The Alloy of Law (A Mistborn Novel) by Brandon Sanderson

Fantasy

From Goodreads:

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.

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 his Allomancy 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.

I loved the Mistborn Novels and was excited to see one set in the same world.  Sanderson takes a slightly different approach on this one.  It is set 300 years in the future and the society has not been static.  The old characters are gone but the new ones face new problems.  The world building here is great.  It shows a logical progression toward progress.  The three main characters, Wax, Wayne and Marasi are well developed and do a great job of carrying the story.  There are some unexpected events that keep the story moving and a surprise (at least to me) at the end. .  It was also fun to see all of the Metal Arts used again.

This does not read like a stand-alone book.  While one problem is solved there are several other left hanging.  I went to Brandon Sanderson’s web page to see if he has plans for future books featuring these characters but did not find any information.

I was glad I had read the Mistborn trilogy.  I think anyone would be a little lost at first if they had never heard of all of the Metal Arts.  They are a form of magic and are dropped into the story with little explanation.  Since I had read the previous books I recognized what was going on.  The Alloy of Law is listed as a stand alone book and there is an explanation of the Metal Arts in the back for those who are not familiar with them.

TOR published The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson in 2011.