Hardcover, 528 pages
English language
Published Nov. 15, 2022 by Tor Books.
For years, frontier lawman turned big-city senator Waxillium Ladrian has hunted the shadowy organization the Set―with his late uncle and his sister among their leaders―since they started kidnapping people with the power of Allomancy in their bloodlines. When Detective Marasi Colms and her partner Wayne find stockpiled weapons bound for the Outer City of Bilming, this opens a new lead. Conflict between Elendel and the Outer Cities only favors the Set, and their tendrils now reach to the Elendel Senate―whose corruption Wax and Steris have sought to expose―and Bilming is even more entangled.
After Wax discovers a new type of explosive that can unleash unprecedented destruction and realizes that the Set must already have it, an immortal kandra serving Scadrial’s god, Harmony, reveals that Bilming has fallen under the influence of another god: Trell, worshipped by the Set. And Trell isn’t the only factor at play from the larger Cosmere―Marasi …
For years, frontier lawman turned big-city senator Waxillium Ladrian has hunted the shadowy organization the Set―with his late uncle and his sister among their leaders―since they started kidnapping people with the power of Allomancy in their bloodlines. When Detective Marasi Colms and her partner Wayne find stockpiled weapons bound for the Outer City of Bilming, this opens a new lead. Conflict between Elendel and the Outer Cities only favors the Set, and their tendrils now reach to the Elendel Senate―whose corruption Wax and Steris have sought to expose―and Bilming is even more entangled.
After Wax discovers a new type of explosive that can unleash unprecedented destruction and realizes that the Set must already have it, an immortal kandra serving Scadrial’s god, Harmony, reveals that Bilming has fallen under the influence of another god: Trell, worshipped by the Set. And Trell isn’t the only factor at play from the larger Cosmere―Marasi is recruited by offworlders with strange abilities who claim their goal is to protect Scadrial...at any cost.
Wax must choose whether to set aside his rocky relationship with God and once again become the Sword that Harmony has groomed him to be. If no one steps forward to be the hero Scadrial needs, the planet and its millions of people will come to a sudden and calamitous ruin.
This was a great ending to this era of Mistborn. Loved all the new characters, loved, the old characters, loved Sanderson's writing as always, and just enjoyed the read all the way through. Totally worth reading! Now to some of his new books!
Excellent conclusion to the second era of mistborn. Wayne is one of my favourite comedic relief characters and he does not disappoint
What can I say? Brandon Sanderson has a style and delivers over and over again. This conclusion to the Second Mistborn arc isn't quite as impressive as The Hero of Ages, but wraps up the threads introduced throughout the last three novels in a very satisfying way.
But hey - you're six novels in. All I need to do is confirm that the author hasn't lost his touch. Must-read.
From a theming perspective, I was annoyed that The Bands of Mourning introduced the Malwish but this novel mostly ignored those peoples. There were a lot of plots to deal with, including wrapping up the Set (introduced in Alloy of Law) and dealing with Trell (technically the antagonist of Shadows of Self), so I understand that we focused on those rather than the Malwish. It just felt wrong given how important their Ettmetal devices should be in terms of impacting the …
What can I say? Brandon Sanderson has a style and delivers over and over again. This conclusion to the Second Mistborn arc isn't quite as impressive as The Hero of Ages, but wraps up the threads introduced throughout the last three novels in a very satisfying way.
But hey - you're six novels in. All I need to do is confirm that the author hasn't lost his touch. Must-read.
From a theming perspective, I was annoyed that The Bands of Mourning introduced the Malwish but this novel mostly ignored those peoples. There were a lot of plots to deal with, including wrapping up the Set (introduced in Alloy of Law) and dealing with Trell (technically the antagonist of Shadows of Self), so I understand that we focused on those rather than the Malwish. It just felt wrong given how important their Ettmetal devices should be in terms of impacting the world.
Additionally, I'm not really a fan of Kelsier's return. The Ghostbloods were a lot. They introduced a number of new magic systems and really diverted away from the world I wanted to read about. Wax's OP twinborn power vs the Not-Wax hemalurgy-based power is what we needed to see, and I think the parts of the novel that was basically a Cosmere team-up were the weakest parts.
That said, this is whining. Wax and Wayne carried the book, Serris was an excellent C-Plot, and Marasi solved hers primarily without Ghostblood powers so I wish we didn't spend time introducing it. I loved the progression of Sazed and Marsh, as they were characters I had assumed were 'dead'.
Finally, as a random guess - I think Marsh is alloying atium with various metals to produce the effects everyone is wondering how he pulls off (including walking around basically invisible to others, as well as his long age given his lack of Compounding).
I knew it. I knew it from the damn prologue, and every step of the way that dread just grew and grew and grew. I fucking love this series. I love these characters. I love the politics and the lore. But most of all, I loved Wayne Terrisborn. I didn't think there was a way Sanderson could kill him that wouldn't immediately make me hate the Cosmere. That wouldn't make me rage-quit Sanderson books.
I was wrong.
He wasn't wearing a hat, which meant he had to just be himself. The true him, the one that knew the pain.
The Lost Metal was an outstanding book and an excellent conclusion to Era 2. There were significant expectations this book had to live up to and it delivered.
But real pain, that comes when you realize what you are. What you done. Waking up each morning, knowing' you're worthless. That's pain.
The Lost Metal is an emotional onslaught.
The mood for the book was set right from the prologue. There was a different intent with this story and it carried throughout all chapters and characters. This wasn't a story of growth for Wax and Wayne but Marasi and Steris too. Each character has shown such wonderful growth and self awareness too. Understanding what makes you vulnerable, how to cope with insecurities and more importantly, what it means to …
He wasn't wearing a hat, which meant he had to just be himself. The true him, the one that knew the pain.
The Lost Metal was an outstanding book and an excellent conclusion to Era 2. There were significant expectations this book had to live up to and it delivered.
But real pain, that comes when you realize what you are. What you done. Waking up each morning, knowing' you're worthless. That's pain.
The Lost Metal is an emotional onslaught.
The mood for the book was set right from the prologue. There was a different intent with this story and it carried throughout all chapters and characters. This wasn't a story of growth for Wax and Wayne but Marasi and Steris too. Each character has shown such wonderful growth and self awareness too. Understanding what makes you vulnerable, how to cope with insecurities and more importantly, what it means to be forgiven.
The short man pushed over a note. Handwritten, stained with something. "He wanted you to have this." It simply said, Sorry.
I am used to characters experiencing pain, suffering and trauma but Brandon Sanderson has typically kept that within the Stormlight Archive. Like all things Cosmere, connections are made, borders are blurred and now Mistborn gets a heavy hand of emotional damage from Sanderson.
That was...a lot to take in.
A typical Sanderson book has the "Sanderlanche" come at you hard and fast in the final leg of the book, but The Lost Metal felt like it was all gas with no brakes. When Harmony provides a straight answer at the start of Part 2 you realize the "Sanderlanche" starts now and it didn't relent.
Today, she didn't need to be armed so much as equipped.
The further Sanderson dives into the Cosmere the more significant the crossovers, references and implications are to the rest of the universe and The Lost Metal had these in abundance! I highlighted passages, words and character names as a reminder to follow up and dive into them further.
There were times I felt lost or uncertain what was being referenced and I wondered if I forgot something (possible) or things were left intentionally vague (also possible). I am looking forward to reading a fan Wiki to realize what I missed and be reminded of events off world.
She didn't need power like that, but duty wasn't about what you needed. It was about what was needed from you.
Era 2 has been a fantastic trilogy and the self awareness with the Cosmere will give it significant re-read value.
"Lies, you mean," Wax said. "You print lies."
"We prefer 'whimsical what-ifs'. Intriguing stories that would be fascinating if they were true."
"So..." Wax said, "lies."
The downside of having finished the latest Cosmere novel is that there would usually be a lengthy wait before the next book. Thankfully the four Secret Projects will be released in 2023 and then the hype train for Stormlight Archive can begin properly.
Thanks The Lost Metal, you were an enjoyable read and I imagine I'll be doing a re-read very soon.
another great book from sanderson, if you've made it to the 7th main series mistborn book then nuff said.
