The Lost Metal

The last book in the Wax and Wayne series in the Misborn world of the Cosmere by Brandon Sanderson. 
 

It's now been six years since Elendel's world has been opened. Meeting the people from the south and trying to keep political schisms at bay has proved difficult, but somewhat doable. Wax and Steris have taken more control of the political sides of their lives and grown their family, while Wayne and Marsi work as constables as partners. But happenings happen and they find out that Wax's sister has big plans with her secret society which includes blowing up Elendel with equivocally a nuclear bomb. Why would Telsin want to do this? What would this "protect" the rest of the world from? And how much bigger is the cosmere than they think?

I can only be okay with the ending, because HE was okay with the ending. That is all I'm going to say about it. 

I loved that Brandon brought so many more worldhoppers into the series. They introduced so much more than we even have in the Cosmere books to begin with. Seeing some of my favorite characters, not just Hoid, in more of their glory than we ever had before makes me so happy. 

It was fast paced and constantly moving forward while still letting things be explained. It took me a while because I knew what was coming (stupid spoilers) and I didn't want it to happen, but it never felt like it was bogged down. 

I love the characters. All of them. They make me happy. I don't know how to say more. 

The books in this series are smaller comparatively so they are easier to binge and love over and over again. Which means I probably will do that sooner rather than later. 

Arcanum Unbounded

 Arcanum Unbounded is a compilation of short stories and novellas written by Brandon Sanderson about his Cosmere Universe.

Compiled by Khriss, a worldhopper from the Taldain System (White Sand graphic novel series), Arcanum Unbounded are some of the documents from the many Cosmere planets that give background, world building, character development. While they aren't dire, at this point in time to read them all alongside the major series, they are enlightening and a joy to read. 

Through reading these, I've discovered that my favorite story that Brandon has produced so far is Misborn: Secret History which has major spoilers for the Mistborn series (for both Era 1 and 2, read them first before you read Secret History otherwise you'll be vastly disappointed). But it is my favorite because Kelsier is amazing, Fuzz makes me cry, and Ruin is a major nasty piece of work but such an interesting character. 

As I said before, it is a compilation of stories of : 

The Selish System

• The Emperor's Soul, 
• The Hope of Elantris, 

The Scadrian System 

• The Eleventh Metal, 
• Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Elantia: Episodes  28-30, 
• Mistborn Secret History,

The Taldain System

• White Sand (an excerpt of the graphic novel and an excerpt from the written, rough draft version, which I like better than the graphic novel version)

The Threnodite System

• Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell

The Dominad System 

• Sixth of the Dusk

and The Rosharan System

• Edgedancer

These are very good books that I highly recommend reading. If you haven't read any of the Cosmere series (which I suggest you rectify quickly) many of these stores are good to read as a standalone, except Misborn Secret History and Hope of Elantris. The rest could be enjoyed on their own without any hiccups or misunderstandings. My only other suggestion would be to read White Sand completely with the other volumes in the series to help things make sense, though for the excepts you'd be fine as a jumping off point for further reading. (For the rest of the written story of White Sand you can go onto BrandonSanderson.org and become a part of their newsletter and be able to ask for the link for the whole story. I've yet to be able to do it myself as my life isn't always free of craziness, but it's something I plan to indeed do in the future.)  

Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Elantia

Allomancer Jak is another short story in the Arcanum Unbounded book by Brandon Sanderson.

When I first looked at it on Goodreads I thought it was going to be a graphic novel, but it's not. It is a obnoxious, humorous snippet that would have been found in a newspaper with lots of little episodes about adventures off in the Roughs of Mistborn Era 2.

Jak is the obnoxious one. The adventurer who can get himself out if any entrapment or snare by doing the most outlandish things. Whether his tales are "true" or not is for the "dear reader" to read and decide. Jak's story isn't the most thrilling or possibly or "well written" because that's not who Jak is. Brandon wrote it from Jak's point of view and in Jak's words, so they are off kilter--almost so much that I didn't want to read it.

The part that kept me going were the footnotes throughout the piece which were written by a Terris Steward who accompanies Jak on his adventures and transcribes Jak's letters for the public. They are very funny. The commentary is hilarious.

It's a very short story, but one that give a bit more insight to the world of Mistborn era 2. It can be read pretty much whenever after the original series, and doesn't give really anything away.

A short, interesting read if you can get past Jak's obnoxious ways.

The Eleventh Metal

The Eleventh Metal is another short story from Brandon Sanderson, though this one is centered around the Mistborn series. This is a prequel story about how and why Kelsier started to become the way that he did throughout Mistborn.

We follow Kelsier as he is new to his mistborn powers and still trying to learn how to think like a mistborn. He has a teacher named Gemmel, who is referenced in Mistborn: The Final Empire. Gemmel is a mistborn himself and very quirky. He talks to himself (though it's possibly Ruin with whom he's conversing) and acts rather crazy. Kelsier can't get much of a handle on the man, though he sticks around the loon to gain as much knowledge as he can from the miser. They invade a Keep, much like it often happens in the rest of the series, and try to find something--though what Gemmel is looking for isn't completely clear. Inside Kelsier finds a new drive after his again which then starts out the beginning of the rest of the series.

I love reading about Kelsier. He is one of my favorite characters and I will read anything that Brandon Sanderson produces of Kelsier or of the Mistborn world. I love it all.

Mistborn: Secret History

Second review: I've decided this is my favorite Brandon Sanderson story. Even beyond The Emperor's Soul. I don't often cry in books, but even though I knew it was coming, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed reading it so much, and it makes me want to reread the Mistborn series again with all the others Cosmetic books.  Brandon Sanderson writes so well that, for this one in particular, it strums my heart strings.

*****

Mistborn: Secret History made me cry. If you're read the other Mistborn books by Brandon Sanderson, it explains so much where there seemed to be holes. If you haven't read them DON'T READ THIS ONE YET!!!! This has so many spoilers. I'd suggest reading it after Bands of Mourning or at least Hero of Ages. There are too many awesome things that will just be spoiled if you get to far ahead of yourself.

So if you haven't read Mistborn yet, don't read this one. Stop your reading of this post right now, otherwise I'll call you a cheaterpants.

******

This is Kelsier's story after he dies in the first book. The Lord Ruler kills him and he finds himself talking to Preservation, the God of their world, as we find out throughout Hero of Ages. Kelsier is able to stop himself from going to the Beyond and ends up imprisoning himself at the Well of Ascension. There he comes to figure out who Ruin and Preservation are as well as the fact that he knows nothing of the world or the cosmere. He meets up with a certain "witty" man whom we've come to love and adore throughout all of Sanderson's books. And he actually kicks Kelsier's trash.

Kelsier, being a spirit-like person, gets to move through the world differently after he is released from the Well, alongside Ruin. He meets Khriss from White Sands and is able to find other people from Elantris (which I haven't read yet, my bad) in hopes that he can save Preservation from being killed by Ruin. But when Preservation dies he hopes to take His power to defeat Ruin. It doesn't work out so well. Ruin has been at this for too long and is able to speak to the people he is controlling. Kelsier can only speak to madmen or to people in their sleep, which makes things very difficult.

He ends up helping Vin and gives up his power to her so she can defeat Ruin, as Preservation had planned when his mind wasn't broken.

OOOOOH it made me cry. Revisiting Dox, Clubs, Vin and Elend! I just about died. Again. So sad, but so happy at different times. I continuely love Sazed and Spook. I feel for them all!

Read it. Enjoy it. Love it!

It is a fantastic novella that answers so many of the Cosmere questions as well as gives insight to Wax and Wayne in Mistborn Era 2. So many answers yet so many secrets.

Bands of Mourning

A breath of fresh air. I was really excited to read this book because I love Wax and Wayne, Steris and Marasi. They are fantastic and I can't wait for the next one, though it will be a longer time in coming than I want--Fall 2018.

Bands of Mourning in Mistborn: Era II starts with Steris' and Wax's wedding. Of course it goes awry, but Steris has prepared for that. She makes lists of everything and is well aware of whom she is trying to marry. I've grown to love her throughout the book, as many have through others reviews I've read and heard.

They get an assignment to go out to the outer provinces and find the spike of a kandra who was half blown up and has now gone slightly crazy. There are things out there with strange glyphs and carvings that lead them to believe this kandra found the Bands of Mourning, the Lord Rulers Metalminds where he stored all of his Feruchemy powers. They are some pretty powerful weapons that make you practically a God. But they also know Suit is looking for them and probably has the kandra spike as well. Wax is also aware that Suit has his sister, Telsin, and is holder her captive. If he can find Suits hideout, save his sister, brings Suit to justice, find the Bands of Mourning, and the Spike it'd be a really good day. Of course, because it is Wax's life, not all things go to plan like Steris would want. Murder happens, a lot, train robbery, new gadgets that have strange powers, and odd masked people appear. What are those things in the sky?! Awesomeness that's what's up there, not just Steelpushers.

It was a great book, written well, in a world that I've come to love so much. The Cosmere is an amazing universe full of so many ins and outs that it is hard to keep track of them all. Hooray for the coppermind.net  where you can keep things straight, at least for a while until more secrets are revealed. "There is always another secret."

Shadows of Self

Can I just say "Poor Wax, can't the guy get a break?" The things writers put their characters through--I'm guilty as well in this.

Shadows of Self is the sequel to Alloy of Law. In the Mistborn: Era II series by Brandon Sanderson, we follow Wax and Wayne, constables in the large city of Elendal as they hunt down a mysterious figure who killed many more than a handful of corrupt Lords and Ladies. But as they continue on in this investigation then kandra make their debut and change things dramatically in their hunt, though Wax feels more like the prey because their villain is always three steps ahead of them.

I loved this book. The characters are so well developed and Sanderson takes us back, in reference, to other characters that have long since died but were part of the first Mistborn series. Harmony is funny and I'm glad he's been able to stick around from the first series because I always enjoyed seeming him progress. If he can progress as Harmony too, I'd be really interested to see that. They are all so human. They have their quirks; they have their ticks; they have their faults. And I love them all. Well maybe not Steris at this point, but I've been told that I will love her. So we will happily go to book three as soon as I can get my hands on one. :D

It is so hard to go from reading a Brandon Sanderson novel to anything else. It all seems to so childish and unfinished, not quite as polished--even those authors who have written many books and have the experience.

Alloy of Law

Another Brandon Sanderson because his writing calls to me. Seriously!!

Alloy of Law is the first book in the Mistborn Era 2 (AKA Wax and Wayne novels). After the happenings of Hero of Ages, three hundred years of progress and change has happened. The metropolis Elendel is thriving, the original religion that Kelsier started has has fragmented into multiple religions with a plethora of believers, lords and ladies still reign (though who really "rules" is still unclear to me, I may have missed it though), and the Steel Inquisitors don't exist so there are official lawmen who patrol the city to keep the peace.

Enter Waxillium (Wax). Not liking the city scene, he stays in the Roughs for 20 years leaving his House to be run by his uncle. His uncle dies in an accident, but he just can't bring himself back to the city. When his girlfriend dies in front of him *cough cough*, the grief is too much and he returns. But the city isn't as easy going as it he remembered. Parties and appearances need to happen, the family name and reputation needs to be mended and he's finding the lawman in him isn't appreciated in the company of the elite of society around him.

Bad guys are still out there it seems  when he gets word of phantom railcars, hostages, and allomancy metals disappearing. He can't help but let the lawman in him out, but then he finds he's gotten himself into more trouble than he though--nearly getting killed 3+ times in one day is a lot for any man.

His deputy (equivalent) out in the Roughs, Wayne--a wiz with accents and can get anything from anyone--joins him in this hunt to save the hostages and figure out what is going on. Only by the end do they realize how much over their heads they are in.

It's been a great read. With a hint of seasonal depression on my hands, reading this was much needed. I smiled every time they mentioned Vin, Elend, Spook, Marsh, and especially Sazed. Oh, Sazed. The references made me happy because I knew those people! But the atmosphere was bright and , even though they almost died a bunch of times.

Wax was a good main character. We saw most of the novel through his eyes, but his little quirks were fun. Wayne is a riot. I almost expected him to be bouncier, though he was composed. The banter between Wax and Wayne game them a brotherly feel that was a lot of fun. Marasi (very similar to Mare--Kelsier's wife--to me; so I'm making believed she's named after Mare, though it's probably not) is the cousin of Wax's "fiance"--who gets herself kidnapped--and assists Wax and Wayne in their search for the badden's. The makeup of this little troupe brings me joy because they work so well with each other.

Allomancy is still a big thing in this book (series of books) and plays a vital role in the fights that happen. I love the way the Allomancy has progressed through time. Coinshots (which Wax is) and non-Steelburners can use rifles and guns. Now that more people have Allomancy and can marry most anyone they want, Feruchamy (like what Sazed had) abounds too. And the chance of having a child that does both is much more common too. There are so many different types of people that make this world rich.

It was a great read, short--comparatively--but the next two novels are out; we are simply waiting until next year (probably) for the last one. I'm very much excited to read Shadows of Self.

Edit for a Second Read through!!:

I love Ironeyes. I miss Breeze, I miss Kelsier and Dox and Vin and Elend!! I'll be reading Mistborn again soon. This world is amazing.

Hero of Ages

I have found that I'm very unsettled by the last book in the Mistborn series. I am a big fan of Brandon Sanderson, but.... I don't know.

Now that they found the Well of Ascension and released something called Ruin, ashe has come more hazardly down from the ashmounts and the world is really dying. How are Vin, Elend, and the rest of Kelsier's remaining crew supposed to handle the end of the world?

Vin, Elend, and Ham are down south helping gather villagers into the capital city where they are sure crops can grow. Then they head to the final cache location that the Lord Ruler had set up to supply his people. Though they are having a hard time with an obilgator playing king as though nothing bad were happening.

TenSoon went back to his people to pay for the betrayals he committed in telling Vin kandra secrets.

Spook is up north playing a spy where the fourth cache is hidden  under city with a king who is killing most everyone who was nobility. But what is this? Is he starting to see Kelsier? Also, how did he suddenly become so strong? He is no longer someone who is just ignored or a common scout. He tries to be so much like Kelsier, the leader the powerful one, the Survivor... And they end up giving him a name: the Survivor of the Flames, which is cool.

And Sazed is having a crisis of faith. Now that the love of his life is dead, he doesn't know where she has gone. So he searches all of the religions he's collected to find the answers. This is a very interesting plot line to me. His search for truth and trying to find faith. Breeze tells him he wouldn't be a good atheist and it is very true for Sazed. I'm sure many people found this annoying if they weren't religious at all, but the way Sanderson explores the process of finding faith, and that it isn't normally some grand thing that everyone sees, but often times something small that no one else really notices, was interesting to read about. (PS Breeze is with Sazed and they venture up to meet with Spook.)

I do like the explanations of what is going on in this world, though. The chapter headings were super helpful in world building that just couldn't happen through the normal story. The world building, well...the world in general, is engenious. Ruin and Preservation and their battle with balance and the people of the world have to endure it, or at least try too.

Through some thought, I think this is my third favorite of the Mistborn series. Third because it is the last in the trilogy (though don't get me wrong it was a good book). I think it was because more of it focused on everyone else but Vin more a large portion of the time. She got her moments of awesomeness, but they weren't nearly as many as in previous books. I love Vin. She is my favorite! I wanted more of her or Elend. Sazed is cool, but I wanted more of them.

Also, the ending had me in tears, which is okay. I can take some well earned crying. But there were too many people killed in this final battle to make me happy. The way they beat Ruin was awesome, and the mythology behind it was extremely well thought out, but SO MUCH DEATH!!!!

Lack of Vin and in my opinion unneeded deaths. I mean, I'm sure they are all happy in the afterlife, which is illuded too, but they could have been happy now that they have (SPOILER!) grass and flowers again. Instead now they have to have someone else run the kingdoms and govern everything now that most everyone is dead. Ugh, I think there was too much death for me. While it wasn't a pretty sight to begin with and it ended up very much better at the end.... *shakes head* Also, there wasn't nearly as much witty bantering as there were in the other two books. It seemed for more depressing, which I get fits the mood of the end of the world but still.

Good book and it finished out the series so then I can be mostly content. Not completely, but well enough. I'm super glad that there are three more books in this world that I can hopefully be more satisfied.

Well of Ascension

This is the second time finishing the Well of Ascension and, boy, was it worth it. There is so much I had forgotten but was very valuable to the story.

I remember reading this the first time around and thinking it being a very politically driven book. One that I could just skip through in order to get to the fighting or more interesting dialog--that was also a few years ago before I became a better reader. Now, my opinion has grown.

This story does have a lot of politics in it as Elend and the members of the crew, now that the Lord Ruler is dead, have to keep the city functioning and to keep the people from starving. But there is much more to this story. Vin has to find her place inside herself. Is she a girl who likes pretty dresses, a Mistborn who is a knife for Elend's Empire, a Mistborn like Kelsier? How is she supposed to compile all of these different parts of her into whoever she is? And it's not just Vin who gets a dose of growth, Elend has become King, but doesn't ask like it and must learn what makes a leader.

There is also a new metal found that helps Vin in many tight spaces. But does that mean there are more out there?

New characters make their debut. A friend for Sazed. A Mistborn who could be more dangerous than simply trying to kill her. A lady that is more aware of emotions than Breeze is. So many fun characters that throw some of our favorites for a loop at times.

As not one or two but three armies attack the new kingdom, they have to find a way to defend themselves. There are over 40,000 invaders, half of which are nearly impossible to kill large blue giants called the Koloss. Alongside an imposter in their ranks, but who is it?

Though the most troubling of all could be the mists. They are acting strangely. Staying longer in the day. Are they the cause of why people are being killed for no reason? Vin starts seeing things in the mists. Is she going crazy like the logbook writer?

This book was written in the fantastic way Brandon Sanderson does. He wrote the inner turmoil that Vin has accurately to someone who is trying to find themselves. It did take me a little longer to read than the other books I've gotten through, but that was not the books fault (ending school and the Christmas holidays got me sidetracked from reading). But I do love these books.

Mistborn: The Final Empire

Another book by Brandon Sanderson that is amazing. Mistborn is the first book that I read of his and I enjoyed it so so much. If you wanted to get into Sanderson's books this is one of the ones that I would suggest first. Like many of Sanderson's novels the ideas behind/concepts of his stories are fresh and new. Who else would think of "burning metals" as a way to have "magical" abilities. For a full description of the novel go to Mistborn on Brandon Sanderson's Website.

There are many things in this book that touch a lot of different hot topics that Sanderson isn't afraid to address. In Mistborn there is a discussion of Religion, Politics, Pain, Betrayal, Trust, and the importance of Hope. While these can be sticky questions, he explores and doesn't exclude ideas about how to cope with these topics.

There are moments that made me realize just how much of a hopeless romantic I can be sometimes. Vin, one of our main characters, was a street urchin who was able to survive so much in her thieving crew because of her Luck. She joins Kelsier's thieving crew, because she was almost found out by the Ministry, and their job to overthrow the Final Empire and the Lord Ruler, who has lived for centuries and is believed to be immortal. She dresses up as a noblewoman to infiltrate the Noble Houses, to gain their confidence,, learn information, and spread rumors among them. But while impersonating a noblewoman she runs into Elend Venture whom she starts falling for. Their conversations made me smile because it had just the right amount of cheesiness that it was cute without being too sappy. I loved it so much.

I also love how Kelsier is still in love with his wife, Mare, though she died. It is because of her that he starts this crew and the job. While he does this for revenge for his wife, even though it is believed that she betrayed him. He still loves her. It goes to show that you "can't help who you love" in that it can very hard to persuade your heart to hate someone who you love.

The idea of trust is a big component in the story as well. Vin, being around these other thieving crews, has learned to not trust anyone. Her brother's voice constantly reminds her that everyone will betray her. Vin slowly learns to trust her new crew. Kelsier's crew  works through trust, not fear like she has known.

I was asked a little bit ago when someone saw me reading this before a class started, if "you have to be a Mormon to understand" where Brandon Sanderson (who is LDS) is coming from. I would disagree. There are many people who enjoy it who aren't part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This book has been read all around the world and has been loved by millions of people. It has been loved so much that they have made a D&D type game based off this world and the concepts there. It is not only for Mormons. Everyone can enjoy this series.

I'll be reading Brandon Sanderson's Well of Ascension next--the next in the series. Read it with me and enjoy.