The Fan Girl Part of My Review

Deal with it he is like my FAVORITE fantasy author….but there will be a real review below this

Completely Spoiler Free Section:

Semi-Spoiler Review Section

all big/real spoilers will be tagged but Quotes everywhere

“I heard voices in my head once too, you know.”

“You did?”

“Sure. Gave me a fright. I banged my head against the wall until I went unconscious. Never heard them again! Ha. Showed ’em good, I did. If rats move in, best thing to do is to burn the nest and send ’em packing.”

“And the nest … was your head.”

“Yup.”



Steris stopped on a page in her notebook, then turned it around. There, in her neat handwriting, was a detailed agenda for their evening at the party. The third entry read, 8:17. Way into the building likely blocked by traffic. Lord Waxillium carries us up to the top floor by Allomancy, which is completely inappropriate and at the same time breathtaking.

He raised an eyebrow, checking his pocket watch, which he carried in his gunbelt—not his vest—to be easily dropped with his other metals. “It’s 8:13. You’re slipping.”



Regular folk, they called something after what it was. You’d say, “What’s that, Kell?” And they’d say, “That? That there’s the crapper.” And you’d reply, “What do you do with it?” And they’d say, “Well, Wayne, that’s where you put your crap.”

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.

“What’s wrong with you lately?” Marasi demanded. “You complain about the motorcar, about me being here, about your tea being too hot in the morning. One would almost think you’d made some horrible life decision that you regret deep down. Wonder what it could be.”

Wax kept his eyes forward. In the mirror, he saw Wayne lean back in and raise his eyebrows. “She might have a point, mate.”

“You’re not helping.”

“Wasn’t intending to,” Wayne said. “Fortunately, I know which horrible life decision she’s talkin’ about. You really should have bought that hat we looked at last week. It was lucky. I’ve got a fifth sense for these things.”

“I coulda delivered that, you know.…”

“You, she would shoot,” Wax said.

“Only ’cuz she likes me,” Wayne said, smiling. He’d have welcomed an excuse to go see Ranette. This night was getting darker and darker, it seemed.

“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…”





MeLaan coming onto the scene was fantastic and I loved learning how the Kandra now live within society instead of hidden away. She was such a great addition to the story and the team. I liked how she is so different from the Kandra that we met in The Final Empire…

MeLaan finished her beer, then dramatically held up her hand. The palm split, forming lips, which then let out a soft belch.

“Cheating,” Wayne said.

“Just using what Father gave me,” MeLaan said. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t belch out of other body parts if you could.”

“Well,” Wayne said, “now that you mention it, I can make a real interestin’ sound wif—”

AND we get to see TenSoon. Can I just say that I was so excited that he was still around even if he isn’t glad that his name is known.

“I’ve read about you,” Wax said.

“Thrilling,” the kandra growled. “I’m so happy Sazed included me in his little book so that drunk people can curse by my name.”

“They … do that?”

“Yes.” The wolfhound growled quietly in the back of his throat. “There are … stuffed toys too.”

“Oh yeah,” Wax said. “Soonie cubs. I’ve seen those around.”

But the remembrances of Vin mostly and Elend sometimes choked me up a bit. This was my favorite quote in the entire book and it is about Vin herself. I thought it was completely fitting of who she was.

“What was she like? As a person, I mean.”

“She was strong and vulnerable all at once,” TenSoon whispered. “She was my last master, and my greatest. 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.

There is also a little section where Wax thinks he sees her outline in the mist…dare I hope that she is still somehow around???

The Historica, a section of the Words of Founding, said she had melded with the mists. She had taken them upon herself, becoming their guardian as they became her essence. As the Survivor watched over all who struggled, Vin watched over those in the night. Sometimes he felt he could see her form in their patterns: slight of frame, short hair splayed out as she moved, mistcloak fluttering behind her. It was a fancy, wasn’t it?

Please don’t just be fancy…I would love it is Vin somehow will play a part in this. Because [who better to help slay a god than dare I say it another god…who might be Vinesk (hide spoiler)



Conversations with Sazed/Harmony. I’m really excited about this. It seems that he might be pushing and pulling a bit in this world as Harmony. Damn his job is hard, MeLaan explains it so well toward the end of the story when Marasi is so upset for Wax…Hell I was upset for Wax. But I’m hoping to get both sides of the story because it seems like [Harmony might have played a really big part in Lessie’s death (hide spoiler)



Also in the broad Sheets I caught a glimpse of the Shardpool and Hoid showed up to drive the carriage those were some cool additions.



SANDERSON ENDINGS KILL ME - Seriously I know that I need a quiet place to finish out the last 20% of any of his books because there is no way that I can think of anything else until it is over. That holds true here as well and while it didn’t gut punch me as hard as some of his other books *cries again about the ending of The Final Empire* it still hit me pretty hard and squeezed all my emotions. At the end I wasn’t sure what I felt except sorry for Wax.

Harmony does the best He can—the best possible, by the very definition. Yes, He hurt Wax. He hurt him badly. But He put the pain where He knew it could be borne.”

GAH…..this is one of those times that I’m so sad the next book isn’t already out because I just want to know all the things so badly.

(hide spoiler)] [I’m going to *squee* a little here because there are still Kandra!!! I wasn’t sure what happened after the events of The Final Empire and I was pretty sure I caught one or two in Alloy of Law but now there is conformation that the Kandra are still around…*happy dance*MeLaan coming onto the scene was fantastic and I loved learning how the Kandra now live within society instead of hidden away. She was such a great addition to the story and the team. I liked how she is so different from the Kandra that we met in The Final Empire…AND we get to see TenSoon. Can I just say that I was so excited that he was still around even if he isn’t glad that his name is known.But the remembrances of Vin mostly and Elend sometimes choked me up a bit. This was my favorite quote in the entire book and it is about Vin herself. I thought it was completely fitting of who she was.There is also a little section where Wax thinks he sees her outline in the mist…dare I hope that she is still somehow around???Please don’t just be fancy…I would love it is Vin somehow will play a part in this. Because (view spoiler) Hoping. I’m really excited about this. It seems that he might be pushing and pulling a bit in this world as Harmony. Damn his job is hard, MeLaan explains it so well toward the end of the story when Marasi is so upset for Wax…Hell I was upset for Wax. But I’m hoping to get both sides of the story because it seems like (view spoiler) and how could you not have a crisis of faith after the end of SoS.Also in the broad Sheets I caught a glimpse of the Shardpool and Hoid showed up to drive the carriage those were some cool additions.- Seriously I know that I need a quiet place to finish out the last 20% of any of his books because there is no way that I can think of anything else until it is over. That holds true here as well and while it didn’t gut punch me as hard as some of his other books *cries again about the ending of The Final Empire* it still hit me pretty hard and squeezed all my emotions. At the end I wasn’t sure what I felt except sorry for Wax.

Super fast re-read with some friends at Buddies Books and Baubles before Bands of Mourning.Knowing the ending made certain parts of this book just heartbreaking. I love that almost every BS book I reread I enjoy just as much if not more the second time through. All the original Mistborn nostalgia was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!I am in AWE yet again that the same man who had currently undertaken the task of writing all the planned books in The Cosmere something like 36 books when complete, but currently 17 books strong, also wrote a superhero trilogy The Reckoners , something a little on the crazy side Legion and hey why not add in a middle grade series or two just for fun. I mean this book here wasn’t even originally planned, Sanderson was writing a novella that was supposed to keep us interested in the Mistborn world and it turned into a semi-standalone book and a trilogy.And it isn’t like he is just putting out novels to put out novels. They are complete stories with intricate worlds, planned out magic systems, cohesive plots, great characters AND just to top it all off he has fantastic artwork (including maps, journal pages, armor/fashion designs, creature drawing etc….) throughout.One of the reasons I’m gonna fangirl a little more right here is that both. BS took the events of The Final Empire and wove them into how they would have shaped society 300 years after the fact. How the stories of those days would become lore and work into religion, culture and superstition. Down to the families that survived, how alomancy is affected and how the surroundings are named. It is intricate and natural all at the same time. Honestly in my opinion BS has one of the greatest imaginative minds in the fantasy genre.First things firstI actually had just finished a re-read of the first three of the series and was really glad, because I picked out so many small details added in.The thing that I really love about Brandon Sanderson (BS) novels is that I have no trouble picturing myself in the story. He tells the story in a way that I’m shown the buildings and the surroundings, I’m given insight into the culture, religion and magic system and it is done in such a way that it is in the story and almost never feels like an info dump. This is amazing especially if you look at the size and complexity of the world he is building.Shadows of Self like Alloy of Law is sort of a mash up of. It has a lot more humor in it than The Final Empire and it feels generally lighter. The banter and humor of Wax, Wayne and Marasi is fantastic and sets the tone of the entire story. Honestly the Bromance between Wax and Wayne is my favorite in fantasythey are hilarious on page together and actually Wayne is hilarious and scene stealer all on his own too. But don’t let that fool you there are still a few gut punching moments that really knocked me in the feelings.Favorite Character in this book –Looking through my quotes he has the most highlights. He says deep insightful things one minute and then is ridiculous the next. But I smile every time he is on page,but we also get to see into a deeper side of Wayne and I loved the depth it gave his character.Favorite New Character –Although it can be argued she is an old character….but semantics. She added some insight into the days just after The Final Empire ended and what became of her people. Also I really loved the way she played with the team, I hope she is a player in the next book as well.Most Improved Character -Don’t get me wrongand it might take a Chasmfiend or Koloss Warlord to sink that but Steris really grew on me this book. I have always liked her and her stiff overthinking overplanning ways, hey I can relate, but she really shined in this. She isn’t like a lot of female characters in fantasy and I like the non-emotional relationship that she and Wax have and how she deals with him. She has no illusions about who or what he is and just plans around it. Honestly her last scene in this book….GAH no words really. Because I loved her in that moment and I could even see how she and Wax might become really good friends or perhaps more…..sorry Steris.The new danger is a serial killer that seems to be trying to destabilize the city and throw it into a chaos similar to the events that led up to the last big shift of power in recent history *cough* Mistborn *cough*. Wax, Marasi, Wayne and others are searching trying to figure out who is next on the hit list and prevent the city from undergoing another revolution. The perpetrator of the events is messing with Wax specifically trying to throw him off and he will need to outthink someone trickier and smarter than himself or another revolution will happen.Where to begin??? I’m still processing my feelings about this book because that ending left me so….so….well you will know when you get there. Everyone just give Wax a virtual hug he needs it.is one of the things that I’ve really enjoyed about series of Mistborn books. There are so many funny instances and dialogue that I laughed so many times throughout the story.are three dimensional. Wax has a complicated past with his history in the roughs and trying to be both a Lord to his house and a Lawman. It’s a difficult place to be and maybe he is being pulled in too many directions one day he will have to decide who he is… An Allowmancer or Terrisman/Lord or Lawman/Pawn or Sword no wonder he is a little surly.Wayne while usually the fun loving sort has a demon in his past that he is still trying in his own way to atone for. I liked seeing what he puts himself through in an effort to make some sort of recompense for his greatest sin. Wayne has a peculiar way of looking at the world and some of it make amazing sense while other parts of it are ridiculous. But that just makes him all the more lovable.I’m almost hoping that he wins her heart one of these days.Marasi didn’t get a lot of development. She is now working with the constables and Wax has tried his hardest to put some distance between them after the initial attraction that was sparked in Alloy of Law. She seems to be over her semi-hero worship of his time in the roughs though and has become more secure in herself overall. Her alomancy even came in handy a time or two in this story and I was glad to see how it could be useful in certain situations. She is extremely competent and I believe that she and Wax are a good team hence my being on the MaraWax ship. My only disappointment is that those sparks from book 1 are totally missing here as Wax is committed to the arranged marriage with Steris and Marasi is trying to have a professional relationship with him since he is supposed to marry her half-sister. I missed the sparks. : (- Sanderson is a master storyteller and that still holds true here. My one and only complaint is that there wasn’t a lot to do with The Set his Uncle or the Women that went missing in Alloy of Law, but I assume that he will get to all of that eventually. We all know that I’m not super objective when it comes to Sanderson or Ilona Andrews so let’s just say if he writes it I’ll read it…multiple times usually.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>