So I'm taking a short departure from my evil ADD reviews infused with countless images and my odd sense of humor to take an in depth look at this this breathtaking book. 
 Books are about one of two things for me. Escapism or experiencing. I either want a book to make me close my eyes and completely take me out of this world OR open my eyes and force me to see things in a different light, think about and savor every second of this life. If it doesn't do at least one of those, it isn't doing it's job. 
 This book is certainly an "escapism" novel. It is the ADD reader's Lord of the Rings. My attention span would not allow me to finish those, and although this one is massive, Brandon Sanderson made it easy to get into. 
 I noticed quite a few parallels to Star Wars in this epic fantasy novel. 
 Which is hardly surprising considering that Star Wars is itself basically epic fantasy. But no, you say, Star Wars is science fiction. Nope - It may be a space opera but it is not science fiction. There is pretty much zero science actually in the movies. If you want to get super technical, based on the expanded universe, it could at best be called "science fantasy". However, the overall structure of the films is based upon classic myth, or more specifically The Hero's Journey. 
 This book could also potentially be called science fantasy, because it incorporates the use of metals that are "burned" by people to create certain special abilities by the users. There are sciences within the book devoted to the study of using these metals and they are used to explain the exisistance of magic and magical abilities, as opposed to much of fantasy that doesn't explain where the power comes from. Like in Star Wars, where the technicalities behind "using the Force" are never explained. 
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 Here are the comparisons I was able to pick out: (Any of your own observations are encouraged in the comments!) 
 Luke Skywalker/Vin - Our hero and lead character. A young orphaned girl who has SUPER RARE latent supernatural abilities and discovers her father is a high ranking official of the evil Final "Empire". She also has a brother. (Wait. If she is Luke, would that make her brother Princess Leia?) She eventually ends up saving the world from the Empire. 
 Yoda/Kelsier - The help and inspiration. Powerful strongman who has supernatural abilities as well. Vin's mentor and one of the absolute best characters in the book. Also, has a strange and ghastly double. 
 The Emporer/The Lord Ruler - The Ultimate Evil. A godlike figure who rules the Empire. None have been able to defy or defeat him. Also, may have some connection to the Wicked Witch of the West. (view spoiler)[I'm melting, I'm melting! Really it was that easy?! (hide spoiler)] 
 C-3PO/Sazed - Emasculated sidekick and seemingly endless well of information. 
 The Merry Band of Rebels/Merry Band of Thieves - Group of people who have banded together to defy the Empire. Pretty self explanatory. 
 Darth Vader/A Certain Unnamed Steel Inquisitor - Originally a good guy, turned evil, eventually helps aid in the destruction of the The Ultimate Evil. 
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 This book was very high fantasy mixed with a dash of political intrigue, assassinations, adventure and, of course, magic. I usually don't read modern high fantasy (I generally prefer the urban genre) because of it's copycat tendencies. This one was exceedingly original. It's easy to overlook the Star Wars comparison, because the setting and the "feel" of the story is so different. 
 Absolutely outstanding world-building. The world and the magic system were the best thing about the story. Very in depth. I liked that Sanderson includes a source for their power; they actually need something to use up. They burn different types of metals in their system and consume concentrated metals to replenish themselves. Although it sounds like it'd be harmful, in the context of the book, it works. And it is explained in great detail. 
 Sanderson has great pacing and knows how to create tension without constant action. When the action scenes do happen, they are exciting and so well explained. You can't help but feel like you're watching a movie. Or TV show in my case since this was broken up over the course of a month. 
 This is certainly a character and plot driven novel. It thrives on throwing challenge after challenge at the large group of central characters and seeing how they manage to work around each one. The action really picks up in last part of the novel, as the female lead begins to come into her own with her new-found abilities. There isn't a lot of romance in this one either. It plays more of a side role to the central story, so it was actually a nice break from the purely romance driven novels of late. 
 It's a very long book but not long-winded like the Lord of the Rings. This is really not something you can inhale in one setting, and if you can or did - let me know because I will bow down to you and call you "Lord Ruler". 
 This book has an excellent resolution, though I'm sure there are many questions that still need to be answered. I would venture to say that it can be read as a standalone. 
 Overall, an excellent novel. But I can't say for sure whether or not this is the kind of book that will stay with me. It hasn't lingered much in my head since I finished it. 
 Although I would like to read the sequels, I don't feel that oh-my-god-I-have-to-go-out-and-get-the-next-book-RIGHT-now kind of feeling (which as much as I complain about, I actually love having). But I probably will get around to them eventually.