The Well of Ascension
Ratings1,676
Average rating4.3
4.5 Second Time Around
3 The First Time
Spoilers Below
I didn't like this book as much the first time around because it was slower than The Final Empire but on the one year later reread, I found this book to be WAY better than I remembered. For one, the twist in this book is honestly the best twist I have ever read. Now that I know it, I saw the signs throughout the novel and they are so elegantly placed. I thought that Vin's struggle in this book was way more mature and well-handled than in the first book and Elend, though he annoyed me a lot the first time around, was really solid as another main character. The Zane plot still irks me as it lacks the subtlety of the rest of the book and the siege felt a little lacking. In addition, compared to Stormlight, the setting didn't feel entirely alive. The mists were amazing for setting the scene but apart from that, one part of Luthadel felt the same as the other. Other than that, it was so well done.
Not as good as the first, which I thought was excellent. A lot of the book was about the characters worthiness, a bit to much of it. There was a ton of back and forth, am I good enough or not. Past that it was, again, a great read and good story. If you liked the first there is no reason not to continue the series and I myself am off to book 3. Enjoy!
I did not know it to be possible, but it was even better than book 1... You think it's going slow, but there is a lot happening. And the end is just... Wauw. There isn't anything else to say. This is my second book by Brandon Sanderson and I am loving his writing style. He keeps you deep into the story, even when nothing is happening. Because you only think nothing is happening. In reality everything is happening. Well if that made any sense, or of that made no sense at all. Go read these books! They are so good.
I can't even think of words that can properly describe my feelings in regards to this book. I cried, I laughed, and still my emotions are in such turmoil. I absolutely loved this installment, it is miles better than the first book and hope that the third and final book follows in its footsteps.
Just when I thought I understood almost everything, Sanderson surprised me with more revelations. I guess Kelsier was right, there is always another secret. I liked this book even more than The Final Empire, and that's saying much because I loved that book. If I had some concerns about the romance in the first book, I don't have any now. Sanderson portrayed a realistic relationship with flaws and problems. I really liked that. Besides, the story was amazing and it keep me at the edge of my seat. There were some dramatic moments, and I tried really hard to behave like a normal person and not to throw the book out the window. So, yeah, well done, Sanderson!
Bruh, what is even this book.
It starts out in the middle of events, then you kinda understand slowly the state of affairs since the first book, then it kinda slumps with around 150 pages of tediousness, after that it picks thing up like “yeah enough messing arround its time we actually start telling the story lol” and then it goes insane and it ends.
An enjoyable but inconsistent experience i would describe it, really liked the characters and i felt the action was better described this way arround.
Anyways, i liked it but it slumps halfway through. First book still feels like a better experience overall
This book took everything i loved about the first book and ran with it. I love the political intrigue, i love the chesslike movements of all parties involved, i love the misdirection, i love how the new religions play out, and i LOVE LOVE LOVE the way he foreshadows the otherwise Deus Ex Machina. It all works. Everything, including the ending, is satisfying in the most spectacular way. No complaints about this ending unlike the ending to the first book.
2024 Reread:
The Wells of Ascension is such an amazing middle book that one might consider to be one of Sanderson's underrated books. I find myself to be someone who enjoys beginnings and ends more than your ‘in the middle' books, but this is such a wonderful addition to the original Mistborn trilogy.
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Audio read by: Michael Kramer
1st Read: audiobook (2019)Re-read: ebook (2024)
The ending was just amazing. Elend and vin are not my favorites characters to come from Sanderson but this world and this magic system in itself is awesome
Demoramos para terminar esse volume, não é mesmo?
Embora ainda ache essa série excelente... achei um pouco maçante esse segundo volume. Varias mortes sofridas, varias atitudes estranhas, tudo para Vin torrar as paciências, Elend quase morrer, Sazed sofre e este livro ser um belo degrau para o terceiro volume.
Obs: esse ano está o ano das opniões impopulares, não?
It's not better than the first book... But that's a tall order. It's an amazing read, and anyone that liked Mistborn will not be able to put this one down, especially the last 1/3. It provides mystery, high octane Allomancy, and then it knocks your socks off with the setup for book #3.
Rating: 8.7/10
Not quite as enthralling as the first Mistborn book but still a solid outing for Sanderson. A bit too political for me at times and lost the magic of Allomancy in the weeds of an almost endless siege on Luthadel. The best parts were the slow world building and finding out more about the lore of this universe, such as learning more about kandra and what actually happened to Alendi and Rashek. The Vin and Elend relationship was more of a slog, with the constant “he/she deserves better than me” refrain. I suppose there had to be some of that but the constant repetition grated me a little bit. This book still earning four stars after these flaws really shows how great of a writer Sanderson is and how he can still create extremely compelling narrative.
As great as Star Wars is The Empire Strikes Back is better. Godfather or Godfather part II? Part II. The Well of Ascension is yet another example of the sequel outperforming its precursor.
Espionage and political intrigue drive the plot as a city anticipates its demise. Throw in a love story between an assassin and a king; another love story between a eunuch and a matron who had been forced to breed babies throughout most of her life; then add an insane man who allows his father to believe he is trying to kill him.
I enjoyed the second book of the first trilogy in some ways more than The Final Empire. I understood the basic rules of the world and the magic system, and it was enjoyable seeing how one of the central characters has grown into her power. This entry builds a bit more slowly, but the last third or so unputdownable.
4.5 stars. The beginning was rather slow, and some elements kind of annoyed me (I'm looking at you, Zane). The plot really picked up towards the ending, though, and I must've read the last 30% or so with bated breath, and then THAT ENDING BAM
Another great Mistborn book!. Sanderson continues to develop the worldbuilding skills from the first book and expands upon the universe here. Still lacking is character development, or at least some that I'd like to see. Vin's emotions in this book are classic Young Adult fiction and overly done for my taste. That and the romance excluded, truly an awesome book. Word on the street is that book 3 is better. So far so good.
WARNING! The appendix of the book contains spoilers for book 3. Seriously, who let this through editing?