Tendrils of Darkness — Epilogue
Epilogue With No Man’s Land finally behin...
Tendrils of Darkness — Epilogue
Epilogue With No Man’s Land finally behin...
Tendrils of Darkness — Chapter 50: Final Confrontation
Final Confrontation Years of sentinel train...
Tendrils of Darkness — Chapter 49: Secrets Revealed
Secrets Revealed Circling Copius, the owlbe...
Steelheart is the most enjoyable book I’ve read this year and it is Sanderson’s best stand alone book he has to date (Elantris, The Rithmatist, Warbreaker). That’s right I said it. Look, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s Sanderson’s best book, the most intriguing, the best magic system or most unique. Simply, it reads so smoothly, there is nothing complicated and it is non-stop action. It will probably be the first Sanderson book I’ll recommend to others from here on out.
One day “Calamity”, an explosion in the sky, granted superpowers to men and women at random known as Epics. Without any warning, these Epics take over parts of the country (USA). Epics kill those who resist (or looks at them funny) and subjugates everyone else. The most powerful of them all, Steelheart, reigns supreme in Newcago.
Not bending the knee are The Reckoners. A group of “humans” who will not abide by the atrocities that these Epics have wrought. They hide, plan and kill off the Epics that they can. See, every Epic has a weakness. Some can be killed normally yet some seem impervious to harm until you find their “kryptonite”.
The story follows David, an ordinary teenage boy who is obsessive compulsive about Epics. When David was 8, he saw the murder of his father by the Epic known as Steelheart. Steelheart is invincible. Bullets, explosions, fire…nothing! can harm him. Yet the moments before David’s father died, Steelheart was grazed by a bullet that David’s father had fired. He has a weakness…but what caused that weakness?
As I said, this is the most enjoyable book I’ve read this year. While teaching, I don’t have a lot of time to read yet I read this in a few days. The story moves along at an extreme pace, there is no dull chapter and you are constantly guessing what Steelheart’s weakness could be. I knew it was Sanderson, so it wouldn’t be anything obvious as the man has a knack for surprise.
The subtle twists of Epics having weaknesses is great. I hate Superman (the character) because he’s invincible and by making Epics having weakness really balances them out. Although the story in the book only spans a month or two, you do see David’s character grow. He starts off obsessed and starts to realize there are other parts of life worth enjoying as well.
Seriously…after my ramblings how could you not go out and get Steelheart? Check out Laurentius’ review as well if you are not convinced!
Oh and we have two copies of Steelheart to giveaway, so you can make up your own mind! ^_^
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks to Hachette NZ for providing an ARC of Steelheart to be reviewed and for giving us a copy to giveaway!
Sharakhai, the great city of the desert, center of commerce and culture, has been ruled from time immemorial by twelve kings -- cruel, ruthless, powerful, and immortal. With their army of Silver Spears, their elite company of Blade Maidens and their holy defenders, the terrifying asirim, the Kings uphold their positions as undisputed, invincible lords of the desert. There is no hope of freedom for any under their rule.
Or so it seems, until Çeda, a brave young woman from the west end slums, defies the Kings' laws by going outside on the holy night of Beht Zha'ir. What she learns that night sets her on a path that winds through both the terrible truths of the Kings' mysterious history and the hidden riddles of her own heritage. Together, these secrets could finally break the iron grip of the Kings' power...if the nigh-omnipotent Kings don't find her first.
Blog editor, admin and founder of BestFantasyBooks.comYou'll find me on the BestFantasyBook forums and spending my spare time reading fantasy books and writing lists for this site. In fact, I have no spare time -- running this site IS my spare time!
Archives