Everything You Need To Know To Read Mistborn w/ Producer Hayden

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fantasy Fangirls – "Everything You Need To Know To Read Mistborn w/ Producer Hayden"

Release Date: August 7, 2025

In this special episode of Fantasy Fangirls, titled "Everything You Need To Know To Read Mistborn w/ Producer Hayden," sisters Nicole and Lexi, along with their executive producer Hayden, embark on an in-depth introduction to Brandon Sanderson's acclaimed Mistborn series. This episode inaugurates their new Fantasy Fan Guide series, designed to provide listeners with spoiler-free insights into high fantasy works, making complex stories more accessible to both seasoned readers and newcomers alike.

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Introduction to Fantasy Fan Guide

At [02:00], Nicole and Lexi enthusiastically announce the launch of their Fantasy Fan Guide series. These episodes aim to serve as comprehensive cheat sheets for dense high fantasy novels, helping listeners navigate intricate worlds, elaborate magic systems, and complex character dynamics without revealing any plot spoilers.

Nicole: "Today's very first fan guide is for Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn. So if you're curious to get started with Mistborn, this episode is for you."

Understanding Mistborn and Its Appeal

The trio delves into why Mistborn stands out in the high fantasy genre. They emphasize Brandon Sanderson’s talent in creating immersive worlds and meticulously detailed magic systems, while also highlighting his ability to craft relatable and multifaceted characters.

Hayden: "Mistborn is one of the most unique magic systems I ever read and like Nicole said, the way that Sanderson writes helps you follow along."

World of Scadrial

At [27:00], the podcast shifts focus to the worldbuilding of Mistborn, detailing the planet Scadrial. Scadrial is characterized by its ash mounts—massive volcanoes that blanket the sky with black ash, creating a perpetual red sun due to the planet’s proximity to its star. This harsh environment significantly influences the society and daily lives of Scadrial's inhabitants.

Lexi: "Due to the harsh conditions of the ash, plant and animal life are not very colorful or even varied as they are in our world."

Political Structure: The Final Empire

The discussion transitions to the political landscape of Scadrial, specifically the oppressive regime known as the Final Empire, ruled by the enigmatic Lord Ruler. The capital city, Luthadel, serves as the political hub, reminiscent of Washington D.C., housing noble families and key governmental institutions.

Hayden: "The lord ruler is the immortal totalitarian of Scadrial, and he has ruled over its people for a thousand years with an iron fist."

Social Hierarchy: Nobles and the Ska

Nicole and Lexi explain the social stratification within Scadrial. The society is rigid with no social mobility—one's status is determined at birth. The nobility enjoy luxury and power, maintained by control over the oppressed Ska class, who perform manual labor to sustain the empire. Interracial relationships between Nobles and the Ska are forbidden to prevent the emergence of non-allowed magic users among the Ska.

Executive Producer: "The Ska are the oppressed class of Scadrial, making up a vast majority of the population. The Ska are controlled by the nobles in society and are forced to do the manual labor necessary to keep everything running."

Magic System: Allomancy

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to explaining Allomancy, Mistborn's unique magic system. Allomancers, primarily Nobles, harness the power of metals by ingesting and "burning" them to gain various abilities. The system is meticulously detailed, with eight known metals divided into four pairs of opposing powers.

Lexi: "Steel allows you to push nearby metals... Pewter enhances your physical abilities... Brass lets you dampen or soothe someone's emotions."

Special attention is given to Mistborn, rare Allomancers capable of burning all metals, making them exceptionally powerful.

Hayden: "Most Allomancers only have the power to use one specific metal... But Mistborn can burn any of these eight metals."

Main Characters: Vin and Kelsier

The hosts introduce the central characters of Mistborn: Vin, the protagonist, and Kelsier, her mentor.

Vin

Vin is portrayed as a complex and relatable teenage protagonist. She is a half-Ska orphan who has grown up on the streets, embodying the struggles and resilience of someone who has learned to survive amidst oppression.

Lexi: "Vin is a shy, ever-second-guessing teenager... She grew up very poor on the streets, and she is half Ska."

Kelsier

Kelsier is introduced as a charismatic and powerful Mistborn with a deep-seated hatred for the nobility. His backstory as a former noble thief who endured the harsh Pits of Hathsin adds depth to his character, highlighting his motivations for rebellion against the Final Empire.

Executive Producer: "Kelsier serves as Vin's mentor... He is a confident leader and a very powerful Mistborn... on a mission to overthrow the Lord Ruler."

Personal Reflections and Insights

The episode features heartfelt reflections from the hosts on their experiences with Mistborn and the broader Cosmere universe. The executive producer shares personal anecdotes about how Sanderson's work helped him reconnect with his love for reading and find representations of his own struggles within the characters.

Executive Producer: "Being a man in the romantasy space can be a little weirdly isolating... Mistborn and other Cosmere books have helped me understand that all I need to do to be enough is rise each day and meet the journey ahead."

Advice for New Readers

Nicole, Lexi, and Hayden offer valuable advice for those approaching Mistborn for the first time. They encourage readers to focus on the characters and their journeys rather than getting bogged down by the complexities of the magic system. Additionally, they recommend utilizing online resources and spoiler-free guides to enhance the reading experience without revealing key plot points.

Nicole: "Don't get bogged down by learning every intricacy of the magic system and world lore... focus on the characters and their journeys."

Hayden: "It always starts with just one book... Sanderson holds your hand through the complexities."

Emotional and Inspirational Closing

The episode concludes with the executive producer sharing inspirational lines from Sanderson's works, emphasizing the importance of the journey over the destination and the resilience to rise despite struggles. This heartfelt moment underscores the personal connections and life lessons drawn from the Mistborn series.

Executive Producer: "Don't worry, we're not delving into spoilers here... 'Journey before destination' and 'If I must fall, I will rise each time a better man.' These stories have helped me understand that all I need to do to be enough is rise each day and meet the journey ahead."

Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

Before wrapping up, the hosts express their excitement for the Fantasy Fan Guide series and invite listeners to join their Fantasy Fan Club for more content, community events, and exclusive perks. They also encourage feedback and suggestions for future episodes.

Nicole: "If you enjoyed this style of show, please let us know... share with your fellow Mistborn friends."

Hayden: "We are very active on social media... follow us on Instagram and TikTok @fantasyfangirlspod."

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This episode of Fantasy Fangirls not only serves as a comprehensive introduction to Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn but also reinforces the podcast's commitment to making high fantasy accessible and enjoyable for all listeners. By blending detailed lore with personal insights and emotional reflections, Nicole, Lexi, and Hayden create an engaging narrative that invites listeners to immerse themselves in the rich and expansive world of Mistborn.

Transcript

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[Host]

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[Samantha]

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[Host]

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[Nicole]

Welcome.

[Lexi]

To the Fantasy Fangirls podcast where two sisters dive deep into beloved fantasy lore, character theme series and more.

[Hayden]

I'm Lexi, older sister and fantasy lore nerd.

[Lexi]

I'm Nicole, younger sister and romantic at heart.

[Executive Producer]

And I'm Hayden, executive producer of Fantasy Fangirls. But you know me better as the sanity manager.

[Nicole]

Yes.

[Hayden]

We are so excited to have Hayden on the podcast today as we introduce a new episode series, Fantasy Fan Guide. These will be occasional one off episodes where we wade into the waters of more high fantasy books and with no spoilers, introduce you to the world, the main characters and the magic system. You get it because like instead of diving deep or wading through the waters.

[Nicole]

Oh, oh, that's good. That was so funny.

[Hayden]

Anyway, think of these fan guide episodes as like your cheat sheet to better understand these more dense stories, especially as you head into reading it for the first time.

[Executive Producer]

Today's very first fan guide is for Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn. So if you're curious to get started with Mistborn, this episode is for you. Or if you've read Mistborn and want a refresher. You're in the right place.

[Lexi]

Before we begin, let's cover our bases with what we mean by no spirit spoilers.

[Nicole]

Because yes, we do need to define.

[Lexi]

What no spoilers mean. There are going to be no plot spoilers for the first book in the Mistborn trilogy in this episode. Meaning while we will be giving you a high level breakdown of the world, the magic system, the characters, none of the plot twists or the major story points will be revealed. We promise. This episode is really just a way for you to orient yourself as you dive deep or wade into the waters of this incredible, incredible world and story.

[Executive Producer]

So if you don't know why was ing the always of wanting of knowing, then stick around. I I promise you, you still won't understand what I just said by the end of this episode.

[Nicole]

Someone practice.

[Executive Producer]

Yeah, I literally was up until 2am last night reading the outline because I was so I was like a kid before Christmas.

[Nicole]

Aw. So cute. I love it.

[Hayden]

You all Hayden has been with us for a year and a half and this is the first time he's behind the microphone with us. We're so excited.

[Lexi]

It looks so good.

[Hayden]

And of course, as always, we a fantasy fan Girls are adults who say adult things about adult ish books. So in other words, friends, this podcast, as always, is rated R. While it's.

[Lexi]

True that there is no spice in this book, if you all know me as the romantic on this podcast, you.

[Nicole]

Know that I will find a way.

[Hayden]

To make this rated R. So please.

[Executive Producer]

Be mindful of those little listening ears. I've always wanted to say that.

[Hayden]

Additionally, we are so excited to see you at upcoming live events. We will be featured guests at Enchanticon in St. Louis, Missouri on August 15th through 17th.

[Executive Producer]

And also a quick plug to let you know that I'll be doing a panel presentation at Enchanticon called Cosmere 101, where I'll be giving you all the tools you need to dive into Brandon Sanderson's connected literary universe.

[Lexi]

Then we will be at the Everflame Ball along with Pen Cole for the first ever Kindred's Curse Saga Ball on August 30th in Castle Rock, Colorado.

[Hayden]

Then we'll be interviewing Rebecca Ross, author of Divine Rivals and wild reverence, on September 5th in Denver, Colorado.

[Lexi]

We will also be back at the Dragon Gauntlet in Boyne City, Michigan September 12th through 13th.

[Hayden]

Then Romantasy Bookcon in Orlando, Florida October 23rd through 25th where we are interviewing Rebecca Yarros again at Disney world and.

[Executive Producer]

On March 6th through 8th in my hometown of Dallas, Texas. We'll be podcast partners at Dreamers and Readers Festival.

[Lexi]

Check out our website or the links below for more information to all of these events plus some discount codes as well.

[Hayden]

Last thing before we jump into the world of Mistborn, if you love Fantasy Fan Girls and want more events, more content, more community and so much more all around, please check out Fantasy Fan Club.

[Lexi]

We have three membership tiers that you can join. First is the Descended which includes access to our Boppin Discord, live Q&As from Lexi and myself, sometimes Hayden as well book club, exclusive author interviews, community events like trivia, promo codes for live events plus exclusive designs and 20% off all merch. My new desk mat just came in yesterday. I'm so excited. That is for stuff. $6 a month.

[Executive Producer]

Or you can join the Royal Family which includes everything from the Descended level plus early access to ad free episodes, our full episode outlines and special voting privileges. And that is for $10 a month.

[Lexi]

Then we have the Crowns Council which includes everything from the previous two tiers plus more behind the scenes content, a welcome gift giveaways, private Discord channel, and your name shouted out on the podcast. That is for $25 a month.

[Hayden]

Join the party at fantasyfangirls.com fanclub. The link is also in the show notes and thank you as always from the bottom of our hearts for supporting us. That does include hating here too as we have turned this podcast into a dream come true. It is all because of you.

[Lexi]

And now it is time to fly. Not by bird, not by plane, but by metal. Oh, different metal, different metal.

[Nicole]

Got it, got it.

[Executive Producer]

Before we get into the nitty gritty, we thought it would be fun to give our first impressions of Ms. As well as give you all an idea why we're doing a one off episode like this in the first place.

[Lexi]

One thing we love about the books that we've covered on fantasy fangirls, it's the magic systems, the world, the lore. But they all tend to be a little bit more digestible for sure. But there are amazing fantasy series that are higher fantasy that we also love.

[Executive Producer]

And quick disclaimer, when we say high fantasy we are not making any judgments about the quality of the story. The books that FFG typically covers are masterful works in their own way.

[Hayden]

Way.

[Executive Producer]

High fantasy is really just a sub genre of fantasy like cozy fantasy or our favorite Romantasy.

[Lexi]

Yes, we've heard from people in our community who want to go into these Books, most popularly Brandon Sanderson's work, but they feel intimidated or scared at the level of world building. We also hear this from like when the Moon Hatched or Crescent City, stuff like that. So enter Fantasy Fan Guide. We want to make a split spoiler free walkthrough for these fantastic stories, starting with Mistborn, to make it more digestible and easier to hop onto page one without the overwhelm that absolutely can occur in the first 100 pages of any high fantasy story.

[Hayden]

While Brandon Sanderson is one of the biggest fantasy authors out there, he really did come into the spotlight more in our sub genre last year at Dragon Steel Nexus when he shared a moving speech about Romanasy and the importance of welcoming this new surge of readers into the fantasy space. The YouTube link to his speech is in the show notes. I highly recommend checking it out. It's so great. Fantasy has been male dominated for so long and it's so exciting that there's this new wave of readers who for instance, love 4th Wing and ACOTAR. Those are like their gateway books into fantasy. And yet the fantasy genre does have a tendency to gatekeep knocking these books and their readers down because some fantasy readers do consider them less than I know we have. Fantasy fangirls have been really loud about breaking the stigma that these Romanasy books, that they're just, you know, dragon smut and fairy porn, they are so much deeper than than the, you know, few pages of intimacy that are on the page. And these books are introducing people to a whole new magical genre where we find joy in the fantastical and celebrate reading as a whole. Brandon's speech first and foremost welcomes romantic readers into this space and he challenges these gatekeepers to basically knock that shit off. He praises these books and their readers for being exactly what they are and resonating with their audiences and introducing fantasy to a whole new group of people. For one of the biggest fantasy authors, and yes, a male one at that, who a lot of these judgmental gatekeepers respect and look up to, for him to celebrate this Romantasy wave was honestly a big deal for those of us in this sub genre. It's not a this or that. Us versus them when it comes to fantasy. Sure we all have our preferred sub genres and styles, but at the end of the day we are all here for the same purpose. To get lost in a story, fall into a different world, connect to the characters and see ourselves in their journeys.

[Executive Producer]

Okay, snaps for Brandon everybody. He also tells the stories of characters who experience depression, ptsd, disassociation imposter syndrome and more. I could go on and on. He shines a light on these real world identities and experiences with real care. One of my favorite examples of this is that there is a main character in one of his series that is on the spectrum, but it's never really explicitly mentioned on the page. And in fact, it's only been confirmed by Brandon in interviews in the past. All this to say Brandon shows us the way these characters experience the world. He doesn't have to tell us. And it makes his portrayal of these characters even more real.

[Lexi]

I think about Rebecca Yarros in that way. That's something that Lexi and I praised really highly when we started deep diving Fourth Wing was that there are these characters who are non binary who are gay or bi or stuff like that. And it's just never stated in a.

[Nicole]

This character is gay.

[Lexi]

It just is. And I feel like Brandon is also very much that show don't tell in that way where it just seems so normal. And I love it. I love it so much.

[Executive Producer]

Yeah, absolutely. I feel like that's kind of an evolution of representation. Right. I feel like for the longest time people wanted to see simply just queer people on the page. Right. And that became the defining characteristic of those characters in many cases. But now seeing all these books where people just happen to be queer, happen to be struggling with mental illness, and it's not really even mentioned explicitly in any exposition, it's just shown to you throughout the through the way that they experience the world. I just think it's so refreshing. Okay, you two, now that we are done with the Brandon Sanderson Housekeeping without any plot spoilers, how did you like Mistborn? And specifically for Lexi and Nicole, what about this story stuck with you the most?

[Lexi]

After you finished, I'll hop in because I think of the three of us, I am probably the one who is least likely to pick up this type of high fantasy.

[Hayden]

That is an accurate statement.

[Nicole]

Yes. Now, when the Moon Hatched and Crescent.

[Lexi]

City One are some of my favorite books all time. But I think when it comes to there's romance in those. And to be honest, like these types of books where they are very high fantasy, they are really leaning into the character development, the lore and all that kind of stuff way more than romance on average. That tends to not be something I pick up. And yes, romance is not very prevalent in this book. So personally, I was quite nervous. And maybe that's not the right word, but I'm gonna go with it anyway. I was nervous to dive into Mistborn because I was worried that frankly, I would feel dumb or lost or bored without that gripping romance on the page. And none of that happened at all. It took me a minute to get into the story, I will say that. But when the main plot is introduced, I think it was in the first few chapters. I was like gripping. I was hooked. I was ready. The characters are so 3D, they're so well written. The magic system is way easier to understand than I thought it ever would be. And I think that's something actually Brandon really excels at. Was I confused at times? Yes, but I never felt stupid. And I think there's a big difference there. I just let Brandon Sanderson take me on that journey and I was not disappointed. In fact, I found myself not really missing the tension or the feet kicking romance that, you know, those other books tend to give me because the magic in the lore and the world, it all sucked me in so much. For my romance readers, there is a little, little bit of romance and I'll actually call it more like crush style romance that was in a such different sty than I was used to reading. But it was written so freaking well that I thought it was so well done and it really, it's. It scratched that itch that I look for in books.

[Executive Producer]

Yeah. And I'll also say to the romance point, I think when you look at the romance in the context of the world that these characters are living in, it's almost like a Pride and Prejudice situation where stolen glances, leaving books for each other, etc. Etc. Is almost on the level of like an open door sex scene.

[Lexi]

So.

[Executive Producer]

And I think we also have to consider the age of the characters that we're dealing with here. Absolutely no spoilers, but it's not like we're dealing with full blown adults. We are dealing with teenagers or very young adults. And so I think it wouldn't have quite made as much sense to have as much graphic going goings on as our, our fans are used to.

[Hayden]

I love that we're having this conversation because this is the exact kind of book I would gravitate toward if I didn't fall down the Romantasy rabbit hole two years ago. In fact, I had heard of Brandon Sanderson before I knew anything about Sarah J. Maas. I've always loved high fantasy. I don't think that's any secret here. But reading, of course, did fall to the wayside, as it does in adulthood for some of us. Song of Ice and Fire, the Game of Thrones series has been my favorite since college and the one series I continued going back to over the years. It was like my brain didn't want to absorb new high fantasy and so I just stayed in my comfor comfort zone. So after I got back into reading a few years ago with Acotar, I was really excited to read Mistborn and ah, I want to dive into the rest of the trilogy and Brandon's universe and it's also just hard with our other reading and deep dive commitments, but I know I will at some point. To answer this question though, I absolutely love Mistborn. It's easier world building to understand than say Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. If that helps anyone with some comparisons there. It's one of the most unique magic systems I ever read and like Nicole said, the way that Sanderson writes helps you follow along. He reminds you of important world building points throughout the story, but it's such a mindful balance of holding your hand through its complexities and also trusting that you'll pick up on it if that makes any sense whatsoever. Like a lot of fantasy books, you do have to trust the process a little. I think that's just good writing if you ask me. And wow. I love the depth of the characters, how they use magic, work within or around the limitations and the influence of the political system on literally everything in this world, and how our characters have to both navigate that and rise up against the oppressors. I just, I really appreciate how different it is from any other book I've read and it is an easy five stars, especially for the story developed.

[Lexi]

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[Hayden]

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[Lexi]

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[Host]

Say hello to Mia hey there. Mia runs a pet grooming service in Chicago. But getting new clients was rough until.

[Lexi]

I started using Acast. I recorded my ad targeted pet owners in the area and let Acast do the rest. Now people all over the city know about my grooming services.

[Host]

Mia's business is looking sharp. What's your secret for happy pets and happy clients?

[Lexi]

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[Hayden]

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[Host]

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[Lexi]

Oh yes. Retweet the five star rating. Absolutely. All right Hayden, it is your turn.

[Executive Producer]

Did I like this book.

[Lexi]

No, did I like this book?

[Executive Producer]

Did I like this book? Fuck yeah, I like this book. If you know me. And by the way, if you're not watching on YouTube, I just pointed to my Brandon Sanderson shrine behind me on my bookshelf. If you know me, Brandon Sanderson is my favorite author and this was my introduction to his work. It was an easy 5 star read for me. Is it my favorite Cosmere book? No. But it will always have a special place in my heart for introducing me to this big, beautiful, connected universe that has brought me some of my most memorable reading experiences of my life.

[Hayden]

The fact that this isn't even your favorite Brandon Sanderson books makes me so excited for continuing to read. And I can definitely see what you mean by this being like the beginning book for you. I know that's how Acotar is for Nicole, for instance, right? Yeah.

[Lexi]

But what is your favorite Brandon Sanderson book?

[Nicole]

You can't just drop that. Tell us what the answer is.

[Executive Producer]

So if we're going with favorite overall book, it's Words of Radiance, the second book of the Stormlight Archive. If we're talking about favorite Sanderlaunch, which we will be touching on later in the episode, it is Oathbringer. That's all I'm gonna say.

[Hayden]

What is the difference?

[Nicole]

It sounds like we get to sit.

[Lexi]

Back and listen to Teacher.

[Executive Producer]

And Oathbringer. That's the next book in the Stormlight Archive. But anyways, in terms of what stuck with me most after the book, I think I was struck the most by the characters in the story. When I think about what keeps people from taking the Sanderson plunge, a lot of it comes down to. To, yes, the sheer page count. But I think even more of it comes down to Sanderson's reputation among the fantasy community. Brandon has said in interviews that he's broadly viewed as the world building guy or the magic systems guy. And don't get me wrong, he does build incredibly rich worlds and magic systems. But every time I close a Sanderson book, I find myself realizing that the through line of each of them is just the journey of its characters.

[Hayden]

That is so true. When I think of Sanderson, like, I automatically think of his worlds, but then when I do actually think about the book that I read, I think of Vin and Kelsier.

[Lexi]

Yeah, same. Big. Same. Okay. That's what we liked about the book. What surprised us about the book, especially because all of us have come from different corners of the fantasy world and genre.

[Hayden]

So continuing from what you were Just saying. There Hayden is. The characters really did surprise me. Specifically the female protagonist Ventures. I was pleasantly surprised by how Sanderson wrote a teenage girl who's trying to find her place in the world. Nicole and I almost exclusively read fantasy written by women with powerful FMCs at the forefront. And I'll admit the bar was pretty low for Sanderson with Vin's introduction.

[Executive Producer]

Fair.

[Nicole]

It's just true.

[Hayden]

Yeah. But I appreciate how she is three dimensional and steps into her identity in her own, I'll say, realistic way for a teen in her circumstances. It certainly is a male dominated book, but getting Vin as much as we do balances it out for me. And again, it's just like the setting that they are in as well. Like it makes sense for her character being kind of the only girl in that way we see her POV as she navigates, being one of the youngest people of the group and the only girl. This Mistborn book is also one of my favorite books ever written in third person. I literally can't imagine the book being written any other way. And I'm usually much more of a first person versus a third person, but I love how this was done third person. And also the balance between Vin's POV time and Kelsier's. It's so perfect and fantastic.

[Executive Producer]

Absolutely. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the absolute breakneck speed of the last 100 pages or so.

[Hayden]

Oh, my gosh, yes.

[Executive Producer]

If you have dabbled in Sanderson at all, even just like looking him up on YouTube, you've probably heard the term Sanderlach. Essentially, it's the idea that each Sanderson book culminates in a Fast and furious finale that leaves your jaw on the floor. And once you're on the Sander lynch, you can't get off of it. Have you ever been running on a treadmill in the gym and then you trip and so it just completely throws you off your ass that it's happening? Yes. Oh my God.

[Nicole]

Oh, really?

[Executive Producer]

Oh, yeah.

[Hayden]

I'm so sorry to hear that.

[Nicole]

I'm so sad for you.

[Executive Producer]

It's actually happened to me multiple times. I don't know why. In fact, there was one time when I was on summer break from school and I was back home and I was at the gym on the treadmill and there was only me and one other person and I tripped and I got flung across the entire room. Basically. You know, in that moment you're like, do I get back on or do I just cut bait and walk away without saying a word? I Chose the latter. I just walked away. So all that to say that's essentially what a Sander lynch feels like.

[Nicole]

I can't say that's ever happened to me. But I do agree about the last 100 pages because I think I actually.

[Lexi]

Read like the last, last 150, 100 pages twice of Mistborn because I was like, what the fuck just happened? And it reminds me a lot of Sarah J. Maas in that way. Like, I feel like the last 100 pages of any Sarah J. Maas book are always like that. Wild Ride and Sanderson's very, very similar in that way for me. I was really surprised I mentioned this earlier, but I want to get more into it is how easy the magic was to understand. I felt like I was hearing all about Mistborn specifically, but a lot of Brandon books in the space and how highly complex it is, and I was intimidated as fuck. Was it unique?

[Hayden]

Fuck yeah.

[Lexi]

Absolutely. Was it complex? Yes, yes and no, I'm actually gonna say. But Brandon Sanderson does a really good job of explaining it and then hammering it in over and over and over. I think that a lot of times when I think like high fantasy, I think something's explained just once and then they keep going and they never explain it again. It is just constantly referred to and you're constantly having to it flip. Flip back to the glossary. That is not like Mistborn at all. There's an entire scene again, no spoilers that are going through the ins and outs of the magic. And that was so helpful for making it less of a, like hard 90 degree pivot from the other fantasy books I've read. In fact, I'll actually say that this was an easier magic system to understand than many other books I've read because there are very clear boundaries. There's very clear. This is how it works. There's clear limitations. There's. We'll get into it later. But the metals, like, it does one thing and it does another thing. Like, nothing felt so ambiguous where you felt like you were gasping at air.

[Hayden]

There's a science to this magic.

[Lexi]

Yes.

[Hayden]

It's literally like chemistry in a way. And friends, if I can understand it. And I hate chemistry more than anything in the world. You know me, I'm not a science or chemistry person.

[Nicole]

I think I just spin.

[Executive Producer]

Yeah. Nicole literally just spit her drink.

[Nicole]

I just got this new desk mat. God damn it.

[Hayden]

But there is like a really cool science to it. I remember reading it for the first time. And I personally love when magic makes. Makes sense. Within those limitations, when it's almost like it can be explained in a more scientific way versus that ambiguity that Nicole was just mentioning there. I also think that this first Mistborn book is particularly easy to follow along with the magic because there is a mentor and apprentice relationship in this book. So we are learning. Yeah, we are learning right along with Finn. And Kelsier is such a fantastic teacher and I just love how we are right there with Vin learning along with it and she has to try things out. She's training, she's learning as she goes. So we do as well as the readers.

[Lexi]

Something that I love about Mistborn specifically is the question that kicked off this entire book was what would happen if the Dark Lord, the evil Overlord, won the battle? And I'll even add there's this like, twist or this extra element of magical band of Ocean's 11 thieves. What if they were set out to defeat him? Honestly, if I had heard that but before reading Mistborn, I would have wasted no time before launching my butt into this.

[Executive Producer]

It's a great tagline.

[Lexi]

Anything Ocean's Eleven. I love Ocean's Eleven. And that is just a perfect way of describing Mistborn.

[Nicole]

Exactly.

[Hayden]

All right, friends, now that we have shared our personal thoughts about Mistborn, it is time to turn to our cheat sheet, AKA what this fan guide is all about. So let's offer a foundational understanding of three of the main pillars of this story. The world, the magic system, and the main characters. Like we said earlier in the show, this will not contain any plot spoilers. Instead, this is information for you to reference as you start wading into Mistborn.

[Executive Producer]

So first we're going to talk about the world of Mistborn. But before we dive in, I think it's actually important to make a quick disclaimer about how Mistborn fits into Sanderson's larger universe, the Cosmere. For those of you who are not familiar, most of Sanderson's books take place in a shared universe. Kind of think of it like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Different books take place on different planets, and as you go through his works, you may start to notice Easter eggs that point to other books and series within the Cosmere. In fact, there's one character in particular in Mistborn who appears across many of the stories within the cosmetics you mentioned Marvel.

[Lexi]

I'll also throw in the mass verse how they're all within the same universe of each other or multiverse of each other, but they're all happening at different places and different planets.

[Executive Producer]

And forgive me, I have not read all of the mass verse. But my understanding is that you do not have to read every single book within the mass verse to read each series on its own.

[Lexi]

Correct.

[Executive Producer]

I know the waters might get muddied a little bit, but you're still going to be able to enjoy the stories on their own. But let me be clear, you do not need to read the entirety of the Cosmere in order to enjoy Mistborn. In fact, Sanderson has said many times that most of his books are written to be able to be read as standalone series. All the other hidden goodies are primarily just for eagle eyed fans who enjoy looking for the deeper connections.

[Hayden]

If it makes our listeners feel better, I still don't know the first thing about the rest of his universe, but I'm so excited to learn from Hayden at his Cosmere 101. But I do love and understand Mistborn.

[Lexi]

Yes, retweet. All right, now that we know the Cosmere, let's dive into the world that Mistborn takes place in. Scadrial is the most well known planet in the aptly named Scadrian system. Like how we are Earth in our whole solar system, Scadrial is in the Scadrian system. Scadrial is a rather bizarre planet, though, relative to what we are familiar here on Earth. That's an understatement. There are two major characteristics of life on Scadrial that make it not so great to live in. First and foremost are the ash mounts, which are massive volcanoes that litter the whole landscape. They're constantly spewing black ash into the air and it covers the sky. It's not the most visually appealing to residents who live in this constant black ash. But the black ash does in fact serve a purpose because Scadrial is way too close to its main star, like how the sun is to us and Earth, but it's too close to support human life. But what the ash does is it actually protects Scadrial from being too hot and, you know, making everyone crispy little chicken wings. We also learn that due to the ash and the way that it obscures the light, Scadrial sun appears red.

[Nicole]

Blood sun. Is that you?

[Lexi]

No, it's not, but it's red. Due to the harsh conditions of the ash, plant and animal life are not very colorful or even varied as they are in our world.

[Hayden]

But it wasn't. Wasn't always like this in that world though, right, Hayden?

[Executive Producer]

I guess you'll have to keep reading and find out.

[Hayden]

Okay.

[Lexi]

In addition to the ash mounts, though, Scadrial has a characteristically nightly mist that permeates through the final empire. The mists are a mysterious substance. Ooh. That only appear outside during the night and dissipates as soon as it enters any structure or as the red sun comes up. Due to its unknown origins, the common folk of Scadrial live in fear of the mists, Opting instead to remain indoors unless it is absolutely necessary.

[Executive Producer]

So, yeah, you know that fun question where you ask your friends which fantasy world you'd like to live in? Scadrial is not at the top of the list, to be clear. Ultimately, it is a dangerous and alien world that we really don't know much about when we're dropped to into our story. But trust me, more will be revealed in due time.

[Hayden]

Okay, so we know that Mistborn takes place on the ashy night mist planet Scadrial. Now let's zoom in to the political structure. The overarching government on Scadrial is known as the final empire. Hey, isn't that the name of the first mistborn book that we're talking about here? Underneath this umbrella of the final empire are local governments called dominances. These territories are ruled by various nobles within the society, but each dominance is ultimately controlled by and owned by the final empire. Luthadel is the capital city of the central dominance. It is where the majority of our story here takes place. Think of Luthadel as the Washington D.C. of this world. Political power is concentrated in this city. The lord ruler, more on him in a moment. Lives here, and all of his most important governmental operations are run from Luthadel. This means that many of the noble houses of the world reside in Luthadel too, since they're closely tied to the political going ons.

[Lexi]

Now let's dive into the class systems within Scadrial. There's essentially no social mobility within the society. What you're born into it is what your life is gonna look like. But to understand Scadul society, we need to start with the big. The bad. The big bad wolf himself, the lord ruler.

[Hayden]

Dun dun dun.

[Executive Producer]

The lord ruler is the immortal totalitarian of Scadrial, and he has ruled over its people for a thousand years with an iron fist. All the customs and ways of life you see in Scadrial are a direct result of the tight grip that the lord ruler has over this world. He has made this world in his own vision and works tirelessly to make sure that no one steps out of line.

[Hayden]

I have a question.

[Executive Producer]

Sure.

[Hayden]

Okay. Is he the reason ash falls from the sky?

[Executive Producer]

I guess you're gonna have to keep reading.

[Hayden]

Okay.

[Lexi]

But you mean he made the volcanoes?

[Hayden]

Man, I don't know.

[Nicole]

Keep going.

[Executive Producer]

Sorry, I think we're gonna have to keep reading. By the way, I just want you guys to know that I am reveling in this moment where I know stuff that you guys do not.

[Nicole]

That is fair. You've earned that bunny in my life.

[Executive Producer]

This is what ultimate power feels like. I am just going to smile and.

[Nicole]

Wave and move forward, crown himself king.

[Hayden]

Oh, I have a king hat.

[Nicole]

Do you need one?

[Executive Producer]

Yeah, send it in overnight. It'll be here soon. I don't want to dig too deep into the Lord Ruler beyond that because his mystique is a massive part of his character. So let's just leave it.

[Hayden]

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[Lexi]

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[Hayden]

I don't know how our household functioned before Skylight. Between my hectic work schedule, caretaking schedules, appointments, school fast approaching again, managing the home Skylight centralizes all of it. It's where we put our meal planning to do lists, grocery lists that yes, you can access from the grocery store on your app, and of course all of our calendars that sync in real time. It actually makes me excited as we head into the school year now with two kids in school because all the busyness actually feels manageable and I love a good color coding.

[Lexi]

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[Lexi]

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[Hayden]

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[Lexi]

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[Hayden]

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[Lexi]

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[Hayden]

Hey there.

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[Hayden]

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[Hayden]

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[Executive Producer]

There.

[Hayden]

Next up are the nobles.

[Nicole]

Pinkies up everyone.

[Hayden]

Because they fancy the nobles are the chosen few of the society who get to live in luxury and wealth as long as you know they act on service of the Lord Ruler. As what happens among the nobility, financial status does give credence of power to specific families, so there is a political structure within the nobility here. We're not going to get into that right now though. Nobility's dealings are checked by an entity called the Steel Ministry, who ensure these dealings between the houses are honored. Every luxury the nobility enjoy is built off the backs of the next group within society, the ska.

[Executive Producer]

The Ska are the oppressed class of scandal, Gadreel making up a vast majority of the population. The ska are controlled by the nobles in society and are forced to do the manual labor necessary to keep everything running. Children between nobility and ska are strictly forbidden because magic is hereditary and only the nobility are allowed to have magic. As we mentioned before, the Ska are superstitious about the mist and most of them refuse to go outside at night for fear of being taken by the mist. Which brings us into our magic section now. Now let's dive a little bit into the magic system of this world. When I think about Mistborn, its magic system is one of the first things that comes to mind for me, Allomancy is just so unique, and Sanderson really goes the extra mile to make the system feel meticulously thought out and lived in.

[Hayden]

So, real quick, what is Allomancy and how do people use it? People who are able to use magic, which is Element C, are called elements, and they access the power of different metals by burning them. The way that burning a metal works is through ingesting the metal into your system. Most of the time done by putting metal shavings into liquid to drink. Once the metal is in their stomach, an elemancer can burn the metal, activating its power. So the metal has to literally be inside of you in order to then use it, and you can only use however much you have within you.

[Executive Producer]

Exactly. And it creates some really interesting moments of action where people are trying to manage the amount of metal that they have left. And how can they ration it enough to defeat their enemy? It's super cool. Anyways, a quick note on how to access your allomantic powers. Allomancy is activated through a process called snapping. Essentially, if you go through a traumatic enough experience that threatens your life, you will snap and activate your allomantic powers. In fact, the nobles in the Final Empire actually have a widely accepted practice of putting their children through a planned beating in order to see if they manifest. Manifest allomantic powers. Terrible. I know.

[Lexi]

Now, each type of metal that you can ingest, it will grant you a different type of power. We do not want to overwhelm you all with too much information, so we're going to keep things pretty simple here.

[Hayden]

The eight known metals for Allomancy are divided into four categories, with pairings that serve as opposites of each other.

[Executive Producer]

Or as Kelsier puts it early on in our story, there are two metals for every power. One pushes and one pulls.

[Hayden]

And what he means by that with one pushes, it's like an external on the environment, and then the pull one is internal on a person.

[Lexi]

Yes. So let's break down a few of the most common metals that you will see. The first three that come to mind are steel, pewter and brass. Steel allows you to push nearby metals. So imagine you're walking on a steel walkway. If you burned steel, you could literally launch yourself into the air by pushing it. Meaning literally, I. I'm like pushing down on the steel below me and I'm like way through the sky. Many Allomancers are able to use this ability to traverse very far distances in a short amount of time. It's Kind of like flying, which is super cool. Then there is pewter. Pewter enhances your physical abilities, like your strength. So you're really just giving yourself superhuman strength and durability while you're burning pewter. This one is especially useful in combat in our story. And lastly, we have bright brass lets you dampen or soothe someone's emotions. So let's say you're trying to convince someone of something, but they're highly suspicious of you. If you burn brass, you can soothe their suspicion, making them more agreeable to you.

[Executive Producer]

That's all the metals we'll get into for now. But again, not all people are allomancers. In fact, only people of quote noble blood are able and allowed to be allomancers.

[Hayden]

Theoretically, most alamancers only have the power to use one specific metal. They are called mistines. So they only have the power to be able to burn one metal. If they were to ingest any of the other metals that they are not an allomancer on, then nothing would happen. And while it is very rare, there are allomancers who can use every kind of metal who can burn any of these eight metals. Medals. They are called. You guessed it, Mistborn. These allomancers are exceptionally powerful and some people even keep their powers a secret for various reasons. And it's important to note there is no in between. You can either use the power of one medal or all of the medals.

[Executive Producer]

And one more quick note before we move on. In an effort to keep allomancy only within the nobility, people within the noble class are not allowed to have children with ska partners. Mixed offspring offspring can lead to unchecked allomancers among the ska and that's dangerous for an oppressive reign.

[Lexi]

Next, let's hit on the two main characters you will need to know in the story.

[Nicole]

Starting off with my girl Vin.

[Lexi]

She is our avatar for the hero's journey and the protagonist. Quick aside, I was not expecting to see a female protagonist, let alone one that in my opinion is so so freaking well written and complicated and 3D in a male written fantasy. And that's on me, I will be honest. But again in my opinion Sanderson nailed it. And actually Murphy Napier, she's a booktuber. She had a great analysis about Vin and how she is really just a shy ever second guessing herself teenager. And for many of us who feel like we we have so much more inside of us but because of our environment we feel like we need to curl into ourselves and take up less space. But we also need to have thick skin to protect ourselves. That is Vin. And that's why I feel like she's so very relatable, even as a teenager. Like I've said, have I mentioned Vin is a teenager. She grew up very poor on the streets, and she is half ska, meaning her mother was ska and her father was a noble, but both parents are are very out of the picture. So she grew up primarily with her older brother Ryne, who is a dick. And even though he also abandoned her a few years ago, his bullying words are on a constant loop through Vin's head. Ryn taught Vin that she should trust no one. She should always keep her hair short so she doesn't attract attention. She should stay small. She shouldn't stand out. She should blend into the shadows of all costs. Great guy. But these oddly wild, varies, very lucky things keep happening to Vin as she tries to survive the ska streets, which brings her to the attention of someone named Kelsier.

[Executive Producer]

Before we move on, Ken, is it safe to say that we can give a smiting L to rean?

[Hayden]

Yes.

[Nicole]

Oh, smiting L. Hayden comes on the show and he's pulling out the big boys over here. Oh, my God.

[Hayden]

Then we have the main male protagonist, Protagonist named Kelsier, who is also half ska. He is a confident leader and a very powerful mistborn. He smiles often and easily, and it's one of his little ways of rebelling against the lord ruler's oppression. He is also extra hateful towards the nobility. There's like everybody else's hatred. And then there's Kelsiers. Before he came into his mistborn powers, he used to be a well respected Scott thief in Luthadel before he was sent to the pits of habsin, which is a very bad place where wrongdoers can get sent. But after the tragic loss of his wife, Kelsier snapped into his mistborn powers and he escaped. He now works with sky he can trust, and he is on a mission to overthrow the lord ruler. In the story, Kelsier serves as Ven's mentor. He also nurtures her character growth. He gives Vin some of the fatherly energy that she has so desperately missed and needed in her life. I personally love Kelsier's character so much because he's brilliant and he has swagger and he's also a very flawed and complex person. And I love how he is portrayed on the page and even between the lines too. It's so cool.

[Executive Producer]

Absolutely.

[Lexi]

Okay, now that we have our fan guide cheat sheet, we know the world, we know the magic we know our two main characters. Let us close out our first ever Fantasy Fan Guide episode with one piece of advice from each of us to help those reading Mistborn for the first time feel more comfortable.

[Executive Producer]

I think I'll go first. So I think what I would say is, is don't get bogged down by learning every intricacy of the magic system and world lore, not even through the entirety of the book. When you finish the book, you'll still probably have some questions, but guess what? That's what the next two books are for. Essentially, I like to explain the magic system like this. You will not understand it until one day you just will. Like, you'll get to a point where he'll say, oh, oh, Vin burned steel. And you're like, oh, that's right. So she's going to be pushing on whatever she's using. Sanderson, trust me, will get you there. Instead, focus in on the characters and their journeys. The magic is just a tool to help these characters through their stories.

[Lexi]

I remember when I was reading it for the first time, I was messaging Hayden in our Discord channel and I was like, what does this mean? And he was like, trust the process. Nicole and I did and I had a great time.

[Hayden]

Time. I also think that there's quite a few guides online too that have lists of all of the different medals and you know what they do. So while we don't have one here at ffg, that would be a really great thing to have though is just Google it. And you can have that as like a handy little tool as you read along. But again, it is not necessary. The purpose of the story is ultimately the characters and their journey and fighting against this oppressive reign.

[Executive Producer]

And to that point, I would also caution people to to be very careful about spoilers when making that search. So we will find a spoiler free guide on the Internet to put in the show notes for this episode. No worries.

[Lexi]

Yes, my advice is consider reading Mistborn a practice in allowing yourself to be confused and not feel like you have to know anything. I am a hyper perfectionist. I do not like to turn the page unless I understand every single little thing that is happening and why it is happening. It's not great for my anxiety, it's fine. But something I really enjoyed about this book is that while it does throw you into the thick of it, you pick up on everything as you go through. It's fun. The characters are 3D. You will get caught up. So allow yourself to be taken on the journey. It will pay off.

[Hayden]

And for me When I think about the whole Brandon Sanderson universe, it might feel a little overwhelming. And it's like, whoa. I don't know if I can commit to all of that. I realize that's how a lot of people feel about the magic verse, but also, and this is a reminder for myself too, it always starts with just one book. One book to be introduced to the world, to the magic system, and to the characters. And as we continue reading on our own time, at our own pace, the author holds our hand through it. So when I looked at Mistborn as one book to read, it was so much more approachable and I felt really excited to read it. Like how I hope this fan guide episode has helped you. This really is all you need to know as you get into reading. And like Nicole and Hayden have been saying, we promise you'll pick up on the rest. And it is a story that takes you through all of the emotions. Yes, with great world building but fantastic characters where you are right there with them on the journey. Like, my mouth was hanging open in those last hundred pages and I shed a few tears. That's all I'll say.

[Executive Producer]

Okay, friends. Wow. We did it. This was so much fun. I'm so glad we got to do this. But before we get out of here, I wanted to take a moment to share why the Cosmere is so important to me. Getting to talk about these books that I love so much is such a gift, and I got a little bit of inspiration from Nicole with her love letter to Smut. So here it goes. I started working with Nicole and Lexi in 2023, and at the time I would not have called myself anything close to a reader. Much like Nicole and Lexi, I loved reading as a kid and grew up on fandom. I loved it so much, but as the responsibilities of school and adult life weighed down on me, I just stopped prioritizing reading for joy. And as FFG deep dived Empyrean and Acotar, I certainly enjoyed those stories. Don't get me wrong, but I felt a tug to find stories that were for me. I'll always be grateful for the lessons that romantasy stories have taught me, but I sometimes have a hard time seeing myself in those stories. Being a man in the romantasy space can be a little weirdly isolating. Sometimes I look at everyone's favorite book boyfriends and I think, wow, is that what I need to be for my wife, for my friends, for myself? I mean, listen, I do lots of nice things for my wife, but I don't know if I can ever be Luther Courbois or Zaden Ryerson. Trust me, I do not have the abs for it. Then foot massage.

[Nicole]

That's all you need.

[Lexi]

My guy.

[Executive Producer]

Then in July of last year, I picked up Mistborn and I knew I had found found my literary home. As I continued along the Cosmere, I didn't just see myself in one character, but in many. Vin, Sazed, Kaladin, Dalinar, and Shallan, just to name a few. I have learned so much from Sanderson's books, and many of my favorite moments will stick with me. But there are two lines from the Stormlight Archive in particular that will stay with me forever. Don't worry, we're not delving into spoilers here, I promise. The first is the iconic Life before Death Death Strength before Weakness. Journey before destination. This line has reminded me that in a world where we always want more and we always want it now, nothing is more important than the journey you take along the way. When you see where you want to go and it looks impossibly far, Remember those words. I remember in my early 20s, when I was depressed and unhappy with my life and my relationship, I would take my dog outside at night before bed and look up in the sky and think to myself, I guess this is just what my life is going to be like, huh? And that version of me didn't know what was in store for him and the wonderful life that was waiting on the other side. If I could go back and say anything to that version of me, it would be three words, Journey before destination and second is the most impactful line of writing I have ever personally read. It's very simple, but often the best lines and in this case, ideals or if I must fall, I will rise each time a better man. Brandon's stories are about broken people striving to do the best that they can, and these characters have taught me that I don't need to be the perfect man to leave my mark on the world and to be what those I love need. If you struggle with knowing yourself, read Brandon's books. They have helped me understand that all I need to do to be enough is rise each day and meet the journey ahead. Ahead. These stories have helped me so much and I truly believe no matter your struggle, they can help you too.

[Hayden]

Wow.

[Nicole]

Love you Hayden.

[Executive Producer]

I love you guys too.

[Nicole]

Oh my God.

[Hayden]

I was not expecting to cry on this episode. And with that.

[Nicole]

Friends.

[Hayden]

Thank you so much for listening to our first ever episode of Fantasy Fan Guide.

[Nicole]

I am crying Little baby.

[Hayden]

If you enjoyed this style of show, please let us know we are having a lot of fun experimenting with fantasy fangirls and seeing what other kinds of content we can provide all of you and so we would love to hear your feedback on this as well as what other books you would like to see on Fantasy Fan Guide.

[Lexi]

We will be back with our regularly scheduled programming this Monday with continuing our deep dive of the Kindred's Curse Saga by Pen Cole with Heat of the Everflam.

[Executive Producer]

Friendly reminder that if you want more content, more connection and just more all around. Hey what if you want to see hate and cry more you can get all of that at our fan [e-mail] fanclub. Link is also in the show notes.

[Nicole]

Three cheers for the Crying Sanity manager and his debut show Huzzah. Huzzah. Huzzah.

[Executive Producer]

We did it. I love you too.

[Hayden]

We are very active on social media. We have weekly trivia right now for a Kindred's Curse Saga deep dive. We also have fantasy guides and lots, lots more. So please be sure to follow us on Instagram and/ or TikTok antasy fangirlspod. And if you're watching this on YouTube or you want to watch on YouTube, please hit that subscribe button to keep following along.

[Executive Producer]

And while you're clicking buttons, don't forget to hit that five star rate and review button. It takes two seconds and is so helpful not just for this podcast, but for any podcast you listen to.

[Lexi]

And last but not least, least share with your fellow Mistborn friends if your group text has been popping off on who's this Brandon Sanderson guy? We should really check him out. This is a great episode for all of you to have your cheat sheets.

[Hayden]

All right, thank you so much everybody.

[Nicole]

Bye bye.

[Executive Producer]

Before we get into the hello, I'm not 12 years old, okay? Oh fuck.

[Nicole]

You guys. You're like you just gave your idol vibe from K Pop Demon Hunter.

[Executive Producer]

Idol friendly M Boop. Okay.

[Hayden]

When your home system or appliance breaks down, American Home Shield will help fix or replace the covered item, no matter its age. Visit ahs.com listen for 20% off any.

[Executive Producer]

Plan in cahs.com contracts for coverage details, limitations and exclusions.