Summary:Mistborn: Secret History
[[Category: Spoilers for Book shorthand incorrect]]
This page contains a chapter by chapter summary of Mistborn: Secret History We hope this summary will make it easier to find specific areas of the book, as well as providing a quick plot refresher for anyone who doesn't want to take the time to reread the entire book.
Part 1
Chapter 1
Kelsier is killed by the Lord Ruler, meets Leras, punches Leras, and is "preserved" - essentially trapped - in the Well of Ascension.
Chapter 2
Kelsier chills, contemplates eternity, chills some more.
Part 2
Chapter 1
Kelsier meets Hoid, punches Hoid and gets beaten up. Watches Hoid fetch the bead of Lerasium from near the Well.
Chapter 2
Kel travels the Wells pulses, sees the world.
Chapter 3
Kel stabs Elend with Leras's knife, releasing Ruin...oops
Chapter 4
Leras saves Elend, Kel leaves the Well.
Part 3
Chapter 1
Kel looks around and asks for help.
Chapter 2
Kel meets Khriss and Nazh, and probably breaks Nazh's stool.
Chapter 3
Kel sees the future, sets off to rob the Ire.
Part 4
Chapter 1
Kelsier runs towards the ocean.
Chapter 2
Kel reminisces.
Chapter 3
Kel plays with fire.
Chapter 4
Kel reaches the ocean, chats with Ati.
Part 5
Chapter 1
Kelsier travels the ocean, reaches the castle.
Chapter 2
Kel sneaks around the castle.
Chapter 3
Kel spooks the Ire until they give him the gem.
Part 6
Chapter 1
Kelsier starts to run back to Luthadel in possession of the orb. He sees even worse destruction and deterioration than before. Three skaa die when a roof -- overloaded with ash -- collapses on them. Kelsier asks one of them as they transition through his realm if it's over, and she says that the end is near. After running for weeks, he suddenly hears Fuzz's weakened voice. He tells him to go to Fadrex instead. When Kelsier arrives, he's encouraged by the signs of life and activity. Preservation lays down a thin line of light for Kelsier to follow. He tells him about the orb, but Preservation says it won't help -- Vin must take his power, but she can't because Ruin has her. Kelsier is led by the thread of light to a city square full of beggars and once again meets Hoid, who shocks him but otherwise ignores Kelsier. Kelsier finds Vin there and desperately tells her to avoid Hoid. She goes the other direction, but Kelsier doesn't know if she actually heard him. Kelsier chases after Vin, apparently getting some help from Preservation, and he knows that Vin knows that he is there as she is trying to shake him. Suddenly Ruin's power attacks him, and Ati shows up. He reveals that the eleventh metal was his ruse to trick Kelsier, and he taunts him some more. Ruin explains that nothing is destroyed, just changed, and that he and Preservation are two sides of one coin. Kelsier tries to punch Ruin and is instead attacked, feeling immense pain.
Chapter 2
Every time Kelsier tries to get close to Vin to communicate with her, Ruin blocks his path. Ruin takes on the form of a "spy," and Vin chases after him, leaving Kelsier behind. After Vin is gone, the Koloss attack Elend's army. As the Koloss die, they enter Kelsier's realm, and he is shocked to see that they are human from all walks of life. Kelsier learns from a dead Obligator that Koloss are created by spiking. Preservation shows Kelsier a vision of all the people Ruin controls: Inquisitors, Vin, a man on the throne of Luthadel, Spook, and Marsh. He tells Kelsier to get a message to Vin: don't trust anyone pierced with metal.
Chapter 3
Kelsier searches for days for a semi-insane soldier that he can communicate with to get the message to Vin. Unfortunately, the man garbles the message and merely starts a brawl. Ruin arrives and taunts Kelsier again. He decides that he might be more effective fighting Ruin somewhere else -- away from Vin and Elend -- where Ruin has less focused attention.
Chapter 4
Kelsier feels Preservation dying. Determined, he smashes the orb with Nazh's knife. Preservation gives him some final advice, including his last instruction: survive. Kelsier takes the power of Preservation after some struggle. Ruin shows up and Kelsier attacks, but his attacks are ineffectual. Ruin laughs and explains that Kelsier is essentially a memory of a person and can't control the power. Kelsier sees black lines tying him to Ruin. He tries to communicate with those who are open to him, but it still doesn't work. He finds that he can read people's thoughts. He watches as Ruin accelerates the end of the world and can do nothing to stop it. Everything he tries is blocked by Ruin. He desperately tries to warn Vin, and is horrified to see that she is spiked (the earring). Ruin shoves him away. Kelsier finds Marsh and listens to his thoughts. Deep in his mind, Marsh is telling himself to remember who he is and to keep fighting. Kelsier decides to not confront Ruin directly.
Chapter 5
Kelsier searches for places that Ruin is paying less attention to, and he finds Spook in Urteau. Ruin is urging Spook to murder, but this plot is not among his priorities, so Kelsier can intervene. Kelsier approaches Spook and notes that there are lines of Connection between them, stronger than those for Marsh and Vin. As Ruin rages on, Kelsier "says" "hope" to Spook over and over, and eventually Spook removes his spike. His spirit is wounded. Kelsier then yells "survive" at Spook and he springs into action. Ruin doesn't stop Kelsier, but he does start to burn down the city to cover his failure. Sazed is also here, but he looks worn down too. Kelsier is able to see a little ways into the future, and he sees that there is still hope for the city. Kelsier continues to encourage Spook, and Ruin arrives in force, pushing Kelsier back. Spook enters the building in flames.
Chapter 6
Kelsier lounges on some green grass and Spook wanders over. Kelsier tells him this is a "half dream." Spook was devoted to Kelsier, and both had broken spirits but had resisted Ruin, building a strong Connection between them. Kelsier tells Spook that he is a hero and is proud of him, and he seems pleased by that. Kelsier urges him to get the message to Vin regarding spiked individuals. Spook nods his head as he awakes.
Chapter 7
Kelsier watches as Goradel leaves Urteau with a message inscribed on metal. Ruin mocks him and summons his minion, Marsh, who quickly dispatches the messenger and reads the message to Ruin. Kelsier thanks Goradel as he passes through the Cognitive Realm and finally gives up hope. He then realizes that Ruin is not complete without the Atium, so there is still hope. He watches as Vin fights all of the Inquisitors and is then tortured by Marsh. He attacks Ruin in order to distract him. It works: Marsh, having read the message himself, removes Vin's earring. Kelsier feels his soul ripping apart as he cedes the power to Vin and Ruin continues to attack him.
Chapter 8
Kelsier is an agony and feels the pull of death again. He holds on and decides again not to die -- a choice available to him by virtue of having Ascended. His soul is deeply wounded, but in time it repairs. Ruin was too distracted to finish him off. Kelsier watches the final battle with the Koloss and Vin's struggle with Ruin. Elend shines brightly at the moment he burns Atium and Duralumin. Preservation's and Ruin's powers are released as Vin sacrifices herself to defeat Ati. Kelsier considers taking the powers himself. Elend arrives and together they watch Sazed take on both powers, which seem to belong together. Vin comes next, and they hug. Ati comes next and Kelsier punches him. Sazed comes and offers to send her back, but Vin seems to know that won't work. In any case, she wishes to move on with Elend. Vin thanks Kelsier for all he's done for her, and she follows Elend into the Beyond.
Chapter 9
Kelsier watches the world be destroyed and then reborn. He asks Sazed if there is a way to return to the physical realm, but Sazed says there is not. Kelsier decides that Harmony is a terrible liar. [[
Epilogue
Kelsier convinces Spook to play with Hemalurgy in order to extend Spook's life and maybe bring Kelsier back to a body?
Notes