The Bands of Mourning

December 7, 2015
The sixth Mistborn industrial revolution fantasy (after Shadows of Self)—and the second featuring crime-fighter Waxillium Ladrian and his sidekick, Wayne—is more steampunk than dystopian. The novel kicks off with Wax’s wedding to Lady Steris, but the festivities are put on hold after an inconvenient flood, and then Wax learns that Harmony, one of the Faceless Immortals, is incommunicado. Soon Wax and Wayne head off to hunt for the Bands of Mourning, a mythical artifact associated with long-defeated Lord Ruler. This quest is classic Sanderson, with magic, intrigue, and witty repartee. All the familiar elements from the earlier Mistborn novels are here, including the metal-based magics of allomancy, feruchemy, and the forbidden art of hemalurgy (about which more is revealed over the course of this story). Open questions from earlier adventures are finally addressed, and Sanderson skillfully weaves in new opportunities for the dynamic duo’s next adventure. Die-hard fans will be delighted to finally learn more about the mysterious southern lands they’ve previously heard about in passing. Agent: Joshua Bilmes, JABberwocky Literary Agency.

Narrator Michael Kramer is a knowledgeable guide to Sanderson's Mistborn series, After all, this production marks the sixth book in the series that Kramer has narrated. The versatile Kramer sounds comfortable as he inhabits metal lord Waxillium Ladrian, and his performance shines. Wax and company are chasing down the mythical Bands of Mourning, trying to find them before his villainous Uncle Edwarn does. There's a lot of backstory in this volume, but Kramer handles it so adeptly that even a novice can keep up. An added bonus is an appendix with an explanation of the metal arts and a chart rating various metals. It's something to sate listeners until the next time Sanderson and Kramer join forces. D.E.M. 2017 Audies Finalist � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine