It took me a longer time than usual to finish, but in my defense, this one's longer than the usual books I read. Where to start, where to start? How about, this book proved to be a lengthy but very worthwhile read? Yes. Yes, that's a good start.

Allomancy. I have never heard of such a thing 'til this book. It's not magic, not exactly, but it is, for me, just as wonderful. It's of different power, too. Almost more realistic than wands and incantation, more tangible, but also more complex. Learning Allomancy with Vin and Kelsier and learning about the Final Empire and its history and people made my head spin, to be honest, that I had to stop for breaks and just let my mind digest all the info.

From the crew's bromance and Vin's own blossoming romance with Elend to the politics of nobility and thoughtful planning and (not so careful) execution of Kelsier's crew, it was such a delight to be part of it all! I am not one to run away from a challenging read and I did say I liked the overall theme of this one. So I carried on and was rewarded by a fulfillment that can only be felt from finishing a book.

Although still left with questions, this book can stand on its own. I was a bit startled to find an epilogue knowing that this was just book one of a series. It was a very ambitious and impressive start and I look forward to reading more.