Author Brandon Sanderson is just having a good year and this time around young adult readers are the lucky recipients. In addition to The Rithmatist (see the Compass Book Ratings’ review), we are given Steelheart. These books are totally different, but are successful for all the right reasons: solid fantasy development, snappy dialogue, eclectic and enjoyable characters, and great fantasy concepts.
In Steelheart, don’t look for any superheroes to save the day. This is a book about super villians, tyranny, and the fight against that tyranny. Themes revolving around revenge, corruption, power, and ethics are all there. However, this is a roller-coaster, action-jammed, adrenaline-laced book with an eighteen year-old protagonist, David, who has a habit of improvising on the fly. Once the reader starts, they will not want to stop, so just order out for pizza and turn off the phone. With an older male protagonist and movie-style action, this book will especially appeal to male teens. Just read it!
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 9 mild obscenities.
Violence/Gore: Extended battle scene involving superpowers and guns resulting in property destruction and many deaths, no gore; report that a superhero likes to “read” human entrails; extended chase/fight scene involving gunshots and death, non-graphic; brief scene involving shooting resulting in injury and death, non-graphic; a duel resulting in injury by gunshot; characters see videos demonstrating weapon’s capability and showing a death; general reports of killings and murders; explosion resulting in property damage; extended fight/chase scene involving explosions, crashes, shooting, bombs, hitting, swords, etc. resulting in death (non-graphic) and injury with the mention of blood; character is treated for severe injuries with mention of blood; extended battle involving shooting, bombs, hitting, superpowers, etc. resulting in injuries, a crushed hand, a crushed skull (some detailed description), and death, with mentions of blood.
Sex/Nudity: Passing reference to a couple making out in the background; a character is attracted to another character; references to a character’s cleavage.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death, Tyranny
Alcohol / Drug Use:
None noted
