The Hero of Ages is the highly anticipated conclusion to Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy. After being completely engrossed by the first two books, I couldn’t wait to see how this finale would wrap up the stories of Vin, Elend, Sazed and the crew. This explosive ending definitely did not disappoint!
| Title | The Hero of Ages |
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Genre | Fantasy, Fiction |
| Language | English |
| Publication Date | October 14, 2008 |
| Length | 576 pages |
Where to Purchase
Introduction to the Book
For those who need a recap, the first book The Final Empire introduced us to the gritty world of the Final Empire ruled by the Lord Ruler. We met Vin, a street urchin who discovers she’s actually a powerful Mistborn. By the end of the book, Vin and the rebel crew succeed in overthrowing the Lord Ruler.
The second book, The Well of Ascension, dealt with the aftermath of the Lord Ruler’s fall. Various factions fought for power in the capital Luthadel while our heroes tried to stabilize the kingdom under King Elend’s rule. The book ended on a major cliffhanger with the capital besieged by enemy armies.
The Hero of Ages picks up right where the last one left off, with Vin and Elend determined to save Luthadel from utter destruction. Of course, some huge surprises and reveals about the true nature of their world awaits them and the reader!
My Thoughts on the Plot
This book wastes no time throwing readers into the action. Right from the start, Vin, Elend and the crew find themselves in the fight of their lives as multiple forces attack Luthadel. The explosive action and battle sequences are heart-pounding, really keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Just when I thought I knew everything about this world, Sanderson introduces completely new concepts that change the whole game. For example, the premise of the “mists” as an active force blew my mind and added so many layers to the story. Even characters I thought I understood well, like Vin, became more complex in satisfying ways.
The multi-perspective narration works beautifully here, effortlessly weaving together the storylines of Vin and Elend in Luthadel, Sazed’s adventures further afield, and other surprises I won’t spoil! All the plot threads come together masterfully by the end, answering lingering mysteries while still introducing new ones related to the broader Cosmere universe.
Sanderson truly delivers an epic, expansive finale worthy of closing out this seminal trilogy. The ending feels deeply emotionally satisfying, bringing the character arcs full circle in a way that gave me all the feels. I couldn’t imagine a better way to wrap up this special saga.
What I Loved
One of my favorite parts of this book was getting Sazed’s backstory and seeing more of the Terris culture. As a Keeper devoted to religion and history, Sazed provides a thoughtful counterbalance to Vin’s and Elend’s perspectives. I won’t give anything away, but Sazed’s storyline contains some of the most epic moments in the whole series!
Vin’s character also continues to shine as she comes more into her own as both a leader and a woman. Her romance with Elend faces believable ups and downs, and she forges impactful relationships like the one with her neglected sister-like figure Allrianne.
Again, Sanderson delivers some of the best fantasy action sequences I’ve ever read. The fight scenes are kinetic and imaginative, really capturing the unique magic of Allomancy. He’s so clever at developing new facets of the magical system right up to the last pages. The scope of the powers on display here feel limitless.
Overall, The Hero of Ages sticks the landing in every way, providing a deeply satisfying conclusion for longtime fans of the Mistborn saga like myself. This finale exemplifies Brandon Sanderson’s talents for delivering epic fantasy stories that manage to feel grand in scope yet intensely personal in their emotional resonance. An incredibly strong finish to a must-read trilogy!
