The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel

Ok. First off, reading the Mistborn trilogy is not REQUIRED, but HIGHLY recommended. It is described as a stand-alone book but I think Allomancy is complicated enough on it's own that you really need to read the earlier trilogy to understand what is going on without it causing any confusion. But, that is really not a review, is it? Just take my advise and read the other books first. They are really good too! (BONUS)I read this book after having just finished the Mistborn series a few days earlier. So, I did enjoy the occasional nod toward the old characters. But, I also then saw the similarities between Kelsier. I even think it was strong enough that Sanderson himself hints at it near the end of the book. But, it really isn't a copy of the old series just rehashed, that would be selling it oh, so short. The characters in this are interesting and likable in their own right. Sanderson has a knack for making his lead characters likable. The main villain in this book was also interesting with a hint of Zane from the past. But, again, maybe a bit took "likable". I like that Sanderson can make the reader and even the protagonist of the book understand the villains view. But, I think there could be more depth if the understanding was darker and scarier and just an understandable bad guy.Throughout the book, there are a lot of references to newspaper-like articles about the history and exploits of Wax and those like him in the Roughs (Wild West). Another main character even admits to being a fan of them. This really makes me think of the dime westerns and the quick read of the high-adventure. The fake news page in the book even has one in it! But, even with that dime western spirit and Sanderson's gift with writing amazing cinematic action sequences, this book eventually just feels like a pilot episode for some TV show.It was good. I really liked it. It obviously ended in a way that showed that there was more story to tell. It was not really a cliff-hanger. There was not that type of tension. This book really did have an ending. But, it really just seemed like an episode. I really could see this story continuing. The main characters have room to grow and Sanderson doesn't seem to be in a big hurry for them to change. Maybe he is taking a long-view on this story and not just a normal trilogy idea. I really could see this as a long-term series of short novels. Another series like that (not fantasy) would be the Anna Pigeon series by Navada Barr.This could go on for awhile...why three big book of 1000-plus pages. Why not ten books at 3-400? Just sayin'...This book is a good continuation of the Mistborn world. My rating on it is partially based on my love of the original story. But, it is a good alloy in itself: a blend of western dime, cinematic action, tv series-esque, and Sanderson's unique fantasy world magic. I would give the 3.75-4.0 stars on it's own. That might be a bit harsh. I really do think this has a lot of good potential.If a sequel is published and know I will buy it. How is that for a statement the publisher wants to hear. PS-love the maps, keep them coming. (Read Maphead by Ken Jennings for the significance). :-)

This book felt about half as long as the ones in the preceding trilogy. Almost more of a novella than a full novel. As a result of the cramped size of the book, character development feels sparse, and where it does occur, very forced. Though characters are not exactly Sanderson’s “thing”, (not that his characters are bad, it’s just not where he shines the most) he usually does a good job of revealing crucial background details about a character over a broader number of pages, and allows more natural character interactions to drive exposition. That isn’t happening here.The contrast is pretty significant, in fact. For example, he goes through a very long process of foreshadowing with the characters in Stormlight Archive, holding back or merely hinting at the traumas and regrettable decisions in their past. And while he doesn’t do that to the same degree in the prior Mistborn Trilogy, the process of characterization there is still more drawn out, and, therefore, more believable. This simply doesn’t happen in Alloy of Law. The book begins with a straight up and down depiction of the tragic event that defines Wax, the main character. The sidekick, Wayne, doesn’t even get that level of attention from Sanderson: Wayne reveals his dark secret in a paragraph-long expository block delivered to a character whom, in canon, he has literally met once or twice before. You could chalk that up to Wayne being a cheeky over-sharer, but you could also chalk it up to Sanderson wanting to cram a novel’s worth of character development into a page or two.Overall, the book feels much more like an extended short story than a true novel; perhaps this is because the pace of the story is very rapid. Or perhaps it’s because the book was intended to be a tacked-on novella (as Sanderson has produced for other series’ of his) rather than a fully-fledged intro to a new series. (I may Google that after I finish writing this, actually. It would explain a lot.)The book is still good, of course. The action scenes are largely clean and well-written, though there were one or two times when I had to reread a description of some gunplay a few times before I “got” it.And, of course, the worldbuilding is there, as the author builds skillfully on the basic principles he set up already in the prior books set in this world. The really interesting thing is the combined Allomancy/Feruchemy powers of people Sanderson labels “Twinborn”. However, he only displays three characters with those kinds of powers in this book, and there’s only really a single memorable execution of a “combo ability”, so to speak, by any of the characters. It’s not the magic that drives this book, really. It’s simply integrated very well into the plot of the book. At no point does it feel like Sanderson is using his magic systems as a deus ex machina; characters with godlike powers counter one another very cleverly and in very logical ways. Like all his books, the systems of magic that make Alloy of Law a fantasy novel (rather than a run of the mill western) are so smoothly written and logically described that they enhance the believability of the narrative, rather than detracting from it.It’s a testament to his skill in designing a setting that when Sanderson’s characters use magical powers to escape perilous situations, it requires almost no suspension of disbelief from the reader. The powers of the characters are sensical and clearly delimited; instead of just “flying”, characters have to leap through the air with careful bursts of magnetic force. Instead of just being “invulnerable”, characters have to spend two weeks being sick so they can spend a minute healing a gunshot wound when they need it. It’s details like that that make the book (like all his books) a compelling read. I only wish there were more of it in there.Over all, The Alloy of Law suffered from a cramped plot and a lack of natural character development. But those flaws didn’t stop me from enjoying the book, and what Sanderson has done to bring the story from a medieval fantasy setting to a western fantasy setting is interesting enough to make me buy the next book in the series. Here’s hoping it’ll be longer than this one was.

Brandon Sanderson returns to the world of Mistborn in his new novel, The Alloy of Law (2011). Set three centuries after the first trilogy, The Alloy of Law is both a great standalone novel and an excellent example of bringing something new to a fantasy setting.Our hero is Waxillium Ladrian, a member of a noble house who returns to the big city of Elendel to head his struggling family after twenty years as a lawkeeper in the Roughs. Wax tries to put his past behind him and adapt to city life, but trouble finds him when he gets mixed up in trying to put a halt to a series of train robberies and kidnappings, including the woman he plans to marry as part of his plans to help revive his family's fortunes. He's aided by his Roughs deputy Wayne, who drew a laugh from me every time he appeared, and Marasi, cousin of the kidnapped betrothed, who is studying law at the university but has never had any practical experience, and she adds another dimension to Wax's quest to solve the mystery.The characters and plot are excellent, but what makes The Alloy of Law stand out for me is the setting. Sanderson takes the metal-based magic system developed in the first Mistborn trilogy and places it alongside technological progress. Instead of the usual static sword and sorcery fantasy setting, the addition of railroads and revolvers adds a believable element of progress and change to the world, and also interacts wonderfully with the aforementioned metal-based magic.But not only has technology changed over the centuries, but so has magic and religion. Abilities characters displayed in the first trilogy are now legendary, while new abilities have been discovered and old abilities are combined in new and imaginative ways. The characters and events depicted in the first series are now myths and the foundation of religions. It's great fun to see how the characters I enjoyed in the earlier books are perceived by future generations.If you haven't read the previous Mistborn books, I think you could still enjoy The Alloy of Law. It's definitely a good book on its own, especially if you're interested in fantasy outside the usual medieval technology level. But if you have read and enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy, I think you will get a lot out of this book, as the depiction of the world is very interesting.Sanderson has stated he plans to write two more Mistborn trilogies, one set in the modern era and another set in the future. I eagerly await those, after seeing how well he's executed the development of the world in The Alloy of Law. The only disappointment I have is that the The Alloy of Law is a stand alone book, with no direct sequels planned. I'd love to read more about Wax, Wayne, and the rest, and - while resolving the main plot- there's certainly room left at the end of The Alloy of Law for additional stories.I heartily recommend The Alloy of Law, especially to Mistborn fans or those who enjoy non-traditional fantasy settings. It demonstrates again why, since discovering him when he took over the Wheel of Time series, Brandon Sanderson has become one of my favorite authors.

Wax is a coinshot, an allomancer, and a moral man. According to the Wikipedia article on this book, it was intended to be an exercise to clear Brandon Sanderson's mind, so that he could work on a Memory of Light, a continuation of the Wheel of Time. I don't know anybody who would or could write a book in order to clear the mind for another book. It did not read like an exercise. In fact, it read like a start of another great series that would and should be as great as the Mistborn and other series that Sanderson has written. The world of allomancers is strange but remarkably compelling. Based on Newton's laws of mass, energy, force, and velocity, it is simultaneously Einsteinian in its assumptions of how energy transformed into mass and vice verse. I know that some of those assumptions must be wrong or at least inconsistent but there wasn't time while I was reading to solve those equations and the book was just too good to ruin with over-analysis. The most difficult part to explain was Miles, the fellow lawman who went rogue and evil. Miles was able to translate gold to healing so that he was indestructible and immortal, able to store the energy for healing . While I am able to accept some magic, the concept of shooting itself in the head with a shotgun and surviving is just too much. Despite these flaws, I gave the book 5 stars because it was so well-written, expressive, and riveting. I could not put my iPad down at times. I read slower because I did not want the book to end. I relished the fight scenes because of the action and explanations. The romantic exchanges between Wax and a younger woman Marisa were limited by Wax's morality and urge to protect her. Wax is engaged to Steris who is Marisa's cousin and closer to his age and knew that he would put Marisa into danger. Finally, I cannot leave out Wayne, Wax's best friend and fellow fighter. They are like the closest brothers, always insulting and saving each other in equal measure. They are great and memorable characters. I recommend the book highly.

Most book series go either of two ways. The first being they're wrapped up in a strong narrative that encompasses a trilogy of novels, keeping the storytelling tight and non-daunting for newcomers. The second method is continuing the series well after the initial trilogy ends, creating new stories and scenarios for the heroes to overcome while meeting new friends and foes. The latter can have the adverse effect of making the series lose its forward momentum and the interest of its readers. Sanderson has decided to do neither of these while continuing his incredible Mistborn series. Forgoing the use of the previous cast of characters and setting in the favor of a sizable shift in direction for the series. It's unfortunate that Vin and the others will not be making a comeback, but this new take on the universe is fascinating and ripe with possibilities.During an interview regarding his various works, Sanderson claimed that he originally intended for the Mistborn series to be a 'trilogy of trilogies.' As in the first trilogy serving as the mythology for the world's back story while the later iterations would take place in later time periods. It's a brilliant concept, it showcases the technological and social advances of humanity while maintaining the mysticism established in the earlier books. Yet Alloy of Law isn't the start of the preconceived second trilogy but rather a stand-alone novel that takes place in the same time period of the industrial revolution. The book actually came to fruition through a writing process in order to clear his thoughts before writing A Memory of Light in the Wheels of Time series and the next book in the Stormlight Archive. The book was surprisingly better than intended and was released to publication. Sanderson also said in an interview that the Alloy of Law isn't meant to push the overarching storyline forward, but is rather a glimpse into what life would be like in a modern setting in the Mistborn universe.The plot follows the former law keeper Waxillium Ladrian and his indoctrination into the upper class of society. With a recent tragic death in his life, it seems like it's time for Wax to hang up his guns for good and perform his duty as the head of House Ladrian, trying to become the aristocrat his house needs him to be while containing his old passion for fighting crime. Everything is normal until a series of robberies caused by an enigmatic group known as The Vanishers begin targeting noble houses and kidnapping women. When one such robbery hits to close to home, Waxillium and his colleagues find themselves thrown into a dangerous life or death situation, and it's up to a retired law keeper to bring these men to justice while dealing with his own inner demons. At its core it's a crime drama, significant shift from the previous books. It doesn't share the trilogies epic `world-ending' sense of scale, yet it's an interesting change and is befitting of the era and themes within.Going into The Alloy of Law, I was a bit apprehensive about the new leading character. This is because Sanderson had created one of my all-time favorite characters in fantasy in the form of Vin. While I'm glad Sanderson was able to give proper closure to the character, it also concerned me that the new lead wouldn't have the same appeal and thus the series would suffer for it. Thankfully I was absolutely wrong, Brandon Sanderson once again demonstrates his astuteness as an author by creating a new set of characters that are immediately likable and memorable. Living up the steep standards set in the original trilogy while adding a flavor all their own. The new series protagonist Waxillium, is a character I felt was being pulled in different directions through his own internal conflict. Performing his unwanted duty, carrying on his personal desires of crime-fighting, and being haunted by the biggest failing of his life made for a sympathetic character with a lot of heart and depth. I won't go as far as to say he can top Vin, frankly I don't think that's possible. But Sanderson isn't trying to make someone that's bigger and better than his previous protagonist, but rather create a character that adds something new to the table, and it works.Rounding out the cast are Wax's longtime friend and partner, Wayne, and the romantic interest of the book, Marasi. I absolutely loved Wayne, his character brought a welcoming dose of humor to the series while complementing Wax's no-nonsense attitude. The final character, Marasi, had a charming innocence which added to the entertaining group dynamic. The banter between these characters is great and really emphasizes the new humor even more. It gives this Mistborn novel a much lighter tone than the previous iterations. It's an interesting direction that helps it stand out on its own.Yet the biggest character is the world itself. The essence of the Mistborn series is still intact, but the look and feel is quite different. The original trilogy was firmly placed in the realm of the high fantasy genre; this latest iteration feels like an amalgamation of an urban fantasy and a western with a pinch of steampunk thrown in for good measure. Just like the trilogy preceding it, Sanderson has once again created a fantasy novel that stands out in an over-saturated market.While there are certainly a lot of new elements to take in, it's still easily recognizable as Mistborn in all the key areas. Particularly the incredible action sequences from the trilogy return and they're just as over-the-top and intense as ever. Sanderson is the undisputed king of writing fantasy action scenes and he doesn't disappoint here. What Alloy of Law brings new to the table is the use of firearms. This may seem like a superficial detail, but considering that metal is the key component of Allomancy, this creates various new scenarios and uses that longtime fans will surely get a kick out of.The Alloy of Law is proof that the Mistborn series can live on without the original characters. It's significantly shorter than the previous books, but it packs enough characterization, plot, and action to satisfy longtime fans. Yet while Sanderson has proclaimed this book to be a stand-alone novel, it does leave some plot elements unfinished. I get the feeling that we'll be seeing more of Wax and Wayne in the future.

I’ve become a huge fan of everything Brandon Sanderson has written. Each series feels like coming home, and saying goodbye to characters is never easy. After starting with The Wheel of Time, I worked through Stormlight, Skyward, and Elantris, deliberately saving Mistborn because I knew I’d miss Stormblessed and so many others.Now that I’ve finally started Mistborn, I absolutely love it. The story flows beautifully, and the characters quickly become just as meaningful. Even though book three felt perfectly wrapped up, I found myself happily pulled right back in. Once again, Sanderson proves how effortless it is to get emotionally invested in his worlds.

I loved seeing how the world has changed from the Mistborn trilogy. The magic has changed and technology is changing the landscape. I love Sanderson's ability to create a complex world with an elaborate magic systems. He hints at further, larger, problems in this world, which, makes me look forward in reading future additions.The main story is alright. I wasn't terribly interesting in the main villain. Wax and Wayne (Are their names suppose to be similar to the wax and wane of a moon cycle?) are fun characters. While Sanderson excels at world building, he's not great at creating complex characters or character development. Wayne is a standout, but, Wax is your standard good guy with a sad past.Sanderson is also not great at female characters. He seems to feel you only need a few with one being a main character. The main female character in this story is Marasi, a pathetic, fan girl, who's board line obsessed with Wax. She's suppose to be skilled in crime analyst. Honestly, most of her deductions could have easily been done by Wax or Wayne. She eventually contribute something to the story, but, it's an unearned moment because she's just not that strong of a character. It felt more like something created to make her seem important, rather than a moment to be impressed by her. In one scene Wax asks her why she doesn't learn how to fight or use guns. She replies it's "more for men" and breezily explains she just doesn't think that as a woman it's something she should be doing. If You loved Vin from the Mistborn series, prepare to be disappointed by her exact opposite.Sanderson's view on female characters have always been perplexing. Characters in the series have repeatedly said that with so few people with powers, they can't afford to be sexist. Wax reference a character from the previous series as a strong warrior, so there's no reason women can't follow suit. Yet, Mistorn is sparse with female characters. Granted, excluding Marasi, we meet another woman in the beginning, who's name I can't remember. We meet briefly meet another woman is far more interesting than Marasi and I wish she would have been in female character.It's odd that Sanderson seems to see women as being equally as capable as men, yet, does not seem overly interested in creating a world with more than one or two women at a time.

UPDATE 8/01/12: Brandon Sanderson posted a blog entry today, mostly about the final Wheel of Time book, but he also had something to say about The Alloy of Law. YES, there will be a sequel. So for all the people that didn't like the unfinished ending - there WILL be more! Yay!Wax is a lawman livin in the Roughs where most folks think law optional. Its a rough place, but for the last 20 years its the place Wax called home. But when his uncle dies, he is called back to the city of Elendel to become the head of the nobel house of Ladrian. But once a lawman, always a lawman, and when a string of robberies are committed by a crew dubbed 'The Vanishers', Wax can't help but start investigating. And once he starts he finds himself pulled in entirely.Picture a Mistborn Western and you'll get The Alloy of Law. I'm not at all interested in Westerns, but I LOVED Mistborn, so there was no doubt in my mind that I HAD to read this book. The beginning was a little slow and the setting quite like that of the Old West. But as soon as the story moves to the city, things start getting exciting and more Mistborn like. There are several references to characters and events from the original series, though you might not recognize them at first considering you are hearing about them from characters who are living three hundred years after the end of the original trilogy. Things get changed over the years and three hundred years is a long time. I thought it was really cool how that was woven in. Keep an eye out for Spook's weird speech patten at one point (I laughed when I understood what it meant when it called it High Imperial).The characters were really interesting. Wax is in his forties, with twenty years of lawkeepen behind him, so he isn't like most hot headed youngsters you read about in fantasy. Wayne is just an amusing character, with lots of emphasis on character. Marasi is a smart, brave girl who constantly spouted off statistics about crime, which was really interesting. I really liked all three of them and enjoyed reading about them.You don't really need to have read the original trilogy to enjoy this book. It stands all on its own, which is pretty neat. In the Acknowledgments at the front of the book, Brandon Sanderson says that he originally envisioned Mistborn as three trilogies - one in the past, present, and future. He clearly states that The Alloy of Law is not one of those trilogies, but a side project that grew up on its own. So I am now really looking forward to even MORE Mistborn!

L'achat de ce livre se justifie, dans mon cas, parce que je voulais retrouver l'esprit de la série des Mistborn que j'avais trouvé très originale. En fait, Sanderson est un magicien si l'on regarde ses livres récents. Il invente à chaque fois un nouvel univers, avec sa propre magie: Warbreaker et le souffle, les métaux avec Mistborn... En outre, ce qui ne gâche rien, c’est un excellent écrivain, dont les textes sont très vivants et faciles à lire. Dans ce livre, j'ai retrouvé toutes les qualités que j'appréciais déjà, mais j'ai aussi été enthousiasmé par le plaisir évident de l'auteur. En lisant cet opus, il me semble que Sanderson s'est vraiment beaucoup amusé à l'écrire, je ne saurais pas dire pourquoi, mais j'ai ressenti une jubilation particulière dans le texte. Peut être est-ce du à cet humour si particulier qu'il développe dans ses histoires, ou la joie de mêler la magie et l'esprit western... En tous les cas, que l'on ait lu ou pas d'autres livres de l'auteur, c'est un vrai plaisir de suivre ces nouvelles aventures dont j'espère une suite, vite...

Otima edição, capa belíssima, entrega antecipada e bem protegida, sem críticas, só elogios

Excellent writing, world building and characters, and some small surprises at the conclusion. A faster, easier read than the more meaty cosmere world, by design. I thought I wouldn't like this turn of the century world and it's gunslinging hero, but I was wrong. The juxtaposition of fantasy and modernity makes things more interesting, not less. The characters being mere mistings instead of mistborn adds rather than subtracting from the action: as always, it's not what a character can do that matters, but what they can't do.

Brandon Sanderson, sin dudas, se ha convertido en uno de mis autores favoritos con su saga Mistborn (Nacidos de la Bruma, para aquellos que gusten leerla en español). Y con esta secuela, sigue sin decepcionarme. Siguiendo los eventos de el último libro en la trilogía original, The Hero of Ages; nos encontramos con que el mundo de El Imperio Final ha evolucionado, para ser más precisos, ha evolucionado durante 300 años y ahora se encuentra en un periodo que recuerda a la era Victoriana con un toque de Viejo Oeste.No diré mucho más, pues es un verdadero placer descubrir paulatinamente como Sanderson transformó su mundo, moviéndolo a través del tiempo pero conservando viva la ahora leyenda de los personajes que conocimos en la trilogía original.Definitivamente una lectura que vale mucho la pena. 100% recomendado.

I was so pleased to see that Brandon Sanderson had extended his original Mistborn Trilogy, as I found the magical system he’d developed for the series, that of Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy – processes whereby practitioners burn/employ different metals, and, after blending & activating them with the essence of his or her own body or mind to produce the desired outcome – to be innovative, and somewhat different to other fantasy novels I’ve read of late.And what an extension it proved to be. This is what the back cover reveals:*******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.*******Now, I don’t know about you, but I found the premise to be rather refreshing. Scadrial has been brought forward in time, and we’re given a glimpse of what has become of the world and its people after our heroes and heroines put things right at the end of the last trilogy.For the most part, society has drawn together in what is now the Elendel Basin, a prepared and cultivated region surrounding its namesake capital and other provincial towns for many miles in all directions. Life is good. People are civilized. And culture, law and order is an accepted way of life. Beyond the encircling mountains, however, is The Roughs; a wilderness plains area, much like the wild west of cowboys & Indians fame. Life is much harsher there, and people look to gun slinging lawmen and women to keep the peace.The three metallic arts still exist, though Allomancy and Feruchemy are by far the most widely practiced. (Hemalurgy, it seems, is unknown in the modern world, its secrets being kept by the kandra who survived Scadrial’s rebirth)Of the populace, there are those who are capable of burning just one of the 16 arcane metals, be it as an Allomancer or as a Feruchemist in a single form, or there are the twinborn. Those blessed with both an allomantic and feruchemical capability combined.So what happens?Vin, Elend, Sazed and Spook may have guaranteed the world’s survival and the coming of a new age, but people are still people. And as we see, while society as a whole has advanced – to a degree – there are those still intent on getting what they want by any means necessary. Fair or foul. Lords continue to be aloof. The downtrodden, rebellious. And villains? Oh, they’re always out for what they can get. And when you combine all three?Great rollicking fun! That’s what.I’ve often thought it odd when successful writers allow their universes to remain static for so long. Brandon Sanderson hasn’t made that mistake. And by allowing Scadrial to progress over the intervening three hundred years, it injects a breath of fresh air into a well-established world, and a superb slant on his ever-evolving story arc.The Alloy of Law is markedly shorter. At 325 pages, its half the length of his other Mistborn novels. But that doesn’t reduce the enjoyment. Our protagonists and antagonists are well thought out and skillfully introduced. And the relationship between Wax and Wayne is particularly engaging. (Reminding me, to some degree, of Alias Smith & Jones) – You’ll see. The dialogue is sharp; the slow burn a treat; the action – when it comes – relentless; and that story arc I mentioned? It’s a treasure to behold, as it allows the continuing mystery to establish deeper roots, to develop, and evolve into an appealing murder-mystery-whodunnit-action-adventure.Or to put it succinctly: Sherlock Holmes meets Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.(And yes, I’m already into the second in this series)