Title: The Bands of Mourning
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: High Fantasy
Audience: Adult
Series: Mistborn #6 (Mistborn Era 2, #3 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: 14 November 2022 (2nd time reading, 1st time in 2020)
First published: 26 January 2016
Content Warning: Abuse, Blood, Death, Murder, Sexual Assault, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, War
“Do what you do best, Waxillium Ladrian.”
“Which is what? Break things?”
“Break things,” Marasi said, “with style.”
Mini Review:
It’s been six months since the end of Shadows of Self. Wax and Company were left with questions. What’s Suit up to? What/who is Trell? Is it up to Wax to bring justice or should he retire and be a real gentleman? Thankfully the crew is up for a few more adventures, but this time it may cost them more than they planned for. Full of great banter and adventures bordering on shenanigans, this is a hard one to put down!
I just want to do what is right. Why is that so hard?
Page 32
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 third book in the Wax and Wayne (Mistborn era 2) series and the 6th Mistborn book. I strongly recommend you start with The Alloy of Law or Mistborn: Final Empire if you haven’t already! That being said, this review will definitely contain spoilers for The Alloy of Law and some spoilers for the original trilogy, should you decide to go back and read that. As Era 2 is set 300 years after Era 1, it’s hard not to pick up some spoilers from the basic history of the world, but you don’t need to read Era 1 before Era 2.
“I will find my own way,” he whispered.
Page 33
After the dramatic reveal towards the end of Shadows of Self, Wax has a lot of questions and a crisis of faith. Both Wax and Wayne have sustained severe physical and mental injuries. Wax’s is considerably more severe but Wayne would want us to take his pain seriously as he struggles with learning that humans just aren’t that tasty. The faceless immortals, as the Kandra are called, play a huge role in the 5th book which sets things up quite nicely for the 6th book. Marasi’s committed to her new lead, what (or who) is Trell? This name has appeared a few times and was Miles Hundredlives’ new religion, making this their best lead, for now.
“I’d rather not have ‘shootability’ be my talent.”
Page 39
“Well, you gotta use what you have”
Like Shadows of Self, the Bands of Mourning is split into three parts (plus a prologue and epilogue) which I find very enjoyable pacing for the story. The prologue takes place mostly the past, while the rest of the story takes place 6 months after Shadows of Self.
Prologue
Part one: chapters 1-4
Part two: chapters 5-16
Part three: chapters 17-31
Epilogue
As with the previous era 2 books, there are no epigraphs in this series, but broadsheets! This time there are 4 different pages representing the front page of a broadsheet, The New Ascendency, a paper from the city of New Saren. Like previous broadsheets, there’s articles, advertisements, a comic and an Allomancer Jak presents story about the paranatural detective Nicki Savage.
“‘Never’ is a word youths often use,” Grandmother said, sipping her tea, “but rarely understand.”
Page 23
The prologue provides a peek at Wax’s past, specifically the time he spent with the Terris side of his family and the circumstances around him leaving. Then for the last 2.5 pages it flashes forward 28 years, to present time.
“And life is unpredictable. So the only thing you do by preparing for disturbances is ensure that something else is going to go wrong.”
Page 43
“That’s a rather fatalistic viewpoint.”
“Living in the Roughs does that to a fellow.”
Wax is still Wax of course, bringing his “Roughs” wisdom to everyday situations. He won’t be caught without his guns, and preferably his mistcoat.
“Your life is … decidedly odd, Lord Waxillium.”
Page 47
I really enjoy seeing him open up more as he becomes more comfortable with others. He’s been alone for a long time, mostly of his own decision.
“Do you ever wonder if perhaps the cosmere is out to overwhelm you, Lord Waxillium?”
Page 51
“The cosmere? You mean Harmony?”
“No, not Him,” Steris said. “Just cosmic chance rolling the dice anytime I pass, and always hitting all ones. There seems to be a poetry to it all.”
Steris clearly knows that a 1 is a poor dice roll as she presents the eternal question, is it Harmony, fate, some other external force pulling our strings? I love the discussions and how the Mistborn stories are stretching out to reach the greater Cosmere. This is my second time reading the series and a lot of these pieces I wasn’t tuned into before. That didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story the first time and I am really enjoying discovering extra tidbits this go around.
He’d never seen anything like that image. It seemed to have been created entirely by light. Marasi gasped. Wayne threw a walnut at it.
Page 63
…
“Image projector,” VenDell said. “They call it an evanoscope.”
While simultaneously reaching for the Cosmere, this world and characters are still true to their specific world and circumstances. The separation of different worlds within the Cosmere is really enjoyable. Technological advances are coming to Scadriel at a fast rate, fast enough that the characters even comment on it. I love seeing how the crew reacts to new tech and seeing how things develop. It makes me very excited for what’s to come in this world!
“Wax,” he complained, pointing, “the immortal bloke is being creepy again.”
Page 79
The kandra continue to be favorites of mine, and they are still here! Thankfully we get even more MeLaan this time around.
The door to the adjoining suite slammed open. “Hello, humans,” MeLaan said, stepping into the doorway wearing nothing more than a tight pair of shorts and a cloth wrapped around her chest. “I need to put on something appropriate for tonight. What do you think? Large breasts? Small breasts? Extra-large breasts?”
Page 166
…
“That’s… kind of an improper question, MeLaan,” Steris finally said.
“You’re just jealous because you can’t take yours off to go for a run,” MeLaan said. “Hey, where is that bellboy with my things? I swear, if he drops my bags and cracks any of my skulls, there will be fury in this room!”
The characters continue to be vibrant and downright wonderful. This story had me laughing out loud more than the other books as the characters open up more with each other, and especially these zany scenes where everyone is riding on fumes and a little punchy.
“But this is your play, Ladrian, not mine. You’re the detective; I’m just around for the punchy-punchy, stabby-stabby.”
Page 168
“She assumes,” Wax said, “that our detective style isn’t normally the punchy-punchy, stabby-stabby type.”
“To be fair,” Wayne said, “it’s usually a more shooty-shooty, whacky-whacky type.” Marasi rubbed her forehead.
“Why are we having this conversation?”
“Because we’re tired,” Wax said.
Marasi has found her place a little bit more in the group and I love it. It definitely helps that Wax is being a bit more of a team player and treating her with more respect. Wayne, however, treats everyone mostly with the same amount (or lack there of) of respect. It’s a form of love surely.
Marasi sighed. “Wayne, can’t you ever let a joke die?”
Page 151
“Hon, that joke started dead,” he said. “I’m just givin’ it a proper burial.”
While Wayne is still Wayne, he’s also showing growth and listening a little bit more to others, but maybe also influencing others a little bit as well.
“That one is completely unfair,” Wax said. “You’ve been listening to Wayne.”
Page 165
“Things do explode around you, mate,” Wayne said
I also love that we get to see more of Steris this time around. She’s a great character and loves to be prepared, but is used to being overlooked.
“Steris, you’re a gem.” “What? Because I have a moderately healthy sense of self-preservation?”
Page 263
The ending of this story has a lot of momentum. It leaves me feeling so incredibly hyped for the next book and so ready to dive in! There’s also the novella, Mistborn: Secret Histories which you can/should read after The Bands of Mourning, before The Lost Metal.
I’m not sure I’m ready for the conclusion of era 2 and the end of the crazy adventures with Wax, Wayne, Marasi, MeLaan and Steris, but I cannot wait to see what comes next.
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 50% audio, 50% ebook. I also enjoy flipping through the physical book, especially for the broadsheets and chapter headings.
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