Steelheart
Author – Brandon Sanderson
Narrator – Macleod Andrews
Series – The Reckoners #1
Audiobook length – 12 hours 14 minutes
Publisher – Audible Frontiers
Date Published- September 2013
Rating – 5 of 5 Stars
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My Review
Steelheart introduces the reader to a world torn apart by Epics, people who have somehow acquired super human powers. While each of the Epics' powers are different, one thing they share is their vicious and power hungry nature. The focus is on a city called Newcago, a city turned completely to steel by it's new ruler, Steelheart. Each of the Epics have very specific powers, each power having it's own weakness although some weaknesses are not readily apparent. Steelheart seems to be utterly invincible, but David, the boy whose father he killed, has seen him bleed, he knows where that scar on his cheek came from. David is determined to expose that weakness and avenge his father's brutal murder. To this end, he sets out to join forces with the Reckoners, a team of vigilantes who are the only ones fighting back against the Epics. David plans to use all of the extensive research he has done on the Epics surrounding Steelheart, and the information he alone knows about Steelheart himself, to end his violent reign. But he needs the help of the Reckoners to put this plan into action.
Brandon Sanderson can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Ever since first reading his Mistborn series, I've been a fan of his writing. His intricate world building is among the best I've ever read. So when I found out that Steelheart would be available as an audiobook, I knew I had to have it before even knowing what it was about. I certainly was not disappointed. The detailed world building that I've come to expect from Sanderson was evident in this book as well as strong character development and brilliant dialog that made it easy for me to immerse myself in this story.
While Steelheart contained a ton of action and a fair amount of violence, it also had a lot of heart. Each character had a compelling back story, distinctive personality quirks, and their interaction with one another kept the story moving. I felt for David and his rage over the death of his father as well as his frustration at how almost everyone simply let the Epics do what they wanted without a fight.
Macleod Andrews did a fantastic job narrating this thrilling story. He brought an emotional depth to each of the characters, never once letting the characters blend into one another and without sounding over the top or affected. Each person was completely recognizable by tone, accent, and delivery. His performance in this narration was absolutely impeccable and added even more spirit to an already incredible story.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Steelheart, it is so far removed from what I normally read. However, being that it was written by Sanderson, I guess I can't be too surprised. I would highly recommend this audio experience to anyone who enjoys a well written story, exceptional world building, and authentic characters wrapped up in non-stop action with some completely unexpected twists and turns and an ending that you may not see coming. In other words, you should immediately grab this book because it is one of the best things I've read this year!
Rating – 5 of 5 stars
