Just finished reading the fourth instalment of the first book in the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson for the readalong challenge being hosted by Carl over at Stainless Steel Droppings.  Check out the discussions here and although it’s probably a bit late to join in reading this book we are also going to be reading books No.2 and 3 so it’s never too late to join us.

This week’s reading has been so exciting – only one more week before I find out the conclusion!  Onto this week’s questions: (Whoops!  Forgot to draw your attention to spoilers!!)

1.       Well, we finally got our long awaited view of the Lord Ruler, firstly just a brief glimpse during the executions and then during the fight with Kelsier.  What do you now think about him and the myth’s surrounding him?  And, given his strength do you think he can be beaten?

I’m not sure that I ever really understood that the Lord Ruler was such a very powerful allomancer (or whatever magic it is he’s using).  Working his magic over all those people in the crowd during the executions – most peculiar, not to mention extremely demonstrative!  Also, he finally did put in an appearance – unfortunately – and he does seem fairly invincible.  I was racking my brains for something, some similarity to anything that might give me a clue as to what he is.  The nearest I can come to is a book I recently read about immortals who also couldn’t be killed without a great deal of effort.  I was also intrigued about the Inquisitors interest in Vin.  They are very keen to locate her – clearly the Lord Ruler has something to fear from her but I really don’t know what.  Perhaps she will be the one who can use the eleventh metal.  Anyway, if I didn’t already think he deserved to die (which I did), executing all those people and then killing Kelsier has certainly not improved my mood towards him at all!  Do I think he’s invincible – last week I said I thought he could be beaten and so foolish consistency it may be but I’m going to stick with that theory.

2.       We seemed to suffer a number of set backs to the plans this week.  The army had already been all but destroyed and following a bit of a rethink/regroup/coming up with a Plan B things still have gone disastrously astray.  What do you think the Crew will do now??

Well, the crew already seemed to be losing their will to stick together.  But, I can’t help wondering whether Kel’s sacrifice might provoke other people to rise up.  Perhaps he will become a martyr.  I think Vin is going to have to step up and be tested now and hopefully she’ll be able to hold everyone together.

3.       What was your reaction to Kelsier’s response to finding Marsh dead?  I can’t help feeling that there are going to be some serious economic repercussions to destroying the crystals – what sort of impact do you think this will have, not just on the nobles but on the Skaa?

I could totally understand his reaction and to a certain extent I was thinking good (in fact I had a bit of a punch the air type of moment) – now he’s going to get some payback!  (Which he did by striking out at what would hurt the Lord Ruler most).  That being said, I’ve got a bad feeling about this plus the Skaa then got it in the neck again. I think somewhere deep inside I can’t help wondering what the Lord Ruler is using all that Atrium for?  He doesn’t come out of his lair very often so surely he can’t be using it all for magic – I can only think he’s using it somehow to keep the mists and the darkness at bay.  We might regret not having the atrium.  It will certainly have an effect on the nobility – particularly House Venture.  I’m not sure about the Skaa – at least they won’t have to work down the mines again?

4.       Finally, each week we learn a little bit more of the Lord Ruler’s history.  And each week it has a different impact.  This week’s snippets had the same impact – I was really interested in the excerpt when he mentions that the Darkness is not as oppressive when higher up in the mountains – do you have any more ideas about the Darkness?

I find these little stories fascinating and fluctuate between thinking the Lord Ruler really did change as a result of his role and the length of time he’s endured and reverting back to thinking he’s a raging monster.  Did he really start out relatively normal and become like this or was he always just a raging ego maniac.  I wonder why he seems to fear Vin and can’t help thinking maybe there was something in the prophecy that he is trying to hide.

5.       (I did have another query – but it might be too much??)  I was wondering about Elend and Vin – they’ve also had their ups and downs this week but seem determined to work round them – can you see anything of a future for these two or is there too much history between the nobles and Skaa and too much difference and prejudice between the two?

I was really surprised at first when Elend gave Vin the big elbow – then I remembered he’d been having her followed and thought she was spying on him – even so though I was really shocked – and he was sitting at his family’s table.  What the hell is wrong with his dad?  What a rat!  Anyway, back to the point.  I liked the way that Elend then came around to thinking he didn’t mind too much if Vin was just trying to rob him.  I also thought it was an eye opening moment when he was trying to help Vin – when he thought she was part of the captured Skaa being taken for execution.  I hope they can find a way to make it work and because I like to have a happy ending I’m going to imagine that this is the case!  Time will tell.