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The Well of Ascension:Book Two of Mistborn-Tor (2007)
Now with over 10 million copies sold, The Mistborn Series has the thrills of a heist story, the twistiness of political intrigue, and the epic scale of a landmark fantasy saga. They did the impossible, ending the thousand-year reign of…
- Release Date
- 2010
- Length
- 816 pages
- Publisher
- Tor Books
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Our Review
About the book
The second Mistborn novel follows Vin and Elend after the fall of the Lord Ruler, as they struggle to govern a newly freed city besieged by rival armies. Meanwhile, the mists grow more dangerous, and an ancient legend about the Well of Ascension may hold the key to saving or destroying their world.
Our review
Sanderson asks what happens after the revolution, and the answer is a slower, smarter, politically minded sequel with a stunning ending.
This is the book where Mistborn grows up. Instead of a heist, we get a siege, and Sanderson digs into the messy work of building a government, from councils and constitutions to the moral compromises of leadership. Elend’s growth from bookish idealist into a capable ruler is one of the series’ best arcs, and Vin’s struggle to define herself beyond her role as a weapon gives her real depth. The final chapters reframe everything brilliantly.
Its middle portion is notoriously sluggish. Long stretches of political debate and romantic uncertainty can test readers who fell in love with the first book’s action, and some of the relationship angst feels repetitive. A few supporting characters fade, and new ones take time to earn our interest. But patience is rewarded generously: the climax ranks, for us, among the best twists in modern fantasy and sets up the trilogy’s finale perfectly.
What we loved
- Thoughtful exploration of governance after revolution
- Elend’s growth into a believable leader
- A brilliant, game-changing climax
Keep in mind
- A slow, debate-heavy middle section
- Repetitive romantic tension between the leads
Read it if you like
Fans of The Final Empire, Robin Hobb’s Farseer trilogy, or George R.R. Martin’s political fantasy.
The verdict
A patient, politically sharp middle volume whose ending makes every slow chapter worth it.
