"You did well. Know that the message you sent via Captain Goradel saved us all, in the end. The people will need leadership in the years to come. Likely, they will look to you. I’m sorry that I cannot be there in person to help you, but know that I am . . . about. I have made you Mistborn, and healed the damage you did to your body by flaring tin so much. I hope you don’t mind. It was Kelsier’s request, actually. Consider it a parting gift from him. Watch over them for me."

And before that, in the "dream" he had before he woke up after he survived the fire, and I think it's Kelsier that was speaking to him;

"“. . . And that's why you absolutely must get that message sent, Spook. The pieces of this thing are all spinning about, cast to the wind. You have a clue that nobody else does. Send it flying for me.” Spook nodded, feeling fuzzy. Where was he? What was going on? And why, suddenly, did everything hurt so much? “Good lad. You did well, Spook. I’m proud.”"

I'm so happy that in the end, Spook knows that Kelsier did in fact choose him and cared for him, and most of all, that he's proud of him. But, maybe it's Clubs who's talking to him in that "dream" of his? Either way, in the end Spook earned the approval from Kelsier, and he has Beldre, AND he's the new leader of this new world that Sazed created. I'm so happy for him, and I would legit read his own trilogy if BS ever feels like making it, whether it's about his life before he was in Kelsier's crew or about how he leads the new world, I would read it, no bullshit. I just love him so freaking much.

Btw, if Lestibournes is not his name and Spook was given to him by Kelsier, then what is his birth name????

MARSH. Hey, do you remember in the last review for the Well of Ascension when I was like...

Well, that turned out well, didn't it?

Why oh why did I become so invested in these characters when I KNOW they won't be alright and it'll hurt me tremendously? I never learn, and that's exactly why I continue to get hurt reading my beloved characters being killed off or tortured or in this case, being controlled by a powerful evil force and getting an unclear ending. I'm such a 🤡🤡🤡. Of course I had googled to find out what happens to Marsh after this book, and it seems that he's alive millenniums after that ending and he appears in the next trilogy which is set in the next era, but I mean, it would have been nice if this book has also mentions that he is alive after that battle with Vin.

However I'm glad that at least he got enough control of himself to help Vin by ripping out Vin's earring so that the mist/Preservation can transfer its powers to Vin. I'm glad that he knew that he'd made Mare proud, that he didn't give up this time.

Also, we need to talk about this quote:

"In the distance, down the slope, a solitary figure pushed resolutely through the ash. The man wore a pack and led an exhausted horse. Who is this? Marsh thought, looking closer. The man had the build of a soldier, with a square face and balding head, his jaw bearing several days’ worth of beard. Whoever he was, he had an impressive determination. Few people would brave the mists—yet this man not only walked through them, but forged his way through ash that was as high as his chest. The man’s uniform was stained black, as was his skin. Dark . . . ashen . . . Beautiful."

It's kinda giving me bi vibes from Marsh. Is he bi? Because I NEED TO KNOW. Too bad he killed Captain Goradel so brutally. They'd make a cute couple, I think.

HAM & BREEZE. I feel like we get so little of them both in this book, but I understand since this book is the last of the trilogy and Brando Sando has to fit a lot to answer so many questions. However, what little we have of these two is such a welcome refreshment from all the tension that's been going on in this book since start to finish. I'd just like to take a moment to appreciate these two fine men.

So here are my favorite moments of these two:

"Beside them, Ham was chuckling. Vin turned. “What?” “Ah, Vin,” Ham said, leaning back and folding his muscular arms, “when did you go and grow up on me? It seems like just last week you were scrambling about, hiding in corners, wearing the haircut of a boy and the attitude of a mouse.” Vin smiled fondly. “Do you remember when we first met? You thought I was a twixt.” Ham nodded. “Breeze nearly fainted dead away when he found we’d been talking with a Mistborn all that time! Honestly, Vin. Sometimes I can’t believe that you were that same frightened girl Kelsier brought into the crew.” “It has been five years, Ham. I’m twenty-one now.” “I know,” Ham said, sighing. “You’re like my own children, adults before I had time to know them as kids. In fact, I probably know you and El better than I know any of them . . .”"

"“A king doesn’t have to please anyone,” Cett snapped. “He’s the one with the army—that means other people have to please him.” “Actually,” Ham said, rubbing his chin, “that theory can’t be true. A king has to please somebody—after all, even if he intended to force everyone to do what he said, he’d still have to at least please his army. But then, I guess if the army is pleased simply by being allowed to push people around, you might have an argument . . .” Ham trailed off, looking thoughtful, and Cett scowled. “Does everything have to be some damn logic puzzle to you?” he demanded. Ham just continued to rub his chin."

"“Have fun dancing with our enemies,” Ham said as Vin hopped from the boat, then Pushed herself up through the mists. Elend waved farewell, Pushing himself into the air as well. As he shot away, his tin-enhanced ears heard Ham’s voice talking to Cett. “So . . . you can’t go anywhere unless someone carries you, right?” the Thug asked. Cett grunted. “Well then,” Ham said, sounding very pleased. “I’ve got quite a number of philosophical puzzles you might enjoy. . . .”"

"“Ham,” he said, glancing down. “Is this right?” Ham shrugged. “This move does make sense, El,” he said, rubbing his chin. “Attacking is our only real chance of saving Vin. And, we can’t hold the siege—not any longer.” Ham paused, then shook his head, his tone of voice taking on that uncertain quality it always did when he considered one of his logic problems. “Yet, loosing a group of koloss on a city does seem immoral. I wonder if you’ll be able to control them, once they begin to rampage. Is saving Vin worth the possibility of killing even one innocent child? I don’t know. Then again, maybe we’ll save more children by bringing them into our empire. . . .” I shouldn’t have bothered to ask Ham, Elend thought. He never has been able to give a straight answer. He looked out over the field, blue koloss against a plain of black. With tin, he could see men cowering on the tops of the Fadrex City ridges. “No,” Ham said. Elend glanced down at the Thug. “No,” Ham repeated. “We shouldn’t attack.” “Ham?” Elend said, feeling a surreal amusement. “Did you actually come to a conclusion?” Ham nodded. “Yes.” He didn’t offer explanation or rationalization."

I'm so happy that in the end Ham is reunited with his family after such a long time, and that Breeze has Allrieanne. Both of them also have grown into better men than when we first met them in Book 1, I think. It's such a subtle growth but it's there, with Breeze being more caring towards others and Ham able to come to a conclusion for a philosophic question. They're great supporting characters and I'll miss them.

YOMEN & QUELLION. They both make good villains, in different ways. I find myself agreeing with Quellion's arguments so much, to the point that I suspected him to have read my review of The Final Empire, especially the part where I rant about hating Elend for being the new leader of Luthadel after Kelsier died. Quellion made some excellent arguments and Sazed even confirmed that what he said is true, but I know that Spook is also right because mass killing the noblepeople like he did is not what Kelsier would look kindly upon, after all, he did save Elend.

I like Yomen because he reminds me of old Elend, the idealistic Elend in Book 2, only his loyalty was to the Lord Ruler instead of The Survivor. He was scary to me and I thought he was a mistborn since he can burn Atium, but in the end he helped Elend and Vin a lot. Also, why do I feel that there's some sexual tension going on between Yomen and Elend, I mean when Elend was trying to "distract" him from Vin sneaking into the storage cavern, they were almost cute, I was like are they arguing or are they flirting? And when Elend was having a TMI/Emo moment in this scene:

"“You are an . . . interesting man, Elend Venture,” Yomen finally said. “I’m a bastard,” Elend said. Yomen raised an eyebrow. “In composition, not in temperament or by birth,” Elend said with a smile. “I’m an amalgamation of what I’ve needed to be. Part scholar, part rebel, part nobleman, part Mistborn, and part soldier. Sometimes, I don’t even know myself. I had a devil of a time getting all those pieces to work together. And, just when I’m starting to get it figured out, the world up and ends on me. Ah, here we are.”"

I think they'd make a cute couple, if Vin wasn't in the picture. But don't get me wrong, I'm team Vin-Elend all day everyday. I'm just saying what if...

I love the parallels of Ruin VS Preservation with Raava VS Vaatu in ATLoK, and the Man in Black VS Jacob in Lost TV show, because I love these shows, and now with Brando Sando announcing that they'll be adapting this series into a TV show very soon, as a fan I am very excited and I cannot wait to see this awesome story comes to life, and for everyone else to be as excited as I am to watch the story unfolds. It'll be my reason for living for the next however many years lol.

As much as I love this book, I do have some criticisms…

I personally feel that the redemption that Lord Ruler seems to be getting in this book is very much undeserved, since he had committed unforgivable atrocities in his lifetime, regardless of his efforts that ended up being very helpful for Vin and the crew in saving the world. Two things can be true; The Lord Ruler saved a lot of the population of people by making the storage caches and other actions he'd taken to help Vin and the crew defeat Ruin, and he had committed genocide against the Skaa, among other horrible things. Don't give me that Ruin was influencing him, because look at Spook. Just like we can all agree that Zane's story is tragic, but he still did what he did, and even though we can sympathize with him, in the end we have to judge him for his actions.

Why do the whole kandra race have to be killed? I'm so sad for TenSoon, he's a hero too in this story and that ending with the deaths of all kandra, or the transformation of kandra into mistwraiths is just so sad.

I'm pretty sure that Marsh already knows about hemalurgy and how the Lord Ruler is influencing and controlling people, since he's been controlled by Ruin himself, so Spook's message to Vin didn't really play an important role?

Ruin overlooking the kandra race as a whole seems unbelievable remembering how he had been imprisoned for a thousand years and had planned his release by using and manipulating Vin ever since she was a baby. So, to me he doesn't seem to be the kind who would just overlook or dismiss an important race such as the kandras. Also, it makes him less of a terrifying evil genius that way.

I think that Ruin missing Marsh ripping out Vin's earring seems highly unlikely, since he was controlling him and knows how important that earring is for him in order to beat Vin.

I hate that in the whole trilogy, Vin is the only awesome female character. Tindwyl was good but now she's dead, and Beldre and Allrianne are just kinda there. I get that Beldre played an important part in Spook's storyline, but we didn't get to know more of her other than that she's an allomancer, she was her brother's secret guard/assassin, she's kind and beautiful, and she likes Spook. For me, that's not enough to get me to like her or become invested in her. And Allrianne is just there, what did she do in this book other than follow Breeze along?

I wish BS at least mentions that Marsh is alive after that last battle, so we didn't have to google "What happens to Marsh" after finishing this book. Also, did Sazed ever heal Marsh? I feel like he could have healed him. And did Sazed ever turn Human and all the Koloss back into real human beings? I need answers. I guess I'll find out in the next trilogy, we'll see.

Here are my favourite moments from the book:

Vin & Elend dancing together for the first time at that ball.

Every time Vin fights anyone; Koloss, Inquisitors, Marsh, or Ruin.

When Spook took out that piece of metal from his flesh, and saved Quellion and the whole city population.

When Sazed chose to believe again.

When Sazed found out that he's the Hero of Ages.

The ending when the Spook, Breeze, Ham, general Demoux and everyone else reunites and they found Sazed's book and Vin and Elend laying lifeless side by side, and Sazed's note to Spook tells him that Vin and Elend are happy where they are and that they deserve a rest.

And finally, here are my favorite quotes from the book:

"“If you will excuse the observation, Lord Breeze,” Sazed said, “you do not fool me as easily as you believe you do.” Breeze raised an eyebrow. “I know you are a good man,” Sazed said. “You work very hard to hide it. You make a great show of being callous and selfish. Yet, to those watching what you do and not just what you say, you become far more transparent.”"

"“Dark inner secret?” Sazed asked. “That you’re kindhearted?” “It’s an attribute in myself that I’ve worked very hard to discourage,” Breeze said lightly." "Hope, Elend thought forcefully. She needs that from me; she’s always needed that from me. He tightened his grip on her shoulder, then pulled her into an embrace. “We’ll beat it, Vin. We’ll find a way.” She didn’t contradict him, but she obviously wasn’t convinced. Still, she let him hold her, closing her eyes and resting her head against his chest."

"She still worried about him, even though she no longer tried to protect him from all danger. Both her worry and her willingness to let him take risks were part of her love for him. And he sincerely appreciated both."

"The nature of the world is that when we create something, we often destroy something else in the process."

"Elend nodded slowly. “I wish I could have known him. Early in my career, I always compared myself to him. By the time I heard of Kelsier, he was already becoming a legend. It was unfair to force myself to try and be him, but I worried regardless. Anyway, those of you who knew him, maybe you can answer another question for me. What do you think he’d say, if he saw us now?” “He’d be proud,” Ham said immediately. “I mean, we defeated the Lord Ruler, and we built a skaa government.” “What if he saw us at this conference?” Elend said. The tent fell still again. When someone spoke what they were all thinking, it came from a source Vin hadn’t expected. “He’d tell us to laugh more,” Sazed whispered. Breeze chuckled. “He was completely insane, you know. The worse things got, the more he’d joke. I remember how chipper he was the very day after one of our worst defeats, when we lost most of our skaa army to that fool Yeden. Kell walked in, a spring in his step, making one of his inane jokes.”"

"And yet, one harrowing, undeniable fact remained. Mare had been right. She had chosen Kelsier over Marsh. And then, when both men had been forced to deal with her death, one had given up. The other had made her dreams come true."

"“But there’s something more, Vin. I fear I’m becoming like him.” “Who?” “The Lord Ruler.” Vin snorted quietly, pulling closer to him. “This is something he would have done,” Elend said. “Sacrificing his own men for a tactical advantage.” “You explained this to Ham,” Vin said. “We can’t afford to waste time.” “It’s still ruthless,” Elend said. “The problem isn’t that those men died, it’s that I was so willing to make it happen. I feel . . . brutal, Vin. How far will I go to see my goals achieved? I’m marching on another man’s kingdom to take it from him.” “For the greater good.” “That has been the excuse of tyrants throughout all time. I know it. Yet, I press on. This is why I didn’t want to be emperor. This is why I let Penrod take my throne from me back during the siege. I didn’t want to be the kind of leader who had to do things like this. I want to protect, not besiege and kill! But, is there any other way? Everything I do seems like it must be done. Like exposing my own men in the mists. Like marching on Fadrex City. We have to get to that storehouse—it’s the only lead we have that could even possibly give us some clue as to what we’re supposed to do! It all makes such sense. Ruthless, brutal sense.”"

"Most of his life, it seemed that he had been a flake of ash, pushed around by whatever strong wind came his way. He’d gone where people told him to go, done what they’d wanted him to. Even as an Allomancer, Spook had lived his life as a nobody. The others had been great men. Kelsier had organized an impossible revolution. Vin had struck down the Lord Ruler himself. Clubs had led the armies of revolution, becoming Elend’s foremost general. Sazed was a Keeper, and had carried the knowledge of centuries. Breeze had moved waves of people with his clever tongue and powerful Soothing, and Ham was a powerful soldier. But Spook, he had simply watched, not really doing anything. Until the day he ran away, leaving Clubs to die. Spook sighed, looking up. “I just want to be able to help,” he whispered. “You can,” Kelsier’s voice said. “You can be great. Like I was.”"

"He’s a nobleman, Vin thought. He likes the way that the world used to be. It was comfortable. Even skaa fear change. Vin stood. “I’ll tell you why you should care, old man. Because the ash is falling, and soon it will cover up your pretty little city. The mists kill. Earthquakes shake the landscape, and the ashmounts burn hotter and hotter. Change is looming. Eventually, even Yomen won’t be able to ignore it. You hate change. I hate it too. But things can’t stay the same—and that’s well, for when nothing changes in your life, it’s as good as being dead.” She turned to leave."

"Yet, during those months, she had been content. Perhaps more content than any other time in her life. She loved Elend, and was glad life had progressed to the point where she could call him husband, but there had been a delicious innocence about her early days with the crew. Dances spent with Elend reading at her table, pretending to ignore her. Nights spent learning the secrets of Allomancy. Evenings spent sitting around the table at Clubs’s shop, sharing laughter with the crew. They’d faced the challenge of planning something as large as the fall of an empire, yet felt no burden of leadership or weight of responsibility for the future. Somehow, she had grown into a woman in between the fall of kings and collapse of worlds. Once she had been terrified of change. Then she had been terrified of losing Elend. Now her fears were more nebulous—worries of what would come after she was gone, worries of what would happen to the people of the empire if she failed to divine the secrets she sought."

"“Yomen is a believer,” Slowswift said. “That may be a weakness; it may be a strength. Believers are often willing to attempt the seemingly impossible, then count on providence to see them through.” He paused, glancing at Vin. “That sort of behavior can be a weakness if the belief is misplaced.”"

"“Well, then,” he said. “Let’s do it.” “What?” Vin asked. “Save the world,” Elend said. “Stop the ash.” Vin snorted quietly. “You make it sound like a joke.” “No, I’m serious,” he said, standing. “If this is what you feel you must do—what you feel that you are—then let’s do it. I’ll help however I can.” “What about your speech before?” Vin said. “In the last storage cavern—you talked about division of labor. Me working on the mists, you working on uniting the empire.” “I was wrong.” Vin smiled, and suddenly Elend felt as if the world had been put back together just a bit."

"“Elend, I had to realize that I could be both people—the Mistborn of the streets and the woman of the court. I had to acknowledge that the new person I’m becoming is a valid extension of who I am. But for you, it’s opposite! You have to realize that who you were is still a valid part of you. That person makes silly comments, and does things just to provoke a reaction. But, he’s also lovable and kindhearted. You can’t lose those things just because you’re emperor.”"

"“You had things to learn,” Vin said. “Like I did. But, please don’t become someone else, Elend. You can be both Elend the emperor and Elend the man.” He smiled deeply, then pulled her close, pausing their dance. “Thank you,” he said, then kissed her. She could tell that he hadn’t made his decision yet—he still thought that he needed to be more of a hard warrior than a kind scholar. However, he was thinking. That was enough, at the moment. Vin looked up into his eyes, and they returned to the dance. Neither spoke; they simply let the wonder of the moment hold them. It was a surreal experience for Vin. Their army was outside, the ash was falling perpetually, and the mists were killing people. Yet, inside this room of white marble and sparkling colors, she danced with the man she loved for the first time."

"“Elend, you don’t have to help me. You can’t help me. I love you, but you’re just not as good at this as I am. I can take care of myself, but I need to know that I won’t have to take care of you, too. If anything goes wrong—or, if things go right, but the building goes on alert—I want you to get out. I’ll meet you at the camp.” “And if you get into trouble?” Elend said. Vin smiled. “Trust me.” He paused, then nodded. Trusting her was one thing he could obviously do—something he’d always done."

"“Do you know why I dislike men like you, Venture?” Yomen finally asked. “My insufferable charm and wit?” Elend asked. “I doubt it’s my good looks—but, compared to that of an obligator, I suppose even my face could be enviable.” Yomen’s expression darkened. “How did a man like you ever end up at a table of negotiation?” “I was trained by a surly Mistborn, a sarcastic Terrisman, and a group of disrespectful thieves,” Elend said, sighing. “Plus, on top of that, I was a fairly insufferable person to begin with. But, kindly continue with your insult—I didn’t mean to interrupt.”"

"Vin looked up into his eyes, and they returned to the dance. Neither spoke; they simply let the wonder of the moment hold them. It was a surreal experience for Vin. Their army was outside, the ash was falling perpetually, and the mists were killing people. Yet, inside this room of white marble and sparkling colors, she danced with the man she loved for the first time. They both spun with the grace of Allomancy, stepping as if on the wind, moving as if made of mist. The room grew hushed, the nobility like a theater audience, watching some grand performance, not two people who hadn’t danced in years. And yet, Vin knew it was wonderful, something that had rarely been seen. Most noble Mistborn couldn’t afford to appear too graceful, lest they give away their secret powers. Vin and Elend had no such inhibitions. They danced as if to make up for the four years lost, as if to throw their joy in the face of an apocalyptic world and a hostile city. The song began to wind down. Elend pulled her against him, and her tin let her feel his heartbeat so close. It was beating far more swiftly than a simple dance could account for."

""It all returned to her. Things she thought she’d banished into the dark, quarantined parts of her mind: blows from Reen’s hand, harsh criticism from his tongue, furtive moves from city to city. And yet, tempering these memories was an insight. She was no longer the young girl who had borne her beatings in confused silence. Looking back, she could see the fear Reen had shown in the things he had done. He’d been terrified that his half-breed Allomancer of a sister would be discovered and slaughtered by the Steel Inquisitors. He’d beaten her when she made herself stand out. He’d yelled at her when she was too competent. He’d moved her when he’d feared that the Canton of Inquisition had caught their trail. Reen had died protecting her. He had taught her paranoia and distrust out of a twisted sense of duty, for he’d believed that was the only way she would survive on the streets of the Final Empire. And, she’d stayed with him, enduring the treatment. Inside—not even buried all that deeply—she’d known something very important. Reen had loved her. She looked up and met the eyes of the man standing in the cavern. Then, she slowly shook her head. No, she thought. It looks like him, but those eyes are not his.""

"“You are my enemy. You seek to end the things I love.” And is an ending always bad? it asked. Must not all things, even worlds, someday end? “There is no need to hasten that end,” Vin said. “No reason to force it.” All things are subject to their own nature, Vin, Ruin said, seeming to flow around her. She could feel its touch upon her—wet and delicate, like mist. You cannot blame me for being what I am. Without me, nothing would end. Nothing could end. And therefore, nothing could grow. I am life. Would you fight life itself? Vin fell silent. Do not mourn because the day of this world’s end has arrived, Ruin said. That end was ordained the very day of the world’s conception. There is a beauty in death—the beauty of finality, the beauty of completion. For nothing is truly complete until the day it is finally destroyed."

"“Is this what she’d want of you, Sazed?” Breeze said. “To deny who you are? To become yet another stuffy politician?” “I do not know, Lord Breeze,” Sazed said softly. “I . . . I don’t have her anymore. And so, perhaps, I can remember her by being involved in what she loved.” “Sazed,” Breeze said frankly, “how is it you can be so wise in so many areas, yet be so completely stupid about this?” “I . . .” “A man is what he has passion about,” Breeze said. “I’ve found that if you give up what you want most for what you think you should want more, you’ll just end up miserable.” “And if what I want isn’t what society needs?” Sazed said. “Sometimes, we just have to do what we don’t enjoy. That is a simple fact of life, I think.” Breeze shrugged. “I don’t worry about that. I just do what I’m good at. In my case, that’s making other people do things that I don’t want to. It all fits together, in the end.”"

"What good was killing another monster if it was just replaced by two more? What good was food to feed his people if the ash just smothered everything anyway? What good was he, an emperor who couldn’t even defend the people of a single village?"

"Elend had never lusted for power. He’d been a theorist and a scholar—ruling an empire had mostly been an academic exercise for him. Yet, as he fought on that dark night in the burning mists and falling ash, he began to understand. As people died around him despite his most frenzied efforts, he could see what would drive men for more and more power. Power to protect. At that moment, he would have accepted the powers of godhood, if it would mean having the strength to save the people around him."

"“Faith,” Spook said, “means that it doesn’t matter what happens. You can trust that somebody is watching. Trust that somebody will make it all right.” Sazed frowned. “It means that there will always be a way,” Spook whispered, staring forward, eyes glazed, as if seeing things that Sazed could not. Yes, Sazed thought. That is what I have lost. And it’s what I need to get back."

"“This work I do, it’s about passion, Vin. It’s about dynamic events; it’s about change! That is why you and your Elend are so important to me. People with passion are people who will destroy—for a man’s passion is not true until he proves how much he’s willing to sacrifice for it. Will he kill? Will he go to war? Will he break and discard that which he has, all in the name of what he needs?”"

"“You couldn’t create it yourself, could you?” Vin asked. “The world, life. You can’t create, you can only destroy.” “He couldn’t create either,” Ruin said. “He could only preserve. Preservation is not creation.” “And so you worked together,” Vin said. “Both with a promise,” Ruin said. “My promise was to work with him to create you—life that thinks, life that loves.” “And his promise?” Vin asked, fearing that she knew the answer. “That I could destroy you eventually,” Ruin said softly. “And I have come to claim what was promised me. The only point in creating something is to watch it die. Like a story that must come to a climax, what I have done will not be fulfilled until the end has arrived.”"

"Elend had worried that he was becoming another Lord Ruler, but his concern had always seemed flawed to Vin. He hadn’t been the one to conquer and reforge an empire, she had. She’d been the one who made the other kings submit. She’d done exactly as the Lord Ruler had. A Hero had risen up, and the Lord Ruler had killed him, then taken the power of the Well of Ascension. Vin had killed the Lord Ruler, then taken that same power. She’d given up the power, true, but she’d filled the same role. It all came to a head. The reason why the skaa worshipping her, calling her their savior, felt so wrong. Suddenly, her real role in it all seemed to snap into place. “I’m not the Survivor’s Heir, Yomen,” she said sickly. “I’m the Lord Ruler’s.”"

"He glanced upward. The ceiling was of wood, but red sunlight—refracted by the window—sprayed across it. “Why?” he whispered. “Why leave me like this? I studied everything about you. I learned the religions of five hundred different peoples and sects. I taught about you when other men had given up a thousand years before. “Why leave me without hope, when others can have faith? Why leave me to wonder? Shouldn’t I be more certain than any other? Shouldn’t my knowledge have protected me?” And yet, his faith had made him even more susceptible. That’s what trust is, Sazed thought. It’s about giving someone else power over you. Power to hurt you. That’s why he’d given up his metalminds. That’s why he had decided to sort through the religions one at a time, trying to find one that had no faults. Nothing to fail him. It just made sense. Better to not believe, rather than be proven wrong. Sazed looked back down. Why did he think to talk to the heavens? There was nothing there. There never had been."

"And yet, how could they understand? Sazed closed his eyes tight, feeling a pair of tears squeeze from the corners. How could anyone understand the pain of a faith betrayed? He had believed. And yet, when he had needed hope the most, he had found only emptiness." "Belief . . . He remembered a voice from the past. His own voice, speaking to Vin on that terrible day after Kelsier’s death. Belief isn’t simply a thing for fair times and bright days, I think. What is belief—what is faith—if you don’t continue in it after failure. . . . How innocent he had been. Better to trust and be betrayed, Kelsier seemed to whisper. It had been one of the Survivor’s mottos. Better to love and be hurt."

"Finally, he thought with relief as she grabbed the first spike. Whatever I did . . . it worked. Somehow. He felt Ruin’s rage, felt his master realizing his mistake. In the end, Marsh had mattered. In the end, Marsh hadn’t given up. He’d done Mare proud."

"Why did they believe? Because they saw miracles. Things one man took as chance, a man of faith took as a sign. A loved one recovering from disease, a fortunate business deal, a chance meeting with a long lost friend. It wasn’t the grand doctrines or the sweeping ideals that seemed to make believers out of men. It was the simple magic in the world around them."

"But, that was how things often went, it seemed. Some important decisions were made on a battlefield or in a conference room. But others happened quietly, unseen by others. That didn’t make the decision any less important to Sazed. He would believe. Not because something had been proven to him beyond his ability to deny. But because he chose to."

"Life, Vin said. You said that the only reason to create something was so that you could destroy it. She hovered beside Elend, watching him fight. The deaths of the koloss should have pained her. Yet, she did not think of the death. Perhaps it was the influence of Preservation’s power, but she saw only a man, struggling, fighting, even when hope seemed impossible. She didn’t see death, she saw life. She saw faith. We create things to watch them grow, Ruin, she said. To take pleasure in seeing that which we love become more than it was before. You said that you were invincible—that all things break apart. All things are Ruined. But there are things that fight against you—and the ironic part is, you can’t even understand those things. Love. Life. Growth. The life of a person is more than the chaos of its passing. Emotion, Ruin. This is your defeat."

"For a moment, he was embraced by something greater. He looked up, toward the sun. And he saw—just briefly—an enormous figure in the air just above him. A shifting, brilliant personage of pure white. Her hands held to his shoulders with her head thrown back, white hair streaming, mist flaring behind her like wings that stretched across the sky. Vin, he thought with a smile."

"Vin floated above Elend’s body, looking down. She reached out with incorporeal fingers, touching his head, remembering how it had felt to use her power to fuel his Allomancy. She didn’t know what she had done. Something akin to what Ruin did when it controlled the koloss, perhaps. Only opposite. Liberating. Serene. Elend was dead. She knew that, and knew that there was nothing she could do. That brought pain, true, but not the pain she had expected. I let him go long ago, she thought, stroking his face. At the Well of Ascension. Allomancy brought him back to me for a time. She didn’t feel the pain or terror that she had known before, when she’d thought him dead. This time, she felt only peace. These last few years had been a blessing—an extension. She’d given Elend up to be his own man, to risk himself as he wished, and perhaps to die. She would always love him. But she would not cease to function because he was gone. The opposite, perhaps."

"Preservation could never destroy you! she thought, almost screaming it against the agony. He could only protect. That’s why he needed to create humankind. All along, Ruin, this was part of his plan! He didn’t give up part of himself, making himself weaker, simply so that he could create intelligent life! He knew he needed something of both Preservation and of Ruin. Something that could both protect and destroy. Something that could destroy to protect. He gave up his power at the Well, and into the mists, giving it to us so that we could take it. He always intended this to happen. You think this was your plan? It was his. His all along. Ruin cried out. Still, she drove on. You created the thing that can kill you, Ruin, Vin said. And you just made one huge final mistake. You shouldn’t have killed Elend. You see, he was the only reason I had left to live."

"Spook froze as he caught sight of a bit of color in the grass. He held up a hand, warning the others, and they stepped forward more quietly. There, in the center of the grass, was a field of . . . somethings. Colorful somethings, growing from the ground, with tops like bright-colored leaves. They were shaped like upside-down bells, with long straight stalks, the petals at the top open toward the sun. As if reaching for its light and gaping to drink it in. “Beautiful . . .” Beldre whispered. Spook stepped forward, moving among the plants. Flowers, he thought, recognizing them from the picture Vin had carried. Kelsier’s dream finally came true."

"He opened it, reading the first page. I am, unfortunately, the Hero of Ages, read the delicate, careful letters. Spook thought he recognized the handwriting. As he flipped through the book, a slip of paper fell free. Spook picked it up—one side had a faded drawing of a flower, the very picture he’d been thinking about moments before. On the other side was a note scrawled in the same handwriting as the book. Spook, it read. I tried to bring them back, but apparently fixing the bodies doesn’t return the souls. I will get better at this with time, I expect. However, be assured that I have spoken with our friends, and they are quite happy where they are. They deserve a rest, I think."

I had so much beautiful time reading this trilogy, and like I said before and I'll say it a million more times, this story will stay with me for a really long time and I will never shut up about it. Despite its flaws, this trilogy is one of the best I've ever read, and saying goodbye to it is bittersweet. I will most definitely do rereads of this trilogy in the future and I can't wait to visit this magical world again when I read the next trilogy of this series and the novellas.

But, until then...

PLOT - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WRITING STYLE - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

ENTERTAINMENT LEVEL- ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

BOOK COVER DESIGN - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OVERALL BOOK RATING - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#book reviews #mistborn #the hero of ages

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