Summary
- Vin is 16 years old when the original Mistborn trilogy opens, and she becomes an adult as it continues.
- Brandon Sanderson's heroine is likely around 18 or 19 when The Well of Ascension takes place.
- By the third and final Mistborn Era 1 book, Vin is in her early 20s. She's still young to make such a huge difference, but she feels more sure of herself.
Vin is the heroine of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Era 2 follows the likes of Wax and Wayne, Vin is among the most prominent characters in the original three novels. Her perspective runs consistently through The Final Empire, The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages — though it's balanced with POVs like Kelsier's, Elend's, and Sazed's. Although each of these characters plays an important role in shaping Scadrial's future, Vin moves some of the most important pieces.
With Vin making such a huge difference to the world of Mistborn, readers may be curious about her age throughout Sanderson's series. The original trilogy takes place over the span of several years, so Vin grows up as she's navigating the political landscape of the Final Empire. Her story is one of rebellion and hope, but it's also a coming-of-age narrative. Despite being young, Vin makes a massive impact by the time The Hero of Ages unfolds. This may seem outlandish given her age, but she ends the trilogy older than many other fantasy protagonists.
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Vin's Age In The Final Empire
Vin Is 16-17 Years Old In Mistborn Book 1
Vin is 16 years old when The Final Empire opens, and she's never known friendship after living on the streets of Luthadel for most of her life. Vin starts her Mistborn powers. However, she grows significantly after she meets Kelsier and s his crew. Since Vin is still in her teens, she isn't completely set in her ways. Her changed environment and exposure to good people help to reshape her view of the world in The Final Empire.
The fact that Vin is still a teen when she defeats the Lord Ruler is impressive, and her age also makes sense of many of her interactions throughout the book.
About a year es over the course of The Final Empire, so Vin likely turns 17 during the first Mistborn book or immediately after. The fact that she's still a teen when she defeats the Lord Ruler is impressive, and her age also makes sense of many of her interactions throughout the book. Vin views Kelsier as a father figure — an understandable response given her age and upbringing — and she falls fairly hard and fast for Elend. She also grapples with teenage social interactions while attending balls throughout The Final Empire.
Vin's Age In The Well Of Ascension
Vin Is Approximately 18-19 Years Old In Mistborn Book 2
Sanderson doesn't explicitly state Vin's age in The Well of Ascension, but the second Mistborn novel appears to take place about a year after the first. This would make Vin approximately 18 years old during The Well of Ascension — possibly 19 by the time the book's climax takes place. This makes sense, as it very much feels like Vin is still figuring out who she is in The Well of Ascension. That's common for young adults at 18 or 19, so it fits well with her character arc.
Vin grapples with her place in the world and the reshaping of Luthadel in The Well of Ascension, and she also spends time considering whether she really should be with Elend. Elend is older than Vin and ready to settle down in Mistborn book two, but she takes her time making that decision. She also comes to with the parts of herself she feels inclined to reject — namely, her more feminine qualities.
Vin's Age In The Hero Of Ages
Vin Is In Her Early 20s In Mistborn Book 3
While Vin spends the first two Mistborn books finding herself, she feels more certain of who she is in The Hero of Ages. This fits with the series' timeline, as Vin is in her early 20s by the time the third and final installment of the original Mistborn trilogy concludes. Again, there's never an explicit breakdown of Vin's age. But the amount of time that es between book one and book three — about four years — makes the math fairly straightforward.
While Vin spends the first two Mistborn books finding herself, she feels more certain of who she is in The Hero of Ages.
Vin feels more mature in her 20s, and her relationship with Elend feels more grown-up and natural as well. The two get married at the end of The Well of Ascension, and they truly step into their power as a team and as individuals in The Hero of Ages. Unfortunately, their fates are difficult to swallow, especially for characters so young. Of course, Mistborn Era 1 ensures the couple leaves a lasting legacy through their actions, even if they are pretty young to influence Scadrial in such a massive way.