Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 07/01/2022
Cover:
I admit this cover is not what I would call stunning or eye-catching. It does, however, have an illusion of Vin looking so bad-ass and awesome that I am willing to overlook the abstract design.
Writing:
I am at a loss for words for how good Brandon’s writing is in this book. It is vivid, picturesque, and seemingly effortless! Each word from beginning to end drips with so much imagery and suspense that I found it difficult to stop reading. The continued world-building in this story is also very impressive. I loved each new revelation about the magic system and the history of the Final Empire.
A man was defined not by his flaws, but by how he overcame them
Storyline:
‘The Well of Ascension‘ picks up a year after the previous book. War is just a stone’s throw away, so the storyline is bursting with the heavy politics it takes to manage the situation. The numerous schemes, betrayals and twists serve to create a highly complex and realistic tale that kept me engrossed throughout. With all this, I did not mind the slow pace of the character-driven storyline.
Main character:
I absolutely loved Vin in this book! The little growth and evolution she experiences in the previous book are taken even further in this book. Her character’s arc was thoroughly satisfying to follow as she is given the space to explore her identity and abilities. Through this, she becomes stronger both mentally and physically. Her insecurities and worries only made her character even more realistic, and it was great to see her overcome these. Vin is also central to most of the action scenes in the story, and this solidified her place as a total bad-ass.
Secondary characters:
The character-driven storyline allows both old and new characters to be incredibly well-developed. Elend, Breeze, Ham, Clubs, Spook, OreSeur, Zane, Tindwyl and Sazed – each character stole a piece of my heart with their unique traits and personalities. I adored their banter and fierce loyalty.
What surprised me most was how much I came to like Elend’s character. I was certainly not a fan of his in the previous book, but his development in this book is just spectacular! His integrity and budding self-confidence made him relatable and likeable.
Romance:
Elend’s well-developed character really helped me warm up to the relationship between him and Vin. However, I soon became frustrated by the lack of communication between the two of them. Their insecurities and the challenges they faced also put their relationship on rocky grounds. Still, I was not too irked by this because their fear of vulnerability made them relatable and eventually made their relationship stronger.
Don’t worry that you aren’t giving people what they want. Give them who you are, and let that be enough.
‘The Well of Ascension‘ managed to be even more entertaining than its predecessor despite its slower pace. The amazing characters and endless twists had me eating up every word and kept me on my toes. I really cannot wait to see what Brandon has in store next!
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