Shadows of Self

4.25* ( )

Please note that this review will contain mild spoilers

What I liked:

Sanderson does a good job working in the socio economic issues of a society going through a second industrial revolution. He manages to weaves this into a fast-moving and exciting narrative

What I disliked


The trademark Sanderson twist was predictable, transparent and therefore lacking in impact.

There is very little continuity from Alloy of Law. It strains credulity that Wax has done nothing in the intervening time to act against his uncle or to free his sister.

Sanderson seriously messes up male-female interaction with respect to Wax.

At the start of the book Wax has a lot of tension with Marasi. She admires him as what a policeman should be. He has trouble treating her equally due to her being a woman. I wanted to see this relationship worked out. There was potential for conflict and character evolution. But Sanderson short circuits this entire possibility with Wax's conversation with Harmony where Harmony basically tells Wax to treat Marasi with more respect. Wax immediately complies. What this does is cheapen their relationship from that point on. Wax treats Marasi with respect not because she has earned respect though her conduct in his eyes, but because God tells him to.

The other problem is his relationship with Sterris. Now this relationship was actually going places. I was really liking their interaction. It culminated at the Mayor's party. It bothered me because it seemed that Wax only really appreciated her when her actions were about him and his career/goals. But then she disappeared. Wax decided she was in danger, so she was hidden and stayed that until the last page when she appears as a shoulder to cry on. ( )

It took me quite a while to get to this book, but I've finally read it. One thing that struck me was how well Sanderson moves between adult fantasy and young adult fantasy.

The main character is Wax who is back from a long stint as lawman in the wildlands and is now trying to do the same in the civilized city. The world is slowly getting industrialized and there are motor cars around, and as in the real world, these changes are causing unrest. People that are working are not getting paid enough and too many don't have any job.

The most interesting character though is Marasi Colms, Wax's sister-in-law who is also a trained lawyer and works as an assistant to the chief police in a district. She also as an allomancy power: She can slow down time in a bubble around here. Very useful almost never, but hey, it's a power.

As the other Mistborn books (hey, young adult category) it's easy and fast to read and it's not very challenging in any other way either. A bit of "if there is a God, then why isn't it making everything perfect" though. ( )

An excellent continuation. Succeeds in broadening the scope and greater Cosmere significance of Wax and Wayne's adventures while maintaining the personal elements and humor. The cameos felt meaningful rather than forced, and the ending was beautiful and appropriately emotional. 4.5 🌟 ( )

“She had a way of pouring everything of herself into what she did. When she fought, she was the blade. When she loved, she was the kiss. In that regard, she was far more … human than any I have known.”

I found myself being satisfied about so many things in this book. TenSoon appearing out of nowhere when I thought he died did something satisfying to my soul and Mistborn heart.

Again, I found myself being so close to giving this book 4 stars but, as usual, Brandon Sanderson always pulls through in the end and proves why I have yet to give one of his books less than 5 stars. I don't care what others say about him because to me, he really is like THE author for me. I can honestly say that The Alloy Era is not a type of book I would probably be reading if I did not the Mistborn trilogy before and if Sanderson did not write it. No shade to any other authors, it's just that Sanderson can keep the elements of a fantasy series without making it too focused on said elements.

There is always SO MUCH MORE to his writing. Which remind me of a Kelsier quote: "There is always another secret,"

The Alloy Era series may be different, but it does have it's own perks and reasons to be loved. I have read the author's note at the start of the last book and Sanderson said that the evolution of the Mistborn has yet to reach what he has envisioned. . . for which I am so excited for.

If you need me, I'll be breaking my heart reading The Bands of Mourning so that I can move on and read The Dark Artifices and see what the hype is all about.

xx ( )