Shadows of Self: A Mistborn Novel (The Mistborn Saga, 5)

Great book. Fyll of great characters and plot twists.

The twists and turns throughout the entire book. I mean the ENTIRE book. Can’t wait to get through my depression with the next book.

Shadows of Self is a darker continuation of Brandon Sanderson’s Alloy Era books and the greater Mistborn saga. The Alloy of Law was a flying adventure that introduced us to a magic suffused version of the Wild West where the character were humorously innocent in spite of their own troubled past. Shadows of Self moves beyond the lighthearted “shoot ’em up” story line and takes us into the heart and soul of Waxillium Ladrian’s past and the trouble that is hunting the city of Elendel. Do not read Shadows of Self if you haven’t read The Alloy of Law! You don’t have to read the Mistborn series to get into the Alloy Era books, but you need to have an idea about Wax and Wayne’s history and how they came to Elendel to appreciate the development in Shadows of Self. Sanderson spends a lot of time in Shadows of Self building upon the backstories of characters introduced to us in The Alloy of Law. Unfortunately, while we find out more about Wax, Wayne, and Marasi, the pacing of the story ends up feeling off in some parts. The plot jumps around from person to person and the “bad guys” never develop the depth needed in order for their motives to make sense. In the vast sea of characters and tides of reasoning, the main focus takes a miandering route that sometimes forgets it’s own purpose – which is really suprising considering Sanderson’s masterful writing style. I would also LOVE to know more about Steris Harms! Steris hints at being an extremely complex and fascinating character that has been overshadowed by the characters around her. The setting and world-building in this story feel like they could have sprung right from a history book. While the technological advances and attitude mirrors the Gilded Age, magic and hundreds of years of history from the Mistborn trilogy seamlessly create a unique world more compelling than the world from which it was birthed! Sanderson does an amazing job of making the issues and passions of the Elendel people seem so REAL. The cultural and religious diversity that the story is built around give the world an uncommon depth. Shadows of Self in part feels like a middle book which makes me even more excited to see how the series continues. Thankfully the next book in the Alloy Era, The Bands of Mourning, will be out on the 29th of January! The Alloy Era books still hold a special place in my heart as my favorite books from Sanderson. With all the things that I wish would have been different in Shadows of Self, the writing and plot development still make this book leagues better than most I have read this year. Sanderson has a special talent and I am excited to continue to follow along on his adventures.

A fair bit smaller than the entries of the original Mistborn trilogy, Shadows of Self makes up for it with a more complex and dynamic setting, set in what is approximately a turn-of-the-century technological era 300 years after the conclusion of the original trilogy. While I enjoyed the greater development that the original books had (being easily more than half as big again), Shadows of Self (along with the preceding novella The Alloy of law) answers the question I always had in the original trilogy, what would happen if the Metallic Arts were combined with guns? We get an interesting look at how society on Scadriel has evolved in the centuries since Ruin and Preservation were fused into Harmony, and it is interesting to note how lords and noble-born people still rule the world, with the working class resenting their wealth and frequent corruption. Brandon Sanderson has two great strengths as a writer, which are developing complex and nuanced magic systems, and developing complex and nuanced characters, and both of those talents shine here. As I said before, the addition of guns adds a whole new dimension to how the Metallic Arts are used, such as deflecting or accelerating bullets, and it makes a nice change having the combat move to mostly ranged as opposed melee fighting. For the characters, Sanderson makes them flawed, believable and emotionally resonant, and he doesn't limit this to just the heroes. As with his other works, the villains are as much the heroes of their own stories as are the heroes of this one, and it's great to see how a lot of people don't actually regard the heroes of this story as such, for example, a newspaper clipping pointing out just how much damage Wax tends to cause while hunting for criminals. The newspaper clippings were a great way to develop the world without bogging down the story with tedious exposition, but I admit it was very hard to read them on the kindle. Sanderson has stated that the Mistborn books coming out over the next couple of years will be shorter and faster-paced than the Stormlight Archives (which remain my Gold Standard for fantasy), and I have to admit that I would prefer more Stormlight Archives books than Mistborn books, but I still loved this book, and saying that this is inferior to some of his other works means very little when it is still vastly superior to most fantasy books. Although I really want another big, thick Brandon Sanderson book to sink my teeth into, when you compare this to most fantasy books that come out, it is easily a five-star read.

I enjoyed Alloy of Law, but I never felt it was as epic as the original trilogy. It's tremendously fun, and the Vanishers needed to be vanquished, but it didn't feel like it had the same scale and consequences. Shadows of Self changes that. I am now ready to follow Wax on the journey I don't think any of us saw coming. Socioeconomic trouble is brewing in Elendel, because apparently even a god designed paradise can't last forever. Wax and Wayne at hot the trail, and Marasi is definitely in the mix, now serving as part of the constabulary. At the heart, I feel this is a story about characters, they're coping with fantastic situations, but I really care and question these folks. Wax I on the hunt, and will do anything it takes to end this conflict. Wayne continues to delight with his wit and unique perspective on the world. Marasi must navigate what is lawful versus what is right, because once a pattern is seen, it cannot be unseen. Despite the world shattering situations, this book feels very personal – because it is. Every single soul has a chance to make a difference, for Preservation or Ruin. Readers of previous Mistborn will delight as this book continues to tie into the history and mythos of the world, expanding without retreading the same themes. Sanderson continues to deliver extra, this story including some excerpts from the broadsheets giving more flavor to this new era Scadrial. Sanderson is a master storyteller, laying the ground work for the most poignant and dark reveals, while still making the read a fun ride you do not want to put down.

The Mistborne world is such a very unique fantasy world, and the magic system with metal alloys is really one of a kind. This book continues the second trilogy in that world, but you really need to read at least Alloy of Law to understand this one. I would definitely start with the first trilogy though, as it is very good and sets the ground for this trilogy as well. This is a very good book, Sanderson is a very good fantasy author, and the characters of Wax and Wayne are really expanded.

The end reveal blew me away, and Wayne keeps getting funnier. I wish Sterris had more to do. Marasi is a joy.

Brandon has very quickly become one of my favorite authors, I was turned onto him by a friend ironically with the Mistborn series. The first three takes place in a different time period than this second series and I have to admit I wasn't sure if I would like reading a book that takes place in a time period where gunslingers and lawmen are transitioning into more sophisticated times of skyscrapers, automobile's, and electricity. After reading the first one I was hooked, I have often thought of what it would be like for some sort of spellcaster from fantasy to transition into another time period and how it would effect people around them. I love how Brandon writes these books and describes how they are viewed as more of a nuisance than anything. I will tell you if you have not read this series start with Mistborn 1st and work your way into second part of series with alloys of law. You will not be disappointed with anything that Brandon has written. I have now read 11 of his books in less than a year and I am caught up with most of the series he has written. While waiting for his next book to come out I am going back and re-reading the Wheel of time series and actually finishing it for the first time with the final 3 books written by Brandon Sanderson for Robert Jordan. Again I would recommend any series written by Brandon he is an amazing author.

Autant le 4 était un peu en dessous autant ce numéro 5 dans la série des Mistborns est vraiment au top. Les personnages sont très attachants, le scénario très bien ficelé, limite encore mieux que celui de la première trilogie, l'ambiance est oppressante mais l'humour grinçant de Wayne est toujours la pour détendre l’atmosphère. Je le recommande les yeux fermés.

What can't be said, fantastic author continuing a brilliant series

Another intense story from the best fantasy autor nowadays, Brandon Sanderson, totally recommended! I Can't wait for Bands of Mournings!

It’s amazing to think on the continuity of the saga: the details fit so well, this one is probably my favorite of the whole series!

Continúan las aventuras de Wax, Wayne y Marasi, poco después de donde se quedó Alloy of Law (Aleación de Ley en castellano). Como el anterior, Shadows of Self está lleno de acción, humor y poderes alománticos, ferruquímicos y ahora también hemalúrgicos. Muy entretenido y muy recomendable. Aunque Shadows of Self continúa a Alloy of Law, técnicamente es el primero de una trilogía (mientras que Alloy of Law sería una novela introductoria autoconclusiva). Se pueden leer perfectamente por separado, pero es mejor haber leído antes la trilogía Mistborn (Nacidos de la Bruma en castellano) porque los libros de Wax y Wayne están ambientados en el mismo mundo unos 300 años después de los eventos que se narran en Mistborn, y estos se mencionan constantemente. De hecho para poder disfrutarlos al 100% también es recomendable haber leído The Way of Kings (El Camino de los Reyes en castellano) y otras novelas ambientadas en el "Cosmere" (como Elantris), porque Sanderson tiende a dejar "huevos de pascua" repartidos por todos sus libros del "Cosmere".