Shadows of Self

August 31, 2015
Sanderson (The Alloy of Law) brings back crime fighter Waxillium Ladrian for the excellent fifth Mistborn industrial revolution fantasy, which opens a new subseries. Nearly two decades have passed since Wax worked as a lawman for hire in the Roughs, the dusty territory far removed from his home city of Elendel. Now he assists the constabulary of Elendel, and his latest case looks to be a bad one. An unknown assassin has killed several people at an auction, both nobles and criminals—including Winsting Innate, the governor’s brother. The governor himself is the next likely target, but Wax learns from Harmony, his deity, that the assassin is not human at all but a Faceless Immortal. With the assistance of the lovable but dodgy sidekick Wayne and lawyer-turned-constable Marasi Colms, Wax hopes to cobble together enough power and talent to save the day. Sanderson’s fantasy world partakes equally of steampunk, early industry, and the Wild West, and he cleverly incorporates the metal-shaping magic of feruchemists and allomancers. Fantasy fans will savor this exciting escapade. Agent: Joshua Bilmes, JABberwocky Literary Agency.

Michael Kramer returns to narrate this newest installment in the Mistborn saga. Picking up from ALLOY OF LAW, Kramer continues the easy, bantering style of the characters in a setting reminiscent of the wild, wild West. Kramer finds plenty of ways to make his listeners smile and look forward to what happens next. The motley cast of characters gives Kramer a wealth of opportunity to draw out the story's humor--at times, sardonic, at other times, verging on hilarity. Kramer maintains a strong pace, with plenty of moments for witty repartee in the midst of intense confrontations between the hero, a "lawman for hire," and a variety of good old-fashioned villains. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine