# Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/mistborn-series/

8 people recommended Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson in Hacker News comments, 1 had mixed feelings and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 12 months, in 5 threads. It does not meet the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** People recommend the Mistborn trilogy for its satisfying plot, likeable characters, cohesive series and magic system. One reader skipped the detailed descriptions of metalwork.

Summary written by Claude from 5 comments.

## Why people recommend it

- Satisfying plot and likeable characters (1 comment in the sample): "Mistborn 1-3 was a fairly simple and satisfying plot with likeable (if somewhat predictable) characters and fun world building." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46806348))
- Cool, engaging magic system (1 comment in the sample): "which I loved for sure would recommend if you're into cool magic systems" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47387421))
- Rounded, cohesive whole series (1 comment in the sample): "The whole series had a roundedness to it that I have not encountered before" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46808048))
- Third book is the best (1 comment in the sample): "it's worth it because book three is the best of the trilogy" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49911982))

## Other fantasy novels people recommend

- [The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://hackerapproved.com/p/lord-of-the-rings/): 52 recommend, 13 mixed, 10 criticize
- [Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dungeon-crawler-carl/): 43 recommend, 4 mixed, 6 criticize
- [The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://hackerapproved.com/p/hobbit/): 34 recommend, 6 mixed, 9 criticize
- [Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://hackerapproved.com/p/harry-potter-and-the-methods-of-rationality/): 15 recommend, 4 mixed, 17 criticize

## The badge

A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged.

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson", https://hackerapproved.com/p/mistborn-series/ (8 recommend, 1 mixed, 1 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026).

Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.