Review: Calamity by Brandon Sanderson

Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Gollancz on February 28, 2017
ISBN: 9780385743617
Genres: Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 464
Format: Paperback
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

Read the final book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Reckoners series by worldwide bestselling author Brandon Sanderson! When Calamity lit up the sky, the Epics were born. David's fate has been tied to their villainy ever since that historic night. Steelheart killed his father. Firefight stole his heart. And now Regalia has turned Prof, his closest ally, into a dangerous enemy. David knew Prof's secret, and kept it even when Prof struggled to control the effects of his Epic powers. But facing Obliteration in Babilar was too much. Once the Reckoners' leader, Prof has now embraced his Epic destiny. He's disappeared into those murky shadows of menace Epics are infamous for the world over, and everyone knows there's no turning back. . . . But everyone is wrong. Redemption is possible for Epics--Megan proved it. They're not lost. Not completely. And David is just about crazy enough to face down the most powerful High Epic of all to get his friend back. Or die trying.
Praise for the Reckoners series:
#1 New York Times Bestselling Series
"Another win for Sanderson . . . he's simply a brilliant writer. Period." --Patrick Rothfuss, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The Name of the Wind
"Action-packed." --EW.com
"Compelling. . . . Sanderson uses plot twists that he teases enough for readers to pick up on to distract from the more dramatic reveals he has in store." --The A.V. Club

Failure is refusing to fight. Failure is remaining quiet and hoping someone else will fix the problem.

Damn the final book in this outstanding series was so perfect for me.  I loved every second of the journey.  I despaired, I rejoiced, I felt the heartbreak  and I laughed.  It’s been an original plot with the best characters and Brandon Sanderson’s narrative is addictive.  He draws you in with the promise of the tastiest piece of luxurious chocolate…I couldn’t resist!  If I thought that the first book couldn’t be topped in the series, I was wrong.  Wrong to the power of ten.  Calamity was amazing!

Just how do you deal with the fact that one of the good guys has gone bad?  The fight against the epic’s rages on and the inner turmoil of having to face a friend,  a lover,  a leader is weighing heavy on the team’s mind.  Is this the point that loyalties become conflict?  The gang is back together – David, Megan, Mizzy, Cody and Abraham.  Serious squad goals.  The mould together like a serious mature cheese – hopefully I’m slightly better than David at the obscure similes.  Although life has forever changed as they know it they have the glue sticking them together – they have the will to do what’s right, no matter the cost. 

This book really brought David and Megan into their own.  Megan accepted David’s feelings for what they were, and David was adorably cute in his silly sayings that actually said so much. 

We’re not moments, Megan, you and me. We’re events. You say you might not be the same person you were a year ago? Well, who is? I’m sure not. We change, like swirling clouds around a rising sun.

Calamity is the book that we are introduced to zany founder of the Knighthawk facility.  It was perfect.  Super intelligent dude…he’s faced such loss but rises when it matters most. 

Calamity had a lot to live up to.  I had so many questions at the end of Firefight, how on earth would it be possible for Brandon Sanderson to possibly conclude the story and readers be satisfied?  Some of these questions included; What would become of Prof?  What happened to Tia?  What role did Calamity play in the creation of Epics?  The further Megan pushed her powers was the relationship between her and David become a ticking timebomb?  What really happened to David when Calamity tried to gift him the curse of being an Epic?  So yes, I had many, many questions and I needed answers to them all.

Brandon Sanderson is the absolute king of misdirection.  He left red herrings along the path to answers and every damn time I slipped on them.  His imagination is off the scale amazing.  The ending of Calamity, for me was mind-blowing.  I did not see it coming and I was left with some extra questions but I’m both happy and sad to leave The Reckoners and The Epics to rest.  Gah I did shed a tear, I loved this series soooo much.  I can’t wait to discover some of Mr Sanderson’s Adult Fantasy work. 

Steelheart Review

Firefight Review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brandon Sanderson was born in December 1975 in Lincoln, Nebraska. As a child Brandon enjoyed reading, but he lost interest in the types of titles often suggested for him, and by junior high he never cracked a book if he could help it. This all changed in eighth grade when an astute teacher, Mrs. Reader, gave Brandon Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly. Brandon thoroughly enjoyed this book, and went in search of anything similar. He discovered such authors as Robert Jordan, Melanie Rawn, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, and Orson Scott Card. Brandon continued to be an avid reader through junior high and high school. He liked epic fantasy so much that he even tried his hand at writing some. His first attempts, he says, were dreadful.

In 1994 Brandon enrolled at Brigham Young University as a biochemistry major. From 1995 to 1997 he took time away from his studies to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brandon often says that it was during this time in Seoul, Korea that he realized that he didn’t miss chemistry one bit, but he did miss writing. Upon his return to BYU, Brandon became an English major, much to the dismay of his mother, who had always hoped he would become a doctor.

Brandon Sanderson Website