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    Shadows of Self: A Mistborn Novel
    Shadows of Self: A Mistborn Novel
    Shadows of Self: A Mistborn Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    Shadows of Self: A Mistborn Novel

    Written by Brandon Sanderson

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action.

    Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.

    When family obligations forced Waxillium Ladrian to forsake the frontier lands and return to the metropolis of his birth to take his place as head of a noble House, he little imagined that the crime-fighting skills acquired during twenty years in the dusty plains would be just as applicable in the big city. He soon learned that there too, just being a talented Twinborn — one who can use both Allomancy and Feruchemy, the dominant magical modes on Scadrial — would not suffice.

    This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society will now face its first test by terrorism and assassination, crimes intended to stir up labor strife and religious conflict. Wax, his eccentric sidekick Wayne, and brilliant, beautiful young Marasi, now officially part of the constabulary, must unravel the conspiracy before civil strife can stop Scadrial’s progress in its tracks.

    Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson

    The Cosmere

    The Stormlight Archive
    The Way of Kings
    Words of Radiance
    Edgedancer (Novella)
    Oathbringer

    The Mistborn trilogy
    Mistborn: The Final Empire
    The Well of Ascension
    The Hero of Ages

    Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series
    Alloy of Law
    Shadows of Self
    Bands of Mourning

    Collection
    Arcanum Unbounded

    Other Cosmere novels
    Elantris
    Warbreaker

    The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series
    Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
    The Scrivener's Bones
    The Knights of Crystallia
    The Shattered Lens
    The Dark Talent

    The Rithmatist series
    The Rithmatist

    Other books by Brandon Sanderson

    The Reckoners
    Steelheart
    Firefight
    Calamity

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateOct 6, 2015
    ISBN9781427262240
    Shadows of Self: A Mistborn Novel
    Author

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon Sanderson grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. He lives in Utah with his wife and children and teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University. His bestsellers have sold 32 million copies worldwide and include the Mistborn saga; the Stormlight Archive novels; and other novels, including The Rithmatist, Steelheart, and Skyward. He won a Hugo Award for The Emperor's Soul, a novella set in the world of his acclaimed first novel, Elantris. Additionally, he completed Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time®. Visit his website for behind-the-scenes information on all his books.

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    Reviews for Shadows of Self

    4.5/5

    173 ratings37 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This is the second book in what has now become a four book series. Initially, Brandon had planned for this series to be a quick vision into another age of the Final Empire as it moves from medieval times to more of a Victorian era. As it turns out with many prolific and imaginative authors, the story grew. He is officially calling this a second series of the Final Empire where before it was considered series 1.5.The first book in the series "The Alloy of Law" left readers sensing that a grander was in motion. Something more than just a one shot detective story with metal burners. This second book delivers on that promise. Without giving away the juicy bits, let me just say that creatures and people that you thought might return to the series do and it is a lot of fun. In addition, the ending is a fine plot twist, which embroils the reader in the vaster scope of Brandon's Cosmere universe. I highly recommend as a fine addition to Brandon's works.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Brandon Sanderson does it again! Not the best in the entire series, very very very enjoyable.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      It always feels so good to read about Wax and Wayne. I love them as characters, and I love being in the world of the Mistborn. Brandon Sanderson does such a good job of creating this world that feels like home, and that just consumes you. I love how he throws in little easter eggs from the previous trilogy and how things are connected in this new alloy era. This book took a turn I wasn't expecting, but it was really good. I kind of wished we got to get to know Steris better, but maybe we'll see some more development in later books.
    • 4/5
      I like these later, almost Western themed Mistborn novels. This was an easy, enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      This is the sequel to The Alloy of Law, set 300 years after the original Mistborn trilogy. Pretty much everything you expect from Brandon Sanderson and Mistborn – fun characters, amazing magic-system innovations and worldbuilding, a very, very effective plot twist and terrible puns. I was a little disappointed that there seemed to be a lot of banter/action, and not enough character moments.
    • 3/5
      I do confess that my memory is not the best, and it was 3 years since I read book 4. But that is why this book was so good. It worked splendidly as a stand alone. And note, yes this is book 5, no this is not book 5. The first 3 book is a trilogy, book 4 and 5 takes place 300 years later.

      Wax, a nobleman, and former lawman in the wild west, is trying to keep his house together and investigate what's happening in the city. To help him he has Wayne (who is weird, and good), and Marise, a cop. The investigation does not keep them all together, they are out doing their own things.

      I need to get back to that whole western comment. Yes this is fantasy, but society has evolved and they now have steam, guns and even electricity. And the outskirts are still a bit wild. And magic is still around too, but if you know Sanderson then you know his magic is always unique.

      Back to the story. There is unrest in the city, people are upset, food is scarce, and someone is trying to start a rebellion. And we can't have society burn to ash again now can we?

      Good characters, a nice story and mystery, and as always, a awesome world and magic system. At least two more books are coming, and since a thing was mentioned at the end, oh it made me so very very curious. I will just wait for the next one then.
    • 3/5
      A mad shapeshifter plots to drive a city into chaos.3/4 (Good).There's not enough action, not enough for Wayne to do, too much politics, Theological Soul-Searching, and some long, slow stretches. I'm very much enjoying reading the series, but this is definitely a step down from the action-packed romp of "Alloy of Law."(Jun. 2022)
    • 5/5
      Good addition to the series. Wayne remains my favorite character: the way that Sanderson makes him see the world so differently is very entertaining.
    • 5/5
      Pros: complex mystery, great characters, more mythologyCons: didn’t touch on one of the unresolved plot points from the first bookThe past year has brought economic trouble to the city of Elendil. When a creature from mythology starts a series of terrorist attacks, targeting the governor, whom Marasi believes to be corrupt, Waxillium and Marasi become more and more convinced that these problems are related. Wax and Wayne make for a fun team. Wax is driven, with a strong moral compass while Wayne has a crude sense of humour and loose beliefs with regards to ownership. Their different abilities complement each other, making them powerful. Wayne’s ease with accents, dialects, and costumes gets a good workout. I found myself liking Steris more in this book, and wishing she had more page time. While her relationship with Wax isn’t a love match, I do think they’re a couple that could work, given how things progress. I also like how Marasi is developing as a character. She faces different kinds of challenges in this book and acquits herself well. While you don’t technically have to read Alloy of Law to understand and enjoy the events of this book, it does help. Certain events have more weight if you know what’s happened, and you’ll have a sense of missing information during a few conversations (I ended up skimming the first book half way through this one to remind myself of what’s happened). There’s also a lot more mythology in this book, making me want to read the original Mistborn trilogy.I love how Allomancy and Feruchemy work and the skills the powers allow the characters to use. This book also uses a third type of metal magic, which was cool to learn about.I was somewhat surprised that one of the major unresolved plot points from the first book wasn’t really touched on or dealt with in this one. I’m assuming it will come back in the third book.This is a fun book and while the ending isn’t a cliffhanger, it is designed to have you reaching for the next book, The Bands of Mourning, which luckily comes out in January.
    • 4/5
      "Shadows of Self" is more of the same old Brandon Sanderson... and if you're of my opinion, that's no bad thing.Following up on the first Wax and Wayne adventure, "Alloy of Law," this newest entry actually serves as a pretty decent entry into the series for a newcomer, while offering more than sufficient content for the most dedicated follower of the tales of the Cosmere.What is most fascinating about this book to me is the way that it shows the march of progress and technology in a fantasy world. Gone are the stagnant civilizations that have persisted without change for millennia; in only a short 300+ years, the background of the story has moved from a medieval epic fantasy setting to a turn of the century, Victorian/Edwardian pastiche. The change feels organic and right, and I'm sorry that there are two more books in this time period to get through before the next big jump to, as I understand it, the 1980s.Except that will mean leaving behind Wax and Wayne, and I'm loathe to do so. In that, I'm glad we have two more of their adventures to experience. And if the Mistborn series is ever adapted into film, can I just say that while the original trilogy would make wonderful films, the adventures of Wax and Wayne would make for a gripping television series.
    • 5/5
      It did well as a stand alone book though I hear it's part of a series. It took me a while to figure out what the metal born stuff was about but subliminally it was explained well
    • 3/5
      The middle of the middle Mistborn trilogy, this volume sags a bit compared to most of Sanderson's work. The "new" world of the first volume has worn off, and the end is not yet in sight. However, the typical elements of Sanderson's fantasy are still active: action is fast, the dialogue full of witty persiflage, and the characters unique.I was particularly interested in the development of Steris (female) from a "plot element" to a human being (continued in the final volume of this trilogy).As with others of his books, Sanderson explores the operation of deity in the world, and how that affects the lives of the characters, asking hard questions and attempting reasonable answers.(LDS readers will recognize some elements of both, but there is no cut-and-dried doctrine declaimed.)( all are somewhat answered by the end of the third volume - depending on your own POV).NOTES: p. 260: why doesn't God save the people we love?p. 289: "To believe in a God was to accept that He or She wasn't going to deliver you from every problem...Living in the Roughs, he'd accepted that sometimes you just had to weather things on your own. Help didn't always come. That was life. You dealt with it..." but now it was personal - God had let Wax down, and "now He expected Wax to just hop to it and do as He demanded?"p. 277: how have our perceptions of past heroes been changed by time? "If you'd lived back then, what would you have seen? A bunch of miscreants? Lawbreakers? Would you have trussed up the Ascendant Warrior and tossed her in a cell? The law is not something holy, son. It's just a reflection of the ideals of those lucky enough to be in charge."p. 372: "Then convince the judge and jury...We don't do things like this. People have to be able to trust the law; I'm a lot of things, but I'm not going to t be the one who sets the precedent that the kandra can lie in order to get someone convicted, even if you're 'pretty sure' you've got the right evidence."(but they -- al l he heroes, not just the kandra -- kill people all the time; usually in flagrante delicto, of course, but it's a debatable point as to the connection of law and execution; and they actually do lie, all the time, if the 'need' exists).
    • 4/5
      I thought I would go through this book faster than I did, but then it always took me longer than expected to get through the first three books of the Mistborn trilogy. It's been a while since I read the original series; I feel like I need to go back and reread them again at some point. There were references in this book that I can't seem to remember the meaning or importance of. It's been a while since I've read the first book of this sequel series too. Luckily the third book is coming out this month, only a few months after the publication of this book, which doesn't happen very often. Anyways, Wax and Wayne are engaging characters. I didn't really get into Marasi.
    • 5/5
      Liked this one better than previous book in series. This book was fast-paced, and one action scene to the next. I really liked the western/steampunk vibe.
    • 5/5
      The entire Wax and Wayne trilogy is a wonderful experience with deep roots in the epics. Combined with the sheer goliathan size of the cosmere you have a true and wonderful universe on your hands.
    • 3/5
      I'm finding that Brandon Sanderson joins Holly Lisle and a few others as really good writers that don't write books I really want to read. I did eventually get caught up in the story - it just took me 3/4th of the book to do it. And then the ending was a serious downer. It's a strange world - not just magic and tech mixed up with each other, but the personal attention of the gods...who are rather human in their perceptions, abilities, and understandings. Not a good thing. We got a few more bits of backstory here - new, I think, or at least I don't remember most of them from the last book. I have no idea what's going on with Wayne and the girl - how old is she? How old is Wayne? Did she know her father at all, or is all she knows that he's dead, Wayne is sorry for it, and therefore she's in a good school? Honestly - what is he trying to do, make it as bad as possible for her and for him? That whole scene made zero sense. I got some insight into some characters (particularly Marasi) from the book, but mostly people did things for reasons that were clearly important to them but completely opaque to me. I suppose I'll read the next one, but it will take me a while. It is very rich, but very murky too - not my preferred style.
    • 4/5
      This is the 5th book in the Mistborn series overall and the second of the books featuring Wax and Wayne (which are set a few generations after the original Mistborn trilogy). I continue to struggle with this series a bit; I just don’t like the characters and setting as much as the original Mistborn series.I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook is very well done. The narrator does a great job with character voices and emotion.Despite my struggle with engaging with this world and characters I still think this is a well written western fantasy. I loved the magic systems throughout the book and enjoyed all the historical references to the original series.There is quite a bit of intrigue and action throughout; the story is well paced and things are wrapped up nicely. I just constantly found myself drifting and losing interest in both the story and the characters. I had the same issue with Alloy of Law; so if you enjoyed Alloy of Law you will probably enjoy this book. If you didn’t enjoy Allow of Law I would skip this one.Overall this is a decent continuation of the Wax and Wayne Mistborn books. I personally don’t enjoy these characters and the world as much as the original Mistborn trilogy. However, I know a lot of people really continue to love these books and they are well written. I won’t be reading the last book of this series because I just don’t care...however if you loved Alloy of Law I think you will enjoy this book as well.
    • 4/5
      Wax and Wayne (and it wasn't until I was finished that I got the pun, shakes head); Waxillium Ladrian investigates when an assailant slaughters a crowd of corrupt people and discovers plots within plots and a lot of complicated issues, including the fact that a kandra, a being something like an angel, is behind all this and he has to hunt them, Wax, Wayne and Marasi have to save the city and possibly the world from a disaster and to stay alive throughout it all, while some of their others enemies are thinking about using this time to their advantage.
    • 4/5
      Ugh, that ending! Heart-wrenching!
    • 5/5
      Shadows of Self is great. Wav and Wayne are wonderful characters, and the industrial revolution Mistborn setting is still really good. A worthy addition to the series. Rating 5/5.
    • 3/5
      This one was slower than the other mistborn books; I enjoyed the last half, but the first half was not up to his usual standards.
    • 4/5
      That was certainly a twisted ending.
    • 4/5
      A lot of the books that I’m excited for in 2015 are actually releasing quite late this year, so as we sauntered into fall and said good bye to summer, I was getting ready to say hello to a couple of my most anticipated titles. Shadows of Self was most definitely near the top of that list. I’m a big fan of Brandon Sanderson, and I absolutely loved The Alloy of Law – probably more than all three books of the original Mistborn trilogy put together, so small wonder that I was really looking forward to this follow-up.If there’s one thing I can never resist, it’s a good Fantasy meets Western setting. Three centuries after the events at the end of The Hero of Ages, the world of Mistborn has transformed into something altogether different. We’re on the cusp of an era similar to the industrial revolution, and all around are new inventions giving rise to mild hints of steampunk. On the outskirts of the built-up city of Elendel is a dusty, lawless territory known as the Roughs, where our protagonist Lord Waxillium Ladrian made his name as a lawman-for-hire.Magic, however, is alive and well. Allomancy and Feruchemy are still around, though applied here in a different way which preserves the marvel of the original system while adding a whole new dimension to it at the same time. Characters from the original trilogy like Vin, Elend, Kelsier and Sazed are also now long gone but not lost, their names immortalized forever in history and religion. It’s therefore possible to read this subseries without having to start with the first three books, though the experience might be richer if you do because then you’ll understand all the references to these past people and events. And for those who enjoyed the original trilogy, The Alloy of Law and Shadows of Self will introduce you to a fresh start featuring great new characters in a dynamic world that evolves with time. You’ll still be getting all the good stuff, but these books are far from being just the same-old, same-old; they’re shorter, more lighthearted and fun in tone and style, and I found that the mix of old and new worked very well for me.Shadows of Self continues the adventure by bringing back Waxillium and his good friend Wayne in a new mystery involving a hunt for an assassin. Nearly two decades have passed since Wax first started his youthful escapades into the Roughs, and he has recently returned to the city in order to take up the mantle of his lordship, which comes with a whole new set of responsibilities – including getting married. Wax and Wayne now use their allomantic powers to assist the constabulary of Elendel, working alongside the constable-general’s chief aide Marasi Harms, who is also the half-sister of Wax’s fiancée. Their latest case involves a massacre at an auction organized by the governor’s corrupt brother, whose body was found among the victims which included nobles as well the city’s most notorious crime lords.It soon becomes clear that the governor himself is a target. And to make matters worse, Wax learns that the assassin they hunt may not be human at all, but a Faceless Immortal who calls herself Bleeder, a kandra that ingests the bones of other beings to take on their physical appearance and personality. What do you do when your quarry could be anyone?Given how much I enjoyed The Alloy of Law, I was not surprised that I had a great time with this book too. Shadows of Self features a more complex plot, drawing heavily upon the world of Mistborn and its religious lore. The gods play a much bigger role in this one, with the stormy politics of the deities mirroring the political state of the mortal world. Just as the people of Elendel are sick and tired of the corruption in the government and in the nobility, not all kandra are content with Harmony’s rule. When both situations come to a boiling point, the results aren’t pretty. For readers though, it’s a tense race against time with Wax, Wayne and Marasi as they try to prevent the city from tearing itself apart, and the only way to stop the destruction is to catch Bleeder. For a supposedly insane killer, she proves to be much craftier than anyone could imagine.Wax and Wayne are also as fantastic a duo as the synergy of their names imply (though in truth, any scene with Wayne in it is automatically awesome, even when he’s solo) and having Marasi back is great as well. It’s interesting to see the dynamics play out between them when they work together, and as always I love the humor and the snappy dialogue which is way more prominent here than in the original trilogy, and probably where the lighter “fluffier” feel of these books comes from. Each character also has his or her own strengths and foibles, and I thought this installment explored those traits and covered them remarkably well without taking away from the main story.The most exciting moments came at the end for me, and I won’t lie, I was a bit of an emotional wreck after last few chapters. Strangely, I wouldn’t say the events leading up to the climax were entirely unpredictable, though the twists were a mix of “Okay, I saw that coming” along with “Wait, that wasn’t what I expected.” Either way, Sanderson knows how to deliver a conclusion, and it’s a jaw-dropping one that left me reeling from the impact. I’ve become deeply invested in Wax’s story over the course of these two novels, and the ending did not disappoint.All told, this book sees Brandon Sanderson doing more of what he does best – telling captivating stories that delight and enchant. Shadows of Self is another great addition to the Mistborn sequence, and another fantastic book from an author well known for his creative world-building and ingenious magic systems.
    • 5/5
      I had a minor quibble with the first book of this new Mistborn trilogy, Alloy of Law, which is that we didn't get much world-building in it. We got little scraps of info that referenced the characters from the previous trilogy, and showed us a little of how the metallic arts would change life in a post-industrial world. Cool things, just not enough for me, and the world felt a little flat and hollow because of it. At least, in comparison to Sanderson's usual efforts.

      None of that here. This book goes deep. This book has so many references to the previous trilogy and the characters I love that I was getting teary eyed with nostalgia. You're damn right Vin was the blade when she fought. You tell 'em, TenSoon. Also, TenSoon! He's in it!

      Revelations about the current state of the world abound, in a similar way to Hero of Ages. Sazed isn't having the easiest time as the new god of the world it seems. Speaking of Sazed, or should I say Harmony, he makes a much bigger appearance this time around. We got a few words out of him last time when he spoke to Wax as the subtle voice of god, but this time they have a full on, pages long conversation.

      Basically, this was everything I wanted the first book to be.
    • 3/5
      I’m tired of murderers driving the plot. Not that I remember the plot two days after reading it, oh right a sort of rogue angel/shapechanger corpse eater. Lovely.
    • 4/5
      The second of the Wax and Wayne adventures in the Mistborn series. Somehow these don't quite seem to have the spark the initial trilogy had. This one has some comparative philosophy forcibly inserted into it, to further increase the stodginess. But most of the time it remains quite fun. There's a fairly significant disconnect with the first book because Sanderson was writing the Wheel of Time at the same time, and this notably changes how the story was planned out. THe Mastermind behind the last set of books whom we could reasonably have expected to have been Wax's main focus, takes a back seat as a new player is randomly introduced.Suddenly - within a few months of the previous book the city is on edge and in turmoil. Wax is called away (to his relief) from his social duties and progressing engagement to Steris, because the City Ruler's brother has been found murdered amoungst a gathering of other crime lords and less noble families. Hints of corruption in the highest places don't do well to calm the City and so Wax needs to find out what had happened. It's fairly clear some significant Metalmind had been at work.The crime and the solution all work out fairly well. I'm less keen on the random jumps in POV to another characters. Steris and Marisa get very little opportunity to progress their development instead it's all Wax rushing about and being led by the nose. Enjoyable but despite Sanderson's attempts to include some social commentary it doesn't work as well as the early ones.
    • 4/5
      Ah, Sanderson did it again, building political machinations on top of an already complex world. This reminded me that I REALLY need to do an original trilogy reread soon because there are many more references to characters from the old world, with a couple appearances by some...

      The fact that Lessie was a kandra plant by Harmony is just a shattering twist. Not surprising, I suppose, since this is the realm of the gods, but man. Gonna take something significant to pull Wax out of this BSOD.

      I also noticed a subtle mention to the next book, the Bands of Mourning... which might be some kind of Feruchemical band? Hm.
    • 5/5
      This is the 5th book in the Mistborn mega saga, and extends directly from Alloy of Law. As is typical with Sanderson, the world is believable, the characters emotionally engaging, and the plot well written. However, I do feel that a couple of supporting characters were slightly imbalanced, not getting good coverage, but that's a minor nitpick. Sanderson had me guessing the entire time on who the "bad guy" was. He introduced new story elements that were not fully flushed out and that will likely be written out in more detail in upcoming books. Fantastic read.
    • 4/5
      I liked this a lot more than the previous book. I suppose that's because the contrast between Alloy of Law and The Hero Of Ages was just too big, and the memories of HoA were still too fresh. Now, with a bit of distance, the book was actually quite well-done. In parts funny, in parts insightful, and generally a good story.
    • 4/5
      The fantasy world Sanderson creates for this series is refreshingly different. The magic system has a certain...well, not logic (it is magic, after all) but a certain kind of consistency. There are rules. The magic users can't just mumble a spell or wave a wand. This gives it the feel of a place that isn't just made up but of one that, perhaps, could be a universe with slightly different physical laws from ours. (Okay, VERY different physical laws, but sometimes you just have to suspend disbelief for the sake of the story.) But the economic similarities between the fantasy setting and the U.S.A. between the late 19th and mid 20th centuries lend a certain aspect of verisimilitude, as if a place like this could actually exist. The writing is quite good. The characters have personality, understandable motivations, and some are quite likable. Some you like a bit and hate a bit, which points out something else I appreciate. It's not always clear who the 'good guys' are. This is especially true in this fifth book of the Mistborn series. The protagonist often seems like a comic book superhero, not especially brilliant, but well-meaning as he muddles through the situations around him. It isn't until the very end that he suspects his life and the lives of everyone else are being manipulated. What he will do about this remains to be seen (in the next book?).