Why Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere Masterpiece Has Fantasy Books’ Best Third Act

A Vast Shared Universe

Sanderson began the Cosmere with Elantris in 2005. The ongoing shared universe includes more than 30 fantasy novels, short stories, novellas, picture books and graphic novels. Mistborn, first published in 2006, is among its longest-running series. It has seven novels across two eras, along with one novella and two short stories. The first trilogy concludes with The Hero of Ages.

Life Under the Final Empire

The story takes place on Scadrial, a planet with a red sun, no moon and skies filled with volcanic ash. Much of it is controlled by the Final Empire, an industrialized realm where nobles rule over skaa, who endure hard labor and poor conditions.

The setting’s magic includes Allomancy, which grants powers through swallowed metals, and Feruchemy, which stores personal attributes in metal objects for later use. Hemalurgy is another system, though its details would reveal too much about the first book.

A Rebellion Becomes Apocalyptic

The first era follows a crew of skaa criminals in Luthadel, led by Kelsier, a survivor of the Pits of Hathsin. With Vin, a young newcomer, he sets out to overthrow the Lord Ruler and spark a rebellion.

By the trilogy’s final book, the threat is far greater than the old regime. Scadrial is nearing disaster: the ground shakes, volcanoes erupt and lava crosses the landscape, while ash is revealed as necessary protection from the planet’s proximity to its sun.

The Final Act’s Stakes

Vin has entered the noble class and married Elend Venture, the new ruler. Together, they try to reform the political order while confronting rivals and the Shard Ruin, which seeks to destroy Scadrial. A prophecy speaks of a figure called the Hero of Ages who will bring harmony.

As armies fight amid the unfolding catastrophe, Sazed uncovers secrets about Ruin, its connection to the Lord Ruler and the mist. He also finds a possible way to end the disaster. Preservation, the other Shard on Scadrial, is no longer active because its Vessel died long ago.