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.
The Beginning:
