Review: Steelheart

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Dystopian fantasy
Reading Level: YA
Recommended for: Fans of YA Dystopian fantasy, good storytelling
Trigger Warnings: murder, mass murder, killing, violence, fighting, slavery

My Thoughts: Wow, this was a really good book, a very well-told story, fast-paced while also providing great character development and plenty of mysteries and twists to keep the reader engaged with the story. David is a really interesting character, and while not quite catching everything as fast as I did as I read it, he eventually figured everything out in the end.

There are a lot of different ideas running through this book, including ideas about the nature of humanity, the corruption of power, and the desire of people to be rescued. It also addresses how easily people can adapt to almost any situation given time.

I think anyone who enjoys YA fantasy, especially dystopian, will really enjoy this book. I know I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series, scheduled for release next year. You should too.

Series Information: Reckoners
Book 1: Steelheart
Book 2: Firefight, scheduled for release in 2014

Disclosure: I received a paperback galley from Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: There are no heroes.

Every single person who manifested powers—we call them Epics—turned out to be evil.

Here, in the city once known as Chicago, an extraordinarily powerful Epic declared himself Emperor. Steelheart has the strength of ten men and can control the elements. It is said no bullet can harm him, no sword can split his skin, no explosion can burn him. He is invincible.

It has been ten years. We live our lives as best we can. Nobody fights back . . . nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans who spend their lives studying powerful Epics, finding their weaknesses, then assassinating them.

My name is David Charleston. I’m not one of the Reckoners, but I intend to join them. I have something they need. Something precious, something incredible. Not an object, but an experience. I know his secret.

I’ve seen Steelheart bleed.

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics.

But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. 

Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them.

And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience. 

He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.



View all my reviews