Mistborn Brilliantly Used a 72-Year-Old Fantasy Trope for Its Biggest Twist (& Brandon Sanderson Almost Didn’t Do It)

Looking back, I really didn’t expect Kelsier to die, even though there were hints of it. Knowing Mistborn was the start of a trilogy, I assumed he’d be a major character for much longer—similar to how I felt about the Lord Ruler. However, his death follows a common story pattern: the mentor figure dies to push the hero forward and help them ultimately win. It’s a classic trope, really.








