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A sequel in the tradition of The Empire Strikes Back, Brandon Sanderson's The Well of Ascension delivers a middle chapter that starts in crisis, weaves its way through crisis, and ends in crisis -- brilliantly so.

The only way to say what I want to say without giving away plot, however, is to focus on character and what Sanderson does with his cast, so here are five important characters from Mistborn's second book that deserve some lip service.

Vin -- : We might as well begin with Sanderson's remaining -- and main -- protagonist (after the death of Kelsier at the end of Mistborn, Vin's all that's left), and the role that every young actress hungry for a career defined by an epic franchise should be hungering for. Vin enters The Well of Ascension a wounded animal, finds her footing through a torturous crucible, thinks she's fulfilling her destiny, then ends The Well of Ascension as a wounded animal all over again.

There were times in the course of the story when I would read a chapter and go to bed angry, thinking that Sanderson had finally undermined his hard work with Vin, then I'd get started the next morning, and I would be reminded that I am too quick to underestimate Mr. Sanderson because Vin would be going through precisely the emotional reactions her character had to go through to move on, and my trust, which I had let be shaken, would be reestablished, and I'd be pissed at myself for doubting.

She is one of the great fantasy characters, and the fact that amazon is pissing away money on ridiculous Lord of the Rings prequels instead of pumping their billions into Sanderson's living breathing work, especially with a character like Vin sitting there to be played by someone just hungering to be great, is a travesty.

Sazed -- : The Terrisman, Vin's most trusted crew member, the eunuch with the Ferromancy memory and the academic bent, the bravest of Kelsier's crew -- defying clan, country, genetics, a god emperor, and his heart -- the potent touchstone of the Mistborn Trilogy, finds and loses love in The Well of Ascension, finds and loses his answers, finds and loses his battles, yet comes out the other end like a Star Wars droid: carbon scored, torn apart, but somehow in working order and ready to support his mistress for the next step in her journey.

Breeze --: If Jack Black doesn't play him in a live action version of this story I will be pissed. I could say more, but why?

The Koloss --: Okay. They are a they, so not A character, but they are a collective, so together they feel like a character. The Koloss kind of came out of the mist without warning. They are a force of messed up megaloids. They are born with all the skin they'll need, they are blue, and as they grow (through killing and violence) they fill their skin with muscle and sinew and fat, and eventually they grow beyond their skin, splitting their skin and seeping blood over their blue dermis. They're "gross" (I'm quoting my daughter there), and they are key to the story.

I hated them when they appeared, and they made me doubt Sanderson as I am wont to do, but by the end of The Well of Ascension I lovedd them, and my doubts were, again, put to rest.

Zane --: Then there is this fucking guy. I can't tell you a whole hell of a lot without spoiling things, but he is just crazy enough to be exactly what Vin needs. He loves her, he hates her, he doesn't give a shit, and he is almost her match -- until he isn't. Oh! Zane ... I almost loved you buddy. Until I didn't.

p.s. Marsh is awesome too.

p.p.s. This book took so long to read because I literally read all but he last 60-ish pages in the shower. I'd go in, let the water hit me and read two or three or ten pages, depending on what I felt like that day, then put in my bookmark and leave it until the next day. I love books in the shower, even if they become swollen logs by the end.