Let me start this review by saying that, unfortunately, I’m pretty sure I chose the wrong time in my life to read this book. I wanted to begin 2022 by reading something I knew I would like, and finishing a series that I’ve been following for a while seemed like a great way to start off my reading year. However I totally failed to consider that perhaps taking on a 700+ page high fantasy epic in the same month I start a new job in a completely new area of expertise, would be somewhat difficult. This, to my great shame, meant that I not only took a lot longer to get through it than is my usual, but I also only had small bits of time to read intersperced during the day, so I never did get to just sit for a couple hours and immerse myself completely in the world like these books deserve (right up until the last third which thankfully I managed to enjoy in one sitting) . I must admit that being so tired from work all the time meant that for the first half of the book, I wasn’t that engaged. I still really liked the plot and the writing, as I usually do, but I didn’t feel as connected to the characters or what was happening as I was expecting. Once again, I think that’s mostly my fault and not the books. 
This book, being the last in the series, was one where there was definitely a progressive built-up of tension and character development (which Brandon Sanderson is a master at, as expected), that I think I didn’t get to enjoy because I was always breaking up my reading. 

That said, now to gush about this absolutely masterpiece of a book, as I’m sure you’ve noticed I’m over here talking “but’s” and “however’s” but I still gave it 5 stars. 

Brandon Sanderson is a genious at creating sprawling, complex worldbuilding that feels both incredibly epic as well as believable in a way that most high fantasy doesn’t usually accomplish. Furthermore, the moral and philosophical themes he explores are so much more developed and nuanced than what I usually read even in other genres. The Mistborn Series always felt special to me in the way the author combined the adventure/fantasy plots with really deep meaningful discussions (about good and evil, about politics and ethics, about humans and the complexities of their emotions), but I found this last book especially to be like an epic end to a fantasy story built upon an extraordinary foundation of philosophical themes and discussions. I couldn’t help but feel incredibly shaken and reflective once I finished it, in a way I don’t remember feeling often. 

Even as intersperced as my reading was, I loved the character development we got for Spook and Sazed. It’s amazing how good Sanderson is at taking characters from previous books that weren’t such a central part of the story and building them up into fascinating and authentic feeling people, with complex emotions and backstories, that completely win you over by the end. 

I was especially impressed with the development of Sazed and his struggle with depression. All his inner monologues and the discussions he had with the people around him felt incredibly accurate and the resolution/result of his development was something I somehow did not see coming but blew me away once I read it. 

Don’t get me started on Vin’s and Elend’s relationship. I cannot stress how incredible it is to see such a good, balanced, healthy relationship depicted in a fantasy book, notably one where both parties get to grow as people and be there to support each other (even if that means having to make difficult decisions). 

Also at this point I feel like I’m just repeating what everyone else says but the action scenes!!! All the fight scenes that involved Allomancy (especially Vin’s - that one near Kredik Shaw OMG) were INCREDIBLE. 

Now, to the end. As much as I cried my eyes out reading it, I cannot help but feel it was the right thing to do. As I was reading it , I admit I was a tiny bit upset about some of the decisions made with the characters, I think that was actually the point and a normal reaction to have. But the more I think about it, the more true and right it feels. The final scene with the clearing was just. Man, I have a lot of emotions. 

So, overall, had a bit of a bumpy start with this one, mostly because of my own circumstances and not the quality of this book. This was a stunning ending to a great series, and I couldn’t have asked for more.