Son of the Mists (Mistborn in English) is composed of two trilogies. The second is called Wax and Wayne and takes place 300 years after the events of the first. The last volume of Wax and Wayne will appear this fall. Brandon Sanderson is also the author of another important saga, The Roshar Archives. Both (and a few others) are part of the same universe, Cosmere.
What does it say?
The Lord-Ruler has reigned unchallenged for a thousand years over the Ultimate Empire, a very dark world, where there is little vegetation due to incessant ash rains. At night, a strange mist appears, believed by many to be populated by evil creatures. The society is deeply segregated. On the one hand there are the nobles, the heirs of those who supported him when he took power, who benefit from magical powers and the others, the skaas, who work in virtual slavery in the service of the nobles and of the Lord Ruler.
In between, the fearsome and terrifying Steel Inquisitors uphold the religion and dogma of the Lord Ruler with an iron fist (and that’s the case, as you’ll see below). A small band of outlaws, led by former slave Kelsier, hatch a daring plan to overthrow the dictator. To complete his group, Kelsier spots in the street a young thief named Vin, who will quickly become his student.
How is it ?
This is after reading Son of the Mists that the widow of Robert Jordan chose Brandon Sanderson to complete the cycle of The wheel of time (adapted last year for Amazon Prime Video). So that’s pretty good! Sanderson has created gripping, multi-dimensional characters that you want to follow until the end of the night. He immersed them in a remarkably well-designed world where the elements themselves sometimes become protagonists (the mists, for example). And we are not bored for a second.
What magic?
Son of the Mists is a saga that will delight metal fans. No, not the musical genre, the material! The magics used in Son of the Mists indeed revolve around metals. The main one is Allomancy. Those who possess it can ingest metals and use it for various powers. Some can only use one metal. They are called misters. Others, rarer, can use all of them. They are called the sons or daughters of the mists.
Brandon Sanderson is known for the inventiveness and precision of his magical systems. The use of magic in Son of the Mists is sometimes quite technical, especially in the fight scenes, but it is fascinating to read. There are other magics and different magical beings in Son of the Mistsbut we let you discover them…
Is it adaptable to the screen?
Fights that involve Sons and Daughters of the Mists are highly telegenic and cinematic. They leap into the air, attract or repel metals towards their opponents… Effect Tiger and Dragon guaranteed! And those who love badass heroines will be served with the character of Vin.