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| Categories | Action & Adventure |
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Publisher | Tor Books; Reprint edition (September 5, 2023) |
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 480 pages |
| Item Weight | 1.2 pounds |
| Dimensions |
6.15 x 1.2 x 9.25 inches |
I. Book introduction
Mistborn: The Bands of Mourning is a steampunk fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson. It was published on January 26, 2016, by Tor Books and is the third book in the Wax and Wayne series and sixth in the Mistborn series. It is preceded by Shadows of Self in 2015 and followed by The Lost Metal in 2022.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action.
Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.
The Bands of Mourning are the mythical metal minds owned by the Lord Ruler, said to grant anyone who wears them the powers that the Lord Ruler had at his command. Hardly anyone thinks they really exist. A kandra researcher has returned to Elendel with images that seem to depict the Bands, as well as writings in a language that no one can read. Waxillium Ladrian is recruited to travel south to the city of New Seran to investigate. Along the way he discovers hints that point to the true goals of his uncle Edwarn and the shadowy organization known as The Set.
Plot summary
In a flashback, Waxillium Ladrian is spending a year in the Terris Village while he is a teenager. Unlike his sister Telsin, he struggles to adapt to their ways, and when he discovers and kills a Terris murderer whom the Terris failed to apprehend, he decides to depart the village. Years later, Wax has mostly emotionally recovered from Lessie’s death, and is about to marry Steris. However, Wayne secretly sabotages the wedding so that it is unfinished.
A kandra named VenDell makes contact with Wax, seeking help on a mission, but when Wax refuses, VenDell recruits Marasi instead. Wax listens in as VenDell explains how another kandra, ReLuur, found evidence of the existence of the Bands of Mourning: the Lord Ruler’s arm braces, which may be able to grant anyone the powers of an allomancer and a feruchemist. However, ReLuur was attacked by the Set and lost one of his spikes. Marasi agrees to hunt the spike, and Wax agrees to tag along when a picture reveals that his sister may be in New Seran, where ReLuur was ambushed. VenDell also says that Harmony has been preoccupied with something big lately.
Wax, Marasi, Wayne, Steris, and MeLaan make their way to New Seran under the guise of a diplomatic mission. Tensions have grown between Elendel and the outer cities, with a war possibly imminent. Marasi acquires a strange cubic device from bandits after she and Wax foil a train robbery. At New Seran, Wax attends a party held by prominent noblewoman Lady Kelesina Shores, after acquiring a strange coin and partially uncovering a conspiracy Kelesina is involved in. Kelesina contacts Wax’s uncle Edwarn, who has Kelesina killed and frames Wax. Steris proves useful at the party, both for the infiltration and the subsequent escape. Meanwhile, Wayne and Marasi raid a graveyard where they believe the spike to be, but cannot find it. They do learn, however, that there is a strange project going on in the nearby town of Dulsing, connected to the Set.
The group flees the city and heads for Dulsing. Marasi discovers that her cube can absorb and replicate Allomantic powers when thrown. At Dulsing, the group infiltrates a Set warehouse and discovers a massive, damaged warship, which the Set is both repairing and researching. Marasi recovers the spike and rescues a strange, imprisoned man who wears a wooden mask; she also finds evidence that other mask-wearing people have been tortured and murdered there. Wax rescues Telsin, but a shootout ensues. The masked man leads Marasi, Wax, and the others into a hidden compartment aboard the ship, which is actually a smaller ship hidden inside. The man reveals the ships are flying vehicles powered by Allomancy, and with Wax’s power they use the vehicle to escape.
The man, Allik, uses a strange medallion to communicate with them; he reveals many of the medallions, which have the ability to grant a variety of Allomantic and Feruchemical abilities to anyone who wears them. He comes from a region beyond the Roughs that froze when Harmony remade the world, and claims that his people were then saved by the Lord Ruler, who reappeared with a spike through his right eye after Harmony’s ascension. Allik and his people were also seeking the Bands of Mourning, which are hidden at a temple in a nearby mountain range, when they crashed and were taken by the Set. The group sets course for the temple, hoping they can reach it before Edwarn Ladrian and his expedition team do.
Wax’s group find the temple and disable its traps, but cannot get through the final door. The Set expedition arrives, and Edwarn, under a banner of truce, opens the final door so that they may all enter. They find the temple empty, the Bands seemingly already taken. Telsin is revealed as a traitor and leader of the Set (even higher ranked than Edwarn), and she shoots Wax repeatedly; he falls into a pit trap. MeLaan is incapacitated, Wayne is forced to flee, and Steris, Allik, and Marasi are taken captive.
Wax crawls through the pit, but is confronted by his uncle. Edwarn reveals he gained Allomancy through Hemalurgy, and tries to kill Wax, but is stopped by Wayne. Dying from his wounds, Wax loses consciousness. He appears in a world beyond death and meets Harmony, who forces Wax to confront his own hatred and self-loathing surrounding the death of Lessie. Harmony also shows Wax a vision of his planet, Scadrial, surrounded by red mist, hinting that he has been holding off a far greater threat than Wax knew. Marasi realizes that the temple is a decoy, and the real bands have been reforged into a metal spearhead on a statue outside the temple. She seizes the Bands, and uses their incredible power to find Wax. Harmony offers Wax the chance to continue his life and fulfil his duty; he takes it, taking the Bands from Marasi and healing his wounds. As Wax uses his newfound power to quickly disable Set forces and capture Edwarn, Steris and Allik liberate his remaining captive crew members. Wayne hunts down and seemingly kills Telsin as she tries to slip away, but later Wax discovers her body is missing and that she has escaped.
Allik’s crew uses a newly recovered airship to transport Wax’s team and their prisoners back to Elendel. They open potential future trade deals for their peoples before the airship returns to its homeland. However, the governor informs Wax that the murder of Lady Kelesina may spark a war. The Bands are given to the kandra for safekeeping. Wax admits his love for Steris, and they marry in private. A strange, red-eyed servant of Trell visits Edwarn in prison, and detonates a bomb killing itself and Edwarn. Wax discovers that the strange coin from New Seran is a Coppermind, and investigation of the memory inside reveals that the man with the spike in his eye was not the Lord Ruler, but actually Kelsier, the Survivor.
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: The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
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1. CLACE reviews The Bands of Mourning
4.50!
“The difference between good and evil men is not found in the acts they are willing to commit—but merely in what name they are willing to commit them in.”
I still believe the alloy of law is the best among the three for me because lt felt very fresh to me but this is a close second, I enjoyed it way more in this reread tbh The ending was truly phenomenal I mean world jumpers??? I need the next one immediately. It felt so good to read about them and the way everything was being handled was really well done. The writing style will never ever disappoint me when it comes to Brandon so it’s safe to say I was enjoying this.
Unlike in the last one I really started rooting for characters and I see how it links with the secret history. I enjoyed reading Wax’s pov more and Wayne and Marasi are always so fun to read. Wayne is the definition of delusional because him going after Ranette LMAOO I loved it! Steris also improved A LOT in this! I liked harmony better in this one and MeLaan didnt disappoint. The world constantly evolves and improves with every book and the action sequences in this one were so one.
I feel like it’s rather unusual for me to think this way towards Sandersons books because I love them all I love it still but I just think that I compare it with the first trilogy it I just miss the first trilogy so much I want something like it something similar something epic but its not fair to set the same expectations with this one while its not as amazing as the first era it was so damn good that I actually gave three of the books a 5. I am so excited for my reread for the lost metal!
Overall still amazing!
___
Gotta finish our reread for era 2 before October ends! (rereading in prep for SA5)
-Buddy reading with Hoda
2. MARY reviews The Bands of Mourning
So here we are. Here we are.
I just don’t know how much more praise I can shower on Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series before people start questioning whether or not I’m in a cult…
ಠ_ಠ
This book was my favorite of the second era Mistborn series. The characters go through some wonderful developments, and I’m fascinated by this mix of Fantasy elements with a Western setting.
I feel like Bands of Mourning works particularly well because by this point we are already very well acquainted with the magic systems, and we’ve warmed up to our new cast of characters.
So reading this, you’re experiencing all the wonder & excitement of a brand new adventure while feeling cozy & comfortable beneath a heavy blanket of nostalgia.
This has been one of my favorite reading journeys I’ve ever taken. EVER.
Reading it with Celeste just made the experience all that more memorable!
I’m not gonna lie, I’m pretty messed up right now thinking about how long I will have to wait to continue this series. But I’m forever grateful for its existence.
3. HODA reviews The Bands of Mourning
”“Go,” Marasi said. “Do what you do best, Waxillium Ladrian.”
“Which is what? Break things?”
“Break things,” Marasi said, “with style.”
The last few chapters made me go through all types of emotions 🌚 Brandon when i catch u Brandon 🔪
This is easily my favorite book in era 2. It was so good and exciting because a-lot of things happened and more stuff were revealed. It made me go crazy with thought and theories ( that were mostly stupid now that i think about it🌚). But yeah I enjoyed it so mich especially the last few chapters because the made me cry 😭.
I definitely recommend this series 🤍
”“The definition of a lawman, Uncle, is easy,He’s the man who takes the bullet so nobody else has to.”
“Did she come here? When she passed?”
Harmony smiled. “She asked me to look after you.”
Emotional damage 😭😭😭💔💔
4. DEENA PETERSON reviews The Bands of Mourning
I am floored!
Just when I think I have Sanderson figured out, he writes a book like THIS! My jaw hit the floor so many times it’s bruised.
Don’t even get me started on my broken heart—it came very close to breaking beyond repair.
And I have a headache from all of new characters and wondrous things he stuffed within these pages.
Most amazing, he wove together a unique and wondrous novel without dropping a single stitch. Outstanding fiction that I absolutely adore!
5. DAN MCCOY reviews The Bands of Mourning
The BOM is the Bomb!
It says I have to use at least twenty words. I could easily do this in less. As with both previous books in Era Two on my first reading I gave this book a four. After reading Era One and Era Two in succession I had to up the score. I am at this point completely caught up in all things Cosmere. If Brandon Sanderson wrote it, and it’s a Cosmere story I have read it at least once.
I started my Mistborn re-read while awaiting the release of the third Secret Project. Yum I and the Nightmare Painter. I had already read everything else when I finished Tress, wait… TOES?? I wonder if that is Cosmere relevant? Like are the Aethers in Tress like the individual toes, or toe jam left over from the Shattering of Adnalsium?
Never mind, probably not. But I had already read TOES so I re-read Stormlight Archive in order… ALL THE WAY to ROW. Novellas included. I caught so much on that re-reading. So much I had overlooked before that I knew Mistborn had to follow. This time in rapid succession.
My point is this. Upon my initial reading of this book… Yes. I was Cosmere aware. However having read EVERYTHING I am now Cosmere focused. And this title is jam packed with foreshadowing and Cosmere hints and knowledge.
If you consider yourself a Worldsinger at all… You HAVE to revisit this work. It is a terrific read. I mean the book is just great. But with all of the Cosmereically pertinent information, this book isn’t just a “must read”. It is a 100% ” MUST RE-READ”!
6. PRAETORXYN reviews The Bands of Mourning
Another great expansion.
The Bands of Mourning is a big step up in terms of world building, as it makes the world feel larger in a couple of different and substantial ways.
I enjoy the humor in Era 2, and there was plenty of that here, so it made the book fun and charming for me.
The climax is epic as readers should have come to expect of Sanderson and his Sanderlanches by now, though even I was surprised at some of the turns here.
I’m looking forward to the apparently conclusion of these characters’ story after I make my way to and finish Rhythm of War.
An absolute must read.
7. MR. JARED C. SERRA reviews The Bands of Mourning
He has done it again!
I expect excellence every time with Brandon Sanderson. Some how he never disappoints. The Bands of Mourning is no exception. This is a fast paced thrill ride. Even better is the amazing amount of depth the story has towards the end. The characters are so real and dear to me now.
A huge plus for me is how more elements of Sanderson’s Cosmere seem to be popping up more now in his latest books. It helps reward those he constantly follow his work. Yet I do not think it will alienate those who don’t pay any attention to that side of things.
I think the biggest accomplishment for this entry is how good of a character Steris. I cannot say I hated her character before but I certainly didn’t enjoy her. In this book she shines. How Wax and Steris interact was such a pleasure. The budding love story there is actually touching. That is very rare in genre fiction like this.
My only complaint I have with this one is that I saw a big plot twist coming. Sometimes that is okay. If the secret is so clever that I feel smart for having figured out before the characters in the book. This one seemed so obvious that I found it frustrating that Wax and company didn’t see it coming.
I never thought these Allow books were going to win me over the same way that Sanderson’s other works have. I am glad I am wrong. The world of Mistborn is so fascinating. This entry into the Mistborn mythos is top notch. I will be sad to read the next and final chapter. Saying goodbye is never easy.
8. CELESTE reviews The Bands of Mourning
2022 reread: I enjoyed revisiting this story so much. The characters are among some of my favorites, and I was shocked by how much of the last part of the story I had forgotten. I stand by everything I wrote in my original review, especially about not being able to what for The Lost Metal. But the wait is almost over!
Original 2017 review
I’m not sure I can write a review of this book that does it any kind of justice. I try to write reviews that actually contain some kind of cohesive thoughts about the book, but I’m afraid all I can do is gush right now. Bands of Mourning was absolutely fantastic from beginning to end. I enjoyed myself immensely, and am so looking forward to any and all Mistborn stories Sanderson puts out in the future. Or any stories in the Cosmere, honestly. I just really love Sanderson, okay?!
There was so much character development here, especially from Steris. I know there are those who think that Sanderson fails at crafting believable, sympathetic characters. I’ve read some reviews that go so far as to say that his characters tend to be cardboard. I simply can’t agree. But I will say that his characters have become warmer and more genuine to me in his later books. I’m more attached to Wax and Wayne and the gang than I was to Vin and Elend, though I really enjoyed their story. I never saw a lack in his writing, but he’s done nothing but improve with every book he publishes. And I really love how he brings back characters from other books in different forms and capacities. (Those who have already read this know exactly who I’m talking about. One in particular. I had to give myself literally hours after finishing this book to be able to think of anything but a certain reappearance.
Just about everyone can agree that Sanderson excels at world building and magic systems and incredibly engaging action scenes and plot twists. This book and the books that preceded it were no exception. There was never a dull moment. There was humor, devastation, joy, shock, awe, and romance to be found within these pages. As my beautiful friend Mary pointed out, Sanderson gave an amazing gift to his fans with these Alloy Era books. There were new characters and adventures in a fascinating new time period, but in a world his fans had already fallen in love with. He knocked it out of the park, and I can’t wait to read The Lost Metal. No really, I can’t…
9. KRYSTA reviews The Bands of Mourning
”The difference between good and evil men is not found in the acts they are willing to commit—but merely in what name they are willing to commit them in.”
after the events of the previous book, Wax is still reeling from it and trying to make a way for himself once again. so when a kandra researcher brings forth a job of sorts for Wax, he goes to investigate. they’re searching for the bands of mourning— bracers that the lord ruler was rumored to have created, that allows the wearer the ability to use the same powers that he had. i think this book had a lot of amazing character moments for all those involved: Wax, Wayne, Marasi and Steris, which was great and it had a nice balance of both plot progression and character development overall. the scenes on the train were my favorite , hands down.
“I saw it in his eyes, first. That hunger, that fire. And then I found it in myself. He’s a flame, Waxillium is, and fire can be shared. When I’m out here, when I’m with him, I burn, Marasi. It’s wonderful.”
i loved Steris and Marasi’s arcs the most cause i didn’t know how to feel about Steris before this but now i love her. the way she’s come to terms with the role she plays in their group and doesn’t try to do anything other than what she knows she can succeed at is honestly a breath of fresh air. i think there’s strength in knowing your own capabilities and not letting people’s expectations steer you off course. Marasi had a similar experience but for different reasons, i just want her to be happy cause she strikes me as a bit of a wanderer. im also not so subtly obsessed with MeLaan.. who would’ve thought she’d be such an MVP of the series this far. Wayne is the kind of aloof personality that people who take things so seriously need to keep sane, not to say that he doesn’t have more to him though cause he does. the ending had my jaw dropping, was not expecting that. im beyond curious to see how this 2nd era will wrap up.. so good!
10. MELISSA reviews The Bands of Mourning
4.5 stars
I spoke too soon.
In my review of Brandon Sanderson’s The Alloy of Law, the first book of the Wax and Wayne era of Mistborn, I stated that this second era was lighter and less serious than the original trilogy. Boy was I wrong.
Because now that I’ve made my way through the third Wax and Wayne book, The Bands of Mourning, I can say that each book of this era has grown in its complexity. Politics, economics, ancient myths, and religion are just as integral to the overarching story of Wax and Wayne as they are to the original three books, and the second era is all the better for it.
Thankfully, Sanderson hasn’t sacrificed Wax and Wayne’s trademark humor and fun for the serious stuff. That Wayne, he sure can make a girl laugh. I often find myself rereading his scenes because he shines so brightly on the page.
The Bands of Mourning is the best Wax and Wayne book yet. It’s filled with adventure and emotion, thrills and surprises. My compulsion to turn its pages resulted in many hours of lost sleep.
And I’m so glad I waited to meet Wax and Wayne until all four books of their story had been released. Because if I had a six-year wait ahead of me for the grand finale like most Mistborn fans, the ones who read The Bands of Mourning back in 2016, I don’t know what I would’ve done with myself. I mean, after THAT epilogue?!?! There’s no way I could’ve waited six years for the final book.
Sanderson, you’re a genius. It’s time for The Lost Metal.
III. The Bands of Mourning Quotes by Brandon Sanderson
The best book quotes from The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
“A man found himself when he was alone. You only had one person to chat with, one person to blame.”
“It seemed to him that the smarter a man was, the more likely he was to pretend he knew more than he did.”
“Holding your brain hostage against your own stupidity – that was how to get stuff done.”
“The difference between good and evil men is not found in the acts they are willing to commit—but merely in what name they are willing to commit them in.”
“Plan?” Marasi asked.
“Not dyin’.”
“Anything more detailed than that?”
“Not dyin’ … today?”“If you had to shoot a man, society had already failed.”
“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.”
“Go,” Marasi said. “Do what you do best, Waxillium Ladrian.”
“Which is what? Break things?”
“Break things,” Marasi said, “with style.”“I’m wondering if every person I pass has similar depths, and if there’s any way to avoid the mistake of judging them so shallowly that I’m rocked when they show their true complexity.”
“The definition of a lawman, Uncle, is easy,” Wax said, feeling blood from a dozen cuts trickle down his face. He lifted Suit by the front of his clothing, bringing him close. “He’s the man who takes the bullet so nobody else has to.”
“I learned how much power over a situation you gain when you decide that you don’t care what others think of you.”
“Of course I am,” Wax said. “This is my second marriage. I’m an old hand at the practice by now.” Wayne grinned. “Oh, is that how it works? ’Cuz in my experience, marryin’ is the one thing people seem to get worse at the more they do it. Well, that and bein’ alive.”
“Is that the constables?” Aunt Gin asked, sounding horrified.
“Afraid so,” Wax said, pulling the door closed. The carriage lurched into motion, and Steris leaned out the window, waving farewell to the poor innkeeper.
“Framed for murder!” Steris called to her. “It’s on page seventeen of the list I gave you! Try not to let them harass our servants too much when they arrive!”“Wayne held back a smile, tucking it into his pocket for later use.”
“He grinned, then winked at her as the waiter finally stepped over. “You wanted—” the waiter began. “Liquor,” Wayne said. “Would you care to be a little more specific, sir?” “Lots of liquor.”
“The law is there to keep us from ruining everyone else’s ability to explore. Without law, there’s no freedom.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Marasi said.
“How crazy is it?”
“Less crazy than tossing Wayne off a cliff.”
“Not a high bar, but all right. How do we start?”“Because people were people, and if there was one thing you could count on, it was that some of them would be weird. Or rather that all of them would be weird when circumstances happened to align with their own individual brand of insanity. That”
“Whenever I’m thinkin’ my life is miserable, I remember him, and tell myself, ‘Well, Wayne. At least you ain’t a broke, dickless feller what can’t even pick his own nose properly.’ And I feels better.”
“People,” Wax said, “are like cords, Steris. We snake out, striking this way and that, always looking for something new. That’s human nature, to discover what is hidden. There’s so much we can do, so many places we can go.” He shifted in his seat, changing his center of gravity, which caused the sphere to rotate upward on its tether.
“But if there aren’t any boundaries,” he said, “we’d get tangled up. Imagine a thousand of these cords, zipping through the room. The law is there to keep us from ruining everyone else’s ability to explore. Without law, there’s no freedom. That’s why I am what I am.”“Oh, my lord, I know it, I do.” The beggar laughed. “I own the place, technically. Now, regarding those coins for old Hoid, my good lord…”
“You can beat anybody, Wayne always said, so long as you don’t let them fight back properly.”
“You realize precisely how unfair it is to deal with you when you can fall back on heavenly messengers to talk you out of trouble?”
“That’s nothing,” Wax said, “Ask me sometime about the conversation I had with god the last time I died.”“Cuz in my experience, marryin’ is the one thing people seem to get worse at the more they do it. Well, that and bein’ alive.”
Excerpted from The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
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