Wax and Wayne are Back!!!

This is the sixth book in the “Mistborn,” series and third with Wax and his side kick Wayne. It is still set in the early industrial city of Ladrian, three hundred years after the end of the first trilogy. The same magic systems of Allomancy and Feruchemy are still prevalent and through the story we learn more about the forbidden art of “Hemalurgy.
I believe this is a great addition to the Mistborn series, the story flows with more of the action that was prevalent in the first three books. Sanderson fills in some gaps that had been left from the other story lines and I really like the development of Steris and Marasi. We also learn more about the southern lands that had only been briefly mentioned before. I thought this was the end of the double trilogy but Sanderson leaves the door open for more adventures for Wax and Wayne; yes please..
About the narrator; Michael Kramer has always given a fantastic performance, this series would not have the same dynamic impact without him.

70 people found this helpful

Interesting Bubblegum

Cowboys gone superhero/supervillain in an alternate world. . This fits well in fantasy fiction that crosses over the young adult/adult line. It was an easy read, with some interesting philosophies that were palatable and not too intense.

9 people found this helpful

NOT disapointed!

Any additional comments?

With Sanderson's words and Kramer's voice, I fell comfortably back into the Cosmere, with this book. Several times I found myself being drawn back into the first 3 Mistborn books, with more than one "AHH" and "AHA!" moments. A lot of secrets, holes, and loose ends seem to start to pull together in this, the next to last, book. My re-acquaintance with the characters was spontaneous and by the end of the book, my knowledge of the world Sanderson is building is several layers stronger. From beginning to end, my presumptions and predictions were proven wrong, with a twist here or a lurch there. I simply could not stop listening to this book. By the last couple of chapters, I was literally listening with a clenched fist, at my chest, and by the end, I was left with my mouth hanging open. My anticipation for the next Mistborn novel is almost too much to bear. Brandon Sanderson will be the death of me.

32 people found this helpful

Unlimited Power And Plot Armor

I loved the original Mistborn trilogy. I had no idea how he was going to continue the story after that ending, but I was interested enough to give it a try. The Alloy of Law was pretty interesting. I wasn't sure about the setting change at fist but it grew on me. I was a little iffy on Shadow of Self. This drained away most of my interest in the series though.

Sanderson is often praised for his "laws" on how magic should function in stories. I agree they are good laws, but this is a prime example of what happens when you ignore them. ***SPOILERS*** The powers started off limited, and still are to an extent, but he's handing them out like candy now. Everyone just happens to have healing (gold metal minds) now. Suddenly every main villain had it plus some more with the item they picked up near the end. It's the same problem I'm starting to have with his Stormlight Archives series. Everyone is just invincible so there is no real danger anymore. Even people without the ability can be healed because apparently Condra can tentacle inside a wound, suck out poison/sepsis, stitch you up, and you're fine.

He's even bringing back characters that 'died' in the first trilogy. If anyone can come back at anytime and anyone can survive any amount of fatal wounds what's the point? If anyone dies now it's just going to bring up questions as to how since there are so many ways to survive, and even if they do die you'll have to question it.


Doesn't really need to be said, but Michael Kramer is great as always.

6 people found this helpful

MEH....Raiders of the lost arch ending was so bad

I read the first 3 book trilogy and was amazed. It was a 9 out of 10. But the next three took patience to get through, and when I read the final Bands of Mourning, I literally had to bang my head against a wall to get through the ending. The moral and ethical decisions posed by the protagonist, the predictability of this plot was so transparent it feels rushed. I would never recommend to a friend to pick this book up.

4 people found this helpful

Warning: shark jumping in progress

So, I'm a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson. I genuinely believe he's the most talented fantasy writer today; nobody (and I mean NOBODY) builds worlds the way he does, complete with deep physics that undergird the world and magic system.

Unfortunately, the Bands of Mourning feels very much like a tacked-on adventure for the current Misborn gang. While the original series focused on the fall and rise of the Final Empire and the first two books of this trilogy focus on a shadowy criminal gang, TBOM feels too much like that fourth Indiana Jones movie ... it starts off okay, and then takes a turn for the weird.

I could forgive the book if this were simply a matter of literary exploration, but the novel's major sin is that it doesn't feel connected to anything. Yes, there is mention of the criminal gang, but the book feels too much like it's trying to revisit the core content of the original trilogy. Without spoiling anything, it starts to dredge up old characters and artifacts and reintroduce them into the world.

Let sleeping dogs lie, Brandon Sanderson!

I think the problem is this - when Brandon Sanderson writes, I pay attention. So far, all of his work has felt deep, connected, and epic. Even the works that I really didn't like (Elantris, Warbreaker) felt meaningful in some way or another. But TBOM feels like an episode of a 90s sitcom - it's funny and entertaining, but ultimately stand-alone and leaves little impact.

4 people found this helpful

The investigation continues as the stakes escalate

Each book of the Mistborn Era 2 series continues to peel back the onion and escalate the stakes of the story to a whole new level. Wax finds himself once again helping the kandra as he heads south to look for the Bands of Mourning, which are the mythical metalminds owned by the Lord Ruler himself. It is rumored that the bands grant anyone who wears them the powers of the Lord Ruler himself. Uncle Edwarn and The Set are also after the bands so the race is on to find them - if they do exist.

Wax only agrees to get involved because he suspects that his sister is being held captive by The Set and he makes it his priority to rescue her and to bring his uncle to justice. Wayne, Steris, Marasi, and MeLaan are all back for more and in this novel Steris' character really starts to come into her own. She finally starts to embrace the chaos of Wax's lifestyle and her compulsive organizational skills turn out to be a real asset

This book continues to do a good job of adding the technological advances of a more modern world on top of the existing magical systems of Allomancy, Feruchamy, and Hemalurgy. I had my doubts about it when it started but Sanderson masterfully makes it work and Michael Kramer continues to deliver excellent narration.

The series does not end here and seems to be building towards a battle of the gods in the final book of Era 2, The Lost Metal.

18 people found this helpful

Amazing book !

Like all Brandon Sanderson books, Bands of Mourning is really really well written and extremely entertaining. All the favorites, are back with all the action, mystery and mishaps. I have read loads of books by this particular author and I have to say that in my opinion, Steris is one of the most interesting, quirky and clever characters he has written. I had quite a few lol moments reading her antics. Enjoy you won't be disappointed.

16 people found this helpful

Best One of the Three!

Where does The Bands of Mourning rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I love to read and listen to any Brandon Sanderson book, but this one was done in about 24 hours. I always enjoy the Story by Brandon and the Narration by Michael Kramer. There are so many things that come full circle in this book, and a few more questions that get you excited for the next installment. If you haven't read Brandon Sanderson yet, you don't know what you are missing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Wayne, as always. He is funny and a phenomenal sidekick.

Have you listened to any of Michael Kramer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, Michael is one of my favorite Narrators.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, but I am not going to give away any spoilers.

Any additional comments?

Brandon Sanderson is the Bomb!

10 people found this helpful

Mistborn continues, much to my glee

This is the third installment of Mistborn Era 2, glad to hear there is another "The Lost Metal" being written in this new Era. Have grown to like these characters, as I did with the first Mistborn. Steris, has to be the most evolving of them all, as I didn't like her at all two books ago. Wax is on a mission to stop Suit and free his captive sister. He enlists his companions, Wayne, Marasi, and Mielon, but Steris shows she can also be valuable to the cause.
A strange discovery brings about a whole new set of problems for the lawmen, as the Suit's band of outlaws seem to be one step ahead of everyone else in discovering new technology, but they plan to use it to rule the world. This new technology will have a dire consequence for mankind though, when it's secrets are figured out.

6 people found this helpful