Anna [Bran. San. Stan]'s Reviews > Shadows of Self

2024: This book never fails to make me cry.

2022: How does this get even better with every read??

2020: What a journey! Fast-paced, whiplash-inducing, and – a rarity for me – tearful as well. People have ventured (pun intended 😋) this tetralogy of the Mistborn series is not as good as the initial trilogy – but it really is; it is just different. And yes, after reading this second installment (Mistborn #5), I admit I have to amend my own assessment: It is just as brilliant and amazing, imaginative and creative. It’s the tone that sets them apart.

Where Kelsier, Vin and Elend‘s story was defined by the apocalyptic setting, where bleakness prevailed which tugged on all my heart strings, Wax, Wayne and Marasi’s story is often delightfully humorous; mostly thanks to witty dialog and Wayne’s hilarious character. (As a sucker for language, Wayne’s talent at imitating dialects is also a frequent source of my joy.) However, in contrast to Alloy of Law (Mistborn #4), Shadows of Self regains more urgency and left me even more emotionally invested (hence the tears) which makes it such a delicious combination. I'm again happily unhappy.

As mentioned before, Shadows of Self is especially fast-paced; there’s no stopping this narrative freight train, thanks in large part to Sanderson's creation of Wax‘s sharp character with his observational/detective skills.

In short, I still absolutely live and breathe for this world of Allomancy, Feruchemy and Hemalurgy. (Yes, 300 years after the events in Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3), the latter is back to playing a major role. Which is awesome.) Brandon Sanderson has confirmed his status as literary genius/god and I shall worship at his altar for all eternity.

A few quotations to provide you with a glimpse into Wayne’s mind (and illustrate the difference in tone to the initial trilogy:

“Wayne, are you drunk? It ain’t even noon yet!”
“I ain’t drunk, “ Wayne said, sniffling, “I’m investigatin’ alternative states of sobriety.”

Spectacles. They were kind of like a hat for smart people.

[The girls’ dormitory] looked an awful lot like a prison: three stories of small windows, stonework architecture, and iron grates that seemed to say “Stay away, boys, if you value your nether parts.”

“You!”
“Hello,” Wayne said.
“How did you get by campus security?” . . . The tyrant rumbled around the side of her desk. It was like watching an ocean liner try to navigate the city canals. She wore a tiny hat, in an attempt at fashion. She liked to consider herself a part of Elendel upper society, and she kind of was. In the same way that the blocks of granite that made up the steps to the governor’s mansion were part of civic government.
“You,” she said, spearing Wayne in the chest with a finger. “I thought I told you not to come back.”
“I thought I ignored you.”
“Are you drunk?” She sniffed at his breath.
“No,” Wayne said. “If I were drunk, you wouldn’t look nearly so ugly.”

If you’re still not (thinking of) reading this, please check out my reviews of the previous books for some more context and let me persuade you, for your own good 😉.

The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)
The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2)
The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3)
The Alloy of Law (Mistborn #4)

Happy reading!