Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Tor Fantasy (2012), Edition: Reprint, 392 pages
Description
"Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is 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. Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history--or religion.Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice. One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn who can Push on metals with hisAllomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs. "--… (more)
Media reviews
Library Journal
Highly recommended for fantasy fans, especially followers of the original trilogy. This fantasy is not a stale visit to a fondly remembered setting. Rather, it offers a fresh view of how a world can grow, building new dimensions into the best of the old. Sanderson continues to show that he is one
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of the best authors in the genre. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Not quite sure what to make of this. It's a significantly later in time addition to the original Mistborn series. There's enough recap on how the world works that you don't need to have read the original series, but you'll miss a few references to the early characters if you haven't. The feel
Our hero one Lord Wax, is the black sheep of the family and spent the last several years out in the Roughs bringing law and order to the small communities there - by whatever means he could. However following the death of his uncle he is now required to come back to the City and establish the family name in a refined and genteel setting. HOwever he quickly discovers that City life is acyually hard er than out in the Roughs, and the number of lawmen around proportionally fewer.Although he has resolved to reform and become the City Lord his family need him to be, he can't prevent himself from investigating a gang of criminals who've started kidnapping prominent women - his own fiancee amoung them.
Although the plot is fairly straightforward the feel of the book is somewhat confused. The Western overtone always predominates, but the electricity that is stressed so often counteracts this. Woven around this is a crime/mystery element, but not enough detail is spent elucidating it. . All of this worldbuilding unfortunetly detracts from the characters. Wax and his sidekick Wayne (yes there are quite a few bad puns scattered through this, although it doesn't approach pTerry levels of humour) banter quite a bit between them, and while Marissa stars a little at the beginning she is quickly sidelined. Which is a shame. The action is seldom that intense because of the crime sideline, so there should have been space to develop the characters a little - some more interplay between Marissa and her sister for a start. Perhaps overal the book is actually too short! Somethign of a rarity if fantasy thesedays (esp given Sanderson's recent offerings). An extension would also enable the ending to be finished properly, at the moment the hook is set for a sequel although I understood from the author's preamble that it is intended to be a standalone.
The magical system remains clever, but is taken soemwhat for granted, reducing the wonder that it inspired in the earlier books. Sanderson appears to have updated the list of metals' powers a bit, and found uses for ones that were not given in the earlier books. There is a delight in reading the well worked out physics though, the things you can and can't do with extra mass or time. It is easy to get this wrong, but Sanderson appears ot have not made any significant errors, and even more importanlty remained consistant throughout in what the powers can and cannot do.
Not bad - enjoyable and novel in many ways - but probably too short and too confused across too many genres to really work well.
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however is somewhat different. Instead of a 'classical' fantasy world we now have a Western. With electricity and guns, but also still the metal "burning" magic. Our hero one Lord Wax, is the black sheep of the family and spent the last several years out in the Roughs bringing law and order to the small communities there - by whatever means he could. However following the death of his uncle he is now required to come back to the City and establish the family name in a refined and genteel setting. HOwever he quickly discovers that City life is acyually hard er than out in the Roughs, and the number of lawmen around proportionally fewer.Although he has resolved to reform and become the City Lord his family need him to be, he can't prevent himself from investigating a gang of criminals who've started kidnapping prominent women - his own fiancee amoung them.
Although the plot is fairly straightforward the feel of the book is somewhat confused. The Western overtone always predominates, but the electricity that is stressed so often counteracts this. Woven around this is a crime/mystery element, but not enough detail is spent elucidating it. . All of this worldbuilding unfortunetly detracts from the characters. Wax and his sidekick Wayne (yes there are quite a few bad puns scattered through this, although it doesn't approach pTerry levels of humour) banter quite a bit between them, and while Marissa stars a little at the beginning she is quickly sidelined. Which is a shame. The action is seldom that intense because of the crime sideline, so there should have been space to develop the characters a little - some more interplay between Marissa and her sister for a start. Perhaps overal the book is actually too short! Somethign of a rarity if fantasy thesedays (esp given Sanderson's recent offerings). An extension would also enable the ending to be finished properly, at the moment the hook is set for a sequel although I understood from the author's preamble that it is intended to be a standalone.
The magical system remains clever, but is taken soemwhat for granted, reducing the wonder that it inspired in the earlier books. Sanderson appears to have updated the list of metals' powers a bit, and found uses for ones that were not given in the earlier books. There is a delight in reading the well worked out physics though, the things you can and can't do with extra mass or time. It is easy to get this wrong, but Sanderson appears ot have not made any significant errors, and even more importanlty remained consistant throughout in what the powers can and cannot do.
Not bad - enjoyable and novel in many ways - but probably too short and too confused across too many genres to really work well.
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: When his uncle dies, Wax Ladriel reluctantly gives up his position as a lawman out in the Roughs - a position in which his Twinborn powers, of steel allomancy and iron feruchemistry, have served him well - and returns to Elendel to take up the title of head of House Ladriel. But try as he
Review: The Alloy of Law was a highly enjoyable book, not too serious, not too involved, not too long, just a fun, shoot-em-up Western (well, Western-slash-Edwardian) mystery with the kick-ass action scenes that I've come to expect from Sanderson in general, and from his Mistborn books in particular. As you can probably tell, there were a number of elements that I really liked about this book. First, since it takes place in the Mistborn universe but several hundred years after the original trilogy, it feels comfortably familiar without requiring a big time commitment (or a good memory for the details of the trilogy itself). For those who have read the trilogy, though, there's an added layer of interest in seeing how the world has changed in the intervening centuries, how the characters we knew have become myths and legends, how allomancy has changed (there are a fair number of mistings, but mistborns are so rare as for their very existance to be doubted), and how new technologies both avoid and take advantage of the changing times.
Those technologies are another element I really liked; I haven't read a lot of historical fantasy set in Edwardian-esque times, and none that I can think of set in the Old West, so I found Alloy of Law's setting to be original, and interesting to explore. A lot of elements of the worldbuilding felt like they were the result of an extended thought experiment (i.e. if you have people in your world that can push metal out of the air, what do you do about guns?), but the answers that Sanderson came up with were fascinating, and they were used in the service of a good story, so I was more than happy to go along for the ride.
There were a few elements that kept this book from being a blockbuster for me, however. I liked Wayne's character, but I thought Sanderson leaned on him a little too heavily as the sole source of comic relief at times. There were a few times when I noticed Sanderson's personal ideology leaking through in a way that didn't seem to gel with the rest of the story, which was also something I noticed in the third Mistborn book, and was pretty distracting. And finally, I wish the mystery angle had been just a little meatier - while I didn't figure things out much ahead of the characters, things happen so quickly (the entire book takes place over roughly 48 hours) that occasionally the mystery plotline felt like a bridge between action sequences, rather than the driving force of the book. But really, none of these issues ever soured my enjoyment of the book, which was a quick, original, and just plain fun read. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Even if you're not usually into fantasy for the fight scenes, you should still check this book out; Sanderson's got the coolest ones around. Recommended for Mistborn fans, of course, but also for fantasy fans who are getting a little tired of medieval settings and/or have a secret thing for Westerns.
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might to adjust to the genteel lifestyle of the city nobility, he can't quite leave his past behind him... especially when his old friend Wayne shows up, and draws his attention to a string of robbery/kidnappings that have been taking place across the capital. Wax knows he should let the constables handle it, but when the thieves attack a wedding he is attending, Wax finds himself in a position to bring a little Roughs-style justice to the city. Unfortunately, the robberies are just the tip of the iceberg, and Wax and Wayne may have gotten themselves in deeper than even they can handle.Review: The Alloy of Law was a highly enjoyable book, not too serious, not too involved, not too long, just a fun, shoot-em-up Western (well, Western-slash-Edwardian) mystery with the kick-ass action scenes that I've come to expect from Sanderson in general, and from his Mistborn books in particular. As you can probably tell, there were a number of elements that I really liked about this book. First, since it takes place in the Mistborn universe but several hundred years after the original trilogy, it feels comfortably familiar without requiring a big time commitment (or a good memory for the details of the trilogy itself). For those who have read the trilogy, though, there's an added layer of interest in seeing how the world has changed in the intervening centuries, how the characters we knew have become myths and legends, how allomancy has changed (there are a fair number of mistings, but mistborns are so rare as for their very existance to be doubted), and how new technologies both avoid and take advantage of the changing times.
Those technologies are another element I really liked; I haven't read a lot of historical fantasy set in Edwardian-esque times, and none that I can think of set in the Old West, so I found Alloy of Law's setting to be original, and interesting to explore. A lot of elements of the worldbuilding felt like they were the result of an extended thought experiment (i.e. if you have people in your world that can push metal out of the air, what do you do about guns?), but the answers that Sanderson came up with were fascinating, and they were used in the service of a good story, so I was more than happy to go along for the ride.
There were a few elements that kept this book from being a blockbuster for me, however. I liked Wayne's character, but I thought Sanderson leaned on him a little too heavily as the sole source of comic relief at times. There were a few times when I noticed Sanderson's personal ideology leaking through in a way that didn't seem to gel with the rest of the story, which was also something I noticed in the third Mistborn book, and was pretty distracting. And finally, I wish the mystery angle had been just a little meatier - while I didn't figure things out much ahead of the characters, things happen so quickly (the entire book takes place over roughly 48 hours) that occasionally the mystery plotline felt like a bridge between action sequences, rather than the driving force of the book. But really, none of these issues ever soured my enjoyment of the book, which was a quick, original, and just plain fun read. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Even if you're not usually into fantasy for the fight scenes, you should still check this book out; Sanderson's got the coolest ones around. Recommended for Mistborn fans, of course, but also for fantasy fans who are getting a little tired of medieval settings and/or have a secret thing for Westerns.
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LibraryThing member lexilewords
:mumbles under my breath: I don't understand how Marsh and Kelsier are worshipped...
I made a few predictions in the Sanderson Collectors Guild discord that turned out to be true and one I regretted being true.
Someone (I'm looking at Dave currently with sus eyes) sent me the first three books in
In general I enjoyed TFE more at first glance; Vin was a more likeable and relatable char to me and I enjoyed Kelsier's crew (if not him). I also found the whole unhinged plot to kill the Lord Ruler more interesting than this women being kidnapped and theft ring (both are horribly simplified versions of the plot).
The twist at the end of TFE also serviced my personal interests moreso then the one at the end here. Perhaps because I called AoL's twist so quickly.
Anyhow I enjoyed Steris, found Wayne charming in a way, nearly smacked Wax several thousand times and eyed Marasi a bit suspiciously often so at least it made sense why she was so unforthcoming about her history.
I made a few predictions in the Sanderson Collectors Guild discord that turned out to be true and one I regretted being true.
Someone (I'm looking at Dave currently with sus eyes) sent me the first three books in
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paperback to read before TLM's release and I've been feverishly trying to finish them.In general I enjoyed TFE more at first glance; Vin was a more likeable and relatable char to me and I enjoyed Kelsier's crew (if not him). I also found the whole unhinged plot to kill the Lord Ruler more interesting than this women being kidnapped and theft ring (both are horribly simplified versions of the plot).
The twist at the end of TFE also serviced my personal interests moreso then the one at the end here. Perhaps because I called AoL's twist so quickly.
Anyhow I enjoyed Steris, found Wayne charming in a way, nearly smacked Wax several thousand times and eyed Marasi a bit suspiciously often so at least it made sense why she was so unforthcoming about her history.
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LibraryThing member littlesparrow
Got this one out of the library, and since I'm going there tomorrow I decided to try and read it in a day. Done :)
Boy, I wished it was longer and also to read more about Wax. At first I was a bit lost, since it has been a bit of time since I read the original trilogy, but you still feel all of it
Can't say much without spoiling it, but I would say that Sanderson is a good wine, just gets better with time (is that how the saying goes?). More enjoyable than the original Mistborn trilogy (I wonder then what the next book will be, how can things get better than they already are?).
Boy, I wished it was longer and also to read more about Wax. At first I was a bit lost, since it has been a bit of time since I read the original trilogy, but you still feel all of it
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and just get back to it pretty soon. Can't say much without spoiling it, but I would say that Sanderson is a good wine, just gets better with time (is that how the saying goes?). More enjoyable than the original Mistborn trilogy (I wonder then what the next book will be, how can things get better than they already are?).
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LibraryThing member Jaguar897
I don’t know what to say that has not already been said in other reviews. I simply love Brandon Sanderson and his brand of genius. When I began the Mistborn series it just utterly consumed me. I loved Vin, Kelsier, Elend and all the other secondary characters like they were my best friends. I
Alloy of Law takes place in the same world, but 300 years later. My favorite characters are now considered legends. I admit it bought on a bit of nostalgia seeing them mentioned this way, but it was nice to see what all their struggles have produced. It was also neat seeing how the world has progressed and changed since their story. This was something I often thought about when I finished Mistborn.
As for this installment, I really enjoyed it. It was not as consuming as Mistborn, but it certainly had its moments. I liked the new characters Wax, Wayne and Lady Marasi. Wax, in particular, seems like he’s going to be a complex character. I would like to see what is in store for him. Wayne sometimes came off a little too hokey for me, but overall he seems like a fun dude. Just when he was starting to get on my nerves he would pop out with something funny and I would forgive him. ♥
Overall, I enjoyed the story but it was missing the little something special that Mistborn had. I have yet to put my finger on what that was, but it did capture some of the magic in the cliffhanger ending that has me excited for more.
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loved the world he created. I loved the magic system and most of all I loved the story. Alloy of Law takes place in the same world, but 300 years later. My favorite characters are now considered legends. I admit it bought on a bit of nostalgia seeing them mentioned this way, but it was nice to see what all their struggles have produced. It was also neat seeing how the world has progressed and changed since their story. This was something I often thought about when I finished Mistborn.
As for this installment, I really enjoyed it. It was not as consuming as Mistborn, but it certainly had its moments. I liked the new characters Wax, Wayne and Lady Marasi. Wax, in particular, seems like he’s going to be a complex character. I would like to see what is in store for him. Wayne sometimes came off a little too hokey for me, but overall he seems like a fun dude. Just when he was starting to get on my nerves he would pop out with something funny and I would forgive him. ♥
Overall, I enjoyed the story but it was missing the little something special that Mistborn had. I have yet to put my finger on what that was, but it did capture some of the magic in the cliffhanger ending that has me excited for more.
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LibraryThing member DanStratton
After years of listening to the kids talk about the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson, I finally got them from Audible and listened to them. I was amazed by the richness and depth of the world Sanderson created. In a medieval world where people gain special powers by "burning" metals inside
In The Alloy of Law, Sanderson returns to the world of the Mistborn, but several hundred years later, at the beginning of the industrial revolution. Taking the special powers of the Mistborn and colliding them with the modern world of machines, guns and electricity is nothing short of brave for a writer. Fantasy and magic rarely hold up in a more modern world. However, Sanderson pulls it off and the two mesh believably.
The Alloy of Law, while set in the world of Mistborn, doesn't deal with the large, sweeping issues of the previous books. In fact, those characters are hardly mentioned at all. Instead, this book is a mystery, complete with murder, kidnappings and unexplainable disappearances. The story is well put together, the clues well hidden and the characters engaging. The action scenes are well written and exhilarating. The investigation is thought provoking and moves the story along quickly.
My son, who is a budding writer himself, told me about a podcast, Writing Excuses, that is co-hosted by Sanderson. I listened to a few this week out of curiosity. Sanderson is definitely a teacher (obviously, as he teaches at Brigham Young University). One of the discussions they had was on how to write a successful mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his advice while seeing how he incorporated it into his novel. It made the book more interesting on more levels as I paid attention to how he revealed the story. He is a master. All of his books are highly recommended.
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them, he tells the story of overthrowing a centuries-old ruler with god-like powers. He doesn't just leave the characters victorious, but tells the often overlooked story of what happens after the revolution. In fact, that part is the more interesting story.In The Alloy of Law, Sanderson returns to the world of the Mistborn, but several hundred years later, at the beginning of the industrial revolution. Taking the special powers of the Mistborn and colliding them with the modern world of machines, guns and electricity is nothing short of brave for a writer. Fantasy and magic rarely hold up in a more modern world. However, Sanderson pulls it off and the two mesh believably.
The Alloy of Law, while set in the world of Mistborn, doesn't deal with the large, sweeping issues of the previous books. In fact, those characters are hardly mentioned at all. Instead, this book is a mystery, complete with murder, kidnappings and unexplainable disappearances. The story is well put together, the clues well hidden and the characters engaging. The action scenes are well written and exhilarating. The investigation is thought provoking and moves the story along quickly.
My son, who is a budding writer himself, told me about a podcast, Writing Excuses, that is co-hosted by Sanderson. I listened to a few this week out of curiosity. Sanderson is definitely a teacher (obviously, as he teaches at Brigham Young University). One of the discussions they had was on how to write a successful mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his advice while seeing how he incorporated it into his novel. It made the book more interesting on more levels as I paid attention to how he revealed the story. He is a master. All of his books are highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member iBeth
Kind of a Western steampunk fantasy vibe. I sure hope there will be more books for these characters.
LibraryThing member shabacus
In “The Alloy of Law,” Brandon Sanderson manages to accomplish something very tricky. He has taken the premise of a previous series of novels, the popular and successful “Mistborn” trilogy, and applied it to a story in a very different setting. The result is a greater sense of history than
At its heart, “The Alloy of Law” is a western. There are few surprises along the way—even the big reveal at the end is apparent from about midway through the book. Only once does the plot depend on an unpredictable coincidence, and even that is lampshaded with a bit of literal deus ex machine that had me smiling.
Character, rather than plot, drove the book. Our hero, Wax, is something of a western archetype—an embittered lawman, trying to run from the past but never managing to escape it. Contrary to form, he does this by fleeing back to his roots, to the city of Elendel and the management of his uncle’s estates. But there, he finds lawlessness to rival anything he encountered in the Rough.
There are several large set pieces that propel Wax through the story. There are elements of a buddy cop story in his relationship with Wayne, and a bit of a love story in his dealings with Marasi. In all, that makes this story the most Hollywood-ready of all of Sanderson’s output.
The setting, though vivid, felt a trifle undeveloped to me. The technology level equates to late 1800s, but the social institutions felt anachronistic, both too modern and not modern enough. That’s not a bad thing by itself, since we shouldn’t expect (and don’t want) this society to be just like ours, but I didn’t learn enough about the world’s history to really sell me on it.
The quibble is a minor one. The ending, while satisfying, leaves the setting open for further development. Sanderson has repeatedly stated that “The Alloy of Law” is not the beginning of a new trilogy, but after devouring the novel in a single evening, I must say that I hope he changes his mind.
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most epic fantasy achieves.At its heart, “The Alloy of Law” is a western. There are few surprises along the way—even the big reveal at the end is apparent from about midway through the book. Only once does the plot depend on an unpredictable coincidence, and even that is lampshaded with a bit of literal deus ex machine that had me smiling.
Character, rather than plot, drove the book. Our hero, Wax, is something of a western archetype—an embittered lawman, trying to run from the past but never managing to escape it. Contrary to form, he does this by fleeing back to his roots, to the city of Elendel and the management of his uncle’s estates. But there, he finds lawlessness to rival anything he encountered in the Rough.
There are several large set pieces that propel Wax through the story. There are elements of a buddy cop story in his relationship with Wayne, and a bit of a love story in his dealings with Marasi. In all, that makes this story the most Hollywood-ready of all of Sanderson’s output.
The setting, though vivid, felt a trifle undeveloped to me. The technology level equates to late 1800s, but the social institutions felt anachronistic, both too modern and not modern enough. That’s not a bad thing by itself, since we shouldn’t expect (and don’t want) this society to be just like ours, but I didn’t learn enough about the world’s history to really sell me on it.
The quibble is a minor one. The ending, while satisfying, leaves the setting open for further development. Sanderson has repeatedly stated that “The Alloy of Law” is not the beginning of a new trilogy, but after devouring the novel in a single evening, I must say that I hope he changes his mind.
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LibraryThing member rhonda1111
This set in the Mistborn three hundred years after the other Mistborn novels. I enjoyed it! I hope more follow soon.
They have street lights in the city but area outside of the cities is more frontier style.
Waxillium Ladrian is a lawman in the Rough. Because of deaths in the family is now head of
Wax can push on metals of Allomancy and lighter or heavier with feruchemy.
I like the relationship of Wax and Wayne how they play off each other. I liked most of the characters and want to see more of them.
They have street lights in the city but area outside of the cities is more frontier style.
Waxillium Ladrian is a lawman in the Rough. Because of deaths in the family is now head of
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his house so returns to the city.Wax can push on metals of Allomancy and lighter or heavier with feruchemy.
I like the relationship of Wax and Wayne how they play off each other. I liked most of the characters and want to see more of them.
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LibraryThing member revslick
fun, fast paced detective thriller based in the same world as the Mistborn trilogy. You don't have to have read the previous books to read this one. If you have read the Mistborn books then there's a delightful conversation with the mist 3/4s of the way through. Wonderful escapism with phenomenal
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pacing. I can definitely see this in movie form someday. Show Less
LibraryThing member AronBeal
I admit, I had lost much interest by the third of the original Mistborn series; it was getting a bit too religious for my taste. This felt like a stripping down and revamping of the story, which felt overdue. The compelling innovations from that story (metal bending) were kept, and put into a
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spaghetti western format. Highly enjoyable, except for one brief moment near the end, where the author relies on a deux ex machina to get his hero out of trouble; a moment which sort of stuck in my craw. That element aside, the book was fresh like the original Mistborn novel was, and I am looking forward to the series' continuation. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
A very interesting setting, with an interesting but minor story in it. This is a few hundred years after the Mistborn series, and unlike most fantasy societies, Sanderson actually let his develop. The result is a sort of steampunky Western with metal magic used as tools. Also, most of the
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characters in the Mistborn series are now worshiped as gods, apparently...I don't remember the story well enough to recognize all of them. One major city, with rough, wild areas (physically and culturally) surrounding it. The protagonist is noble-born, a child of the city, who left as a young man and has made quite a name for himself as a vigilante lawman in the Roughs. He's called back to the city because apparently all the rest of his line have died and he's now the Lord. He's trying to adjust to city ways again (no, Sir, it really isn't appropriate for you to carry pistols and a shotgun at all times...), including finding himself an appropriate wife to breed more of his line. Minor interruptions like his old sidekick showing up (by the way, it took me 3/4 of the book to catch the pun in their names. Wax(illium) and Wayne??? (Hmmm, does this world have a moon? I don't remember and I don't think it was mentioned in this book.)), an impossibly successful group of thieves, and a plot within his home interrupt his good intentions. By the end of the book he's established as useful though annoying by the constables (who are _supposed_ to be doing this protective stuff - what's this amateur doing showing us up?). There could be more stories, or it could stop here - either one would be good. Fun, I'm glad I read it, but it's not going to be one of the really memorable stories or worlds to me - it's already fuzzing away (admittedly, it took me a month to write this review). I'll still be keeping an eye on Brandon Sanderson - he does come up with interesting concepts! Show Less
LibraryThing member Isamoor
Aug12:
Characters: Damn, Brandon can spin them. Could have used some more female page time, but I'll forgive him. The leading duo were amazing.
Plot: Cohesive, clean, and very interesting. This guy can plan and pace a book!
Style: So smooth and awesome. Reminds me of a literary Joss Whedon.
Characters: Damn, Brandon can spin them. Could have used some more female page time, but I'll forgive him. The leading duo were amazing.
Plot: Cohesive, clean, and very interesting. This guy can plan and pace a book!
Style: So smooth and awesome. Reminds me of a literary Joss Whedon.
LibraryThing member kmaziarz
Sanderson’s sequel to his popular “Mistborn” series is set three hundred years after the events of “The Hero of Ages” and society and technology have advanced accordingly, bringing his fantasy world up to a level roughly equivalent to our own Victorian/Wild West era. Waxillium Ladrian, or
A well-developed and unique setting paired with sparkling, sympathetic characters, witty dialogue, and a rollicking adventure make this title far from a stale rehash of the original series, but a fascinating outing in its own right. We can only hope for further adventures with Wax and his crew!
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Wax, is a Twinborn gifted with both Allomantic and Feruchemical powers. Born into a noble family, Wax fled the glittering capitol city of Elendel as a young man to become a lawkeeper out in the wild Roughs. Now older, perhaps wiser, and certainly more jaded, he has returned to take up his role as the head of the Ladrian family following the death of his uncle. He has resolved to give up the coarse lifestyle of a backwoods lawman and marry for the good of his family, but soon finds that the city can be just as dangerous as the Roughs. A band of outlaws known as the Vanishers have been mysteriously robbing train cars and kidnapping noble women, then vanishing without a trace. When Wax’s own intended becomes one of those captives, he, his wise-cracking parter Wayne, and his intended’s bright cousin Marasi are honor-bound to solve the mystery and save the Vanishers’ victims—a task that will strain both their intellects and their Allomantic powers to their utmost.A well-developed and unique setting paired with sparkling, sympathetic characters, witty dialogue, and a rollicking adventure make this title far from a stale rehash of the original series, but a fascinating outing in its own right. We can only hope for further adventures with Wax and his crew!
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LibraryThing member Gkarlives
This was an interesting stand alone title Mr. Sanderson added to his Mistborn universe. It is in away light and meaty. The story reads fast but leaves you wanting a whole lot more because, while it was designed to be a one off Sherlock Holmes type of story, Sanderson does lay groundwork for a
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possible series here. I found this confusing after visiting his sight where he mentions plans for a future Mistborn Trilogy, buy seemed to imply that this was not it. Aside from feeling quite hungry for more, the story itself is well paced and fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member ragwaine
I wouldn't read this before reading the other Mistborn books. Having the knowledge of what has come before is not critical to the plot or anything but it does help set the tone and make the world feel more "realized".
This was a little lighter than the other mistborn books but still good. Had a kind
Definitely a big opening for a second book but I haven't heard anything about it. Sanderson's probably just busy writing 7 other books right now.
This was a little lighter than the other mistborn books but still good. Had a kind
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of western/steampunk feel, more about guns and trains than crazy steam inventions. Wayne was the best character hands down. Every story should have a Wayne. I'm sure other fantasy authors are very jealous and wish they would have created this character.Definitely a big opening for a second book but I haven't heard anything about it. Sanderson's probably just busy writing 7 other books right now.
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LibraryThing member Esquiress
Having loved the Misborn trilogy, I couldn't help but want to read The Alloy of Law when I saw that it took place in the same world as the other books. I was definitely not disappointed in this one. Sanderson did a great job.
The book was fast-paced and, despite being nearly 400 pages, read very
To that end, I think that Sanderson did a really nice job of integrating the book's title into the text itself. I felt like I knew to sit up and take notice when the word "alloy" was used, and it helped draw even further out the discussions of law and how it should be viewed or upheld. I really liked that, because using the title to "unlock a book" has always been one of my favorite strategies when analyzing a text.
The characters were engaging, and while I didn't necessarily identify with them per se, I liked them all quite well.
Some of the action was edge-of-seat, hold-your-breath, which I like in some books but don't like in movies. The Alloy of Law is definitely a book where the action worked for me. It really kept me turning the pages.
I loved the subtle ties to the earlier books. However, I thought it was also nice that one didn't necessarily *have* to have read the Mistborn trilogy to understand what was going on in the book.
The novel could stand alone, as I said above, but there is definitely room for a sequel. I'll be on the lookout for that one too, because I haven't been let down with anything from Sanderson's Mistborn universe so far.
The book was fast-paced and, despite being nearly 400 pages, read very
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quickly. I was engaged almost from the start, because the opening sequence is very engaging. What kept me hooked was the interesting blend of Allomancy and Feruchemy, with which I was familiar from the earlier books, and the way "alloy" was used throughout the text. To that end, I think that Sanderson did a really nice job of integrating the book's title into the text itself. I felt like I knew to sit up and take notice when the word "alloy" was used, and it helped draw even further out the discussions of law and how it should be viewed or upheld. I really liked that, because using the title to "unlock a book" has always been one of my favorite strategies when analyzing a text.
The characters were engaging, and while I didn't necessarily identify with them per se, I liked them all quite well.
Some of the action was edge-of-seat, hold-your-breath, which I like in some books but don't like in movies. The Alloy of Law is definitely a book where the action worked for me. It really kept me turning the pages.
I loved the subtle ties to the earlier books. However, I thought it was also nice that one didn't necessarily *have* to have read the Mistborn trilogy to understand what was going on in the book.
The novel could stand alone, as I said above, but there is definitely room for a sequel. I'll be on the lookout for that one too, because I haven't been let down with anything from Sanderson's Mistborn universe so far.
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LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
Brandon Sanderson writes rigorously thought-out systems of magic that uphold engaging plots, and that's pretty much always enough for me. His characters aren't necessarily the deepest, but they're not caricatures and they get the job done. I liked the Mistborn novels well enough, and moving that
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world forward into pseudo-Victoriana works perfectly well. The once-Wild West sheriff returned to high society after a personal tragedy is enough to get the plot rolling, his sidekick is entertaining, and the female lead is well-developed. (And the "love" "interest", while not onscreen much, appears to be an attempt at a autism-spectrum type trying desperately to manage her role as the heir to a large fortune who cannot avoid being married off to someone. It's interesting, and I'm curious to see how Sanderson follows up with it.) Show Less
LibraryThing member seaofsorrow
as some reviewers have noted, The Alloy of Law, lacked both in length and in descriptive world building, especially when compared to the original Mistborn series (something fantasy readers will surely reminisce.) On the other hand the book is still very well written and at times, witty. There isn't
Initially the thought of moving the Mistborn timeline forward and setting it in a more western feel would be crazy but after reading a couple of chapters in i thought it was rather good...and different. In a way i thought the book was pretty much a mash up of Sherlock Holmes, tiny bit of a western gun-slinging cowboys, and the original magic system of Mistborn series. Like in the original, heists and thieving aspect of the story are still around. The only difference now is that the story is told through the authorities instead of the thieving crew.
I really like it a lot, even finishing the book in 2 days...can't wait to read more about what actually happens to these characters! :) Sanderson has definitely become one of my favorite authors!
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much room for character growth as the book is fairly short and the fact that events in the book happen in a matter of 2-3(I say three simply because one has to count the introduction scene as a separate day.) But don't write this book of because of it's short comings. The book is jammed packed of action scenes while avoiding being monotonous. Initially the thought of moving the Mistborn timeline forward and setting it in a more western feel would be crazy but after reading a couple of chapters in i thought it was rather good...and different. In a way i thought the book was pretty much a mash up of Sherlock Holmes, tiny bit of a western gun-slinging cowboys, and the original magic system of Mistborn series. Like in the original, heists and thieving aspect of the story are still around. The only difference now is that the story is told through the authorities instead of the thieving crew.
I really like it a lot, even finishing the book in 2 days...can't wait to read more about what actually happens to these characters! :) Sanderson has definitely become one of my favorite authors!
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LibraryThing member tlockney
This was an entertaining story that's clearly building up the groundwork for more, but it failed to rise to the level of the previous books of the first trilogy of the Mistborn universe. I look forward to seeing what comes next.
LibraryThing member chriskrycho
This might just be my favorite of Sanderson's Mistborn novels to date. Shorter and punchier than those of the original trilogy, this book takes on a much smaller story, and gives Sanderson a chance to show the ways he's grown since taking on The Wheel of Time. His characters are snappier, their
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introspection less ponderous, and the magic system is really coming into its own as an organic part of the world Show Less
LibraryThing member Kelsomar
This was the first Sanderson book I enjoyed in quite a while. The writing was well thought out and the characters were charming without being cardboard. Since it has been a while since I finished the Mistborn Trilogy I did have trouble following all the religious cults briefly mentioned (an
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appendix on that would have been much appreciated) but the different attitudes to the people of the first trilogy were interesting asides. The book was very enjoyable and highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member stefferoo
After finishing a reread of all three books of Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy, I finally felt ready to tackle this book. Sure, I was aware that The Alloy of Law could technically be read as a standalone, given that it's set 300 years after the events of The Hero of Ages and stars completely new
Good thing I did too, because even though centuries have passed and characters like Vin, Elend, Sazed and the rest of the gang are long gone, their lives and stories have become immortalized in this world's history and even religious canon. They are respected figures, with cities and landmarks named for them, and being able to recognize references such as these makes the reading experience that much better. The magic systems of Allomancy and Feruchemy are also still around, and in fact are made even more interesting by all the resulting possible combinations of metal powers that people can possess.
The protagonist of The Alloy of Law, for instance, is known as a "Twinborn", someone who has access to both an Allomantic power and a Feruchemic power. Waxillium Ladrian's set of abilities allows him to push on metals as well as change his mass at will -- a useful and powerful combination which serves him well as a crime-fighter out in the lawless frontier called the Roughs. But then his uncle dies, and Wax is recalled to the city and his noble roots. He reluctantly turns away from his lawman past and prepares to take on the role and duties more befitting a lord of his stature -- until a gang of bandits called the Vanishers surfaces, robbing trains and kidnapping hostages, and Wax realizes he can no longer stand idly by while decent people get hurt.
I'm not surprised at how much I enjoyed this. If there's one thing I can count on, it's that Brandon Sanderson gets better with each book he writes. Even though his Mistborn trilogy featured more characters and a more epic and elaborate story, I think I might have liked The Alloy of Law better than all three of those books put together. Despite its simplicity, I loved the western-like setting as well as the mild hints of steampunk I caught from passing descriptions of the new and extraordinary technology. It's always amazing to me whenever we get to see a fantasy world evolve like this.
It was also nice to see the humor between the two characters Waxillium and his friend Wayne. I don't think the book is meant to be a lighthearted read exactly, but I like it when Sanderson writes funny scenes like this with clever and witty banter. Reading this book made me laugh quite a few times, a fact I don't take for granted, especially since I make it no secret that I was not particularly happy with how things ended in The Hero of Ages. I don't deny that it might have even soured me on the whole trilogy, so to follow it up with something like The Alloy of Law definitely had the effect of lifting my spirits somewhat. The ending of the book sets things up nicely for the next installment, and I'm already looking forward to it.
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characters. Nonetheless, I wanted to refresh my memory on the background of the world and especially Allomancy lore.Good thing I did too, because even though centuries have passed and characters like Vin, Elend, Sazed and the rest of the gang are long gone, their lives and stories have become immortalized in this world's history and even religious canon. They are respected figures, with cities and landmarks named for them, and being able to recognize references such as these makes the reading experience that much better. The magic systems of Allomancy and Feruchemy are also still around, and in fact are made even more interesting by all the resulting possible combinations of metal powers that people can possess.
The protagonist of The Alloy of Law, for instance, is known as a "Twinborn", someone who has access to both an Allomantic power and a Feruchemic power. Waxillium Ladrian's set of abilities allows him to push on metals as well as change his mass at will -- a useful and powerful combination which serves him well as a crime-fighter out in the lawless frontier called the Roughs. But then his uncle dies, and Wax is recalled to the city and his noble roots. He reluctantly turns away from his lawman past and prepares to take on the role and duties more befitting a lord of his stature -- until a gang of bandits called the Vanishers surfaces, robbing trains and kidnapping hostages, and Wax realizes he can no longer stand idly by while decent people get hurt.
I'm not surprised at how much I enjoyed this. If there's one thing I can count on, it's that Brandon Sanderson gets better with each book he writes. Even though his Mistborn trilogy featured more characters and a more epic and elaborate story, I think I might have liked The Alloy of Law better than all three of those books put together. Despite its simplicity, I loved the western-like setting as well as the mild hints of steampunk I caught from passing descriptions of the new and extraordinary technology. It's always amazing to me whenever we get to see a fantasy world evolve like this.
It was also nice to see the humor between the two characters Waxillium and his friend Wayne. I don't think the book is meant to be a lighthearted read exactly, but I like it when Sanderson writes funny scenes like this with clever and witty banter. Reading this book made me laugh quite a few times, a fact I don't take for granted, especially since I make it no secret that I was not particularly happy with how things ended in The Hero of Ages. I don't deny that it might have even soured me on the whole trilogy, so to follow it up with something like The Alloy of Law definitely had the effect of lifting my spirits somewhat. The ending of the book sets things up nicely for the next installment, and I'm already looking forward to it.
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LibraryThing member Maaike15274
Great story. Back to the world of Scadrial, but 300 years after the events in Mistborn: The Hero of Ages. This story has a nice victorian/steampunk feel to it, with a western touch in the beginning. In a way, it reads a little bit like a mystery story. I loved every bit of it except one thing. The
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end does not feel totally complete. It's like there shoud be another story with these characters. Please mr Sanderson write another one! Show Less
LibraryThing member readafew
Wow! I have to say I was a little skeptical of moving the Mystborn world into the wildwest, but I have to say that Brandon Sanderson pulled it off with flying colors. I really enjoyed the story as well as enjoyed the friendship of Wax & Wayne. It took me way to long to catch that one, let me tell
I don't know what to say, if you haven't read the first of the series I would highly caution you not to start here. There were a lot of tie-ins to the series and many were not blatant but you would know it if you had read the prior books.
Wax as he's known in the Roughs is also known as Lord Ladrian in the urban metropolis known as Elandel. When is uncle dies in an accident he is left as the only heir and has to come back to run the family empire. When he gets back he is unhappy with things and has a hard time adjusting.
Just when he thinks he's starting to fit back in his kleptomaniac sidekick shows up with some bad news and a bunch of trouble. Unfortunately for Wax, trouble is his middle name. It's just too much fun to leave alone.
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you. I don't know what to say, if you haven't read the first of the series I would highly caution you not to start here. There were a lot of tie-ins to the series and many were not blatant but you would know it if you had read the prior books.
Wax as he's known in the Roughs is also known as Lord Ladrian in the urban metropolis known as Elandel. When is uncle dies in an accident he is left as the only heir and has to come back to run the family empire. When he gets back he is unhappy with things and has a hard time adjusting.
Just when he thinks he's starting to fit back in his kleptomaniac sidekick shows up with some bad news and a bunch of trouble. Unfortunately for Wax, trouble is his middle name. It's just too much fun to leave alone.
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Awards
Geffen Award (2019)
David Gemmell Legend Award (Shortlist — 2012)
Whitney Award (Finalist — Speculative Fiction — 2011)
Prix Imaginales (Nominee — 2013)
Language
Original publication date
2011-11-08
ISBN
0765368544 / 9780765368546