Shadows of Self (Mistborn: Wax and Wayne, #2) (Cosmere Universe) (Mistborn, #5)

by Brandon Sanderson

Fans of Robert Jordan and George RR Martin alike have found a new champion of epic fantasy in Brandon Sanderson. And now, in the first of two sequels to The Alloy Of Law the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author returns to the world of Mistborn anda hunt for a mysterious assassin.

The criminal elite of Elendel were invited to an auction - which became a massacre, when an unknown assailant slaughtered everyone in attendance. Now Wax and Wayne, both able to use magic, both lawmen from the rough and ungoverned frontier territories, are on the case. All the clues suggest the killer is a rogue kandra - a secretive, almost mythical, figure who acts from the shadows - called Bleeder . . . and that the governor is her next target. Bleeder, and the conspiracy behind the killings, has to be stopped . . . before the city is plunged into chaos.

A brilliant adventure and a gripping story, Shadows of Self offers fans of The Alloy of Law everything they've been hoping for and, this being a Brandon Sanderson book, more, much more.

• ISBN10: 1466862661
• ISBN13: 9781466862661
• Publish Date: 6 October 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Tor Books
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[ladygrey]

I found this book easy to put down, which says a lot for me. After a few days, I figured out why. It highlights more than any other Sanderson I’ve read that his weakness is characters. Yes, they're well developed. But they aren't stong enough to carry the plot. In Alloy of Law, Wax, Wayne and Marasi were almost always together. They were bantering. They were talking through the problem and remembering backstory and it was fun. And the problem was personal. Even though there was the “big trains are getting robbed” problem, there was also the bad guy is going after Wax problem that really held the story together. 

In this one, the characters are mostly separated, so there’s no banter and little dynamic emotions from their interactions. They're all trying to solve the problem individually. (show spoiler)[It lost any sort of mystery when Harmony started talking to Wax. Even though Wax keeps pursuing “why” the big revelation is not a revelation at all because what else would it be about. The only question is how will they stop the kandra (which I’m sure will be good because Brandon does plot well). Though I’m not sure of what I think about Lessie being a kandra all along. It seems too convenient to finally create an emotional connection at the very end of this book. It does make me curious to see where the next book goes.] (hide spoiler) And it has too many connections to the first trilogy, which you think would be good but feels kind of tired—the same characters, and the kandra, and the earring. Like, use elements of the first but make them new instead of reusing them. 

I liked the book, but I didn't think it was anything special at all. I also think I loved the references to the past way more than the storyline of this book, which is a shame. The ending made me extremely excited for the next book, so we will see how it continues.

[Joséphine]

Initial thoughts: I really enjoyed reading Shadows of Self, just not as much as the previous four Mistborn books. I liked the familiarity as more of the old magic system that had become dormant after the original trilogy resurfaced. The plot, however, didn't come with as many twists and surprises as I had expected, given that a murder mystery was thrown into the mix.

[littleread1]

damn ...

[ross91]

I really really liked it! I still believe that the first era is better, but this was still pretty enjoyable! I especially liked the women of this book: Marasi, MeeLan, Steris... such great and different characters!
Wayne is the best, anyway!
I loved all the references to the first era... every time Vin and Elend's names popped up I was so thrilled! I just really miss them

[Mercy]

Ains, Sanderson, por qué me dejas tan mal con cada final? Más te vale darme respuestas en The bands of mourning!

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

I love everything I've read by Brandon Sanderson, but in some ways that makes reviewing his books boring.  Each time I have the urge to say, "It's good. Very good. They're all good in the same ways all of his books are good. Let's move on."  I mean, if you want a unique premise, a complex magic system, detailed world building, dynamic characters, and crazy plot twists, you should check out Brandon Sanderson.  Any of his books, because that could describe each one of them.  Just close your eyes and pick one at random off the shelf.

So what do I have to say that's new about Shadows of Self?  Frankly, not much.  The Wax and Wanye series isn't my favorite of Sanderson's work, but only because pseudo-medieval worlds are more of my thing than Industrial Revolution-type worlds.  However, I completely respect Sanderson's attempt to imagine what his Mistborn world would look hundreds of years in the future and how the magic would develop, and the books are really skillfully written, regardless of my personal preferences for setting.

My one gripe is that Wayne is sometimes overdone.  He provides much of the comic relief in the series, and generally I like him.  He might be annoying to know in real life, despite his marvelous intentions, but he's perfect for a book character--except when Sanderson just keeps pushing him.  Readers see a little more of Wayne's serious side here, and I'd like to see more balance in that respect.  We can't forget that Wayne isn't all bad jokes; he's human and also a hero in his own right, even though he sometimes gets stuck in Wax's shadow.

Otherwise, however, this book is about as fantastic as I've come to expect Sanderson's books to be.  Sanderson also, once again, caught me off guard with the ending, even though I thought there was no way he could surprise me with Shadows of Self.  I'm looking forward to the next book.

[KitsuneBae]

Ok, I finally realized it. I am Team Wayne.

That twist in the end really blew my mind. T_T

Classic Sanderson but I didn't feel it was innovative enough. I enjoyed the return to the Elendel Basin and seeing the characters in action but I don't feel that much really happened. I'm a huge fan of Sanderson and would definitely read this book, it just didn't live up to my lofty expectations for him. That being said, this book finally opened my eyes to the Cosmere and made me very excited for the next book.

Wow. So many hints about the cosmere!