Includes SPOILERS for the Mistborn series through Era 2.
Summary
- Mistborn era 3 may bring back Mistborns after era 2 eliminated them, potentially through lerasium creation.
- Mistborn action sequences in era 1 were more compelling than era 2, highlighting the importance of Mistborn characters.
- Technological advancements in Mistborn era 3 may require higher magical power levels, hinting at a return of Mistborn.
With Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere fictional universe, as The Stormlight Archive book 5 is set to be released in December. It's undoubtedly my most anticipated new novel of the year, with one aspect of my excitement being the continued exploration of the series' tie-ins with Mistborn characters. As for Mistborn itself, we've still got years to go before a new book, but there's plenty to discuss.
As a Brandon Sanderson fan, I'm constantly appreciative of his transparency regarding progress toward his books, and there's plenty of early information about Mistborn era 3. Whether it remains true to the final product is to be seen, but the setting and narrative elements seem to be set in stone. While era 2 had a 19th-century aesthetic, era 3 will resemble the real-world 1980s early computer era. The trilogy is currently titled Mistborn: Ghostbloods, which has implications that I'm captivated by, given my love for Mistborn era 1 and The Stormlight Archive.
I Hope Mistborn Era 3 Brings Back Mistborns After Era 2 Eliminated Them
Mistborn Bloodlines Were Diluted, Causing Them To Die Out By Era 2
I certainly don't dislike Mistborn era 2, but I ultimately find it to be a weaker saga than era 1. The elements of Scadrial's magic system were built for the dark, medieval aesthetic of Luthadel and for antagonists like the Lord Ruler and the Steel Inquisitors, and I just personally didn't find that it transitioned as neatly to the gunslinger style of era 2. One crucial element era 2 lacked was the titular Mistborns, who had essentially died out due to the bloodline dissipating over the course of centuries. Wax eventually becomes Mistborn, but it's not as major a component of the series.
In era 2, there are still plenty of Mistings and Twinborns who utilize Brandon Sanderson's iconic Mistborn magic system. One of my hopes for era 3 is to see Mistborn return, and there are theories that suggest this could occur. Overall, it seems unlikely that Brandon Sanderson would continue to leave out the super-powered beings who hold the series' marquee, especially given that technological advancements will require higher magical power levels to contend with modernizing weaponry.
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Mistborn Action Sequences Are Some Of The Best Parts Of The Original Trilogy
Mistborn Era 1 Action Was Far More Compelling Than Era 2
The magic system is commonly attributed as Mistborn's claim to fame, with the intricate, practically scientific system contributing some of the best action sequences in the entire Cosmere universe. Generally speaking, I'm a reader who gravitates more toward character development and thematic explanation than action, but I can't deny the visceral experience Mistborn action sequences provide. Be it Vin, Kelsier, or Elend, it was incredibly exciting to see the lead protagonists of era 1 utilize their toolkits and develop their skills over time.
The scenes where Mistborn characters were forced to be crafty with their abilities due to the low stock of metals are incredible
The Twinborns of era 2 and the use of advanced weaponry undoubtedly offer an appealing update on the Mistborn magic system, but I was never gripped by it in the same way. The balance of Mistborn power usage due to required metal consumption made the action sequences rich with constant threat and seemingly heightened the impact of every decision. The scenes where Mistborn characters were forced to be crafty with their abilities due to the low stock of metals are incredible, such as Vin defeating Shan Elariel in The Final Empire.
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The Next Mistborn Series Needs A Good Reason To Revive This Element Of The Books
The Use Of Lerasium Could Bring Back Mistborn Bloodlines
The Lost Metal seemingly lays the foundation for the return of Mistborn in both the main story and Kelsier's epilogue scenes. Wax discovers a way to create lerasium, the metal that can be used to create undiluted Mistborn, thus starting new bloodlines. Elend consumes a lerasium bead in The Well of Ascension, instantly making him one of the most powerful Mistborn characters due to the raw strength of being a Mistborn whose powers haven't been diluted by generations of bloodlines, like Vin or Kelsier.
After Wax creates lerasium and uses it on himself and Wayne, Kelsier suggests to Harmony in The Lost Metal epilogue that he use more lerasium to create an army of Mistborn. Harmony rejects this plan, but it's possible that, over time, Scadrial will find its own way to make lerasium as a valuable resource, later using it to create more Mistborn. Or, Harmony could be replaced at some point in the Mistborn saga, leading to a different shard allowing lerasium to be used more regularly, bringing Mistborn back. I'd be excited to see either option happen.