The original Born from the mists trilogy is an essential addition to the fantasy genre, but There are some harsh realities about the series that emerge 16 years later The Hero of the Ages' release. The first three Born from the mists The books are among Brandon Sanderson's best work and are a must-read for anyone who appreciates detailed magic systems, excellent world-building, and complex characters. There's a reason Born from the mists is one of Sanderson's best-known Cosmere titles, and you could argue that the fantasy series is already a modern classic.
But even with so much going on, Born from the mists Era 1 has its shortcomings, just like any other series. Sanderson's work generally stands the test of time, but revisiting the books years later sheds light on some harsh realities surrounding the narrative. It also forces the reader to confront truths about the series itself and the possibility of its adaptation to the screen.
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Kelsier dies very early in the original trilogy
His absence leaves a hole in the story
Kelsier is featured Mistborn: The Final Empire, and his death leaves a notable hole in the story. Although Vin and Kelsier are leaders in the first Born from the mists book, Kelsier is the beating heart of the revolution unfolding in Era 1. Vin grows up during The Final Empire, and it is inevitable that she will take over the narrative in later episodes. Even so, Kelsier's absence is greatly feltand this makes the sequels have a very different feel to the first installment.
No matter how good the original series continues after Kelsier's encounter with the Lord Ruler, it's always an adjustment to say goodbye to your character.
Kelsier's death is necessary – though later disputed in the Cosmere – but that doesn't make it any less disappointing to experience upon re-reading. No matter how good the original series continues after Kelsier's encounter with the Lord Ruler, it's always an adjustment to say goodbye to your character. This proves how essential it is for Born from the mists Era 1and even the presence of his memory is not enough in the sequences.
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Mistborn's heroine falls into the “Not like other girls” trope
Vin tries too hard to reject femininity
Vin's biggest reviews on Born from the mists is that she falls into the “not like other girls“tropeand this becomes more noticeable as fantasy books continue to evolve and leave these messages behind. Of course, Vin's characterization is a product of Born from the mistsIt's time. She's far from the only heroine to reject femininity and isolate herself from other women in a 2000s fantasy story. And the fact that Vin kind of accepts that part of herself in The Well of Ascension gives her an edge over other female protagonists of the time, even if her journey isn't perfect.
Vin also doesn't have many opportunities to interact with other women in Born from the mists Era 1with Tindwyl being one of the few female characters she gets close to. His relationship with Allriane never fully takes off – although Allriane proves to be more than Vin expects – and there are obvious reasons Vin doesn't form a connection with Shan Elariel. The lack of women around Vin provides a possible explanation for his attitude towards them, although it identifies another harsh reality about the original. Born from the mists trilogy.
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There aren't enough important female characters in the Mistborn trilogy
Brandon Sanderson himself admitted this
Although Born from the mists Era 1 has a lot of great characters, not many female characters. Most of the people in Kelsier's crew are men, and the villains and supporting characters they interact with are also mostly men. This is one of the biggest problems with the original Born from the mists books, which could have easily added another prominent female character or two. Sanderson himself even admitted that he could have added more female characters during a book signing for Unlimited Arcane (through The copper mind).
Happily, the author fixes this problem in Born from the mists Era 2, which does a much better job with its women (despite having a male protagonist). And having fewer women doesn't ruin the impact of the original trilogy, especially with Vin in the lead role. It's just one of those things that's hard not to notice in retrospect, especially with more and more fantasy books – even some by Sanderson – featuring diverse casts and powerful women.
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Some of the relationship dynamics in the early Mistborn books are wrong
Age differences between characters are common
Relationships are hardly the point of the original Born from the mists trilogy, but Sanderson tends to include romance subplots in his fantasy series. They can be hit or miss, but some of the relationship dynamics in Born from the mists I feel a little out. Vin and Elend have the healthiest and most compelling bond in the series, but even they fall victim to some strange writing choices. The age difference is something that doesn't sit well with all modern readers, even if it's just a few years. They also suffer from the trope of lack of communication in The Well of Ascensionwhich can be frustrating to read.
While Born from the mists gets its family dynamics right, its romances aren't always as compelling as they should be.
The uncomfortable relationship between Breeze and Allriane also features a pretty significant age gap – much bigger than Vin and Elend's, if the suggestion that she's about half his age is anything to go by. The repeated suggestions that there could be something between Vin and Kelsier are also uncomfortable for this reason, even if they turn out to be false. While Born from the mists gets its family dynamics right, its romances aren't always as compelling as they should be.
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Mistborn's Era 1 villains could have had more depth
Characters like The Lord Ruler and Straff Venture could have had more depth
Although the stakes seem high enough throughout Born from the mists Era 1, the original series would have benefited from more complex villains. Many of the trilogy's antagonists come off as a bit one-note, with Sanderson leaning toward them as being downright evil and tyrannical. This makes sense for a god like Ruin, but villains like the Lord Ruler and Straff Venture could have been more interesting with a more subtle characterization. While readers don't need to sympathize with them, it would have added layers to their stories, especially Straff's and how she relates to her relationship with Elend.
Even villains who don't seem as evil as the Lord Ruler or Straff don't get enough attention or explanation on the page. Jastes Lekal is a minor antagonist, but his former friendship with Elend opens the door to all kinds of interesting possibilities. His betrayal could have been much more emotional if Born from the mists Era 1 spent more time on this. And while Zane is probably the most complicated villain we see in Era 1, even he has a somewhat lackluster ending. It's a shame, as he really is an intriguing antagonist.
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The Well of Ascension doesn't take enough time to mourn its great losses
The deaths of its characters are covered up in the action
Born from the mists Era 1 features a lot of important deaths, and most of them are treated with the weight they deserve. While it's disappointing that Kelsier is gone so soon, his fate in The Final Empire it has a believable impact on everything that comes after. Tindwyl's death haunts Sazed for much of The Hero of All Ages, and Vin and Elend obviously changed the world with their big sacrifices in the last book. For the most part, death is handled well in Born from the mists It was 1. However, This causes the couple to be covered up The Well of Ascension even more noticeable.
Clubs and Dockson die during The Well of AscensionIt's the big battle, and they are the first prominent crew members to die after Kelsier in the first book. It's somewhat surprising that the books never bother to mourn these losses, even after the second book's action-packed ending is over. Things change quickly The Well of Ascension in The Hero of All Ages, but That doesn't mean Clubs and Dox shouldn't have had their moment. Dox's death especially ensured a greater impact on the story, as he was crucial to running Elend's crew and kingdom.
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The Final Empire sequels are great, but they never surpass the first book
There's something special about Final Empire
There are no bad things Born from the mists books, and the entire first series stands the test of time. However, The Final Empire remains the strongest chapter of the saga, confirming a harsh truth about it: that Sanderson still hasn't gotten over his first Born from the mists book. While the stakes of the original trilogy continue to rise with each sequel, none of them fully recapture the excitement and magic of The Final Empire. In part, this is because the story shifts from its hopeful revolution to a much grander plot, which is exciting but a little less understandable for the average reader.
Even on rereading, The Final EmpireThe magic serves as a reminder of why Sanderson's saga is so beloved.
Kelsier's death also influences The Final Empire being a highlight, as is the unforgettable twist of the book's villain – a reveal that's really hard to beat, even if The Well of Ascension and The Hero of All Ages give it a run for its money. Additionally, There's nothing like joining Scadrial and learning about Allomancy for the first time. Even on rereading, The Final EmpireThe magic serves as a reminder of why Sanderson's saga is so beloved. The other books continue to do the story justice, but diving into them just isn't the same.
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The potential of the Mistborn trilogy film may not be realized
It's getting harder to believe that an adaptation will happen
It's impossible to read Sanderson's Born from the mists books without realizing how cinematic the story isBut this brings to light a harsh truth: the trilogy's cinematic potential may never be realized. ONE Born from the mists the film was supposed to be in the works, although Sanderson's update of his 2023 Sanderson State post suggests it is “on pause“for now. Born from the mists the film has been in development hell for some time now, so it's hard to maintain hope that it will ever come to fruition. It's a shame, as Sanderson's series would look great on the big screen.
Of course, even if the Born from the mists movie happens, there's no guarantee it will do the series justice. Era 1 has a vast and complex history, and it's difficult to see how it could fit into a movie's runtime. Budget constraints can also make it difficult to bring Sanderson's magic system to fruition, and getting the Allomancy right is critical to the success of an adaptation. So even if the movie happens, that doesn't necessarily mean fans will see it. Born from the mists duly brought to life on screen. It's a hard truth to face, but at least there are more books to look forward to.
Source: The copper mind, Sanderson State