The Well of Ascension

A solid second book for a trilogy - certainly no sophomore slump. Though I tend to not be a fan of political/war-type drama, the strategical bantering of Elend and the crew doesn't inhibit the fast-pace of the book and is easy to follow. Sanderson is incredibly tactful not only in the way he meticulously unfolds the plot in such a way that you just can't stop reading, but also in the ways of subtle characterization - in watching the characters change is a terrifyingly unstable, Post-Lord Ruler world, allows insight into the deeper philosophical questions that face us all.