Mistborn: Pride, Prejudice, and X-Men

I finally got around to reading one of this generation’s most beloved and successful fantasy authors: Brandon Sanderson. Is the guy all he’s cracked up to be, at least judging by his debut novel, Mistborn?

While I found much of the book a bit too formulaic for my tastes—we are treated, yet again, to another evil sorcerer-king ruling over a dystopian setting, while a young vagabond girl (is there any other kind?) discovers she has magic powers (take a number, please, and go wait in the hall)—Sanderson proves he’s got storytelling mettle (pun intended!). Though often burdened by exposition-heavy dialogue, Mistborn remains engaging throughout, with likable characters and a romantic subplot ripped from the pages of Pride and Prejudice.