Josefine
This is a difficult book for me to rate -- I usually rate books by how much they stuck with me / how much they have changed me in some way.
I don't think The Final Empire really has any big ideas that really stuck with me. While I consider it to be one of the best coming of age stories I've read and an incredibly good starting point into more "grown up" fiction, I wouldn't say its truly outstanding in any particular aspect (except the coming of age bit, of course).
The world is pretty interesting but also kind of shallow. The prose is boring but functional. There aren't that many characters and they don't feel incredibly deep or well developed. The plot is pretty good but doesn't truly stick with you. (These are qualities I would ascribe to most of Brandon Sanderson's works, actually).
However, both times I've read it, it has nonetheless struck a deep chord within me.
The first one was when I re-discovered reading as a hobby, prompted by my then girlfriend (now wife!). It was the first book that I got really swept up in, maybe ever but at least in years.
The second one was when I had just started transitioning. This time, I saw myself in Vin and it gave me some much needed strength and courage.
Thus, I cannot help but think of The Final Empire as one of the most important books to me.
This is a difficult book for me to rate -- I usually rate books by how much they stuck with me / how much they have changed me in some way.
I don't think The Final Empire really has any big ideas that really stuck with me. While I consider it to be one of the best coming of age stories I've read and an incredibly good starting point into more "grown up" fiction, I wouldn't say its truly outstanding in any particular aspect (except the coming of age bit, of course).
The world is pretty interesting but also kind of shallow. The prose is boring but functional. There aren't that many characters and they don't feel incredibly deep or well developed. The plot is pretty good but doesn't truly stick with you. (These are qualities I would ascribe to most of Brandon Sanderson's works, actually).
However, both times I've read it, it has nonetheless struck a deep chord within me.
The first one was when I re-discovered reading as a hobby, prompted by my then girlfriend (now wife!). It was the first book that I got really swept up in, maybe ever but at least in years.
The second one was when I had just started transitioning. This time, I saw myself in Vin and it gave me some much needed strength and courage.
Thus, I cannot help but think of The Final Empire as one of the most important books to me.
