Ok, before I start, let me just say that I loved Well of Ascension. Just like the first Mistborn, which is just below LOTR as my favorite book, it pained me every time I had to put it down. Even though I had a hundred things to do to prepare for school, I still finished it in two days, because I was utterly engrossed.
That being said, a couple things really bothered me about this story as opposed to Mistborn. Most of them are little things, that I can't even remember right now. However, one keeps nagging at me, and I want to see what other people think about it.
It really bothers me how the others, and especially Vin, regard Kelsier, now that he is gone. For example, on page 261:
So much for running away,Vin thought. However, she couldn't help smiling. Part of what she loved about Elend was his sincerity. His simple love for the people of Luthadel--his determination to do what was right for them--was what separated him from Kelsier. Even in martyrdom, Kelsier had displayed a hint of arrogance. He'd made certain that he would be remembered like few men who had ever lived.
But Elend--to him, ruling the Central Dominance wasn't about fame or glory. For the first time, completely and honestly, she decided something. Elend was a far better king than Kelsier would ever have been.
Does anyone else think that Vin is being a poor friend here? She implies that Kelsier did not love the people of Luthadel, even after all he did for them. Not only did he free them from the Lord Ruler, he gave them hope. He visited families, lightening spirits, bringing food. He gave them a symbol that they could rally around, so that they could help themselves. He would have fought an army to protect his skaa soldiers, had not Vin herself stopped him. True, he did make himself very well-known among the skaa as a result, but was it because of his ego? Personally, I don't think so. When he visited the skaa tenement in Luthadel with Vin, he told her that it was refreshing to actually visit the skaa, and give them hope. From that, you can see that he enjoys helping the people. He didn't have to do things like that to become famous. True, it helped him to form a bond with the people, but a lot of their reverence came from his capacity as a figurehead, and their awe of his feats, like killing an Inquisitor. Yet even though Kelsier was like a father to Vin, she assumes the worst of his intentions. And she always assumes the best of Elend's. She says he was determined to do what was right for the people of Luthadel, as opposed to Kelsier. However, Elend didn't do anything until he had the baton handed to him. While Elend attended balls and casually read his books, Kelsier was enacting a plan that eventually toppled the Final Empire, something that everyone else had thought impossible. Don't get me wrong, I know that Vin was in love with Elend. I don't blame her for thinking well of Elend. I do, however, think that dismissing Kelsier as being inferior to Elend is a betrayal not only of Kelsier, but also of his memory. I have a very hard time thinking well of Vin when she would discard a friend like that.
He shook his arm free. "You still have some things to learn about friendship, Vin. I hope someday you realize what they are."