They called him ‘The Survivor’, and he took those words to heart.

It’s been long overdue, but after ten years of waiting, fans will finally learn the true legacy of The Survivor – to survive, and to keep fighting. After his final battle with The Lord Ruler, Kelsier lives on as a ghost in the company of the dying Shardbearer and god of Scadrial, Preservation.

Existing in the spiritual realm, Kelsier comes to see that his battle against the immortal tyrant of their world was nothing more than a small skirmish in the grand scale of the games being played. Soon, the leader of the crew that took down the immortal ruler of their world realises that he’s but a pawn in a much larger game.

Though Kelsier has never been one to play by the rules!

While he might be dead, he realises he is far from helpless and does all he can to help Vin and her allies in their final battle against Ruin, while ensuring his own legacy – not merely through his religion but by living true to his final promise: to survive.

While this is not a long novel, more a novella, it is refreshing to return to the world of Era One and see all the cards being dealt behind the main story, to see the hidden battles and the scale of the Cosmere fully realised for the first time. Kelsier is perhaps the perfect character to throw into this wider world – his arrogance brings a certain confidence to undertake these larger concepts, and rather than hesitate when presented with daunting tasks, he sees an opportunity to keep fighting.

Kelsier has long been a fan favourite despite his first outing being his last, though perhaps this is due to the nature of his character. While Vin, Elend, and even Wax and Wayne have had their moments of moral ambiguity, it is Kelsier’s naturally deceptive and slightly malevolent character that makes him selfish enough to be the survivor but also interesting enough to act as the anti-hero in this Cosmere full of heroic figures.

In addition to expanding Kelsier’s character, this is the first instance where Sanderson fully delves into the Cosmere’s mythology, expanding on what allowed Ruin and the other Shardbearers to become gods. Furthermore, it also establishes Shadesmar as a place between different worlds and explores the various abilities gained by travellers of these worlds.

It also allows for Ruin, who had previously had little time as a fully fleshed-out character in the original Mistborn trilogy, to further develop as a villain. It is fascinating to see just how powerful Ruin’s grasp was over Scadrial, and even more so how desperately Kelsier has to act to perform even the smallest act to save his friends.

The link between the first and second eras is also present, as we become aware that Ruin is not the only threat in the Cosmere, and Kelsier’s role as a recruiter is far from over. It will certainly be interesting to see just how much of a presence one single survivor can have over such a large and terrifyingly unknown universe as the Cosmere. Though, if anyone can bridge worlds together and form an army of rebels to take down gods, Kelsier is their man.

9 out of 10.