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| Categories | Action & Adventure |
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Publisher | Tor Books; Reprint edition (August 1, 2023) |
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 400 pages |
| Item Weight | 15.2 ounces |
| Dimensions |
6.2 x 1 x 9.2 inches |
I. Book introduction
Mistborn: Shadows of Self is a fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson. It was published on October 6, 2015, by Tor Books and is the second book in the Wax and Wayne series and fifth in the Mistborn series. It is preceded by The Alloy of Law in 2011 and followed by The Bands of Mourning in 2016.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action.
Waxillium Ladrian was a lawman in Scadrial’s ungoverned frontier region, known as the Roughs, where he worked with his eccentric but effective buddy, Wayne. They are “twinborn,” meaning they are able to use both Allomantic and Feruchemical magic. In their world, technology and magic mix, democracy contends with corruption, and religion becomes a growing cultural force, with four faiths competing for converts.
This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society now faces its first instance of terrorism, crimes intended to stir up strife. Wax and Wayne, assisted by the brilliant Marasi, must unravel the conspiracy before it stops Scadrial’s progress in its tracks.
Plot
In a flashback, Waxillium Ladrian first meets his future wife Lessie on a bounty hunt, where they work together to bag a powerful crime boss. In the present, it is one year since the defeat of the Vanishers. Wax and Marasi have learned of the art of Hemalurgy from the book given to them by Ironeyes. Wax has now been deputized by the city’s constabulary.
While hunting down a criminal called the Marksman with his partner Wayne, Wax sees the face of Bloody Tan (the man responsible for Lessie’s death) in a crowd, but is unable to find him when he searches. Wax is called off the job and summoned by the constables to aid in a major investigation: the brother of Elendel’s governor has been murdered at a meeting with a number of powerful crime bosses, who have all also been killed. This incident further stokes unrest over corruption and bad working conditions in the city. Wax finds evidence that only a Steelrunner (a Feruchemist who can store and utilize speed) could have committed the murders, but when he tracks down the only Steelrunner in the city, he finds her dead, murdered with a Hemalurgic spike.
Wax is approached by Harmony himself, who informs him that a rogue kandra named Paalm, now known as Bleeder, is responsible for the killings. She has gone mad, and ripped out one of her spikes to hide from Harmony. She has also found a way to grant herself metallic powers using Hemalurgy, though she can only hold one ability at a time. She now seeks unrest and destruction in the city, and is convinced that Harmony is a terrible, cruel god. Harmony promises to send supernatural help to Wax in order to foil her plots.
Wax and Marasi become convinced that governor Innate (whom Marasi has discovered is corrupt) will be the next target of Bleeder’s attacks, and Wax finds evidence that Bleeder may have a personal vendetta against him. Bleeder finds a way to mentally communicate with Wax and draws him away from a noble party and into a trap laid by Set enforcers. Wax is saved by MeLaan, a kandra sent by Harmony to help him. Wax contacts his uncle Edwarn and attempts to strike a truce with the Set, but learns that the Set is backing Bleeder with both manpower and money. Bleeder kills a Survivorist priest while posing as a Pathian, which spurs riots in the city. Constable-general Aradel seeks permission to institute martial law.
Bleeder launches an attack on the governor’s mansion, using her speed to slip by Wax and Wayne’s defenses and to break into the governor’s safe room; she only kills Innate’s bodyguard before fleeing, however, and Wax guesses that she will not kill Innate until she can further destabilize the city. Innate gives permission for martial law, and insists on making a speech to quell the population. Bleeder leads Wax on another false chase alongside the famed kandra TenSoon, where they discover that she has made other Hemalurgic creations. Wax returns to the governor’s mansion, and realizes that Bleeder has had time to prepare for many months, leading him to correctly guess that she has already killed and taken the place of the governor. Found out, she is forced to switch bodies and flee, Wax giving chase.
Wayne and Marasi have MeLaan impersonate the governor and give a speech to appease the populace. When even this does not seem to head off the rioters, Aradel publicly arrests the governor (MeLaan) on charges of corruption and installs himself as city leader. Wax pursues Bleeder to a bridge, where he discovers she is impersonating Lessie. He fires a specially crafted bullet with his hemalurgic earring forged inside it into her, allowing Harmony to assert his control. Rather than be controlled, she commits suicide, and as she dies, she says things which only the real Lessie could know. Wax, anguished, realizes that she is the real Lessie, and TenSoon arrives to explain that she had been sent to watch over Wax in the Roughs. Wax is horrified that he has now killed her a second time.
Aradel is officially named governor, the first ever without noble blood; he begins immediate work exposing corruption. MeLaan fakes the suicide of Innate, and warns Marasi that a spike recovered from Bleeder is made of a metal that even Harmony has never seen. MeLaan’s warnings prompt Marasi to research Trell, an ancient god whom Miles Hundredlives referenced with his final words. Meanwhile, Wax slips into a deeply melancholic and isolationist depression.
About the Author (Brandon Sanderson)
Brandon Sanderson (Brandon Winn Sanderson, born December 19, 1975) is an American author of high fantasy, science fiction, and young adult books. He is best known for the Cosmere fictional universe, in which most of his fantasy novels, most notably the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive, are set. Outside of the Cosmere, he has written several young adult and juvenile series including The Reckoners, the Skyward series, and the Alcatraz series. He is also known for finishing Robert Jordan’s high fantasy series The Wheel of Time. Sanderson has created two graphic novels, including White Sand and Dark One.
A New York Times best-selling author, Sanderson created Sanderson’s Laws of Magic and popularized the idea of “hard magic” and “soft magic” systems. In 2008, Sanderson started a podcast with author Dan Wells and cartoonist Howard Tayler called Writing Excuses, involving topics about creating genre writing and webcomics. In 2016, the American media company DMG Entertainment licensed the movie rights to Sanderson’s entire Cosmere universe, but the rights have since reverted back to Sanderson. Sanderson’s March 2022 Kickstarter campaign became the most successful in history, finishing with 185,341 backers pledging $41,754,153.
II. Reviewer: Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
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1. CLACE reviews Shadows of Self
4.25!
Reread #2
“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.”
You all may say that oh he’s just biased because its Brandon Sanderson. Okay yes and? but no honestly!! you can see it with how massively he shifted and evolved the world that we saw in era 1 (my favourite one) and to see that world like this was amazing and the writing overall never disappoints because he somehow finds to keep us hooked and then throw in a plot twist that will destroy and ruin us which is honestly so fun to read. I also loved how he managed to move the plot and the characters together, it wasnt too focused on the plot or too focused on the characters so that was really interesting.
The fact that this whole book set during one night seems so crazy to me because I dont think I have ever read something like that, This maybe enjoyable but it’s also my least favourite mistborn book overall because the plot like his other books did not really wow me and somehow Brandon always finds a way to do that for me and this not doing that made it a little less interesting for me but I enjoyed it overall. Buddy reading this Hoda made it so much more enjoyable (mostly me laughing at her) The world building as usual was fantastic, he never misses that.
I feel like this book got a little to politics and I enjoy them a lot but this was a little over the line however Brandons writing never disappoints and it eased that part off the bit and made the book more fun to read. The characters were so fun to read about. I was annoyed at Wax at times but Wayne and Marasi were the ones who really did it for me. MeLaan never disappoints….Harmony on the other hand…..no comment on him. I feel like this is the only book which enjoy less with each reread lmaoo.
Would recommend tho!
First read: 4,45
Reread#1: 4.35
Reread#2: 4.25
___
Continuing my Cosmere reread and im this 🤏🏻 close to starting SA, so super excited! believe it or not this is the only Mistborn book that I gave a 4 and also the only era 2 book that I read more than once 😭
Reread#2 and buddy reading this with the one and only Hoda
2. MARY reviews Shadows of Self
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Ya’ll, my reviews for Mistborn are getting repetitive but in case you didn’t already know I love this series with every chamber of my blackened heart.
This new series feels like a love letter to fans who adored the original trilogy.
There’s so much here to love. These books are purely additive to the original, they’re existence only enhances your experience as a reader and a fan.
I just can’t even wrap my head around the idea that someone can have all of this magnificence just sitting around inside them?
If I wake up in the morning without hitting snooze I’m pretty proud of myself. I couldn’t imagine being master of a creation like Mistborn.
I don’t know you guys, just officially consider me #Sanderstruck!
Buddy read with this sweet angel!
3. CELESTE reviews Shadows of Self
Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up.
September 2022 reread: I stand by everything I wrote below. It amazes me how little of the specific plot points I remembered. Not every book can genuinely surprise you on a reread, but this one did. But the characters and setting were all still incredibly fresh in my mind. I love Wayne, and MeLaan, and most everyone else. I’m so happy with how this series holds up to revisiting.
——————
Be forewarned. This is less of a review and more of a gush session over Sanderson’s craftsmanship in building the world of Scadrial in the Mistborn books.
I read Alloy of Law last year and, while I liked it, I didn’t feel driven to continue reading about the exploits of Wax and Wayne. I had no idea what I was missing. While I really enjoyed The Alloy of Law the second time I read it, Shadows of Self by far surpassed it. This is a book I feel is on par with the rest of Sanderson’s Cosmere fiction in terms of depth. As my lovely friend Mary said in her review, it felt like Sanderson wrote a love letter to the fans of his original Mistborn trilogy, and I loved it so much.
Returning to a world you love three hundred years after the events that drew you there the first time can be jarring, which I think unfairly influenced my view of The Alloy of Law the first time I read it. But, now that I’ve been in this brave new world built on the foundations of one I adore, I’m thrilled with what Sanderson has done here. Characters that we know and love from the original trilogy are now the figures of myth, with entire religions built around them, and it’s fascinating to read. It’s like visiting old friends, but now they’re deities instead of the humans you once laughed with. Also, there are some of these characters that live on in different ways, and getting to see them again was a lot of fun.
I don’t really know what to say here that wouldn’t be a spoiler. But I will say that I disagree with some readers who believe that Sanderson’s weakness is his characterization. While he obviously excels in his world-building and magic systems and plot twists, he’s no slouch when it comes to crafting characters, either. I connect with so many of his characters. The characters in this series, Wax and Wayne and MeLaan and Marasi and Steris, are no exception. Wayne was my absolute favorite in The Alloy of Law, and I still love him, but now he’s sharing that spotlight with Wax. And Steris is really growing on me. I think she might be the most honest character in the entire series. The ending wrecked me more than a little bit, but cemented my love for Steris. I’m really excited about this series. Time to dig into The Bands of Mourning!
4. HELEN SAVORE reviews Shadows of Self
Not the Metalborn Elendel wants, but the one it needs
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.
5. APURVA reviews Shadows of Self
Great book but not as good as the Alloy of Law
I really enjoyed this book. It picks up about a year after Alloy of Law and shows Wax fully taking on his new role as Lord of his house. The story is more driven by politics and the people of Elendel. I felt like the problem was that the riots and mobs described seemed one dimensional. It’s true that mobs tend to behave like that but it would have been nice to know more about the people in the mobs rather than broad generalizations of them being poor, out of work/over worked factory workers. The plot was also a bit dull compared to the first book. However, this book seemed to set up some interesting threads that will be picked up in the next book.
6. BEN THOMPSON reviews Shadows of Self
Amazing book……. Amazing Author
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.
7. KYLE L. RHYNERSON reviews Shadows of Self
A bit of western, mystery, thriller, and fantasy in one book!
“Shadows of Self” is the fifth book in the Mistborn series, and the second book in the later trilogy. This book picks up after the end of “The Alloy of Law” and features the same characters you’ve come to love or hate. This is a fun read with the banter and pranks going back-and-forth between Wax and Wayne, but it takes on a bit different tone as they start to include Marasi as a third member in their adventures.
For all the fun along the way, Sanderson was willing to break the heart of a character, and to explore concepts of religion to explain motives. If God (Harmony) is all powerful, why doesn’t He stop the pain, suffering, and violence in the world? It isn’t until the third novel that we get a better answer to this question.
For being a middle book in the series, I thought this one did a great job of advancing the story without bogging down like I’ve seen a lot of the time. Sanderson keeps the action going with lots of battles, twists and turns, and he further develops the story surrounding Wax’s uncle and “The Set”.
8. HODA reviews Shadows of Self
This was absolutely fantastic! I preferred it over the first one. 🤍 The pacing was so good, and it kept me on the edge the whole time, constantly wondering what was happening and how everything would unfold. I was going crazy with all the my thoughts and theories i was thinking about,now, looking back, they seem so stupid.😭
And the ending—oh my! Why did it have to be that way? I feel so betrayed by Harmony. How could he do this to me, to wax, and to everyone? I was overwhelmed with sadness and shock, I actually cried because it was so unfair 😭. I genuinely didn’t see that coming. Because Just a few hours before it happened, I was telling Clace how much I adored Harmony. 😭🤡 The betrayal cut so deeply that I fear I may never fully recover from what happened.
In conclusion i 100% recommend this and the mistbron series in general it’s soooo good and literally perfect 🤍
9. KRYSTA reviews Shadows of Self
”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.”
even though I’m giving both books the same rating, this was even better than The Alloy of Law. i already liked Wayne cause he’s so hilarious but i found a new appreciation for Wax this time. the world building and magic system opened up which helped me better visualize this western version of Elendel. the pacing was great once again and the action scenes were fun as well, Wax was killing it during those. im trying so hard not to spoil anything by giving the bare minimum of explanations (send help), but i will say that i found Harmony to be a very interesting character along with MeLaan, but nothing could’ve prepared me for that damn ending .. the way my heart broke for Wax 😔✋🏽
10. GAVIN reviews Shadows of Self
This was every bit as good as The Alloy of Law. The whole Mistborn series really is fantastic reading!
Wax, Wayne, and Marasi are back on the case of another mystery. This time they need to stop an assassin from killing the governor of Elendel. To complicate matters they also have to stop the civil unrest in Elendel from boiling over into a full blown riot.
The story was a ton of fun. The Wild West setting is still proving highly entertaining and the story was highly addictive and engaging. It was packed full of the action, mystery,and humour that one expects from a Sanderson read. As an added bonus we even get to meet a few more familiar faces from the first trilogy. I’m all for that sort of nostalgia!
This ended with a few shock twists that have left me dying to read the third instalment of the Wax and Wayne adventures.
If I have a tiny criticism it is that the promising romance of the first series fell a little flat in this one. So much so that I even pondered jumping ship!
All in all I loved this latest Cosmere book.
Rating: 5 stars.
Audio Note. Micheal Krammer is as awesome as always.
III. Shadows of Self Quotes by Brandon Sanderson
The best book quotes from Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
“Greet every morning with a smile. That way it won’t know what you’re planning to do to it?”
“Until you know it ain’t true, treat every woman like she has an older brother what is stronger than you are?”
“Proper loafing requires company. One man lying about is being idle; two men lying about is a lunch break.”
“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.”
“The law is not something holy, son. It’s just a reflection of the ideals of those lucky enough to be in charge.”
“Cleaning the wound is often more painful than the cut itself.”
“I ain’t drunk,” Wayne said, sniffling. “I’m investigatin’ alternative states of sobriety.”
“Every man had to die. He’d always found it odd that so many died when they were old, as logic said that was the point in their lives when they’d had the most practice not dying.”
“Owning things of value is secondary to creating things of value where none once existed.”
“Proper loafing requires company.One man lying about is being idle; two men lying about is a lunch break.”
“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.”
“Of course not. I’d have shot you right in the head, Wayne.”
“You’re a good friend,” Wayne said. “Thanks, Wax.”
“You’re the only person I know that I can cheer up by promising to kill him.”“Money is meaningless.” Waxillium perked up. “What?” “Only expectation has value as currency, Waxillium,” Uncle Edwarn said. “This coin is worth more than the others because people think it is. They expect it to be. The most important things in the world are worth only what people will pay for them. If you can raise someone’s expectation … if you can make them need something … that is the source of wealth. Owning things of value is secondary to creating things of value where none once existed.”
“Spectacles. They were kind of like a hat for smart people.”
“Don’t make trouble at the pub tonight, Wayne,” the man intoned in response. “My temper is really short.” “Temper?” Wayne said, passing him. “That’s a funny name for it, mate, but if the ladies like you givin’ silly names to your body parts, I ain’t gonna say nothin’.”
“Your grasp of the language is startling,” Wax said, “considering how you so frequently brutalize it.” “Ain’t nobody what knows the cow better than the butcher, Wax.”
“You had to adapt. Move. Change. That was good, but it could also threaten identity, connection, and sense of purpose.”
“I need you to stay behind as we go into those slums,” Wayne said, determined to impress solemnity into his voice. “It’s not that I don’t want your help. I do. It’s just going to be too dangerous for you. You need to stay where I know you’re safe. No arguments. I’m sorry.”
“Wayne,” Wax said, walking past. “Stop talking to your hat and get over here.”“She wore trousers, because skirts were stupid, and boots, ‘cuz stuff needed to be kicked.”
“To believe in a God was to accept that He or She wasn’t going to deliver you from every problem.”
“It made sense. But rich folk, they had a different word for the crapper. They’d call it a “commode” or a “washroom.” That way, when someone asked for the crapper, they knew it was a person they needed to oppress.”
“If you want to know a man, dig in his firepit…Basically, it meant that you could judge a lot about a man’s life by what he thew away – or by what he was willing to burn in order to stay warm.”
“The immortal demigod took a throaty slurp of her beer, then slammed the mug down onto the table, grinning like a four-year-old who had been paid in cookies to rat out her sister.”
“Looks like we’re going to need a new prime suspect, Wax,” Wayne said. “This one downright refuses to not be dead already.”
“The law is not something holy, son. It’s just a reflection of the ideals of those lucky enough to be in charge.”
“Wayne…” Wax said. “You know she doesn’t actually like you.” “You always say that, but you’re just not seein’ the truth, Wax.” “She tries to kill you.” “To keep me alive,” Wayne said. “She knows I live a dangerous life. So, keepin’ me on my toes is the best way to make sure I stick around.”
“What I need to do,” Wayne said, “is get the whole city drunk.” “Or, you know, advocate workers’ rights to bring down working hours, improve conditions, and meet a base minimum of pay.”
“Religion worried him. It could ask men to do things they’d otherwise never do.”
“You,” she said, spearing Wayne in the chest with a finger. “I thought I told you not to come back.” “I thought I ignored you.”
Excerpted from Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
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