MistbornMistborn
Score Modern
What it's about
For a thousand years the ash has fallen, no flowers have bloomed, and the Lord Ruler has reigned as an invincible god while the skaa live as slaves. Then Kelsier, a scarred, half-skaa survivor of the Lord Ruler's worst prison, discovers he is a Mistborn, able to draw power from metals. A brilliant thief, he gathers a crew for the ultimate heist: overthrowing the empire itself, with the help of a street urchin named Vin.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most-read fantasy novels of the century and the book that made Brandon Sanderson a star. Its magic system and its twists are famous among fantasy readers.
You'll love it if you liked
The Way of Kings
The Lies of Locke Lamora
The Name of the WindGood to know
It's often published as Mistborn: The Final Empire. It's the first of a trilogy, followed by The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages, and a later series is set centuries afterward.
By the numbers
- Readers98 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller40 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #71 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #279 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #554 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Epic, Adventurous
More by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Skyward
The Emperor's SoulIf you like this, read next
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Six of Crows
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Dog's Purpose
The Golden Compass
LegendbornExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Mistborn worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most-read fantasy novels of the century and the book that made Brandon Sanderson a star. It ranks #554 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Mistborn about?
For a thousand years the ash has fallen, no flowers have bloomed, and the Lord Ruler has reigned as an invincible god while the skaa live as slaves. Then Kelsier, a scarred, half-skaa survivor of the Lord Ruler's worst prison, discovers he is a Mistborn, able to draw power from metals. A brilliant thief, he gathers a crew for the ultimate heist: overthrowing the empire itself, with the help of a street urchin named Vin.
How long does it take to read Mistborn?
About 14 hours (541 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Mistborn?
If you liked it, try The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch or The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.