Rich and Ryan close out Mistborn Era 1 with Hero of Ages — and their verdict lands somewhere between a standing ovation and a deeply loving complaint. Ryan went in riding the high of a book he couldn't put down, while Rich arrives with the hottest take of the series: Well of Ascension is the better book, and Hero of Ages is history's most well-executed victory lap.
They break down the magic of hemallurgy and how Brandon finally cashes in three books' worth of worldbuilding chips, from the Lord Ruler's terraforming mistakes to threads from book one finally paying off. Rich makes an impassioned case that Vin is the best-written character in the Cosmere — and that she got done dirty by the ending. They debate Sazed's arc and what Spook's blindfolded badassery says about how Tin users have been underrated all along.
The 1-star review this week comes from a reader deeply offended by the book's religious themes — and Rich and Ryan have some thoughts about who really needs to talk to someone. Then it's into the Cosmere Corner, where the boys talk through common themes they've noticed in their Cosmere readings, and some direct crossovers from The Stormlight Archives.

Full spoilers ahead — if you haven't read Well of Ascension, Ryan will personally escort you to the nearest bookstore.

The boys cover everything: Zane and Vin burning through 300 guards at Hastings Manor, the Tensoon reveal, Straff Venture's deeply satisfying exit via Coloss sword, and the Elland problem — a polisci major who got a kingdom and couldn't just hold the election after the siege. Plus the debut of Cosmere Corner, where Ryan calls Preservation and Ruin before Rich admits he's right.

The big debate: is Vin just exceptionally skilled, or is she actually built different from every other Mistborn? Rich has his argument. Ryan has his screenshots. They agreed on scores for the first time ever — same number in every single category — and still spent twenty minutes talking each other through it.
Score: 8.7 out of 10. Hard Buy.
---

Show Notes
**Episode Type:** SpoilerTake**Book:** Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson**Series:** Mistborn Era 1, Book 2 — part of the Cosmere**Score:** Worldbuilding/Lore 8 / Characters 9 / Story 9 — Overall 8.7 out of 10**Verdict:** Hard Buy

### Timestamps-

[00:24] — Intro: both already fanboying, Rich's beanie (Ryan's idea)-

[01:33] — How hard it was not to spoil anything during the FastTake-

[02:12] — Book intro + spoiler warning-

[02:41] — Score reveal: 8.7 out of 10 — Hard Buy-

[03:14] — Spoiler scope: Mistborn only, Cosmere Corner at the end-

[03:55] — Vibe check: first impressions on Book 2 vs Book 1-

[04:54] — Mistborn fight scenes: why they hit so much harder than Book 1-

[06:00] — The Vin debate begins: built different or just very skilled?-

[10:23] — Scoring philosophy: why they held it back from a 9-

[11:19] — First time ever: same scores in every single category-

[12:04] — World building + lore: Kandra, Koloss, and the political landscape-

[17:48] — Allomancy expansion: Duralumin deep dive-

[19:31] — Rich goes from Duralumin skeptic to convert-

[23:30] — Vin controlling the Koloss with emotional allomancy- [24:33] — Lord Ruler's safeguards and what the epigraphs reveal-

[26:35] — Elland becoming Mistborn via the mystery bead-

[28:46] — Characters section-

[29:41] — Vin: did she take too big a step forward in one year?-

[34:08] — Elland Venture: the polisci major problem-

[40:51] — Zane: Ryan's favorite antagonist and why-

[43:02] — Rich was briefly, genuinely Team Zane-

[44:33] — Hastings Manor: Vin and Zane rip through 300 guards-

[46:29] — Straff Venture: Rich says layered, Ryan says one-note-

[49:43] — Story section-

[51:44] — "Shifting focus from overthrowing tyranny to governing chaos"-

[52:43] — The thieving crew fraying under pressure; who Breeze really is-

[54:26] — One-star Goodreads reviews-

[59:48] — Wrap-up + Cosmere Corner warning for non-Stormlight readers-

[1:00:38] — Cosmere Corner: Preservation and Ruin as shards-

[1:01:59] — Ryan's call from page 387; Rich gives partial credit-

[1:04:37] — Rich's theory: Preservation + Ruin = Harmony-

[1:08:05] — Hero of Ages teaser + outro

Links

• TikTok: @hottakebks
• Instagram: @hottakebooks
  

No cold open. No fluff. Just a straight shot of enthusiasm for a book the boys clearly had to talk themselves down from. Well of Ascension — Book 2 of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn Era 1 — picks up after the revolution and immediately asks a harder question: now what? It's Sanderson at his most focused, and the result is a massive leap from Book 1.

Rich has a 500-page rule. Books over that threshold better earn every chapter. At 590 pages, Well of Ascension earns them. Ryan, the guy who read Mistborn years ago and felt nothing, is a full convert. The boys were actively fighting themselves from scoring this too high.

Score: 8.7 out of 10 — their highest of the year, and Rich says it's miles beyond Mistborn and, yeah, Words of Radiance too.
---

Show Notes
**Episode Type:** FastTake**Book:** Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson**Series:** Mistborn Era 1, Book 2 — part of the Cosmere**Score:** 8.7 out of 10

### Timestamps-

[00:25] — Intro: no cold open, trying something new-

[01:53] — What is a FastTake / episode framing-

[02:33] — Should you continue Mistborn? Ryan's conversion story-

[04:14] — Rating system explained-

[05:38] — Score reveal: 8.7 out of 10 — highest rated book of the year-

[07:58] — Sanderson wrote all three Mistborn books before Book 1 released- [

08:35] — Page count, pacing, and the Stormlight comparison- [11:35] — "Winning the revolution was the easy part"-

[12:06] — Book 1 criticism / the Lord Ruler problem-

[14:31] — How Book 2 enriches Book 1-

[15:09] — World building explosion: factions, creatures, magic system-

[17:52] — Villains: why they work so much better here-

[19:06] — Straff Venture breakdown-

[20:52] — The 500-page rule-

[21:49] — Rich's favorite Sanderson Part 3-

[22:36] — Most underrated Sanderson sequel-

[23:20] — Wrap-up + where to follow

Links

• TikTok: @hottakebks
• Instagram: @hottakebooks
  

Rich and Ryan go full spoilers on Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and somehow still find time to argue about buffet etiquette and cast the movie nobody asked them to produce.

They dig into Vin's transformation from street urchin to ball-attendee, Mistborn-fighting force of nature, debate whether Kelsier's wife subplot earned its page count, and geek out over a magic system that turned Rich from skeptic to superfan one pewter flare at a time.

Plus: one-star Goodreads reviews get roasted, a $125 leatherbound sparks a philosophical debate about what a book has to score to deserve your wallet, and the Cosmere Corner returns with metal-to-fabrial breakdowns that'll make Stormlight fans feel very seen. An 8 out of 10, and they'll tell you exactly why that's a big deal.

Rich and Ryan tackle Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn a fantasy heist story where metal-burning outlaws plot to topple a thousand-year-old tyrant.

They break down the magic system, debate whether "the bad guys already won" is the right pitch, argue about Star Wars power structures, and explain why an 8 out of 10 is basically a standing ovation from two hosts who've been called "too harsh" when it comes to Sanderson book ones.

No spoilers just everything you need to know before deciding if this 541. page ride deserves a spot on your nightstand.

Rich and Ryan have a new obsession, and they're not being subtle about it.

Thorns, Feathers, and Bones by Anderson W. Frost, affectionately known as "Snowman" by the boys, has officially entered the chat. This isn't just a recommendation. This is a declaration. Rich says if Frost drops new content, he's putting down whatever he's reading (Pierce Brown excluded). Ryan wants to personally convert five new readers. The energy is unhinged in the best way.

They break down why this underrated epic fantasy hits different: tight pacing, deep world-building, compelling characters, and a story structure that uses one warrior's decade-long return home as a vehicle for something much, much bigger.

First 15 minutes are spoiler-free. After that, the walls come down and the gushing gets specific.

GO READ THIS BOOK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No notes. No structure. Just vibes.

Welcome to the first-ever Hot Take Books Riff Sesh. Rich and Ryan just finished Thorns, Feathers, and Bones by Anderson W. Frost and they need to talk about it immediately—completely spoiler-free.

This is the book they can't believe nobody's talking about. An indie debut that feels like the next Middle Earth: giants, elves, dwarves, humans, and a world where all of them intermingle—socially, politically, and yes, romantically. There's a disgraced warrior on a journey, a half-giant queen, political intrigue that sneaks up on you, and fight scenes that hit like a truck.

Rich calls it sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Ryan says it feels like Anderson turned a legendary D&D campaign into a novel. Both agree: if you're a fantasy fan, this is a crime to miss.

Solidly a Buy. Go read it.

Rich and Ryan are back in the den to break down Fires of Vengeance, Evan Winter's explosive follow-up to Rage of Dragons, and yes, the Red Rising comparisons are still flying.

The boys dig into Tau's never-ending rage spiral, debate whether this book delivers on the "responsibility of a book two," and ask the big question: can obsession-fueled strength ever lead to peace? Rich thinks it's a great book but an okay sequel. Ryan thinks the world building finally caught up. Both agree: if you're feeling that Red Rising withdrawal, this series scratches the itch.

In this episode of Hot Take Books, Ryan and Rich go all-in on The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter—no shields up, full spoilers allowed.

What starts as a candid confession about toxic traits (TikTok-induced overconfidence and hobby jumping included) quickly turns into a passionate, sometimes combative, and ultimately thoughtful breakdown of one of the most adrenaline-fueled fantasy reads we’ve covered. Coming off a collective Red Rising hangover, the question looms large: does The Rage of Dragons actually scratch that itch, or does it just poke the bruise?

We dig deep into:

• Tau’s obsessive, self-destructive drive for vengeance—and why it works

• A world that sparks debate: African-inspired setting, matriarchal power structures, dragons, demons, and a magic system tied to sacrifice

• Whether the book’s relentless pacing is its greatest strength or its biggest limitation

• Standout characters like Tau, Hadith, Uduak, Jayad, and the complicated shadow of Kellan Okar

• Brutal fight scenes, iconic one-liners, and moments that made us physically stop reading just to react

• A live score change on mic and what finally pushed the worldbuilding score up

We also read and react to some spicy one-star reviews, argue about what a “5” really means in our scoring system, complain (politely but firmly) about glossaries being in the back of books, and end with a clear verdict:

This isn’t a subtle book. It’s rage, sweat, steel, and obsession—all gas, very little brake—and for the right reader, it’s an absolute blast.

Final Score: 8/10 — Buy
Not for everyone. But if you want heart-pounding action, raw motivation, and a protagonist who will destroy himself to reach his goal, this one delivers.

#fantasybooks #spoilers #rageofdragons

In this Spoiler Free episode, Ryan and Rich dive into their thoughts on The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter. This episode is designed for listeners who want to know exactly what kind of book this is before committing.

They cover:

• Why The Rage of Dragons is one of the best recommendations for readers dealing with Red Rising withdrawal

• A clear, spoiler-free breakdown of the setting, caste system, and magic

• Tau as a protagonist—why he starts out unlikable, and why that’s intentional

• The book’s relentless pacing and action-heavy structure

• How vengeance, obsession, and rage drive the story forward

• The African-inspired worldbuilding and what makes it stand out in modern fantasy

• Who this book is perfect for—and who might bounce off it

Ryan admits he started the book cold (and biased), while Rich comes in fully fired up—but by the end, both land on a strong recommendation.

Final Score: 7.8/10 — Buy
If you love fast-paced, rage-fueled fantasy with a morally gray lead and nonstop momentum, this should be high on your TBR.

Spoilers stay locked away for the full episode—this is your safe entry point before the deeper debate.

#fantasybooks #rageofdragons #spoilerfree