Fantasy Fanfellas Ep 4: Mistborn Chapters 16-19

Fantasy Fangirls Presents | Released: November 26, 2025
Hosts: Hayden (Mistborn “professor”) and Stephen (first-time reader)

Episode Overview

In this lively and insightful episode of Fantasy Fanfellas, Hayden and Stephen dissect chapters 16 through 19 of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn. With Hayden serving as the Cosmere expert and Stephen experiencing the story for the first time, the duo dive into character growth, lore, theories, and world-building—peppered with wit, memorable quotes, and substantial character analysis. The central theme both hosts explore is “rebellion,” not just in the socio-political sense but as a motif in personal identity, relationships, and acts of everyday defiance under oppression.

Main Topics & Discussion Points

1. Summary & Chapter Humor ([08:26] - [11:45])

• Stephen opens with a breezy, comedic recap of each chapter, giving all the key plot beats:
  • Vin's recovery and the mysterious "Spook"
  • The growing rebellion and the tensions between houses
  • Vin’s developing agency at the noble ball and her flirtation with Elend
  • Revelations about Kelsier's past and the trauma required to "snap" into Allomantic powers
  • Kelsier’s morally gray actions and political maneuvering

2. Big Theme: Rebellion ([12:02] - [12:58])

• Hayden introduces "rebellion" as the episode’s motif:
  • “Rebellion can take shape in many forms, particularly in the books that Elend reads at the ball...”
  • Notes how acts of autonomy are radical in the oppressive Final Empire, and how characters seek different forms of resistance.

3. Chapter-by-Chapter Deep Dive

Chapter 16

• Vin's Recovery & Character Work ([15:28] - [19:43])

  • Vin’s ongoing trauma is evident; her first reaction to pain is to fear abuse from her brother Rean.
  • Introduction of Spook and his nickname origins.
  • Kelsier apologizes to Vin—establishing a significant, humanizing moment.
    • “Getting an apology from a parental figure as a child is a really big deal.” – Hayden ([18:05])
  • Vin reckons with her own mortality after a close brush with death.
    • “We’re not invincible, are we?” – Vin ([19:14])
    • “No, Vin. Far from it.” – Kelsier

• Meeting with Sayzed & Keeper Lore ([19:56] - [25:05])

  • Sayzed explains Keeper abilities: storehouses of memory through metals—like a “steel pensive.”
  • Many insights into the Lord Ruler’s hatred of the Terris people and attempts to control them.
  • Bombshell: It's widely believed Kelsier’s wife, Mare, betrayed him.

Chapter 17

• Heist Prep and Worldbuilding ([26:03] - [31:42])

  • Updates on the rebellion’s recruitment and training; the search for weakness in the Lord Ruler.
  • Moments of character growth: Vin is no longer just the street urchin or a “damsel”—she’s now “Mistborn.”
  • Elegant coming-of-age theme as Vin transitions from feeling out-of-place in a gown to owning her new identity.

• Kelsier & Vin’s Bonding Over the Past ([32:18] - [38:48])

  • Kelsier shows Vin a drawing of a flower, symbolizing beauty lost since the Lord Ruler’s ascension.
  • Touching exchange about love and betrayal regarding Mare.
    • “But do you stop loving someone just because they betray you?... That’s what makes the betrayal hurt so much.” – Kelsier ([35:14])
    • Hosts connect Kelsier’s philosophy to finding beauty after trauma, referencing Holocaust literature.

Chapter 18

• The Ball: Banter, Nobility, and Danger ([40:01] - [53:53])
  • Vin returns to high society for another noble ball, feeling both more confident and acutely aware of her outsider status.
  • Flirtatious (and witty) exchanges with Elend:
    • “That’s a stunning dress. It’s almost as beautiful as you are, mon ami.” – Elend ([45:06])
  • Vin recognizes hierarchy even among the eligible noble bachelors—her first dance is awkward, but she gleans valuable intelligence about rising tensions.
  • Discovery: Lady Shan is a soother, and is likely manipulating both Vin and Elend.
  • Darker undertones: Vin witnesses a kitchen boy executed by a noble guard, glaring contrast to the decadence inside the ball.
    • “Don’t forget the ash, Vin told herself as the carriage rolled away. Because… if those people in there knew you were ska, they’d have you slaughtered as easily as that poor boy.” ([53:44])

Chapter 19

• Kelsier’s Spy Games & Morally Gray Actions ([55:09] - [61:41])
  • Kelsier plants the corpse of a noble to further destabilize the Great Houses—touching on the cost and ethics of rebellion.
    • “Kelsier is kind of moving into serial killer territory here…” – Hayden ([56:16])
  • The informant Hoid is introduced—meta commentary about the Cosmere and wider Sanderson universe.
  • Kelsier gathers info from Lord Venture, learning of increased suspicion around the survivor of Hathsin and the rumored “11th metal.”
  • Kelsier cautions Vin against falling for Elend for operational (and possibly paternal) reasons; discussion parallels to literary “bad boy” tropes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Keepers:
  “What I do is similar to Allomancy, but not the same. You draw power from metals. I use them to create memories.” – Sazed ([22:39])

• On Love and Betrayal:
  “I think, given the choice between loving Mare—betrayal included—and never knowing her, I’d choose love. I risked, and I lost, but the risk was still worth it.” – Kelsier ([35:14])

• Elend’s Flirt Game:
  “That’s a stunning dress. It’s almost as beautiful as you are, mon ami.” – Elend ([45:06])

• On the Final Empire’s cruelty:
  “Don’t forget the ash, Vin told herself... Because… if those people in there knew you were ska, they’d have you slaughtered as easily as that poor boy.” ([53:44])

• Cosmere Easter Egg:
  “And Hoid is a character who shows up in nearly every single Cosmere book.” – Hayden ([57:08])

Insights, Predictions, and Theories

• Epigraphs Theory:

  • Stephen posits the mysterious journal excerpts (epigraphs) are written by the Lord Ruler himself, possibly from the book Vin recovered.
    • “I think these epigraphs are at least some of them written by the Lord Ruler himself…” – Stephen ([14:27])

• Relationship Building: The hosts note the growing chemistry between Vin and Elend, and how Sanderson’s approach will appeal to romantasy readers.

• World-Building Details:

  • Language unification, the fate of the Terris people, the Lord Ruler’s tactics for controlling history and memory.

• Ongoing Predictions:

  • Lord Renu’s true identity
  • Elend’s ultimate role (good/bad)
  • Vin’s journey from urchin to powerful Mistborn
  • Kelsier’s past and the truth about Mare

• Running Jokes:

  • Kelsier as a “serial killer”
  • Comparisons to Taylor Swift, Rory & Jess from Gilmore Girls, and RuPaul’s Drag Race kitten heels
  • “Little Snack” as a nickname for Elend

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [08:26] — Stephen’s Pithy Summary of Chapters 16–19
• [12:02] — Hayden’s Big Word: Rebellion
• [15:28] — Vin’s Recovery and Trauma
• [22:39] — Sayzed and Keeper Lore Explained
• [31:23] — Vin’s Coming of Age/Transformation
• [35:14] — Kelsier and Vin’s Emotional Heart-to-Heart on Love and Betrayal
• [42:05] — Vin at the Ball, Flirting (and Kitten Heels)
• [53:44] — Vin’s Realization: “Don’t forget the ash.”
• [57:08] — Hoid’s Introduction & Cosmere Connection

Winner & Loser of the Week ([62:50])

• Loser: Kelsier’s Wife Mare (for the suspicion of betrayal) and Sazed (for “party-pooper” attitude about Vin & Elend)
• Winner: Vin (for character growth and new sense of agency) and Hoid (for wider Cosmere appearances—future spoiler!)

Predictions Check-In ([65:03])

The hosts revisit earlier predictions, with Stephen reviewing his success rate and floating new theories regarding Renu, Ellend, the Lord Ruler, and more. Not all predictions have come true, but their playful accountability adds to the show’s charm.

Final Thoughts & Takeaways

• Mistborn continues to escalate in both action and emotional depth. The plot thickens, the politics get nastier, and the characters become increasingly complex.
• Vin is growing into her Mistborn powers and her own sense of self. Her dynamic with Kelsier deepens, and her ambiguous relationship with Elend is full of possibility and peril.
• Hayden’s expertise balances Stephen’s fresh, funny takes, making for a rich mix of analysis and fandom fun.
• The show provides a great companion for first-time readers and re-readers alike, preserving the sense of wonder and speculation that makes fantasy so satisfying.

Listener Next Steps

• Read Chapters 20–25 before the next episode!
• Follow Fantasy Fanfellas on Instagram & TikTok for behind-the-scenes and bonus content.
• Check out the companion episode with Red Rising’s Pierce Brown on the Fanfellas feed.
• Share the podcast with your fantasy-loving friends, especially those with “scandalous books disguised as weather textbooks.”

For deeper fandom and further chapter breakdowns, keep tuning in every Wednesday. See you in the mists!