
In 'Shadows of Self', trouble is brewing in Elendel as the ruling class becomes corrupt and the working class is being manipulated by a mysterious party. Wax and Wayne, along with Marasi and a kandra named MeLaan, jump in to avert disaster and uncover plots within plots. The book ties the new trilogy back to the old one, introducing new main characters while further developing cousins Steris and Marasi. The story delves into political machinations, complex world-building, and a shapeshifter killing key figures to foment trouble, all set in a world with elements of an industrial revolution and the presence of magic.
The narrative unfolds with unexpected twists and turns, connecting to the previous Mistborn trilogy while introducing new Cosmere revelations. The characters, particularly Wax and Wayne, navigate a world filled with danger and intrigue, as they strive to save their city and possibly the world from impending disaster. The book offers a mix of humor, action, and deep insights into the post-Hero of Ages world, keeping readers engaged with its fast-paced storytelling and intricate plot.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence and murder, as well as discussions of corruption and social unrest.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance, particularly in the relationship dynamics involving Wax, Steris, and Marasi.
From The Publisher:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action.
Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.
When family obligations forced Waxillium Ladrian to forsake the frontier lands and return to the metropolis of his birth to take his place as head of a noble House, he little imagined that the crime-fighting skills acquired during twenty years in the dusty plains would be just as applicable in the big city. He soon learned that there too, just being a talented Twinborn - one who can use both Allomancy and Feruchemy, the dominant magical modes on Scadrial - would not suffice.
This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society will now face its first test by terrorism and assassination, crimes intended to stir up labor strife and religious conflict. Wax, his eccentric sidekick Wayne, and brilliant, beautiful young Marasi, now officially part of the constabulary, must unravel the conspiracy before civil strife can stop Scadrial's progress in its tracks.
Ratings (113)
Incredible (28) | |
Loved It (44) | |
Liked It (34) | |
It Was OK (6) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (149):
Read It (117) | |
Want To Read (23) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (8) |
7 comment(s)
4.5⭐️
There is nothing like a good sanderlanche and this book does not disappoint. I enjoyed the beginning and middle but it felt pretty standard until the ending started to kick off.
There were a ton of really great character moments. These characters are very well developed and fleshed out. Even after such a short time with them so far I feel like I know them and their motivations very clearly.
There is a lot of fan service in this. Returning characters, references to things that happened in the original trilogy, cool moments that mirror the original. It didn’t feel out of place and I’m a fan, so I ate it up.
I enjoyed it a lot and it is a great sequel. I feel that it left the characters, particularly Wax in a good place for growth and I’m excited to see where these characters go next.
This book has the single most emotional scene I've ever read in a book. Never thought I'd say that about a Brandon Sanderson novel.
¿Qué decir de lo que es capaz de hacer este tipo?
En Aleación de Ley ya hizo la introducción a los personajes y la época que iba a usar para la segunda trilogía, que comienza con este libro y se nota, porque si haberlo leído te puedes perder muchas cosas (y además porque es un pedazo de libro, por supuesto).
Ahora a hablar de lo que toca. Aquí, se sube el nivel de la amenaza, de un "simple" ladrón, a un terrorista, pero claro, todo aderezado con la magia que ya conocemos.
Si en el anterior libro Wax era más justiciero que otra cosa, aquí llega a niveles de Batman, volando para todos sitios, peleando donde cae, y en los pocos momentos de pausa que hay en el libro, deduciendo los siguientes pasos.
Como cada palabra más que diga sube el riesgo de spoiler, voy a dejar eso aquí: Wayne cada vez que sale gana puntos para personaje favorito y Marasi ha aumentado mucho y bien la carga de la historia que le cae.
I Always enjoy the Fantasy Western feel of this new trilogy of Mistborn novels. I am glad that Brandon Sanderson is doing the complete set now. Such fun. You do not have to read the first trilogy to enjoy, though references are made. But, enough time has passed in the world, that the novels are not directly connected. I enjoy the feel of the Wax and Wayne characters, very much Wyatt Earp & Doc meets Sherlock Holmes & Watson to me. I fly through these novels and I can't wait for the final story to the tale.
I am also curious as to what time period the next series of Mistborn will be in.
Sanderson is really good at writing twisty plots, complicated but internally logical magic systems, and huge feats of worldbuilding. That lends itself well to the mystery in this novel, as well as the ongoing question of how the events in the original Mistborn novels affect the society they created. It's a neat experiment, going past the end of an epic fantasy and seeing how people live afterwards.
At the same time, a lot of the book is "the industrial revolution causes societal upheaval." Which, yeah, we know. And Sanderson doesn't connect that well enough to the things he is so good at. I kind of wish he had left it out, and concentrated more on what makes a person good, following the law or knowing when to break it, if ever?
I have no idea how Brandon Sanderson keeps living up to my expectations with every book of his I read, but he is doing just that.
"Shadows of Self" was just as good as all the previous books in the Mistborn series. The fact that Sanderson can even write a single book as good as this is incredible to me--The fact that he consistently writes MANY books this good is absolutely mind-boggling. Each book in the series is as good, if not better than, the previous.
I cannot wait until I get my hands on the next book in this series. Or until I get my hands on any Brandon Sanderson book for that matter!
2022 Reread: enjoyed this one more the second time around. Forgot the big twist over the last two years and it hit harder this time. This series is so stinking good.
Original Review 2020: Not bad by any means, but it didn’t suck me in like the others in the series.
What can you read after
Shadows of Self?
About the Author:
Brandon Sanderson grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. He lives in Utah with his wife and children and teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University. He is the author of such bestsellers as the Mistborn® trilogy and its sequels, The Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self, and The Bands of Mourning; the Stormlight Archive novels The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance; and other novels, including The Rithmatist and Steelheart. In 2013, he won a Hugo Award for Best Novella for The Emperor's Soul, set in the world of his acclaimed first novel, Elantris. Additionally, he was chosen to complete Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time® sequence. For behind-the-scenes information on all of Brandon Sanderson's books, visit brandonsanderson.com.
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