Shadows of Self

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

From number one New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action.

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

When family obligations forced Waxillium Ladrian to forsake the frontier lands and return to the metropolis of his birth to take his place as head of a noble House, he little imagined that the crime-fighting skills acquired during 20 years in the dusty plains would be just as applicable in the big city. He soon learned that there, too, just being a talented Twinborn - one who can use both Allomancy and Feruchemy, the dominant magical modes on Scadrial - would not suffice.

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

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson:

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

The Mistborn trilogy:

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

Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series:

• Alloy of Law
• Shadows of Self
• Bands of Mourning
• Collection
• Arcanum Unbounded

Other Cosmere novels:

• Elantris
• Warbreaker

The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series:

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

The Rithmatist series:

• The Rithmatist

Other books by Brandon Sanderson:

• The Reckoners
• Steelheart
• Firefight
• Calamity

©2015 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

Outstanding Mistborn sequel

I'm going to re-read the Mistborn Trilogy. Now that I've read and enjoyed Shadows of Self, I realize it has been too long since I fully appreciated the world of allomancy, hemolurgy, and ferrochemy, the foundation saga of this fantastic sequel.

Amazing Story and Amazing Narrator

Micheal Kramer does a great job as always. This book is just amazing. I love the plot twists. I can normally pick out what is going to happen in a movie or book, but it is just incredible how Brandon Sanderson makes this book unique.

Can't get enough Mistborn + Michael Kramer!

SHADOWS OF SELF was one of my most-anticipated reads of the year. I fell in love with Brandon Sanderson’s work over my first read of MISTBORN, became obsessed with his Reckoners Trilogy, and really just can’t get enough of the Mistborn world. SHADOWS OF SELF definitely continued the wild ride in this incredible fantasy world and left me wanting even more!

One thing I noted in my read of THE ALLOY OF LAW was that it was hard for me to switch to a whole new cast of characters since it picks up a few hundred years after the first three Mistborn books. I was hoping to connect more to the characters in SHADOWS OF SELF and I definitely think I got there but I also feel like I’m still not as into them as I was with the characters of the original trilogy. I’m not sure if it’s Wax’s logical and law-abiding nature that’s throwing me off (I love emotional rogues) or the fact that there really isn’t a transition from old characters to new since this takes place so much further after the original timeline but I still wasn’t quite making it to the same level of love as I had with the first three books.

The character connection is really my only “complaint” about these books, though. I just adore Brandon Sanderson’s writing and I’m continuously amazed how things tie together. There are things that were present in the first three or four books that I got answers for in SHADOWS OF SELF and it’s a totally mind-blowing experience because I didn’t even know I was missing a piece of the puzzle until it was exposed. Sanderson is constantly expanding the world, coming up with new ways to build on previous events, adding more aspects to the rules of the magic system, and really just continuing to grow absolutely everything that he’s already established. I love that it all feels natural and whether that was the plan the whole time or he came up with this concepts as he went along, the books really do feel like one big giant piece.

The reveals at the end of the book, as always, were simply amazing. Again, pieces I didn’t even know I was missing popped up and all at once, everything clicked and I was presented with even more questions about everyone’s situation. Ties are made THE ALLOY OF LAW, the Mistborn trilogy, and even things that pre-date MISTBORN. The craftsmanship of these novels is simply remarkable and always leave me wanting more!

There was also a lot more connection to the original books in SHADOWS OF SELF as well which easily made me totally geek out. It was so exciting to see specific characters referenced by name, in specific places, and their legacies found within legends. I was so happy to see so much more of the original trilogy referenced because it really brought even more feelings to the surface.

It’s hard to really get into detail in a review when it’s the fifth book in a series but if you’re reading this review and you haven’t started on the Mistborn books yet, all I can tell you is DO IT. I find it hard to believe that someone can be disappointed with them because everything is just so well done. I’m constantly dying for more and I cannot wait to see how this trio of books closes out!

Another must-hear novel for the masses.

A sensational work by Michael Kramer and Brandon Sanderson. This novel delves us deeper into the north pole of the new world of Scadrial. Thank you Audible for releasing this masterpiece and I cannot wait for the next edition in the Mistborn saga "Bands of Mourning."

Great book and performance!

When these two get together always brilliant. Going to start the next one today! Looking forward to it.