The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, Book 2) Reviews

• Great Fantasy Read

  
  By A19AS1CYEQBU6R on 2007-08-22
  Brandon Sanderson's second installment in the Mistborn Trilogy is well worth the wait. There was quite a bit of politicking and a great deal of time spent on certain character's emotional development. Some of these sections may seem long but they are necessary for the progression of both the plot and the characters. There is still plenty of satisfying action, interesting new characters and a thrilling conclusion. With all the twists and turns of the story, I am now most anxious to read the final book. My only regret is that some secondary characters are given a somewhat superficial treatment and we don't get to see enough of them. Sanderson's novel is a well-crafted, engaging read that sets up for what should be a rousing conclusion.
  
  

• excellent follow-up to Mistborn

  
  By AFN32PGTZ31MV on 2007-10-04
  Brandon Sanderson's The Well of Ascension is the sequel to Mistborn, a very strong beginning to a new trilogy. Bridge books are always dicey things--many fall into a sophomore slump, meandering along trying to get from A to C with the required stop at B (because everyone knows a fantasy story can't be told in only two books, let alone one). Luckily for fans of the first book, Ascension doesn't fall into that trap.
  For those who haven't read the first book, what are you doing reading a review of the second? Anyway, stop reading now, because it's nearly impossible to discuss Ascension without reference to prior events in book one. Spoiler warning. If you know Mistborn well, skip the next paragraph.
  Mistborn is set in an ashen, mist-filled world whose myths tell of a time when plants were green. The world is dominated by the Lord Ruler, a seemingly immortal tyrant who had ruled for centuries, ruthlessly oppressing the majority population of Skaa, as well as the much smaller class of nobles. The Lord Ruler is also the hero who centuries ago defeated the mysterious "Deepness", saving the world from complete destruction. The magic system in Mistborn is "allomancy". Allomancers (a small percentage of the population) can "burn" certain metals to give them superhuman abilities, such as super-strength, super-senses, etc. There are only 10 such metals known and most allomancers can burn only one. True mistborns, however, can burn all. One powerful and charismatic mistborn, Kelsior, leads a group of thieves in their greatest caper--taking down the Lord Ruler. Integral to his plans is a street urchin girl named Vin, a more powerful mistborn than Kelsior. By the end (spoiler), the Lord Ruler is killed, as is Kelsior, and the Skaa are freed.
  One of the pleasures of Ascension is that it picks up where most fantasy novels end. Ding dong, the Dark Lord is Dead. What's left to tell? Turns out plenty. First of all, the rebels start to learn that it's easy to carp from the sidelines but when it's your turn to actually rule, things aren't so simple. They also face the rule of "unintended consequences". Sure, the tyrannical Dark Lord is dead. But all that tyranny had a plus side--people were too scared to fight among themselves. Now civil war has broken out and young, bookish Elend Venture, the new king of Luthadel, faces three besieging armies, all trying to take his city and the rumored stockpile of treasure amassed by the Lord Ruler.
  Oh, and that "free the Skaa, end despotism, move toward rule by the people" stuff that sounded so good in conspiratorial alley-meetings? Turns out sometimes "the people" aren't so smart. Or grateful. Not to mention the nobles continue to plot to find ways to retain their power, even if that means giving up the city to one of the armies.
  The newly-freed Skaa, by the way, are wondering why they aren't getting regular stockpiles of food and tools etc. When they slaved on plantation estates they were horribly treated but someone fed them. Now they have to do it themselves and winter is quickly approaching.
  And finally, the whole "Lord Ruler saved the world from a great evil" propaganda may, it turns out, have been right. And with the Lord Ruler gone, that evil may be back. The mists are now coming during the day and are starting to kill people.
  If that sounds like a lot to deal with, it is. And that's not to mention the son-wanting-to-kill the father subplot, the brother-versus-brother subplot, the Vin and Elend romance subplot, the new bad Mistborn in town subplot, the other romance subplot, and, well, you get the idea.
  Sanderson is juggling a lot here and the truth is he does it with a lot of aplomb. There's a sense of true fun in the telling of this story, despite its dark moments. It doesn't quite have the humor or Oceans 11 banter of Mistborn; it is a much more introspective, darker book in many ways, but it still feels like the author had a great time with it. And there are funny parts. The magical system remains a strength due to its utter originality and the way it gets refined and furthered, though the allomantic battles are a bit hard to follow at times. The secondary characters, with one prime exception and two other less-pronounced ones, aren't `t as strong as in Mistborn, but the focus on Elend and Vin makes up for that somewhat as they are compelling characters in their own right, if not as charismatic as Kelsior. Vin's victories seem a bit too predictable at times, but Sanderson balances that somewhat by not being afraid to have some major side characters die off. Even better is that the book sometimes spills off into very unpredictable directions, though that's all one can say about that. And the ending, though perhaps a bit rushed/abrupt, nicely closes off one story while greatly expanding the larger tale, much as happened in Mistborn.
  Truth be told, the Mistborn series is one of the more original and enjoyable reads in fantasy I've had in some time. It's original in its own fashion, turning away from the typical fantasy tropes but without simply following down the path of the earlier "rebellious" fantasies, the once-new but now familiar "gritty" epic fantasies such as Martin or Erickson (both of whom I'm fans of). The series is highly recommended.
  
  

• Fantasy that fufills the hype

  
  By A1J26EX3XIL5DB on 2007-08-30
  I continue to think about The Well of Ascension long after I read it. That is what makes it a great book. It is a clever, provocative, and entertaining sequel. I like how Sanderson grounds it in simple ideas and emotions: love, duty, religion, trust, etc. This novel should be read carefully; the author is precise with his words and creates a riddle that is both hard to solve and satisfying once it is resolved. I can think of no other fantasy author who compels me to think about what I've read--to the extent of rereading pages--as much as Sanderson does.
  
  As good as this novel is, it is not without its shortcomings. I still think that the Allomantic action is hard to follow with its Pushes and Pulls. I also think that the romance between Vin and Elend lacks passion. They behave more like best friends than lovers. Not only is there is a notable absence of sex, but their attraction seems to stem from respect and curiosity more than physical desire.
  
  If you are looking for a new fantasy series that lives up to the hype, I recommend Sanderson's Mistborn novels.
  
  

• Story loses its momentum

  
  By A5EXE3DORR8Y0 on 2007-10-06
  The first book in this trilogy, Mistborn, was exciting, original, and worth the time. What's not to like about a group of rogues overthrowing an oppressive government, after all? This book, which slogs through the aftermath of those events, doesn't even come close to living up to the quality of its predecessor. (Some minor spoilers follow.)
  
  Because the animating spirit of the first book, Kelsier, is no longer available, we are left with Vin and Elend as our main protagonists. Vin is powerful, Elend is principled, and they're supposedly in love (though, really, their romance feels like it was scripted by George Lucas at his most tedious--reading their conversations was like watching Young Darth and the Queen all over again. Boring, boring, boring). I was rather hoping their relationship would fail, because that seemed the only way that something emotionally interesting might happen to someone--no such luck. If you're still rooting for their tepid young love by the end of the book, you're a more tolerant soul than I.
  
  The plot is equally inspiring. The heroes have defeated the Lord Ruler only to find themselves confronted with a new set of problems, none of which are very interesting unless 1) you like siege warfare or 2) you enjoy fantasy villains that are super powerful, unfathomable, and apparently inhuman. The human bad guys are just silly and irritating, and it's impossible to take them seriously, especially with a character like Vin around. When the good guys can kill anyone they want, anytime, with only a minimum of trouble, how can we be expected to worry about the various scheming contenders for Elend's throne? We can't, of course. The result of all this is a serious lack of suspense.
  
  If you just *have* to know what happens next, by all means check this book out of the library and give it a look. If Kelsier was the reason you enjoyed Mistborn, however, you might be better advised to spend your time with a more worthwhile novel, as this one is unlikely to satisfy.
  
  

• Disappointing. . .

  
  By A26KR9L8E16F2X on 2007-11-18
  Having loved Mistborn: The Final Empire last year, I was really eager to read its sequel, The Well of Ascension. The ending promised a lot of things to come, which made me curious as to what would occur next.
  
  Unfortunately, The Well of Ascension didn't do it for me. Not at all, truth to tell. Indeed, for some reason it failed on basically every level to interest me. If this had been a book by anyone but Brandon Sanderson, I would have quit long before the end.
  
  I really like Brandon. He's one of the nicest guys around in the genre, a class act and always accessible. I enjoyed both Elantris and Mistborn: The Final Empire, and I was truly looking forward to reading The Well of Ascension. In a way, I feel a bit bad about having to write such a negative review concerning the work of an author I respect. And yet, I have to be honest if I'm to maintain any semblance of integrity. Having said that, I'm glad there are some very positive reviews out there, which demonstrates that many people found it to their liking. I wish I could claim the same. . .
  
  On the upside, once again I found the magical system to be the most fascinating aspect of this novel. We learn a bit more about it, and it's evident that Sanderson created something special. The action scenes are as cool as in the first volume, though they don't have the same sort of impact the second time around. The worldbuilding is interesting, yet I would have loved to learn more about the Deepness and the Well of Ascension. Still, I'm intrigued enough to pick up the third volume of this series.
  
  In retrospect, I feel that there simply wasn't enough material to warrant a novel-length project. Yes, I'm well aware that this book weighs in at 589 pages, yet "filler" is predominant throughout. If you strip The Well of Ascension down to the bare essential, I feel that we'd be left with less than 100 pages. For the most part, by the halfway point of the novel, I was just going through the motions, plowing on without veritable interest, yet hoping that something would turn this one around and get me into it.
  
  The Well of Ascension, with its banter and "funny" dialogues, shows once more that Brandon Sanderson is David Eddings' heir in terms of style, although he's more action-oriented than Eddings ever was. Which means that those who used to love David Eddings should enjoy Sanderson's work. On the downside, those people who couldn't stand Eddings will, in all likelihood, find Sanderson off-putting for the same reasons.
  
  Unlike its predecessor, the characterization in The Well of Ascension is the facet which I found left the most to be desired. I believe the tale missed Kelsier a lot more than I ever thought possible. Vin and Elend's relationship makes for the better part of the story's backdrop, and I found it quite on the lame side. I was hoping for either or both to be killed by page 50, but alas this is no GRRM book. . . Without Kelsier, the rest of his crew lost all their erstwhile appeal.
  
  The narrative doesn't flow well, mainly because Sanderson interrupts the flow of the story with constant thoughts and feelings from every single POV character. There is a lot of "inner" dialogue going on in their heads, often reflecting on what the narrative has just explained. This results in a somewhat sluggish pace, forcing us to go through a lot of emo crap which serves little purpose in the overall scheme of things. . .
  
  The politicking -- the whole "let's make Ellend the bookworm a king" -- was clumsy and unrealistic. And since intrigue and politics are at the heart of the tale, I felt that this one read like a YA novel.
  
  The ending is good enough to make me want to read the final volume of the series. But The Well of Ascension was a letdown, making this book my biggest disappointment of the year thus far.
  
  
• Hang on tight
  By A2P95O2OY1PKZR on 2007-09-10
  Mistborn fans, do not start this book if you don't have a chunk of time to read it through. The second of the series, Well of Ascension is very fast-paced with a lot of twists and turns, action, and new information. There are detailed fight scenes which appealed to the teenage boys I've talked to, but I admit to loosing interest in following them too carefully. With the allomancy-magic they seemed almost Matrix like, only in print. I did find myself pulled along by excellent character development, (of both new and returning characters,) and by the way the story evolves and changes. This is a large book to read in one sitting, but it is very compelling, and if you decide to wait till the action slows down a bit to take a break you will never put it down. My only real disappointment with the book is that it does not have nearly as finished an ending as the first in the series, (it's pretty much a teaser for the next book,) but the boys insist that they really, really, so very much, liked the way it ended. And, all of us agree, we are enthusiastically waiting the final volume.
  
  
  
• Mind Blown
  By A3G78S5MX3CTA5 on 2007-09-02
  Brandon Sanderson has an amazing talent for misdirection. After finishing the book I had to sit and stare at the cover for a good long while, trying to come to grips with the twist at the end, setting us up for the last book in the series. It wasn't just at the end though. Brandon put an amazing number of reveals throughout the novel. Several times I stopped to think about how much cooler the world was with the new information. The world of Mistborn is deep and colorful. The characters are believable. And I thought the romance was well done, especially with the lack of sex.
  That all being said, Mistborn: The Well of Ascension was not as complete a novel as the Final Empire. It didn't leave me feeling finished. I felt vaguely disquieted. I expect that Brandon will use this low to shove us to a new height in the next novel, which luckily will come out in not to long!
  
  
• What happens after you've won - still a good read
  By A2SW2A3PE5RUQE on 2007-09-10
  This book is a slower, and larger instalment than the first book in this series. Be warned, there's a lot of politics involved as Vin and Elend try to cope with solidifying their initial success with overthrowing The Final Empire - only to find that theory and reality don't always mix well, and other emerging Warlords and Kings don't particularly want Eland on the throne and will do anything to get him out of the way if it will help them find The Lord Ruler's fabled stash of atium.
  
  This middle book by its end sets up the stakes for the final instalment in this series, and still makes me impatiently waiting to see how it will all end with book 3. It's a recommended read though the first half is a bit slow to start.
  
  
  
  
  
• Excellent!
  By A3MR4C5Y8SBJ89 on 2007-11-10
  I agree with the reviewers who said this was a slower moving story. But, I still found it intense. Much of the conflict occurs WITHIN the characters, not BETWEEN them.
  
  I found it very believable to discover the harsh reality following the great victory of Book 1. Kelsier DID leave a mess for the others of his crew to mop up. And, of course it wouldn't be easy.
  
  I really enjoyed how the author allowed us to snoop on the characters' deepest thoughts and emotions as they struggled with who they are and what they should or should not do -- and why.
  
  I disagree with the one review who said the villains were just silly. I thought they (as well as their actions) were believable and understandable -- even though I didn't like them.
  
  And, just because WE knew how powerful Vin was, doesn't mean the villains really knew (or believed) it. So, their actions were not out of character. Nor was Vin really portayed as invincible. She clearly had her weaknesses, despite her obvious ability to cause some serious damage.
  
  I'm very much looking forward to the third (and I believe final) installment.
  
  Brandon, I won't mind if you decide to continue the Mistborn series beyond the third. Maybe you can simply create another trilogy, allowing this story to come to a complete finish, but still allowing us to enjoy the interesting world you've created.
  
  
• A Splendor That More Need to Read
  By A3KUQ23P1QQEB on 2007-11-14
  Mistborn 2: The Well of Ascension is a book that I was somewhat weary of... sequels never did go to well with me, especially when the last book ended with such a powerful note. But I couldn't deny the air of mystery that went unsolved in the first book. The book started with a logical and chaotic aftermath that brought a high tension to the book. Brandon Sanderson's typical writing style where the book starts as a slow somewhat enjoyable read and builds up to an awesome ending that blows the world away. By the end of the book I lost all control and was in love, I've been recommending Sanderson for sometime now ever sense I read Elantris, but after Mistborn I call him my favorite all-time author. 5/5 stars for an awesome intense ride that builds in tension and doesn't release till the last book. What I love as well, is how he solves the main conflict of the second book, but leaves a new air of mystery for the second. That made it all the more incredible.
  
  
• Evil's in the Eye of the Beholder. 4.5 Stars
  By A3U29LBT749HJ0 on 2008-02-02
  Is Evil always evil? Or is Evil only evil depending on your viewpoint? That's one of the central themes in Brandon Sanderson's entertaining sequel to Mistborn.
  
  Once "Well of Ascension" gets over its sluggish beginning, the book moves along like one of the earlier entries in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. The pacing and characterizations are done well, there is plenty of political 'House of Games' intrigue, and some of the absolute best action sequences you'll find in the genre.
  
  The book would have benefitted from more sizzle between Vin and Elend (who seem more like brother/sister than lovers); I understand that in this genre there shouldn't be too much sizzle, but just some sizzle would have been effective.
  
  Recommended.
  
  
• Perhaps the most exciting author in sci fi/fantasy today
  By ACY6TA51MBQLO on 2008-06-21
  Brandon Sanderson has been called upon to finish Robert Jordan's master work for a reason, his world-building is innovative and compelling, his characters are well-fleshed and developed and his plotting is near flawless. In this, the second of the Mistborn series (write faster!), the question of what happens when the dark-lord is vanquished is answered as the heroes of the first find themselves struggling to maintain control over the events they created. And maybe they did not know as much as they thought...
  
  Since this review is very early in the sequence of what will undoubtedly prove many favorably ones to come (or see hardcover edition), I'll avoid the spoilers, and again simply call on Mr. Sanderson to get us the next in the series as fast as possible -- my only caveat is that I want Memories of Light (the last WoT) book too.
  
  I recommend this series without reservation, and suggest likeminded readers treat themselves to Sanderson's Elantris as well.
  
  
• Excellent second novel
  By A3ERE95HQYIN8J on 2007-09-04
  I just finished The Well of Ascension and I couldn't put it down.
  
  This novel nicely expands on the promises & characters you grew to know and love in the first book. The team is left without their leader but they still have a country to run. What will they do? How will they respond to the needs of their people and what did the Lord Ruler's final words really mean? Vin and Elend have to find out in time to save themselves and possibly the rest of the world.
  
  While the book wasn't quite as fast paced as Mistborn (maybe just because I miss Kelsier and the entire savior/leader/rogue that he was), it sets us up for what I expect will be a mind blowing finale.
  
  
• Meaty and brilliantly cool
  By A2F155HIQ1THMJ on 2007-09-28
  My golly-gosh this was a great book to read! highly enjoyable and meaty, I challenge anyone who knocked down harry potter in a day to try the same with this one! it's impossible, it's one of the amazing book where you are torn between going slow and savouring said meaty juices of enjoyment (and oh... oh I love the kandra so...) and staying up till it's morning again churning through it.
  
  Not disappointing!
  
  
• Dark times for a fledgeling King and a new government...
  By ADYED6Z2R1R0Z on 2008-01-03
  I was wondering how this book would be, since one of the major figures of the last book was gone... But it was interesting seeing them all try to cope. And the remaining characters did seem to step up to the plate a bit and try to fill the gap.
  
  The story itself was good, with the end satisfying, even though it's obviously a "middle book." The Lord Ruler's tyrannical thousand-year rule has ended, but of course that means chaos fills the power vacuum. Lord Elend Venture, an idealistic, scholarly aristocrat who always championed the oppressed Skaa, tries to lead the Central Dominance as a king who establishes a council with power and rights. But his ruthless father, Straff Venture, has gained kingship in the North and is now coming to Luthadel to conquer it. And the minor king of the west has also brought an army to besiege Luthadel. Trying times calls for decisive leadership, but Elend cannot compromise his belief in giving power to his people, even when he risks losing everything that was gained.
  
  Vin, with her Mistborn powers, renowned for killing the Lord Ruler, loves Elend. She has to constantly thwart assassination attempts against him--and has to fight her own heart which tells her she isn't worthy of him. She also battles her feelings for a mysterious Mistborn opponent who comes out of the night to challenge and intrigue her...
  
  I enjoyed these characters much more than I thought I would. They were overshadowed by the very charismatic Kelsier in the first book, but they seem to be developing nicely in this installment. I will certainly look forward to the next book in the series.
  
  
  
• He's done it again!!
  By AHIVPURUXL4AE on 2008-02-10
  After reading "THE FINAL EMPIRE" I just had to order and read "WELL OF ACSENSION". I was not disapointed. The world that Sanderson has created is as wonderfull and unique as the characters. I read fantasy almost exclusively and this trilogy is ,so far, my favorite by far.I can't wait to see what happens next.
  JDJones11207
  
  
• Entertaining, but disappointing
  By A3JBDXML6YHBST on 2008-03-02
  I really enjoyed Elantris, Mistborn: the Final Empire and was happy to finally read a sequel to one of Mr. Sanderson's books. While I found the read to be entertaining, I was ultimately disappointed by the book. I really want to say that Well of Ascension was a great book for me to read, but it didn't live up to my expectations.
  
  There are many good things about Well of Ascension. First, it has the same great world that was in The Final Empire. Second, more is revealed about Allomancy. Third, there are some great action scenes. Fourth, Brandon's writing is usually clear and enjoyable to read. Fifth, Vin is still a fascinating character to read about.
  
  What ruined the book for me were essentially three details:
  
  First, there is a fair amount of graphic violence in the book. While the Hong Kong martial-arts film inspired action scenes can be thrilling, there are a number of gory depictions I could have done without. In fact, it seems that most of the characters become a little sociopathic during this book.
  
  Second, the character of Elend faltered for me. He changes from a loveable bookworm and idealist to an often merciless egotist by the end of the book. Elend receives far more attention in Well of Ascension than he received in Final Empire, but his grandiose involvement in Well of Ascension seems contrived.
  
  Third, I was disappointed in the ending which seemed to be a forced cliff-hanger included just to make sure a third book in the series could be written. Worst of all, the ending left me with a feeling that reading the book was a waste of my time because everything that happened doesn't really matter anyways.
  
  I'll probably read the final book in the Mistborn series, because I know Brandon tries to be a good person. So I'm trusting he'll redeem his story-line and his characters in the last book.
  
  
  
  
• Kept me spellbound
  By APSTDEISYVZ3Y on 2008-06-30
  This 2nd book in the series from Brandon Sanderson is, like the first, awesome. I had heard about this author only because of the death of a very famous author and Brandon is going to finish this other authors last book in a very long series. Brandon, if he continues to write like he has done in these two books, will be and already is, one of the premier authors in this Genre. Robert Jordan would be proud!
  
  
• Yuck
  By AKZ9ZM6WOS20B on 2008-09-04
  I'm not sure I read the same book as what all these glowing reviewers are discussing. It's a little like the Emperor's New Clothes. I found this book less exciting than the first one in the series which was a yawner to begin with. Cardboard characters and sterotypical situations. There was nothing new, it was all a melange of other fantasy novels. As someone who loved the first three volumes of Jordan but grew increasingly bored with the constant sequels that added nothing to the storyline, I guess Sanderson is a worthy pick to finish off The Wheel of Time.
  
  Joe Abercrombie makes this guy look like a piker.
  
  
• Despite lackluster love story, a can't-miss for fantasy lovers
  By A1EVDRGLVCYYVP on 2008-09-18
  The second book in the Final Empire series starts up a while after Vin defeats the Lord Ruler. Elend Venture has taken over as king of Luthadel, trying to establish a modern, more enlightened type of government, including a Congress-like Assembly made up of merchants, skaa and noblemen. Vin acts as Elend's bodyguard, protecting him from several assassination attempts by kings who have taken over other sections of the Final Empire after the Lord Ruler's demise.
  
  But all is not good. Two armies have set up camp outside of Luthadel, Elend's father leading one and an influential politician from the West leading the other, and a siege has begun. Everyone is hoping to get their hands on The Lord Ruler's secret stash of alium; unfortunately, Elend and the remaining members of Kelsier's crew have not located it.
  
  To make matters worse, Sazed, who has been traveling to spread his knowledge now that The Keepers no longer have to live in hiding, has heard accounts of the mist killing people. The mist also seems to be staying around longer and longer into the day. Prophesy comes back into play, and a strange mist-creature and a faraway pulsing beat begins to haunt Vin. It seems that the Lord Ruler's dying words--that he was preventing some great evil from taking over the world--might have been true after all.
  
  Again, one main problem with this novel--the characters are again a bit clichéd, but in this book it gets slightly worse with a drawn-out "drama" between Vin and Elend where they can't seem to communicate to each other and misunderstandings take place and love is thwarted and blah blah blah. That is not a plot line I ever enjoy in books, I just find it old-hat, annoying and laaaaame. I thought it was completely distracting in this book and unnecessary and I wish Sanderson had left it out. I feel like one fault of his is his inability to make engaging love stories. I can't even put my finger on why exactly, I just don't really find myself caring about Vin getting with Elend or Sazed and his interest or Ham and his macguffin wife. Like, with Vin and Elend I can get why they would love each other, I just don't "feel" it--you know? I don't know, they're no FitzChivalry and Molly, I'll say that much.
  
  That said, the Vin/Elend drama is an extremely minor aspect to the overall book, which is just as fast-moving and otherwise creative as the first. The plot twists, for me, were also equally surprising as they were in the first book, and the mysteries remained mysterious until the book wanted them revealed. I am unbelievably excited for the third book. Like the first, this book has a quasi-satisfying ending , but the overarching story line is still up in the air. Cannot wait for October!
  
  
  
• only gets better ...
  By A1VXN0LM7NUQ3L on 2008-10-02
  One of the main things I dislike about fiction is that it is fiction! In the sense that authors tend to shy away from the grim reality of life and tend to find easy solutions to problems in their works of imagination. Not so with Brandon Sanderson who is one of the few authors I have ever read to have both his feet on the ground and totally aware of the reality of the world around him. Happy will eventually turn not-so-happy. That which we consider as failure and misforture might provide beneficial assistance somewhere later in life. People are neither wholly good nor wholly bad - most are somewhere in the middle, their goodness or badness surfacing dependent on the circumstance and situation - and their own inevitable human weaknesses.
  
  Not to ramble too much about the relativity of the world we live in - yes Sanderson is fully aware of these paradoxes and it is well reflected in his books. So the stories are much more complex, evolved and truer to life (though they be fantasy) than most works of fiction - but still very accessible.
  
  Elantris was not too bad. The final kingdom was much better. And the Wells ... is even better. Great storytelling. Sanderson does a twist on the prophecy-hero formula which is quite in line with his realistc worldview.
  
  I can't wait to get my hands on "Hero of the ages" now!
  
  
• $9.99 for a Kindle version?
  By A2KNRRCFK0EFQY on 2008-10-18
  I have not bought or read this book, but $9.99 for a Kindle version? The paperback sells new at Amazon for $7.99! When I first saw this book for sale, it was like $6 and change. Maybe like $6.79 or something. Now a jump to $9.99, even more than the retail price of a paperback version of this book? No thank you!
  
  
• Why can't there be more books like this?
  By A23MRH36XRVRK7 on 2007-10-07
  I just finished reading this book and It made me sad for it to be over. I miss the characters. I want the next book!!!
  
  
• A must read
  By A2GFNKUMQTX3KA on 2007-12-20
  A great book, and a great follow up to "MistBorn: The Final Empire". Again the characters are sharp, the concepts innovative, and the world beautifully imagined. On the downside the emotional interplay between Vin and Elend was a bit overdone, and the book suffered slightly from "middle book syndrome". But all-in-all the story was fantastic and the ending brilliant.
  
  
• worthy
  By AWEBE8R63WF8A on 2008-01-22
  The first Mystborn book started slow, but by the end I thought "okay, now we're getting somewhere". Well of Ascension starts fast and just gets better as it goes. I couldn't put it down. Took me 72 hours to read it. Just when I thought I'd read it all in SF, Robertson takes me by surprise with his innovative concepts, plot twists, fully fleshed and flawed characters. He has the potential to become one of the best of SF writers, in league with Jordan, George RR Martin, Heinlein and, yes, even Tolkien. I can't wait for the next book.
  
  
• Good book
  By AJKXOD0M7282T on 2008-02-08
  This was a great book, probably not quite as good as the first, but not very far behind at all. The ending was very unexpected and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
  
  
• Excellent Book
  By A2C5APM7QAL20E on 2008-03-01
  If you are a fan of Ice and Fire (George RR Martin) or The Golden Compass, you will enjoy this book. This is no cliche fantasy epic. From the start to the end, you will be surprised, intrigued, and amazed. I can't wait for the sequel!
  
  
• A Sequel on Rarer Fantasy Ground
  By A3G536EE1BB3XX on 2008-03-09
  (Note: Spoilers for the previous book.)
  
  After "Mistborn: The Final Empire" left the prototypical Dark Lord dead and the heroes triumphant, "The Well of Ascension" starts with, well, "What's Next?" The overarching plot of the middle book of the Mistborn trilogy is the attempt by Elend (now King) and the other heroes to maintain power in the face of old nobility and their armies. This is largely ignored territory for Epic Fantasy, and it's handled well here, although the slow pace of siege warfare makes plotting it trickier.
  
  Sanderson builds heavily on the foundation he established already; the Feruchemy of the Terrismen Keepers, such as Sazed, is further developed, and another allomatic metal is added. The biggest improvement here is the better development of the supporting cast; while not everyone was fully developed it was much more balanced than the first book. Elend, Vin, Sazed, and newcomer Zane get more screen time, and are fascinating. The fight scenes return and Sanderson manages to keep the variety up, although Allomancy now looks to have a large number of unknown metals.
  
  There are a few missteps, however. Much like with Alendl's diaries in the first book, notes from the philosopher Kwaan are placed above the chapter headings and in the book proper. Again, they're used to foreshadow a subtle but crucial plot point; however, they are somewhat overused in the attempt, becoming annoying rather than mysterious. A certain use of Allomancy - one that is key to the plot - is poorly explained, and there are a few too many questions at the end.
  
  Still, it's fairly clear that the questions will be answered, even if this book doesn't end as cleanly as the last. Sanderson handles the issues that arise out of being the middle book of a trilogy better than most in a book that covers mostly new fantasy ground. Anyone that liked "Mistborn: The Final Empire" should definitely stay with the trilogy.
  
  
• Exciting and leaving you wanting more...
  By A21NRTCLP51WZI on 2008-03-11
  I, unlike a lot of readers here, enjoyed this one more than the first, slightly. Yes, Kelsier's gone, but the crew has enough charisma to keep reader's attention. Another review suggested this novel to be a "YA Novel", which to some extent I agree. As a "new" writer, Sanderson has yet reached the levels of Jordan, but his plots and twists overshadow the shortcomings. The storyline continues to be intriguing and well thought out. I think the twist in this book is on a greater scale than the first book. With some books, you can see where it will be going but with this one, it's quite unexpected. The political warfare is entertaining to me, but it could use more stategic warfare action. I also liked the mystery and suspense levels of this book. It keeps the reader wondering and thinking. When a book makes me sweat like this one and gasping at times, then I realize how entrenched it makes one feel. The ending is some what a cliff hanger, and that's the only gripe I have with this book. I have a lot of mixed feelings regarding this book, but overall it is a great great read and I truly recommend it. Otherwise, I cant wait for the finale, but at the same time, I dont want it to end. Sanderson created something great and I expect and hope that his future series will be longer and more powerful.
  
  
• Fantastic book
  By A2GY4C3FE46P18 on 2008-03-22
  The Well of Ascension is a great book, that develops on a truly engrossing world. The only downfall, is it ends too soon.
  
  Highly recommended.
  
  

• The Final Empire (Mistborn, Book 1)
• The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, Book 3)
• Elantris
• The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day 1)
• Mistborn