Mistborn

I wish I could say that I read this because I was looking for something different to read. But I have to admit that it was the cover, featuring a barefoot heroine in action, that initially drew me to this book.

Mistborn is first book in a fantasy series that takes place in a land that's ruled by The Final Empire, which is commanded by the Lord Ruler, a cruel and seemingly invincible man who has lived for ages. The title of the book refers to people--both men and women--with special powers who can 'Push' metals. For example, they place a coin-sized piece of metal on the ground, and by 'pushing' against it, they can fly through the air.

And yes, the heroine, Vin, does go barefoot through the better part of the book--at least for the action scenes. She can't be wearing shoes when she's 'pushing' metal, or else she won't be able to take full advantage of her powers (she also needs to wear special clothes, as well). But aside from it satisfying my little quirk, Mistborn is a superb fantasy. Brandon Sanderson does a marvelous job with the small details, and he puts in plenty of twists along the way. It's highly recommended.