Title: Shadows of Self
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: High Fantasy
Audience: Adult
Series: Mistborn #5 (Mistborn Era 2, #2 of 4, Cosmere)
Next Release: The Lost Metal, 15 November 2022 (Mistborn #7, Era 2/Wax & Wayne #4 of 4)
Format read: Primarily Audio and eBook this read through, but also own paperback
Publisher: Tor (US), Gollancz (UK)
Date read: 12 November 2022 (2nd time reading, 1st time in 2020)
First published: 6 October 2015
Content Warning: Blood, Death, Murder, Suicide, Violence, Guns, Kidnapping
Ruin … we were supposed to be better than this. What if the Lord Mistborn saw us now?”
Page 303
Mini Review:
A year after the events of the Alloy of Law, things are tense in the great city of Elendel. Despite their democratic society, rumors of corruption and bribes abound. Unrest is rising as the nobles keep prospering, while the poor struggle to pay those same nobles their rent. Violent and dramatic events are disrupting society at an alarming rate. Is it mere coincidence this is all happening at once or is something else at large? Each with their own strengths, Wax, Wayne and Marasi are determined to protect the city and deliver justice.
A fire is kindling in the city, Marasi thought. She could almost feel the heat coming off the page of the broadsheet in her hands.
Page 86
The Mistborn Saga reviewed:
- Book Review: Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
- Book Review: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
- Book Review: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
- Novella Review: The Eleventh Metal by Brandon Sanderson
- Book Review: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
- Novella Review: Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania by Brandon Sanderson
- Book Review: Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
- Book Review: The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
- Novella Review: Mistborn Secret History by Brandon Sanderson
- Book Review: The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson
Full thoughts:
This is the 5th book in the Mistborn saga, and the 2nd book in Era 2, also know as the Wax and Wayne series. I strongly recommend you read the Alloy of Law first, or even start with Mistborn: The Final Empire. This review will certainly contain spoilers for the Alloy of Law, which you can read without reading the first trilogy. If you do decide to go back and read the first trilogy after era 2, there are some things that will be spoiled for you as you learn more about the history of this era. I don’t think that will diminish the enjoyment of either series however, but of course depends on personal preference.
If you want to know a man, dig in his firepit. The phrase was from the Roughs, maybe koloss in origin. Basically, it meant that you could judge a lot about a man’s life by what he threw away—or by what he was willing to burn in order to stay warm.
Page 228
Overall the Wax and Wayne series is the Mistborn/magic based wild-west story I needed. I grew up watching Westerns as that has always been my dad’s genre of choice, but I am very much a fantasy person. This well done blend of the wild-west with magic and the struggle of changing technology is such a great fit for me.
The law is not something holy, son. It’s just a reflection of the ideals of those lucky enough to be in charge.”
Page 277
Unlike the Alloy of Law, Shadows of Self is split into parts (plus a prologue and epilogue) which is a nice structure for the story. The prologue takes place in the past, while the rest of the story takes place 1 year after the Alloy of Law.
Prologue
Part one: chapters 1-4
Part two: chapters 5-21
Part three: chapters 22-26
Epilogue
There are no epigraphs in this series, but we do have broadsheets! I love the world-building in this creative insert. As with the Alloy of Law, there are 4 individual pages in the book that make up the first page of a single broadsheet. This includes articles, opinion stories, ads and a comic. There’s outrage over rouge coin-shots damaging the town as they soar through the sky pushing off lights and other metal sources. Debates over the virtues of cars vs horse drawn carriages. Gentleman/Allomancer Jak and his adventures. Advertisements for stuffed toys based on historical characters. Lots of little tidbits that would be hard to bring into the story otherwise but are wonderful for rounding out the world. The characters also read and comment on the broadsheets during the story which is very satisfying.
The Lord Mistborn’s laws, based upon the Last Emperor’s ideal, were supposed to put power into the hands of common men. And yet the same groups just kept on ruling.
Page 164
The development of the world, after the original Mistborn Trilogy, continues to be amazing to me. I love that we have an entire series which is the historical setting of this world. If you’ve read era 1 then you have some inside information about this past that has been lost to history, yet there are still questions and legends and myths to ponder. “There’s always another secret!”
No, freedom was not lack of responsibilities—it was being able to do what was right, without having to worry if it was also wrong.
Page 290
Some major themes are freedom and faith. Knowing what is right or wrong, and doing the right thing. Many of these themes were also presented in the original Mistborn trilogy and I enjoy seeing how these different characters address these same concepts 300 years later.
Mistwraiths and kandra … those were things out of the Historica, not real life.
Page 140
The kandra, or faceless immortals as they are also called, make a reappearance in this story. This makes me very happy as they are a fascinating race and I am always eager to learn more of them.
“Oh right,” she said. “Mortals. I’d forgotten how squeamish you can be.”
Page 272
The kandra are a type of creature that can digest flesh and imitate a person. This made them the ultimate spy in the past, but now their race has a different focus, which we learn more about in this story.
“Thrilling,” the kandra growled. “I’m so happy Sazed included me in his little book so that drunk people can curse by my name.”
Page 309
They are part of the Historica (aka Sazed’s little book, aka the original Mistborn trilogy) and the common person views them as mostly a myth or legend. They are even more mystical now than they were in era 1.
“they’ve had centuries upon centuries to refine their eccentricities. Getting older does not tend to make you more normal”
Page 227
It’s also worth mentioning that the kandra were old in the original era, which means now they are now old plus 300 years. That’s a lot of time to develop your habits.
Waxillium then looked up at Wayne and nodded, the two sharing an expression they often exchanged. The closest Marasi had been able to figure, it meant something between “Nice work” and “You’re a total git; I wanted to do that.”
Page 60
All of the characters are really well developed and there are some twists that may take you by surprise. Steris, Wax’s betrothed, likes to have a plan. She’s a good balance for Wax, even if their relationship started out as a business deal.
“I feel like I’m afloat in a sea of smoke and fog,”
Page 150
Marasi, who joined the crew in the Alloy of Law, is one of my favorites. This is likely because I see a lot of myself in her, but mostly because she is a women who is doing what she wants, regardless if it’s not “feminine” for her to do so. She also refuses to be belittled for liking her dresses. She’s Steris’ half sister, but formally introduced as her cousin for propriety’s sake. She’s quick to blush, a hard worker, and ready to do what needs to be done even if most people keep underestimating her.
Rust and Ruin. He thought she was infatuated with him. Arrogant, brutish … idiot!
Page 59
As with other books by Sanderson, he is creative in the expressions of the world. Rust and Ruin is a favorite one of mine from Era 2. Rust feels fitting for a western setting, and Ruin of course is remnant of the deity. Does this phrase have deeper meanings, one might wonder? I also like that their expressions reference their society/culture, much like how they said “lord ruler” in era 1.
“Our accents are clothing for our thoughts, my dear,” Wayne said. “Without them, everything we say would be stripped bare, and we might as well be screaming at one another.
Page 166
Wax and Wayne have been a team for a long time, 17 years in fact as we learn in the prologue.
“I don’t see what my insomnia has to do with your laziness, Wayne.”
“Proper loafing requires company. One man lying about is being idle; two men lying about is a lunch break.”
Page 80
Wayne says a LOT of great lines this book.
Rusts. I should really write these things down.
Wayne, Page 82
If nothing else, read the book for Wayne. He continues to be one of my favorite characters, but I would like to scold him about how he treats Steris. He is likely acting out because he doesn’t want someone having more of a claim to Wax than he has, but Steris is actually really great if he’d get to know her.
Hell, with some kandra friends, he could be annoying Steris well into the afterlife.
Page 293
The ending of this book was a bit hard on the feels. As with all of the Mistborn stories, I absolutely loved it and had a hard time putting it down. The good news is of course that the next book is already out, and the last book in Era 2 will be released in less than week!
The Mistborn saga is part of the larger Cosmere. The 7th Mistborn book, which is book 4 of Era 2, releases in November 2022, completing the 2nd Mistborn series. You can read Era 2 by itself, or go back and start with Era 1, Mistborn: The Final Empire.
Notes on edition:
This read through was probably 60% audio, 40% ebook. I also enjoy flipping through the physical book, especially for the broadsheets and chapter headings. This was my second time reading the story, but first time since catching up on all the Cosmere books.
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