The Bands of Mourning

Mistborn, Era 2: Wax & Wayne #3

by Brandon Sanderson

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.

The Bands of Mourning are the mythical metal minds owned by the Lord Ruler, said to grant anyone who wears them the powers that the Lord Ruler had at his command. Hardly anyone thinks they really exist. A kandra researcher has returned to Elendel with images that seem to depict the Bands, as well as writings in a language that no one can read. Waxillium Ladrian is recruited to travel south to the city of New Seran to investigate. Along the way he discovers hints that point to the true goals of his uncle Edwarn and the shadowy organization known as The Set.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Steampunk, Adult

437 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2016

About the author

I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.

The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.

During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.

Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.

November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.

Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.

I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.

Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!

Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.

I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.

Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.

Reviews

[Sean Barrs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I just fall in love with an organisation freak named Steris?



Seriously though, her character really shines through in this book. Before she just seemed a bit dull, and perhaps even ordinary, but this clearly isn’t the case. She is an exceptional woman, one who is clearly overlooked and dramatically undervalued by all that meet her. Behind her stoic appearance and general aura of nonchalance is a woman who is slightly obsessive to a fault; however, she is also fiercely loyal to her friends and family. She is the sort of person you simply want on your side in a conflict.

So this book, for me, was all about her. Sure Wax goes on another exciting adventure, but this was Steris’ breakout book if you like: it was the book in which the true nature of her character was revealed. She reminded me somewhat of a librarian or an archivist, a person who has been shut away from reality for some time and is finally having to face it. She’s clumsy and awkward. She’s inexperienced and a minor liability, though she is also brave and willing to adapt. She doesn’t want to be left behind, and she is willing to become something more to insure that this doesn’t become the case. And you really have to respect her for it. She’s a great character. For me, there wasn’t much else in this book.

Postscript- I couldn’t help picturing her as Evelyne from the mummy hence the gif at the start!

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[Petrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bands of Mourning is the best of Mistborn: Wax and Wayne so far.

Out of the three books available so far in Mistborn: Wax & Wayne series, The Bands of Mourning is definitely the best one for me. It is the penultimate installment to the second era of Mistborn Saga, and I have a feeling The Lost Metal will deliver a more superior and satisfying volume to the series. I loved The Bands of Mourning. I remember the first time I read through it, during the last 30% of the book, I kept wondering how Sanderson constantly came up with all these brilliant ideas for his stories? I remember thinking that genius is an understatement for Sanderson. It has been six years since then, and after my reread, I feel the notion keeps getting stronger and more evident. In The Bands of Mourning, Sanderson showed glimpses of the glorious future that Mistborn Saga will have. And believe me, judging from what happened at the end of this novel, The Lost Metal and Mistborn Era 3 will be spellbinding.

“I learned how much power over a situation you gain when you decide that you don't care what others think of you.”

I should note, at this stage of the series, remembering that this is also a follow-up series to the first Mistborn trilogy, it's getting much harder to write a comprehensive spoiler-free review. I will avoid major revelations and spoilers, and make this review as brief as possible. The Bands of Mourning continues from where Shadows of Self left off. I've mentioned earlier that The Bands of Mourning is the best of Mistborn: Wax and Wayne so far. I need to, however, mention that I don't think The Bands of Mourning has reached the height of Mistborn: The Final Empire or The Hero of Ages yet. But that's me speaking on an overall package. The quality in the last 30% of The Bands of Mourning felt equivalent to the level displayed in the original Mistborn trilogy imo. Some major twists and revelations occurred, the ending was beautiful, and most of all, if you're reading this for the first time, the epilogue will show you what Sanderson is planning next for Lost Metal. And I mean it, literally the last words of the book. I was so hooked, surprised, and thoroughly entertained. And yet, I'm left wanting more.

“If you had to shoot a man, society had already failed.”

I will acknowledge that the train robbery sequence in The Bands of Mourning felt a bit lacking, in my opinion. But everything after that, starting from New Seran up to the iconic Sanderlanche at the end, was just unputdownable for me. I totally think the action sequences in The Bands of Mourning are the most intense and incredible of Mistborn: Wax and Wayne so far. I can't mention specifics because they're all spoilers, but if you're craving the standard pulse-pounding Sanderlanche, you will be getting one here. Sanderson is a master at crafting great climax sequences at the final 20-30% of any of his books in the Cosmere. And this always makes me happy. When I'm reading a Sanderson book, I know I will receive a magnificent action sequence at the end, and it is certainly delivered in The Bands of Mourning.

“The difference between good and evil men is not found in the acts they are willing to commit—but merely in what name they are willing to commit them in.”

This review won't be completed without me mentioning one of the best parts, maybe even the best part, of the entire book: the character development. Wax, Wayne, and Marasi have been pivotal in Alloy of Law and Shadows of Self, and they undoubtedly developed so much in The Bands of Mourning, well, maybe not too much for Wayne; he's still mostly the same. However, the spotlight in this book has been stolen by one character, and her name is Steris. Yes, STERIS! I remember how I felt neutral about her in Alloy of Law, but Steris received tremendous character development here, and it is not far-fetched to say that she became one of my favorite supporting characters. This was already true on my first read. And it's even more apparent in my reread. I found Steris to be an endearing character, especially after knowing much more about her personality in The Bands of Mourning. She is such a lovable character. Read this book now, and be prepared to love another fictional character. I love how neat, sweet, realistic, and organized she is. And I love how she always has a backup plan for every situation. While Wayne is mostly there as comic relief, not to say there weren't any emotional moments, Steris was definitely in the book to warm our hearts. I absolutely loved Wax and Steris's relationship development. I've read every book in the Cosmere universe by Sanderson so far, and I think Wax and Wayne are my favorite pairing of them all. They're at least up there with Vin and Elend for me. The ending was just beautiful, and I gladly smiled out of pure happiness.

“I’m wondering if every person I pass has similar depths, and if there’s any way to avoid the mistake of judging them so shallowly that I’m rocked when they show their true complexity.”

I will end my review for The Bands of Mourning here. I have reread the series, right from Mistborn: The Final Empire to The Bands of Mourning, in preparation for the upcoming The Lost Metal next month. And I am so excited about it. I remember saying, "I cannot wait to read The Lost Metal in 2018." Well, that ended up being so far from the truth. But the time is finally near. The Lost Metal will be out soon. Sanderson has mentioned that Mistborn Saga and his magnum opus, The Stormlight Archive, are two series in the Cosmere universe that he will work on until the end of his career. That means we still have at least seven more books in the Mistborn Saga. Including The Lost Metal, which will conclude Mistborn: Wax and Wayne series, there will be two more Mistborn trilogies. One takes place in a contemporary setting, and finally, the last trilogy will be set in a futuristic sci-fi setting. And I can safely say this, I will be joining not only all the adventures in the Mistborn Saga but also the entire Cosmere universe. Bring it on, The Lost Metal.

Picture: The Bands of Mourning by Shuravf



P.S: Sanderson has mentioned it's better to start reading Mistborn: Secret History only after you finished reading The Bands of Mourning. I suggest you follow his advice.


You can order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

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[Clace · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.50!

“The difference between good and evil men is not found in the acts they are willing to commit—but merely in what name they are willing to commit them in.”

I still believe the alloy of law is the best among the three for me because lt felt very fresh to me but this is a close second, I enjoyed it way more in this reread tbh The ending was truly phenomenal I mean world jumpers??? I need the next one immediately. It felt so good to read about them and the way everything was being handled was really well done. The writing style will never ever disappoint me when it comes to Brandon so it's safe to say I was enjoying this.

Unlike in the last one I really started rooting for characters and I see how it links with the secret history. I enjoyed reading Wax's pov more and Wayne and Marasi are always so fun to read. Wayne is the definition of delusional because him going after Ranette LMAOO I loved it! Steris also improved A LOT in this! I liked harmony better in this one and MeLaan didnt disappoint. The world constantly evolves and improves with every book and the action sequences in this one were so one.

I feel like it's rather unusual for me to think this way towards Sandersons books because I love them all I love it still but I just think that I compare it with the first trilogy it I just miss the first trilogy so much I want something like it something similar something epic but its not fair to set the same expectations with this one while its not as amazing as the first era it was so damn good that I actually gave three of the books a 5. I am so excited for my reread for the lost metal!

Overall still amazing!
___
Gotta finish our reread for era 2 before October ends! (rereading in prep for SA5)

-Buddy reading with Hoda

[Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing reading fantasy books.

3.5 stars. The best book so far in Mistborn Era 2 still doesn't come close to reaching the heights of Mistborn Era 1.

The Bands of Mourning was quite enjoyable, but it's hard to feel good about this book due to how far away from the quality of the first 3 Mistborn books this is. Ultimately, I feel as if the only real thing that was accomplished in this book is that it increased the scope of the series and the Cosmere, but in true middle-book syndrome, this didn't do much else except set things up for the finale.

I struggle here because I love Sanderson, I love westerns, I love fantasy, and I love comedy - so a book that blends all of these wonderful concepts into one package should be the cream of the crop. But it's a poor western, a light fantasy read, and the comedy completely misses the mark. So the only thing left for me that had much value is that Sanderson wrote it, and while I do thoroughly enjoy his writing style, his trademark writing that is filled with twists and an epic conclusion couldn't hold together this book for me in a wonderful way.

I feel like the characters are a bit uninspired, with the huge exception to that being Steris. Steris is a wonderful example of how Sanderson takes a side character with minimal impact in the early installments, and grows them so well by the end that you start loving them equally or even more than the main characters.

All in all, an enjoyable adventure with some great revelations and expanding the scope of Cosmere and a nice setup for the finale, but as a standalone book, a weak entry into the legacy of Mistborn.

[Tharindu Dissanayake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not insolent, just stupid.

"I’d rather not have ‘shootability’ be my talent."

It may have taken three books, but The Bands of Mourning finally brought 5-star status back to Mistborn.

"Ever since that party half a year back I been workin��� on my smart-person talk…"

We resume the Era 2 journey where we had left things off in Shadows of Self, with almost nothing missing between the two. It was a calm beginning this time with a nice wedding, unlike the ‘usual’ Sanderson frenzy, which actually continued for quite a while like that (with a ‘relaxing’ train robbery.) Politics seems to be the main reason behind this change. But around halfway point, pace quickened instantaneously, and things did not cool down till the end of the book! The author kept throwing twist after twist, conflict after conflict until things escalated to one of the best climaxes of the entire Mistborn series.

Wayne: "In my experience, marryin’ is the only thing people seem to get worse at the more they do it. Well, that and bein’ alive."

Major surprise for me in The Bands of Mourning was the addition of another branch to what had already been a detailed magical system (and the people who came with it.) Not much was revealed about these new elements even by the end of the book, which makes one wonder whether all of this was for the last book or for the next era. Either way, the new additions suddenly opened up many possibilities to expand the story.

Sanderson continuously astounds me when it comes to character development. There is little doubt that Wayne is my absolute favorite of the entire Mistborn series, but the entire cast of this era 2 is just phenomenal. Steris’s character, at least for me, has surpassed Marasi at this point, and I feel a little sad that she is not getting as much time as others do. I think it is the major contrast her character has compared to Wax and Wayne that makes it so…

Wayne: ”Blackwatch Doublestomp.”
Wax: ”… The hell is that?”
Wayne: ”Just made it up. It’s a nifty code name though, eh?”

It is time to look forward to an epic ending to what has been an epic era 2!

"What did one make of a society where everyone hid their true feelings behind a mask, only letting out calculated reactions?"

‘Never’ is a word youths often use, but rarely understand.

[Kells Next Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I choose not to speak but relate my feelings via Gifs as words fail me currently:

My overall view of this Read:


Me while reading this book:


Everytime Wax and Steris shared a Moment, I was like:


I need to talk about this book with someone but you'll have to:



And just in case you unsure if I like this Read.
Just Know:

[Adina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I am done with this series. It is getting too ridiculous. Sorry if you liked this. For my taste, Sanderson's humor is terrible. It feels forced, unnatural and yes, I will say it, stupid. I have been reading at the same time another steampunk series with banter and that was 10 times better. Something you might not expect when comparing the great Sanderson with a self -published author. Ok, Lindsay Buroker has become one my favourite fantasy writers but one would think they should not compare.

I loved the original Mistborn series, so I will be reading more by the author, just not this series.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read done! It was still fantastic. It was still full of fun and wonder. AND it was still everything I expect out of a Sanderson book. Bring on THE LOST METAL...I'm ready.

4.75 Investiture Filled Stars

Buddy read with my friends at Buddies Books & Baubles the discussion is still ongoing but I had to know all the things.

Spoiler Free Review Section:

There is always another secret

How many times have we read those very words throughout the Mistborn saga and been shown yet again that there IS definitely always another secret. Brandon Sanderson has proved that once again in Bands of Mourning. I know who this is about now and I am OMG excited

First he surprised all his fans by revealing that he had a secret project with ended up being a novella set in the time of the first 3 Mistborn with a beloved character. But don’t read it until after Bands of Mourning because there will be some spoilers. Mistborn: Secret History

Second there is the actual book Bands of Mourning which if you are an allomancy/Feruchemy/Hemilurgy nerd like I can be there are new ways of combining metals/powers for cool effects. But with the introduction of Investiture a whole new realm of possibilities opens up and that is the focus of this book. What if you could store allomantic or Feruchemical powers and anyone could use them. The Lord Rulers Bands of Mourning are thought to hold this type of power. The ways that BS explores this new concept hit me right out left field I didn’t expect the story to go that direction but man what a ride.

Third after what Wax went through in Shadows of Self how do you come to terms with your god and the role he chose for you. Wax’s anger is palpable and coming to terms with the events from SoS plays a large role in some of the decisions he is making. But it is hard to avoid Gods plans when he has walking talking emissaries that show up and maneuver you into helping.

Then there are all the great character interactions. I love the bromance between Wax and Wayne how they have something of their own language and know each other so well but at the same time are so different.

Wayne is one of my favorite characters in literature as he has his own special brand of logic and way of looking at the world that is somewhat ridiculous at times but always entertaining, unique and full of funny.

”…At the precinct, when I accomplish something, everyone assumes I had Waxillium’s help. Sometimes it’s like I’m no more than an appendage.”
“You’re not that at all, Marasi,” Wayne said. “You’re important. You help out a lot. Plus you smell nice, and not all bloody and stuff.”
“Great. I have no idea what you just said.”
“Appendages don’t smell nice,” Wayne said. “And they’re kinda gross. I cut one outta a fellow once.”
“You mean an appendix?”
“Sure.” He hesitated.
“So…” “Not the same thing.”
“Right. Thought you was makin’ a metaphor, since people don’t need one of those and all.”

Steris also has become one of my favorite characters in the series. While really pretty stiff and mostly absent in Alloy of Law she has come a long way. Steris was my most improved character in Shadows of Self and in Bands of Mourning she really continues to charm me with her lists, wonder and overthinking of every situation.

“Is that the constables?” Aunt Gin asked, sounding horrified.
“Afraid so,” Wax said, pulling the door closed. The carriage lurched into motion, and Steris leaned out the window, waving farewell to the poor innkeeper.
“Framed for murder!” Steris called to her. “It’s on page seventeen of the list I gave you! Try not to let them harass our servants too much when they arrive!”

But somehow as Wax has come to care about her more so have I and it is official I have changed ships and actually love Wax and Steris for each other now. Don’t judge me, it was hard I’m always super loyal to the first love interest

Finally - New places and new people! Venturing out of Elendale to another city and getting a different perspective on the both the people of Elendale and those in the cities surrounding Elendale gave a new depth to this world and the political issues in it. AND THEN there are the other people with MASKS…..runs away and hides I’ll totally talk about them in the spoiler section of the review. Let’s just say that they are a game changer to this series I think

Spoiler Section of this review is Under Construciton

Oh I have much to say….so it will be a few days after I calm down and think through some things.



Spoiler Section

I was going to write out a long list of all the spoilery stuff but lets just say KELSIER IS HERE and Wax just saw a memory of him. He also was a huge influence on another people that wear masks and have figured out how to do soooo much with allomancy. I cannot wait to find out more about those people and how the God Set is involved...or is it another god altogether. With the red eyes I almost thing it is Odium as well. I guess we will just have to see.

so excited for the reveals to come.

[Mary ~Ravager of Tomes~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So here we are. Here we are.

I just don't know how much more praise I can shower on Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series before people start questioning whether or not I'm in a cult...

ಠ_ಠ

This book was my favorite of the second era Mistborn series. The characters go through some wonderful developments, and I'm fascinated by this mix of Fantasy elements with a Western setting.

I feel like Bands of Mourning works particularly well because by this point we are already very well acquainted with the magic systems, and we've warmed up to our new cast of characters.

So reading this, you're experiencing all the wonder & excitement of a brand new adventure while feeling cozy & comfortable beneath a heavy blanket of nostalgia.

This has been one of my favorite reading journeys I've ever taken. EVER.

Reading it with Celeste just made the experience all that more memorable!

I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty messed up right now thinking about how long I will have to wait to continue this series. But I'm forever grateful for its existence.

Please enjoy this actual footage of me while I wait:

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024: I keep forgetting how amazing era 2 is!

2022: Normally I’m not one to look forward to rainy, dreary, dark November that befalls some unlucky parts of the northern hemisphere, but such is the magic of Sanderson: I can’t wait to read the conclusion to Wax and Wayne! Bring it on, November!

Re-read 2022: already worth it because I now know who Khriss is! Cosmere crossovers are so cool.

2020: What the hell?? Seriously, what did Bran San just do to me? Admittedly, the first half or so went at quite a leisurely, but enjoyable, entertaining pace, but then it was 120 m/h on the autobahn. My poor heart just could not keep up: there were almost-crashes, followed by relief, actual crashes, tears, more relief…. You get the metaphorical picture. And I still loved every bit of it. (Unlike driving that fast; not my thing.) #happilyunhappy

In case you’re new to my glowing reviews of the Mistborn series and maybe even to the books themselves, let me reiterate: I live and breathe for this world Sanderson the literary genius/god created; it is so incredibly and brilliantly imaginative, captivating and fascinating - you will absolutely love it too.

In the first era of the Mistborn series (books 1-3), Kelsier, Vin, Elend et al., survive (?) and fight for a better life in a dark, mostly depressing, medieval-y, apocalyptic world plagued by constant ashfalls. (But hey, at least they have access to the coolest magic system ever.)

The second era (books 4-7) takes place 300 years after the events of book 3 and is set in a distinctly different, more light and cheerful ‘brave new’ world with brand-new protagonists (Waxillium, Wayne, Marasi, Steris): think urban fantasy/steampunk with a little Wild-West feel thrown in there, with a hell of a lot of mystery and action, while thankfully still featuring – and expanding on – the magic system of Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Metallurgy.

I am beyond happy that there will be a seventh book of this awesomeness. I need me some more of Wayne’s ridiculousness and disguises, more of Wax’s sharp mind and super-hero, awe-inspiring fighting skills, more of Steris’s increasingly endearing control-freak-y yet adventurous nature, more of MeLaan’s numerous entertaining body switches and general bad-assery, more of this brilliant world and I most definitely need some answers to all that mystery!

If you’re still not (thinking of) reading this (or maybe have only read the first three books), please check out my reviews of the previous books and join me as a *Bran. San. Stan* 😊:

The Final Empire (Mistborn #1)
The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2)
The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3)
The Alloy of Law (Mistborn #4)
Shadows of Self (Mistborn #5)

Happy reading!

[Luna. ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 MIND BLOWN STARS ★★★★★

“He’s the man who takes the bullet so nobody else has to.”

HOW FUCKING DARE THIS BOOK BE SO BLOODY AMAZING! Seriously.. That ending holy fucking shit. This book has left me breathless... like wow! So different to anything I've read by Sanderson but it was incredible and is my favourite of all six Mistborn books! This book felt different from the first page, it was so fucking exciting and I knew straight away it was building up to a massive ending.. I'm gobsmacked. This is the hardest book I've ever had to review, how can you review such perfection?
I've been waiting for this book for my whole existence.

“Do you ever wonder if perhaps the cosmere is out to overwhelm you, Lord Waxillium?”

I'm convinced Sanderson is not a human being. How does his brain think of such complex plots, how can a human write so many books in the one universe and have them all connected in some way. How does he manage to blow my mind in every single book? My conclusion is he is an alien who has cloned himself to write so fast. I love Brandon Sanderson so much and this book has just confirmed to me that he is the King of fantasy. I swear if your not a fan then I hate you.

So basically this book follows Wax & Wayne again, they and Marasi are sent on a secret mission. Steris comes along with them and finally gets some decent page space. A lot of questions are answered. I also noticed a certain someone posing as a beggar. It also has the best fight on a train with guns scene, that was absolutely epic and that ending was ridiculous (in a good way). I got Biosock vibes.

The character growth for everyone was amazing and the bromance between Wax & Wayne is one of my favourites. Wax is just so dreamy, you see a much softer side to him in this book. But he is still tough, badass & the most awesome character ever. He is just incredible he is a superhero. And i finally got my ship! Yay.

“Cod-liver oil and metal flakes washed into his mouth. Swallowing took a precious moment.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Power.”

^^ I love these covers so much. Wax is just perfect.

Wayne's character was less like able for me in this book for some reason. He still made me laugh and stuff but something was off about him. He did however have some badass moments.

I've always loved steris so I was happy for her to get more page space& shine like the gem she is her personality is amazing. I adore her. She's one of my favorite female characters ever.

“Since when have you carried one of these?” Wax asked, taking it from her.
“Since about six months ago. I put one into my purse in case you might need it.” She raised her other hand, displaying two more. “I carry the other two because I’m neurotic.”

Marasi actually is slowly wearing on me, I found her much more tolerable in this book. But she's still annoying.

Bring on book seven I need it now.



“Please ignore him,” Steris said, rising and walking over. “Here, I’ve prepared for you a list of possible scenarios that might transpire during our residence here.”
“Steris…” Wax said, forcing open the third and final window.
“What?” she demanded. “I will not have the staff unprepared. Their safety is our concern.”
“Fire?” Aunt Gin asked, reading the list. “Shoot-outs. Robbery. Hostage situations. Explosions?”
“That one is completely unfair,” Wax said. “You’ve been listening to Wayne.”
“Things do explode around you, mate,” Wayne said, munching peanuts.”

[Nikola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Najlepsza z drugiej ery!

[Warda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I do not know how to review these books. This book. This spin-off series. It's not that I have been rendered speechless. It's just slightly difficult, mainly when it comes to the plot. So, I'll try to break it down into sections. It will be more of a series review, rather than focusing on The Bands of Mourning alone.

Plot/world-building:
This I will say went slightly over my head, especially as the books progressed. Each time I thought I had a grasp of it, a different point connecting to the plot would be mentioned and I'd be lost again. It's the main reason why I couldn't give these books 5 stars and it's more of a fault on my own rather than Sanderson. Can't fault Sanderson. Borders blasphemy, let's get real here.
It is something that I know would become clearer for me when I do decide to reread them though.

But in true Sanderson style, it is epic and grand and complex. There's always more to the story than what meets the eye and you follow the characters on the journey, especially Wax, as they're trying to solve it themselves. You are as confused as the characters are. I mean, once you start reading Sanderson's books, you just give up on even trying to guess what the plot twits are, because he's leagues ahead. And Sanderson is a genius, so that doesn't help either.

And I can't forget to mention his classic avalanche endings that come barging at you out of nowhere. There was that slight scare when it was bluntly written on the page that Wax had died. I mean, what the fuck?! I would've been so angry! Sanderson just can't pull another Kelsier on us, he needs to ban that trope from his stories!

The world-building, again, is just epic. Phenomenal. It expands a ton-load on the original Mistborn trilogy and this will sound like a broken record since every reviewer that is familiar with his work would have mentioned it, but HOW DOES HE DO IT? Where do these ideas pop out from? Does he have a metal mind that stores up all of his ideas? I mean, there's no other explanation for it. That has to be it! It was ingenious as always.

It's all very Sherlock Holmes style, which was incredible and so enjoyable to read.

Characters:
Well, this is where the book excelled for me. Marasi, Steris, Melaan and our main boys, Wax and Wayne. They're a duo of the strongest kind. Cannot be separated. The true definition of Yin and Yang. They're dynamic was written insanely well! Wax being the thinker, and Wayne being the light-hearted one in the relationship. Sanderson described him best when he said that Wayne has enough eccentricity for three characters. That man was born to stand out!

This is another thing I appreciated and loved about this spin-off. How light-hearted and hilarious it was.

“Nice flower,” the kandra said. “Can I have your skeleton when you’re dead?”
“My…” Wayne felt at his head.
“You’re a Bloodmaker, correct? Can heal yourself? Bloodmaker bones tend to be particularly interesting, as your time spent weak and sickly creates oddities in your joints and bones that can be quite distinctive. I’d love to have your skeleton. If you don’t mind.”
Taken aback by this request, Wayne stopped in place. Then he ran past him, pushing into the room where Wax and Steris were talking. “Wax,” he complained, pointing, “the immortal bloke is being creepy again.”

Isn't he just adorable?! :P

I'm going to stop here before I start writing an essay on these characters.
Overall, I loved it. Of course I did. It is Brandon Sanderson. He cannot do no wrong in my eyes. The man just knows his shit!

[✨ A ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously people, if you're on the hedge about whether to start this series or not — GET 👏 TO👏 IT 👏.

“I’ve been a lot of people, Ladrian. Seen through a lot of eyes. There’s always another perspective, if you look hard enough.”

What are the Bands of Mourning? Rumoured to be metal minds of legend, said to grant the beholder incredible power. Most people don't believe The Bands made it through the Catacendre and that their existence is only a myth.

Wax was of the same thought until a Kandra researcher returns from the south, injured, with evidence of their existence. But the Kandra was not the only one in search of The Bands.

Wax, Wayne, Marasi, Steris and MeLaan are sent to investigate and try to stop The Bands of Mourning from falling into the wrong hands.


Whenever I finish one of Sanderson's books I'm filled with a hunger for more. Knowing that there are plenty more of his books for me to make my way through, as well as all the new content he has planned, fills me with such immense joy. The future of this franchise is a bright one.

The writing style, fast pace, action and ‘quest’ nature of this book kept me hooked. I usually read multiple books at the same time but I found I could not concentrate on anything else. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about this book and it's characters — wondering how Sanderson in next going to blow me away!

The plot took a different turn, that I was not expecting. Sanderson melded magic with technology in a way that was so fantastic. I have no idea how he comes up with these ideas but they are nothing short of incredible.

The crew basically go on an adventure outside of Elendel this time and it was so fun reading about. Their interactions, banter and growth in their relationships were, as always, a joy. I cannot get enough of them.

Wax as always is so entertaining to read about. I know he fills the stereotypical hero trope but I still love him anyway. At the beginning of this book he is still raw and hurt from the things he had to endure and it was beautiful to see him slowly heal those wounds.

Steris's growth as a character and how beloved she became to me is astounding. I did not really have any feelings towards her in Alloy of Law, since she was only in a few scenes. But then in Shadows of Self I came to really like her. We share a couple of similarities like my obsessiveness with lists and having the tendency to carry a thousand things in my bag ‘just in case’ 😂. Her social awkwardness was also so comforting and relateble. And I loved the way both she and Wax are able to bond about not fitting in.

Wax and Steris's interactions were of my favourite parts. It warmed my heart to see them find solace in one another. And I'm definitely on that ship.

“Steris, I think we’re all like that. Shuffled from place to place by duty, or society, or God Himself. It seems like we’re just along for the ride, even in our own lives. But once in a while, we do face a choice. A real one. We may not be able to choose what happens to us, or where we’ll stop, but we point ourselves in a direction.”

Wayne is the ray of sunshine in this series. Although he exasperates everyone, they still cherish him because you can't help but love this guy! I hope we get more about him in the next book because I think there is still unexplored depths to his character that we need.

Marasi's growth and self reflection was also really good. She's discovered who she is and what kind of impact she would like to make. And I'm really happy with the direction her character growth has taken.

The plot twists and grand reveals were as expected — executed brilliantly. There were some things I predicted like Wax's two faced sister and things that took me so much by surprise that I found myself exclaiming out loud ‘WHAT!’ many times.



I am filled with questions and I have pages of notes. I cannot wait for the Last Metal, which I'm really hoping will be coming to us soon!

[after this I'm reading The Secret History (Mistborn #3.5) which Sanderson suggests is to be read after BOM]

“I’ve been a lot of people, Ladrian. Seen through a lot of eyes. There’s always another perspective, if you look hard enough.”
___
My reviews for:

Era One

0.5 (short story): The Eleventh Metal
Book 1: The Final Empire
Book 2: The Well of Ascension
Book 3: The Hero of Ages

Book 3.5: The Secret History


Era Two
Book 4: The Alloy of Law
Book 5: Shadows of Self

[Deborah Obida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously have no idea why I'm not giving this 5 stars, I love everything about this book, but I still feel like its missing something. This is my favourite in the Alloy era, lots of twists and turns, amazing locations and lots of lovable new characters that I can't wait to read more about them in the final book. I still love the original characters, Wax,Wayne, Marasi, Steris and MeLaan, non of them annoyed me which is a rarity in a series. They made lots of amazing decisions that got them out of really bad situations.

“Nice flower,” the kandra said. “Can I have your skeleton when you’re dead?”
“My…” Wayne felt at his head.
“You’re a Bloodmaker, correct? Can heal yourself?
Taken aback by this request, Wayne stopped in place. Then he ran past him, pushing into the room where Wax and Steris were talking. “Wax,” he complained, pointing, “the immortal bloke is being creepy again.”

World building and Writing
Since I've already discussed this in my review of alloy of law, I won't say much about it here to avoid repitition. There is a lot of improvement in both the world building and writing that I really like. The new locations was perfectly interwoven into the story and the writing just gets better.

"Gettin’ old,” Wayne said with a grin, passing him and starting up the next ladder.
“Don’t be dense,” Wax said, grabbing the ladder below him and climbing. “I’m trying to pace myself. What if we reach the top and have to fight?”
“You can throw your wooden teeth at ’em,” Wayne said from above. “Do some cane waggin’ as well. I’m sure you’re cross about stayin’ up so late.”
"I should deck you right in your grin,” he grumbled as he joined the still-smiling Wayne on the catwalk. “But you’d just heal.”
“Nah,” Wayne said. “I’d fall over and groan. Considerin’ your age, it’s more important to make you feel you’ve accomplished somethin’ in a day.”
“If I shot you,” Wax said, “nobody would blame me. They’d probably just say, ‘Wow. You lasted that long? I’d have shot him years ago.’ Then they’d buy me a pint.”
“Now, that hurts, it does,” Wayne said.

Characters
This is my favourite thing in this book. The characters are one in a million type. They all have different personalities and are unique in their own way even though they have the same goal.
Wax was all action than words as usual, I also love that he is a startegist. Its also nice that he finally forgave himself.
Wayne and his crazy sense of morality, it finally paid off here, I love his loyalty to Wax is unquestionable, I hope he forgive himself in the next book for what he did in the past.
Marasi is even more badass than before, she still felt like a shadow sometimes but she moved on and didn't let it hold her back, I for one like the decision she made after she made peace with herself.
MeLaan, go girl, she is even more badass than TenSoon, I love how blunt she is about what she is.

"Gonna be hard to sneak in there,” Wayne said.
“You could kill one of the guards for me,” MeLaan said, settling onto a rock. “I’d eat him, take his shape, and slip us in that way.”

Steris,really surprised me here, I realize that I wrongly misjudged her, she is weird and all but she is more flexible than people give het credit for, and she is not cold at all just reserved.

He glanced at her, then down at her purse. “They searched your purse.”
“That they did,” she said, then took the hem of her skirt, lifting it up to the side and revealing a small handgun strapped to her thigh. “I worried they’d do something like that. So I made other plans.”
Wax grinned. “I could get used to having you around, Steris.”

I sure love the way things ended for her.She fell in love with Wax and he returned her feelings, even made their wedding romantic, its no longer marriage about political allies and connection but love.

[Hoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

”“Go,” Marasi said. “Do what you do best, Waxillium Ladrian.”
“Which is what? Break things?”
“Break things,” Marasi said, “with style.”

The last few chapters made me go through all types of emotions 🌚 Brandon when i catch u Brandon 🔪
This is easily my favorite book in era 2. It was so good and exciting because a-lot of things happened and more stuff were revealed. It made me go crazy with thought and theories ( that were mostly stupid now that i think about it🌚). But yeah I enjoyed it so mich especially the last few chapters because the made me cry 😭.

I definitely recommend this series 🤍

”“The definition of a lawman, Uncle, is easy,He’s the man who takes the bullet so nobody else has to.”

“Did she come here? When she passed?”
Harmony smiled. “She asked me to look after you.”

Emotional damage 😭😭😭💔💔

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022 reread: I enjoyed revisiting this story so much. The characters are among some of my favorites, and I was shocked by how much of the last part of the story I had forgotten. I stand by everything I wrote in my original review, especially about not being able to what for The Lost Metal. But the wait is almost over!

Original 2017 review

I’m not sure I can write a review of this book that does it any kind of justice. I try to write reviews that actually contain some kind of cohesive thoughts about the book, but I’m afraid all I can do is gush right now. Bands of Mourning was absolutely fantastic from beginning to end. I enjoyed myself immensely, and am so looking forward to any and all Mistborn stories Sanderson puts out in the future. Or any stories in the Cosmere, honestly. I just really love Sanderson, okay?!

There was so much character development here, especially from Steris. I know there are those who think that Sanderson fails at crafting believable, sympathetic characters. I’ve read some reviews that go so far as to say that his characters tend to be cardboard. I simply can’t agree. But I will say that his characters have become warmer and more genuine to me in his later books. I’m more attached to Wax and Wayne and the gang than I was to Vin and Elend, though I really enjoyed their story. I never saw a lack in his writing, but he’s done nothing but improve with every book he publishes. And I really love how he brings back characters from other books in different forms and capacities. (Those who have already read this know exactly who I’m talking about. One in particular. I had to give myself literally hours after finishing this book to be able to think of anything but a certain reappearance.

Just about everyone can agree that Sanderson excels at world building and magic systems and incredibly engaging action scenes and plot twists. This book and the books that preceded it were no exception. There was never a dull moment. There was humor, devastation, joy, shock, awe, and romance to be found within these pages. As my beautiful friend Mary pointed out, Sanderson gave an amazing gift to his fans with these Alloy Era books. There were new characters and adventures in a fascinating new time period, but in a world his fans had already fallen in love with. He knocked it out of the park, and I can’t wait to read The Lost Metal. No really, I can’t…

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again. Okay 😏

[Sanaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

[5 Stars] I absolutely loved this. It may be one of my favorite Sanderson novels yet. I literally do not have the words to express just how much I adored this book. I'm in desperate need of the last book in this series now, but hey I think Stormlight #3 might be enough to tide me over until then!

[JustJJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blog | Instagram

Rating: 4.5 stars

'The Bands of Mourning' was a delightful return to the fast-paced, light-hearted style that drew me into this series.
Similar read: The Silverblood Promise by James Logan
 
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
While I do not find this cover particularly eye-catching, it nicely captures an aspect of the story and fits well with the rest of the series.
 
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The intricate world and magic system are brilliantly expanded once again, and the story is brought to life with rich descriptions and an easy-to-follow writing style. While there are some information dumps, these were never overwhelming and did not make the story less engaging.

"I learned how much power over a situation you gain when you decide that you don't care what others think of you."

Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The story opens with an insightful prologue before picking up a few months after the events of the previous book. A fast-paced, action-packed investigation is then quickly set in motion, with several twists and turns keeping the storyline gripping and leading to a satisfying conclusion. There is even a final twist that sets things up nicely for the next book.
 
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟🌟
More of Wax's backstory and nerdy side are revealed in this book, which made his character more likeable and easy to connect with. His struggles with fitting into elite society and coming to terms with previous events also added depth to his character and allowed for some growth.
 
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I couldn't get enough of the hilarious and heartwarming interactions between Wax, Wayne, Marasi, Steris, and Milan. Wayne remained my favourite character due to his quirky perspective, and his slight character growth only made me love him more. Marasi and Steris also experienced heartwarming character developments that made them even more likeable, while MeLaan was simply a badass.

"Love is always a foolish emotion. That’s what makes it work."

Romance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wax's awkward romance dynamics are neatly resolved in this story, with cute moments that convincingly advance his relationship with one of the characters. However, I was a little disappointed that little came of Wayne's crush, even though he bounced back pretty fast.
 
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Nothing new here. Michael Kramer nailed the narration of this story with accents, character voices and natural, emotive vocal nuances.

[JAIME LOUISE · Rating 5 out of 5]

1000......that is the number of times I whispered 'HOLY SHIT!' to myself while listening to this.

PS: Michael Kramer rules.

[Hamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷

“If you had to shoot a man, society had already failed.”

The Final Empire ★★★★ 1/2
The Well of Ascension ★★★★★
The Hero of Ages ★★★★ 1/4
The Alloy of Law ★★★★ 1/4
Shadows of Self ★★★ 1/2
The Bands of Mourning ★★★★

I was a bit disappointed by The Shadows of Self and did not know what to expect with this one. Fortunately, this entry got things back on track and I am loving this second series once again.

I don’t have much to say about the book, but the problems I had in the last book were resolved here. I was not much confused here because it felt less dependent on the original trilogy than the last book was. The event takes place after the last book but it was more clear and distinct for me.

Wax and Wayne are a great duo with magical dynamics that I can’t get enough of. Even Marasi and Steris were well written. I thought that the characters were well written from the beginning of the series but they only grow more with this book.

“The definition of a lawman, Uncle, is easy,” Wax said, feeling blood from a dozen cuts trickle down his face. He lifted Suit by the front of his clothing, bringing him close. “He’s the man who takes the bullet so nobody else has to.”

The writing was good, I mean I have finished all the entries in the Mistborn series now and it is not a question if whether the writing is good or not!! The world-building is great and we got more in this book which is all I was asking for.

Summary: I don’t have much to say about this book because it was simply very good. Great characters and magic system, very accessible writing and an intense plot! Not much to criticize here. I can’t wait to read The Lost Metal which is the last entry in this series!

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's see...

2 stars for most of the book, which was so boring I wanted to put it down, and way too bad to actually be written by Brandon Sanderson.

4 stars for the rest of the book, which was the best part of the Second era of Mistborn by far.

5 stars for Steris. In a world of disappointing characters hardly even comparable to the legends from the time of the Final Empire, this girl stands out as a shining beacon of perfection.

5 stars for the epilogue. I saw it coming about three books ago, and it's been motivating me to get through this, but anyone who knows me and knows Mistborn will know why I loved it.

[TS Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sept 2022: Reread in preparation for The Lost Metal.

Amazing! Mistborn Era 2 is even better upon reread when one gains more and more insights and knowledge about the Cosmere and its wider implications. The progression of 'technology' from the use of the metallurgical investiture on Scadrial is simply brilliant and absolutely ingenious.
I personally loved era 2 more, not just because of what I've mentioned above, but due to characters that I enjoy more - namely the incredible duo of Wax & Wayne, the misunderstood but wonderful Steris and the hilarious but badass MeLaan.

‐---------------------------
Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you, a master of sequels, action scenes and "the last 20%". Mr Sanderson, please take a bow!

Talk about taking it to the next level! The only sequel of Sanderson's which fell short for me was The Well of Ascension; this one however suffers no such disinclination. Bands of Mourning relived some of the epicness of the initial trilogy while still maintaining the tone of a detective story coupled with a grand adventure more suited to this era. And in the vein of this era's Mistborn books thus far, this is a fast-paced story with some really cool action scenes.

One of the questions I've always had in my mind when Sanderson said that the Mistborn series will span multiple eras was how he will incorporate the magic system into technological advances - Bands of Mourning definitely provided some insight here. Keeping true to his own laws, Sanderson expands on the metallurgic magic system of Scadrial by going deeper into the concepts and introducing cool, new and modern ways of applying Allomancy, Feruchemy and Hemalurgy.

Epicness and cool magic system aside, a book is nothing without its characters. Wax is.. well.. Wax - a force of nature, born of two worlds, and in my mind, kind of hot. His interactions with Wayne are always entertaining and the reader can sense the depth and strength of the friendship/partnership between these two characters. I particularly loved this exchange:

"Focus, Wayne," Wax said. "How are we going to get in? Shall we try Fat Belt?"
"Nah," Wayne said, "too loud. I think we should do Spoiled Tomato."
"Dangerous," Wax said, shaking his head. "I'd have to do the placement just right.."
"You can do it. You make shots like that all the time.. "
"A mistake could ruin the whole infiltration, healing power or no," Wax said. "I think we should do Duck Under Clouds instead."
"You kiddin'?" Wayne said. "Didn't you get shot last time we tried that?"
"Kinda," Wax admitted.
"Tube Run," Wayne said
"No glue."
"Banefielder?"
"Too dark"
"Blackwatch Doublestomp"
Wax hesitated. "... The hell is that?"
"Just made it up," Wayne said, grinning. "It's a nifty code name though, eh?"

No one doubts that Wayne will yet again deliver his unusual yet humorous spin of logic. MeLaan was also equally hilarious and extraordinary (that's really kind of her nature). Marasi has her moments, which was an improvement from the last book, but with such a stellar cast of characters, she was kind of left in the shadows most of the times.

The new star of this series to me was Steris-who has truly come into her own. Her character development was fantastic and I absolutely adore her!! It's really been a very long while since I was this taken by a female character and I applaud Sanderson for nailing it this time-a woman who is "so full of logic and yet so full of wonder at the same time".

The scope in Bands of Mourning extends way beyond the confines of Elendel and without giving away too much, we get quite a decent amount of worldbuilding, as well as hints of something bigger and badder to come. The last 20%, not surprisingly, was a roller-coaster of twists and turns. Even then, Sanderson was not done until the very last paragraph and last word of the book. Diabolical genius!

On this note, to gain the maximum experience from this series, please read Mistborn : Secret History AFTER Bands of Mourning.

[Mario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survive.


Firstly I should say that this review will contain some spoilers but I will put that spoiler sign (or whatever it's called) every time I spoil something

HOLY SHIT THIS BOOK WAS GOOD!!!! Previous two books were amazing and they blew me away, but this book blew me away on a completely new level. I've said this many times (and I'll probably say it many times in the future) I don't know how Sanderson does it. How is his writing so perfect?! And even when I think that I've gotten used to his writing, he writes another book and it blows me away again. He is without a doubt my favorite author.

Now about the book... First thing I should mention is the prologue. As usual, the prologue was about Wax's past, and I loved reading about that (especially now that his sister was in it who turned out to be a major bitch). Then we came back to present and things got even better. I loved that Sanderson expanded the world in this book so much. Reading about Investiture
and Identity was really interesting, and I hope that they will play big part in the last book.

Then I wanna mention the character and AMAZING character development (especially Marasi and Steris). I loved chemistry between Wax and Wayne, and I think that their conversations were one of my favorite parts of the book (I also loved the friendship between Marasi and Wayne). Wayne remained to be my favorite character, but surprisingly, Marasi became my second favorite (sorry Wax). She completely blew me away in this book. In one scene she reminded me of Vin so much (that scene also was the most badass scene in whole Wax and Wayne series-Marasi kicked some ASS). One more thing I want to mention is the relationship between Wax and Steris. Sanderson handled their relationship so well, so I definitely ship it. since i mention shipping, another surprise were Wayne and MeLaan. I never thought I'd say this but I loved the idea of them together!

But then, after I thought all the surprises were over, came the Epilogue. After I first read the last few sentences and I didn't quite understand what happened, so I just shrugged and read it again (few times actually). And then it hit me. And oh boy, my mind was BLOWN. Sanderson YOU CAN'T JUST END A BOOK LIKE THAT!!! Damn I hate cliffhangers. But on the bright side, I can't even imagine just how amazing the last book in this series will be. It has potential to be right there with Hero of Ages (which is my favorite book ever). I just don't know how I'll survive until it comes out.

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”The difference between good and evil men is not found in the acts they are willing to commit—but merely in what name they are willing to commit them in.”

after the events of the previous book, Wax is still reeling from it and trying to make a way for himself once again. so when a kandra researcher brings forth a job of sorts for Wax, he goes to investigate. they’re searching for the bands of mourning— bracers that the lord ruler was rumored to have created, that allows the wearer the ability to use the same powers that he had. i think this book had a lot of amazing character moments for all those involved: Wax, Wayne, Marasi and Steris, which was great and it had a nice balance of both plot progression and character development overall. the scenes on the train were my favorite , hands down.

“I saw it in his eyes, first. That hunger, that fire. And then I found it in myself. He's a flame, Waxillium is, and fire can be shared. When I'm out here, when I'm with him, I burn, Marasi. It's wonderful.”

i loved Steris and Marasi’s arcs the most cause i didn’t know how to feel about Steris before this but now i love her. the way she’s come to terms with the role she plays in their group and doesn’t try to do anything other than what she knows she can succeed at is honestly a breath of fresh air. i think there’s strength in knowing your own capabilities and not letting people’s expectations steer you off course. Marasi had a similar experience but for different reasons, i just want her to be happy cause she strikes me as a bit of a wanderer. im also not so subtly obsessed with MeLaan.. who would’ve thought she’d be such an MVP of the series this far. Wayne is the kind of aloof personality that people who take things so seriously need to keep sane, not to say that he doesn’t have more to him though cause he does. the ending had my jaw dropping, was not expecting that. im beyond curious to see how this 2nd era will wrap up.. so good!

[Melissa ~ Bantering Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I spoke too soon.

In my review of Brandon Sanderson’s The Alloy of Law, the first book of the Wax and Wayne era of Mistborn, I stated that this second era was lighter and less serious than the original trilogy. Boy was I wrong.

Because now that I’ve made my way through the third Wax and Wayne book, The Bands of Mourning, I can say that each book of this era has grown in its complexity. Politics, economics, ancient myths, and religion are just as integral to the overarching story of Wax and Wayne as they are to the original three books, and the second era is all the better for it.

Thankfully, Sanderson hasn’t sacrificed Wax and Wayne’s trademark humor and fun for the serious stuff. That Wayne, he sure can make a girl laugh. I often find myself rereading his scenes because he shines so brightly on the page.

The Bands of Mourning is the best Wax and Wayne book yet. It’s filled with adventure and emotion, thrills and surprises. My compulsion to turn its pages resulted in many hours of lost sleep.

And I’m so glad I waited to meet Wax and Wayne until all four books of their story had been released. Because if I had a six-year wait ahead of me for the grand finale like most Mistborn fans, the ones who read The Bands of Mourning back in 2016, I don’t know what I would’ve done with myself. I mean, after THAT epilogue?!?! There's no way I could've waited six years for the final book.

Sanderson, you’re a genius. It's time for The Lost Metal.

[Aoife - Bookish_Babbling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um whut did I just read?
🤯🤯🤯

Break things with style

Indeed this series does just that! It completely shatters all expectations for what kind of story a book can tell. Such wonderful activity with just enough clues mixed in for dolts like me to think I might see where it could go before it feints in so many directions at once while blowing your mind with continued expansions & new information. I just don't have the imagination to think up but do have the appetite to lap up with relish.
Thank you Sando for sharing this amazing world and wonderful characters with us 😍

Hopefully without giving anything away this series continues to pack many punches, emotional & mental - it is mind blowing where else Sando manages to take this masterful tale he's crafted. It wonderfully weaves many different types of relationships; sibling bonding, potential romances, interesting new characters - expanding the borders of both the world and magic system previously created in ways I'd never even imagined 🤩

Now to locate some patience as I wait for the next (final?) book of Era2.
I will dive into the Mistborn: Secret History novella, which technically comes before this series but I've heard it might sort of spoil some of the reveals - so I waited to read it. I am excited to have one more hurrah in this world before I join the masses in waiting ... all the while wracking my brain as to what kind of wonderful surprises Sando still has in store for us?! Least of all what on earth could come in Era3 🎉

There's always another secret


BTW - that epilogue...#SandoMicDrop

Okay I failed from my final update & this review can only end on SQUEEEE 🤯

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dammit! Why didn't I have more willpower?! I know a lot of Sanderson fans are waiting for this trilogy to be finished before they would even start. I smugly jumped in , deep in my early gratification, thoroughly enjoying the books. BUT NOW IM SORRY! Because there is soooo long to go for the next one!

This was brilliant and also making me very excited about the third era of trilogies that there will eventually be. I am of course not going to be including spoilers but I will say that I felt very differently about Steris by the end of the book and the technology and other new elements were fantastic.

Very recommended.

[Geek Furioso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanderson siempre lo consigue. Siempre. Bueno, casi siempre, tiene sus momentos en los que baja a cuarta o incluso a tercera. Pero por lo general, siempre tiene el acelerador pisado a fondo. Logra, de una manera brillante e inexplicable, mezclar acción épica, comedia desternillante, romance apasionante, misterio, religión, misticismo y fantasía y engancharte en todas y cada una de las páginas, obligándote a no soltar el libro hasta alcanzar el final.

Fui uno de los que salió levemente decepcionados con Sombras de Identidad, pero creo que la razón es que ese libro no contuvo mucho Cosmere, o mejor dicho, hubo Cosmere mal metido. La era 2 de Mistborn está fuertemente unido con la era 1, no sólo a nivel de trasfondo, sino que los personajes se están enfrentando directamente al legado de los anteriores. Por ejemplo, una de las subtramas explora cómo Marasi, al igual que la mayoría de las mujeres de Scadrial, se siente viviendo a la sombra de Vin, que fue una mujer tremendamente poderosa. Wax se siente mangoneado por Armonía y sus designios. Y se nos muestra constantemente que todo el mundo aún recuerda y teme al lord Legislador (y no sin razón, ya que la trama de todo del libro va de buscar un arma que puede conferir su poder)

Pero en Sombras de Identidad este Cosmere parecía más fanservice. ¿Era necesario que Wax se reuniese con TenSoon en los Pozos de Hathsin? Sin embargo, aquí tiene mucho más sentido y se nos ve que el legado de estos personajes (Vin, Kelsier, Sazed, Brisa, el lord Legislador) está afectando de forma directa al mundo y la vida de Wax, Wayne y Marasi. A medida que se ha ido desmadejando la era 2 hemos podido verlo. Y ahora nos encontramos en una posición de equilibrio tenso entre ambas eras.

Sólo tengo una pregunta: ¿cómo resolverá Sanderson los crossovers? Porque son inevitables. No sólo veo que la era 1 y la era 2 de Mistborn van a confluir en The Lost Metal, sino que tarde o temprano los mundos del Cosmere empezarán a confluir también. De momento Hoid es más un easter egg que cualquier cosa, pero tarde o temprano deberá empezar a moverse. Y tengo curiosidad, porque sigo considerando al Cosmere el proyecto más ambicioso que se ha hecho en fantasía en los últimos años. Quiero ver. Quiero saber. Dámelo, Sanderson. Dámelo pronto.