Bravo, Mr. Sanderson. Such a well-rounded finish to a sweeping, visionary trilogy. 
 This is high fantasy at its best: 
 The stakes don't get higher. The odds can't look more epic. And the heroics don't come any more noble. 
 Though our focus is scattered between many character arcs and divergent groups--Spook's infiltrating crew, Eland's siege-ready military, the reality-denying Kandra, Sazed's spiritual devolution, Marsh's macabre puppet show, and Vin's one-woman god-killing magnificence--the pacing never falters. The characterization remains consistent, and the broad degree of growth is both extensive and believable given the circumstances. The twists and turns are many, enriching, and surprising without being contrived. And the amount of forethought poured into this final book is nothing short of astounding. 
 The extent of Sanderson's world-building is fleshed out to finality and beyond with beautiful nuance and staggering scope. The previous books blend seamlessly into this one--yet feel so long ago at the same time. It's almost as though we, as readers, have advanced along with the characters. 
 That's not to say I loved it cover to cover. There were times I'll admit I tired of the innumerable pre-chapter scholarly entries, and times I wondered if Sanderson was competing with George R. R. Martin for body count. But while I can't say I wanted the ending we ultimately got, I can say I found it tightly symmetrical and catastrophically satisfying. None of my passing gripes could manage to bring down my overall rating. 
 The final analysis? 
 I regretted having to put this book down--every single time.