SFF

Shadows of Self

Tor. (Mistborn, Bk. 5). Oct. 2015. 384p. ISBN 9780765378552. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9781466862661. FANTASY
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OrangeReviewStarPicking up after 2011's Alloy of Law, this book has Waxillium Ladrian now ensconced in the capital city of Elendel, although he hasn't completely left his Wild West days in the Roughs behind. Someone seems to be stirring Elendel's working classes into a state of unrest, and Wax, his partner Wayne, and constable Marasi need to put a lid on the potential riots, protect the governor, and deal with whoever is pulling all the strings. An immense amount of backstory is hinted at from both the original "Mistborn" trilogy and the previous volume of this time-jumped new series, but Sanderson does a great job of bringing new readers up to speed. Fast, smart dialog and an abundance of exciting action keep the pages turning.
VERDICT Although there are too many descriptions of Wax's metal-wielding powers, the magic system that Sanderson has developed shows why this is one of his great strengths in the fantasy field. Picking out a favorite character might be hard—honorable but haunted Wax has merits, as does the lovely Marasi, struggling to succeed in the Elendel Constabulary—but Wayne remains one of the most charmingly irrepressible thieves in fantasy.
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