The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

[meganbmoore]

This begins shortly after the end of Mistborn, with a new government recently put in place and the people only just adjusting to learning that their god was a lie. Most of the book is split between two overlapping conflicts: Vin and Sazed investigating the history of the First Ruler, the Hero of the Ages, and the Well of Ascencion, and Elend trying to manage the government he put in place, mixed in with a hefty dose of both Vin and Elend worrying over whether or not they’re good enough for the other. My central thought on that is that the world really does need more pairings that are revolutionary minded scholars in love with assassins/bodyguards, and who don’t mind that their girlfriends could kill them with a pinky.

There are also three armies marching on Luthadel, determined to take advantage of the fledgling government, and several new characters. Two of them-Tindwyl, a Terriswoman determined to whip Elend into something more presentable and authoritative, and Allrianne, the seemingly-flaky daughter of one of the invaders who is in love with one of Vin and Elend’s men-address the typical fantasy issue of the heroine being the only non-dead, non-evil woman*. The third, Zane, is an insane Mistborn obsessed with both Vin and Elend, though for different reasons. Thankfully, neither is a sexual obsession. I liked Tindwyl and Allrianne, though I have some issues with Tindwyl’s arc, but grew tired of Zane quickly. I think mostly because “But psychotic killers are INTERESTING!” lost what little appeal it ever had for me some time back.

I am, however, glad that Zane was not eventually cast as an anti-hero or got a redemption arc. Like, I almost want to say that Sanderson subverted the character trope by having Zane be angry and violent and unredeemable in the end, but then I get sad that it could be subversive not to paint a psychotic obsessive murdering stalker as being appealing and sympathetic.

I liked Tindwyl as a character, but am less than thrilled that her history is decades of institutionalized rape designed to have her breed children that were taken from her. It’s overwhelmingly gendered, in a way that surpasses Sazed’s castration, as Sazed was allowed to have a life, whereas the breeding program was her life. And then she dies right after they admit their feelings (She doesn’t want any more sex, so she can love a man who can’t have sex! …) which seems to basically be to further Sazed’s angst.

I did, though,  really like Allrianne’s arc, and how she did subvert the tropes of both the “Enemy spy woman using a man’s hormones against him” and the spoiled noblewoman. Like, I’m glad that she really is shallow and material and flaky, but also smart and cunning (moreso than any of the men around her) and on the “right” side as much as she’s on any side.

I’m not to sure about what I think of how the Mistborn were portrayed as so overwhelmingly powerful, but I think that’s because I’m not a huge fan of protagonists who are overwhelmingly powerful, unless a significant portion of others are as well. I also sniff disdainfully at the reveal that Elend is a Mistborn too at the end.
 
Still an interesting story with a world and mythology I love, and good characters. Though I wish the plot had focused more on lost cultures and religions and secret histories and mistaken prophecies, not that I’m not also fond of building new governments under rather bad conditions.

Do not even hint or imply spoilers for the last book of the trilogy.

*Lest anyone misunderstand, I do think it’s progressive for the genre that a relatively high-profile epic fantasy trilogy has a female lead who is the main action and narrative focus, especially without rape in her past or present, but it also highlights other problems, in a way.

Comments

[eisen]

My response to a lot of this, unfortunately, boils down to "I have thoughts, but they require knowledge of the next book, and you asked for no spoilers, so - Argh!"

I will say you're not alone in your discomfort re: Tindwyl's role in the story, so. And that your impression, as far as I can tell, about what her role is was correct.

I find the Mistborn awesome rather than boring, but I think that's just a difference of taste - I am a giant sucker for a well-written fight sequence, and when the Mistborn get going I can see everything Sanderson describes so well that the rule of cool overwrites any concerns I might have about their strength. Also, it's usually Vin - and I love it when she gets to kick ass. (Not least of which because nobody ever thinks she can't except, sometimes, Vin herself.) :D

I agree with everything else you've said, and I really look forward to you finishing this trilogy so I can squee and kvetch with you properly about all the ins and outs of how it all works.

[meganbmoore]

I don't find the Mistborn boring, I'm just less interested in massively powered characters. Or rather, I find it more interesting to see people up against massively powered characters, or among them, as it's not the characters themselves I'm not as into. I do agree about how Sanderson writes them, though.

I shall hopefully read the third book soon.