Steelheart (The Reckoners)

The book deals with a boy who witnessed his father murdered by an Epic (a person with superpowers). Said Epic became the dictator of Chicago. The whole world is controlled by Epics, none of which seems to be good.

The book is an interesting twist on superhero stories. Instead of the superheroes protecting civilians, the super powered people take over.

Besides the book having already a great hook, the book is a really fun read. The book follows a group of civilians who try to take down evil Epics in whatever way they can (usually through deception and clever tactics).

Definitely worth the read and I'll keep my eyes open for the sequels.

this felt like sanderson just needed some funds while he continues his real works

very simplistic YA book though the plot was interesting - reminded me of The Matrix and a lot of Japanese sci-fi

270 pgs in, i kept hoping it would get better, but remained disappointed. i almost thought i was reading DC comics, or what i imagine they're like. steelheart = evil superman

the megan-david development was unrealistic: cheesy dialogue, super-hot gunslinging babe out of a teenage fantasy falls for a nerd? the entire story was basically 1P narrative by david so i guess it would have to sound kiddy. diary of another wimpy kid?

is this really a work from brandon sanderson? it reads like it was written by a middle schooler.

Another world brought to me by the mind of Brandon Sanderson. In a world of super heroes the world would be awesome, flyers, invisibles, illusionists...Except there is a catch, all the "Heros" are evil. David is a small kid who see's his father killed by Steelheart. Steelheart turns entire city of Chicago into steel and nightweilder elongates night indefinetly.

The story is action packed and fast paced, however the single perspective limits how much the reader is exposed to this world. David is bent on revenge and that is his motivation throughout the entire book. This is a kids book, so I am accustomed to several perspectives with lots of characters. Not one of Sanderson's best but still worth reading.

Anyone who has read the Mistborn series knows that Brandon Sanderson has a knack for writing dystopian, depressing settings and builds rich, intriguing worlds. Steelheart is no exception. Reading the opening chapter, in which the world is thrown into death and upheaval, is depressing and fascinating at the same time. Like a train wreck, you can't quite look away.

Having said that, the unfolding of the plot feels forced in places and the textbook Big Reveal at the end of the novel lacked punch. The protagonist kinda wandered through the plot, out-thinking the Big Bads at every turn, without much sense that he would ever *not* be successful. And fighting against beings that had killed hundreds with ease, he seemed invincible. It wasn't necessarily bad; I've just read it all before. The secondary characters were more interesting to me and the fate of the protagonist in their future night be what draws me to the next book.

Overall, not bad, but nothing I will turn back to again and again.

Simply awesome book! I was surprised when I read this. I didn't expect to like it because I'm so used to fantasy themes, but it was much more interesting than I had thought it was going to be.

*SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT*

Also, I tend to like stories that have the main character later coming into a power, like maybe discovering that he has his own superpower or something that was hidden from him because of circumstances. Yet, it was fun to read from the point of view that having these powers almost automatically makes you become evil, callous, or not have a conscience.

My only regret in buying this a month or so ago is that the second book is so far away!

Ordinarily I would have loved this. But this novel was made for a young adult audience. I think this novel would have been better if it wasn't tailored to the young adult age bracket. All and all a good book. One thing that irked me, and this is just my personal preference, is the lack of information/stats. When I hear about a superhuman character in a book, I want to know who strong, fast, etc., that character is. I'm a stat guy. In the novel, the main character has spent years studying the Epics. Made his own rating system for their powers/abilities. And yet, we do not get to know his analysis on the Epic he hates the most. So I see lost opportunities in the book.

I absolutely loved this book. It was action packed, yet full of great themes to make you think. The characters were authentic and the world building was intriguing. The YA novel is set in a near future where ordinary people have gained super powers (think the TV show Heroes). These people are called Epics, but the Epics are terrible power hungry killers. The novel is centered on David, a seventeen year old boy, eager for revenge against an Epic named Steelheart, who killed his father. He joins up with the Reckoners, the only group of humans who fights against the Epics and they attempt to take Steelheart down. Like I said, the book is great- superbly written with a great plot. It's worth reading!

Good story, well and tightly written. For some reason, some people develop epic powers, which, human nature being what it is, they proceed to abuse, while those who remain simply human have some choices to make about how to cope. Works as both just an enjoyable fantasy, or, for us more mature readers, a metaphor for how the choices we make affect us and those for whom we care. This book, while it stands well on its own, is part of a trilogy, so ever more questions are raised, as well as some answers provided in the next book, as to how the phenomenon came to be and who gets affected.

Brandon has admitted in interviews that this series came about after he thought about what it would be like to find oneself with super powers, and realized he had a great fear that he would most likely not turn out to be a hero. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and this is a story about a world where many have been granted powers, and almost all abuse them horribly, leaving the normal people to either cower in the shadows, or fight back against the odds,

It is an exciting and riveting tale that struck the perfect balance for me where I figured out almost all of the plot twists, but only a page or two before they were revealed, leaving me feeling both smart and surprised, a very fine balancing act. The few twists that I never saw coming at all just pushed me over the edge! Absolutely marvelous. Brandon has already released a piece of short fiction in the same book, and the second full book follows in the Fall of 2014.

Well worth a read, and possibly a good way to draw almost any teen comic book fan into reading!

Like much of Sanderson's YA novels, Steelheart is a fun and breezy read with an interesting world you keep turning the pages to learn more about.

I immediately identified the main character, a youth obsessed with the supermen called Epics, whose creation and existence is one of the central mysteries of the book. The action is well-planned and progressive with no pointless plot turns or boring standoffs sometimes found in Sanderson novels. Not as brilliant in conception, to me at least, as the Rithmatist--one of my favorite--or Mistborn, which of course is a classic. I give it 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

I enjoyed this book! Sanderson always has great main & supporting character(s) in his books.

Things I enjoyed...
-the Reckoners
-how mysterious Megan was/is
-Prof's weapons and other things I'm not going to reveal to you!
-Fortuity fight

I would've like to have seen...
-I wish there were more involvement from the epics, especially Steelheart.
-sometimes I felt like there wasn't enough scenario and city details. From the couple of Sanderson books I've read, he's always been top notch with world/environment/scenario details.

Things I'm looking foward to from the next book...
-Megan and how things play out with David
-More awesomeness from Prof.
-More post apocalyptic detail
-More Epics!

This book is a young adult blast. I am, admittedly, I very biased Sanderson fan - I love pretty much everything he writes. For Steelheart, this was the first YA book of his I had read and I was a little unsure if I would enjoy the book. I needn't have worried. Basically, it reads like a movie - you can totally see how each chapter could be written as a screenplay, with Sanderson's typical action scenes being vividly written so that you could imagine them on the big screen. Characters were interesting, the action excellent, and as is trademark with Sanderson, great and unique magic systems with interesting twists.

I liked this take on 'meta-humans'. The author took us into a world where normal people are suddenly unfathomably powerful, and shows us what might happen. There are some (maybe unnecessary) convultions to this story, but I am highly in favor of the premise of applying realism to the superhero tale. This story did not go where I thought it would, and that's a really good thing. I can't give ti five stars because I think there were attempted 'gotcha" moments that weren't, and an attempt at murky morality that didn't seem all that murky. I do recommend this book, since it's something new, original and no love triangles.

Steelheart was a wonderful surprise. I expected a super hero novel that was somewhat formulaic, even though I am a fan of Brandon Sanderson's writing already. However, Steelheart was anything but the same old same old. I really enjoyed the Gods vs man approach in this story. All the heroes are actually villains. Well...mostly. If you are a fan of well written plots and fast paced action and, of course super heroes, you will love Steelheart. The only drawback for me is that there are only twi books completed so far. The third one does not come out until the Fall.

I know that five star ratings get handed out quite a bit for people who enjoy what they read . However some books are better than Fivestar and this is one of them . The world that he created is great the action is captivating as the story unfolds . Though I guess some of the twist I certainly did not get the all and to the very end I was not sure what exactly what happened . This is very much a story of a regular young man going up against people of extraordinary power with just his heart intellect and determination.

This book, like Sanderson's others, is complete in itself, a delicious read, thoughtful and funny. Sanderson's skill at setting up a new world with complicated circumstances, and then populating it with interesting characters is just unparalleled. One thing I enjoy about Sanderson's writing is that, while there may be more books in a series, he doesn't hold you hostage by stopping a book midstream. I've seen a lot of this lately and it makes me feel cheated. This book is one in a stack of Oreos, dipped in milk, and enjoyable all in itself...but with plenty of tummy room left over for another. David would like that metaphor, I think.

This is an excellent choice of reading for those that want a bit more from a superhero tale. This dives into a darker side of the mythos and answers the question "What happened if all our superheroes were actually villains?" The only critique I had for this is it seemed to be a bit short for me, but with this as the first entry of a trilogy, I'm hoping to enjoy the rest soon!

Something causes ordinary humans to manifest super powers. These enhanced people are called Epics and they seem to be all bad, craving power and murdering humans to get what they want. The strongest and worst of the lot is a being called Steelheart who is seemingly invincible. David witnesses Steelheart murdering his father when he is eight and devotes his life to learning as much as he can about Epics and Steelheart in particular. His goal is to find Steelheart's weakness and destroy him. To do so he joins a group of rebels with diverse backgrounds and skills.

Sanderson has struck pay dirt with this new and original tale. He once again proves why he has become the king of Sci - Fi and Fantasy.

I disagree with the books description; there are heroes, and they are found in the most unlikely of places and in soul of those who may not understand they deserve to be heroes.

Steelheart is an easy read that moves quickly, I like the style. I liked enough that I am already 25% through Firefight... which tells you something. I liked the style and pace well enough to overlook the story problems.

Books in this genre, all Fantasy in fact, are meant to be an entertainment. I was entertained by Steelheart. Thank you sir, may I have another?

Roger

This is a very entertaining read - perfect for a summer day or any other day where you have a long stretch to get lost in a good story. Not intellectually challenging, it is nevertheless complex enough to hold your interest. The main character is a great kid, with a good heart, and some humorous insecurities. The other characters are interesting, as well, with some hidden secrets that keep you guessing. The plot is a real stretch, but if you're looking for realism, look elsewhere. Nicely paced, it does well as a first person narrative without too many thoughtful digressions away from the action, which is this books' strong suit.

Since reading "Mistborn: The Final Empire" I have been systematically purchasing/reading every Brandon Sanderson book I can get my hands on. Have not been disappointed yet. Once again, he has managed to draw me into a unique world and thoroughly capture my attention before I even enter the double-digit pages. Refused to put the book down until I reached the back cover of the book. Could easily picture this story on the big screen! Wish he could write his books a bit faster, because I can't wait to read the next in the series, but I will forgive him for being "human". A 5-star read in my book.

I always enjoy Sanderson's creativity, and this one did not disappoint. It was an easy and entertaining read, which is what I needed. The only thing that could be improved is the repetitiveness of certain things like Prof calling David "son" or the curse words like "spark" and "calamity's shadow". I have encountered Sanderson's use of "son" in his other books, and it seems that this is a slight weakness that could be easily overcome. His other books also include made up, infantile cuss words, which begins to grate and annoy as they're used more and more. I understand he may not want to cuss, which I totally respect, but made up cuss words just make the writing seem childish, especially when they seem to be repeated every other sentence. Sanderson is by far my favorite author. These are certainly minor weaknesses!

Absolutely amazed at the unadulterated imagination that seeps from this writer's fingers. Brandon Sanderson has again transported us on a fantastical journey through his descriptive words and his main characters charming quotes. David becomes Steelslayer partly from ingenuity but mostly from making it up as you go. He is nerdy and enduring. He hooks up with Prof and the reckoners to snuff out epics like Steelheart. Unbeknownst to David, Prof has a surprise of his own. Read it and become a Sanderson addict.

I enjoyed this book. It was imaginative, fun, and fast paced. Sanderson has a knack for introducing new ideas to sci-fi/fantasy. That said, this book reads a lot the other novels of his that I have read: Elantris and the Mist Born trilogy. If you liked those, you'll probably like this. Strange powers no-one fully understands and an evil government to contend with.

For all Sanderson's strengths, I think he has weaknesses. His ideas are fresh and interesting, but they take place in a weakly built imaginary world with characters lacking depth and good dialog. Also, his writing is not complex. For some, that might be a good thing. For me, it gives less to appreciate.

This is a fun and original story, but it is rarely thought provoking. The closest thing to thoughtfulness is the moral debate over the overall goal of the good guys. Even that is mostly glossed over. I'll keep reading and enjoying Sanderson, but he'll never be one of my favorites.

I found the premise for the book, a new advancement for humans, to be interesting. I could understand the need for revenge in a young boy. I had difficulty believing the level of arrogance shown by the mutants. I suppose it's a variant on the old saying of absolute power corrupting absolutely, but I don't completely buy it.

Perhaps not Brandon's best novel, but certainly an enjoyable read non the less. I found some clunky leaps of logic and the characters weren't as fleshed out as I am used to with his novels, but the story line kept me engaged non the less and it was an enjoyable read. I would have given this 3 and a half stars if I could, but three will have to suffice. I tend to hold up Brandon's work against his other works, so it is a tough standard to live up to, in my opinion. So three and a half stars that I do give is against his other works, if I were to rate it against other authors, it may even be a four.

A fun read, but the characters and plot felt rushed and half imagined. Not Brandon's best work. I just kept having the thought...if only he'd worked on this draft for another six months. That said, it was still an engaging read. A lot of potential here but it may be awhile before we see the sequel. He's got a lot of series already committed too and a lot of publishing deadlines. Your a great author Mr. Sanderson, but try not to extend yourself too much. Give every novel the time it needs to fully develop. Your fans will wait if the quality can match or exceed your previous titles.

If you like comics, heroes, and villains, and the powers that go with them, then this book is for you! Consistent with his other stories, Sanderson rips open a world that ensnares your imagination and consumes your attention. You will have a tough time setting this page turner down, loaded with action, surprises, character depth, and of course progression. Two thumbs way up.

Brandon Sanderson delivers another epic tale set in a world so bleak and hopeless, stacking the odds so high it's hard to imagine our protagonist's success. The only reason I gave it a mere four stars is because I like the Stormlight Archive series better.

This book by Brandon Sanderson was exactly what I expected: a basic, albeit, interesting story and a protagonist who's "normal" and uses that to his advantage. The book read exactly as a young adult novel and that's perfectly fine! I really enjoyed the action sequences. Sanderson's penchant towards explaining the system of magic can be rather dull (see Way of Kings) but I really got into in this book. The Epics were thought out and had fairly diverse powers that didn't feel too formulaic. When I read it, I could only imagine an evil Superman as Steelheart.
The main character's puppy-love got a little irritating after a while, but Sanderson's device of having the main character using awful metaphors became quite endearing.
There was a plot twist or two that I saw coming around halfway through the book, but don't let that discourage you from reading a decent, quick, and fun post-apocalyptic young adult novel.

Steelheart, the newest novel from Brandon Sanderson and the first foray into the popular dystopian-YA world, is a winner. If you like those other popular books in the same category, ie Hunger Games, Divergent (the list goes on for a while) this is clearly an exciting new series with a unique look: a world where superpowers exist, but those who wield them, Epics, are corrupt and violent. 10 years later, what does the US look like? How do you fight back against these virtually immortal dictators?

With a bit of Mistborn thrown in, we follow David as he attempts to join the very small resistance and do what he can to clean up the world. There's a touch of romance, though its complicated and looks pretty important for the sequel. There's plenty of action and excitement. Unique powers and technology. The book has it all.

Still very kid appropriate, this book would be devoured by any comic-book loving kid 10 and up, in my opinion. A big recommend and a must-read for the kids!

This book was awesome. It kept you constantly wanting to read more. I never wanted to put the book down, which is pretty rare for me. It was fun trying to figure out what Steelheart's weakness was throughout the book as Sanderson revealed more and more clues. I actually figured it out. My wife got it wrong though, so he didn't make it obvious. The only thing I didn't like is that it reminded me too much of Superman in any of DC's universes where he is a villain. But regardless, it's an awesome book and definitely worth your time to read. One of Sanderson's best in my opinion.

Every book I read from the Sanderson gives me the same feeling after I finished it, an feeling of wanting to be a part of the universe grew created, it is that Good...

Couldn't recommend it any more, than I already do.

Great story

I loved Steelheart. LOVED it.
Why do all the superhero stories and comics portray those with these superpowers as "good" and moral?" Brandon Sanderson takes this supposition and turns it on its head by giving the super-powered in Steelheart's universe one side to be on -- the bad side. They are the villains and those without powers have either accepted it and given up or are doing their best to fight back. I loved the story and look forward to what Sanderson comes up with next.

The premise of the story is excellent. The plot is clever. There are mysteries for the reader to unravel. Much of the book is devoted to video game style action that bears more than a few passing similarities to playing Wolfenstein 3D. I wanted the villain to shout Guten Tag! when he finally makes his appearance. I suppose younger readers may enjoy it more than I did.

A great perspective, through the eyes or a normal person, in an amazing setting of super heroes and villains in a post apoc world.
I am a fan of Brandon Sanderson and own... well everything... but still this book is great in a long line of great works, yet it is different from his other works.
The setting is a step away from his High Fantasy works going into SciFantasy super hero mythos. And he creates a wonderfully awful post aopc world and setting, with many sub plots and intrigue.

Brandon Sanderson is my favorite author. His stories and writing style are unmatched within the fantasy genre. The Reckoners series is not as good as Mistborn or the Way of Kings series, but it is still a fantastic trilogy. Be warned that it is very hard to put down once started!

I love this book. It is really interesting and I haven't been able to put it down. It is nice to have a dystopian type world where the main character is not some teenage girl who defies the government all on her own kind of stuff that is so popular. The story is written well, has a good pace, and interesting characters. If you like dystopians, superheroes or really cool technology this is for you.

Any one who enjoys reading should read this book!!! Brandon Sanderson is truly a master artist of the literary world. The depth and emotion of "Steel Heart" is astounding. I can't truly convey the richness of originality of this book with a small synopsis. If you want to read a good book then read "The Reckoners" I have never been a post apocalyptic genre fan but this is an amazing book that deserves to be read by any one that enjoys good literature. Thanks Brandon you truly are an amazing artist!!!!!!

I lost my taste for Brandon Sanderson with the last two books he came out with before this. Now I've changed my mind.

Leave it to Sanderson to come out with a unique storyline like 'Steelheart'. His writing style is never an issue, he is very skilled and has a way with words. The characters are strong and have complete personalities.

I look forward to reading another book on this topic and hope he intends to write one; It'd be a shame if this was a stand-alone.

"Soon I Will Be Invincible" was truly horrible so this book's similar "super heroes are real" theme was a big red flag to me. But this was Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn author and I loved Mistborn. So I gave it a chance. I'm glad I did.

I won't spoil the story - Brandon tells it really well and builds a believable dystopian world where super heroes are clearly super, but not heroes and you can't help but root for the underdog. A good, worthwhile read.

Steelheart is a very inventive tale of courage, revenge, and corruption. Information, misinformation and imaginative analysis allows normal people to fight extraordinary odds against an enemy most would simply bow before. While I don't always agree that all of the choices of the heroes would be realistic in given situations, I always have to keep in mind that in real life people constantly make decisions I don't understand. At some point the unlikely becomes the truth, and this book has a great way of illustrating how humans are constantly fighting against their nature.

What would a world of super humans look like? Would it be the Marvel world or maybe like the Brandon Sanderson world? Great concept and a great book! As always his characters, flawed as they are, draw you in before you even realize it. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book when I started, but soon found it hard to put down, curious about what would happen to David, Prof, Megan and the rest of the motley crew. Can't wait for book 2!

I really loved this book. I was a little reluctant when I purchased it, but by the end of the first chapter I knew it was the right decision. The author was very creative with the Epics and the affect they had on humanity. David's methodical approach to studying the Epics, their powers and weaknesses showed how focused he was in getting his revenge. The dialogue flowed well without being too heavy. I can't wait to read the next two books in the series.

I considered giving the book 4 stars, but I really enjoyed it. Could it have been better? Maybe, but if you like good characters, action/adventure, dark worlds and more then really it deserves the 5 stars. Sanderson's created a world where the superheros are the people without powers who overcome their fear of super-humans that abuse their power and tear them down for the good of mankind. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the series has in store for us.

I am so surprised this has so many positive reviews. I enjoy a lot of YA books, so this is not against the genre in general, but this book was terrible. I got 3/4 of the way through before I had to abort because it was just so painful to read. The dialogue seems like it is written for an 11-year old. They use the same swear of "Sparks!" every other sentence, and apparently the word "slontze" is the only disparaging term in existence in this post-apocalyptic world. The characters are all super canned and unoriginal. I think if you are actually a (very) young adult, this may be a fun book. If you are over the age of 18, it sucks. I usually love Brandon Sanderson, so I figured his YA book would be an entertaining read. No such luck.

I absolutely loved the book. The plot is well thought out. I recommend it for people who think on how events play out. The main character, David, goes through many life changing events leading up to him trying to team up with the reckoners. It has a huge climax that nobody would expect. 5 stars. Must read.

Sanderson takes the maxim "absolute power corrupts absolutely" and melds it with a story of the mythic heroes of our age, comic book type superheroes. What would happen if something suddenly started giving normal humans the nearly absolute power of superheroes? And if the maxim held, then who could stand up to them?

The answer, of course, is a David against the Goliaths. And one Goliath in particular, named Steelheart. (And, yeah, Sanderson kind of unfortunately gives his David the name: David. But you get past that.)

I'd never read anything by Brandon Sanderson; had never heard of him before. So I didn't open the book with any preconceived notions. (I also didn't have any idea it's supposed to be a YA book until after I finished and read something about that - but it didn't have a YA feel to it, certainly not as much as Hunger Games, which I also enjoyed.)

I happened to have stumbled on the book from a sci-fi website that mentioned it and had a link to the first couple of chapters. A smart marketing move, since Sanderson hooked me with his first sentence: "I've seen Steelheart bleed."

Sanderson does a great job of imagining what would happen in a world overrun by "Epics," his term for the powerful not-superheroes. It's a place you don't really want to be - the Bizzaro world version of Marvel or DC comics, and not in a good way.

The story is about revenge - a staple for the comic genre, of course. And David joins a group of freedom fighters, or vigilantes depending on your view, called Reckoners. There are hundreds of Epics loose on the Earth now, and one of the enjoyable things in the book - for me - is Sanderson's invention of several different Epics. Because he goes into their types, classifications, powers, weaknesses, etc. He does a good job of world-building for this novel. I especially liked his brief depiction of "the faithful" who believe good Epics must arise, and there's a nice description at one point where you get what Sanderson's hinting at, although he doesn't come right out and say it - and for comic book fans, it's a nearly perfect moment in this book.

All in all, this is a great yarn. Lots of fun to read. Well worth the time and money.

I usually read thrillers and mysteries and detective novels. This was as good as the best of those, with the added element of superheros (or the opposite of them, in this case), which was fun.

I'd kinda rather read a stand-alone book than the first of a series. And though there are some elements that aren't completely explained in this story - such as why people started getting Epic powers - it doesn't detract from this story. Not sure I'll pick up the next one. But I don't feel like I need to because "Steelheart" is a completely satisfying read all by itself.

The thing I love the most about Brandon Sanderson's works, is that each series is its own work. Even the writing styles are different when going from Steelheart, to Stormlight, Mistborn, or Rithmatist. Each story is written in its own style.

Take Steelheart for example. It's written as a young adult sci-fi/adventure novel by an author that writes high end epic fantasy. While the pseudo-cursing "Sparks!" was a touch annoying, everything else about the book was just plain awesome. The characters grow and learn as the story continues, there are plot twists here and there, and the final climactic scene was (in my opinon) done perfectly. The main Character, David, as well as other characters are given unique personality quirks that are entertaining.

I enjoyed this book like I enjoy all of Sanderson's works and I impatiently await the next book in the series next fall.

P.S. As for the title of my review, just think about David's quirk. Then you should get it and hopefully laugh.

This is the first of Brandon Sanderson's YA offerings that I have read and I must say that I greatly enjoyed it.

I should also preface this review by saying the Sanderson is one of my favorite authors, so I am guaranteed to enjoy pretty much anything he puts out.

The concept of STEELHEART is simple. What if super-powers were real, only there were no superheroes. That powers turned you evil and you became a supervillian and tyrant, who thinks nothing of throwing away "normal" human lives?

That is the world that, David, our young protagonist grows up in. As a young boy, he witnesses Steelheart, an Epic whose power can turn anything to steel--plus flying, invincibility, shooting energy out of hands, and super strength, kill his father for saving his life.

Steelheart becomes the oppressive ruler of Chicago, stylized 'Newcago' in the book, and he rules with a steel fist.

This turns David into a young man who is obsessed with Epics. Learning their weaknesses so that he can kill them one day. And he wants to do nothing more than to kill Steelheart.

This leads to David meeting up with the Reckoner's, an elite group of soldiers that hunts and kills Epics. Which is what the rest of the novel entails, leading up to the big showdown with Steelheart.

The plot is pretty typical for Sanderson and YA. There is a love interest, an older man who had a mysterious past yet also manages to kick serious butt, and the likable rest of the gang. The big bad guy is mainly faceless and he seems completely all powerful and all knowing, except for one weakness, which only the group can find out.

There are some twists and turns that keep it fresh and one of the most charming parts of the book is David's absolute failing at making metaphors. They just keep getting worse and worse and I commend Mr. Sanderson on this because he has made it almost an art-form by the end of the novel.

Unlike most of Sanderson's other novels, STEELHEART is in first person and never leaves David's point of view. Which makes sense considering this is a YA novel and teenagers typically don't want to follow the myriad viewpoints that Sanderson typically sprinkles throughout his novels.

Also, the plot is less convoluted and for an older, or more experienced reader, it may seem simplistic and predictable.

Still, this was a fun and quick read (took me about a day) and had more depth than I was expecting. I teach 8th grade students and would love to use this book in my class.

I absolutely love Brandon Sanderson and have read all his books for adults, so I dipped into his works for younger readers. The Rithmatist was excellent, so I gave this a try. There are some great ideas, but they are underdeveloped and the writing is choppy. It reads like a first draft, as if it were rushed to publication. A lot of people seem to like it a lot, so it can't be that bad, but I guess I have higher expectations after all of his other incredible books. Disappointing.

Mr. Sanderson never fails to deliver an impressive story, and his foray into the superhero genre is no different. Even if you aren't a fan of "superhero" novels, I can almost guarantee that you won't be able to put this book down. Then you will say, "Maybe these superhero books aren't bad," and you will download some more random books in the genre, and then you will realize that Sanderson is just awesome and could write about knitting and make it seem exciting.