Title: The Bands of Mourning
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: Mistborn #6, Wax & Wayne #3
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 447
Published: 2016, Tor Books
My Grade: 5 out of 5
Review Summary: The Bands of Mourning is when I feel like Era 2 is really kicking off and it could end in any way really.

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

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.

The Bands of Mourning are the mythical metal minds owned by the Lord Ruler, said to grant anyone who wears them the powers that the Lord Ruler had at his command. Hardly anyone thinks they really exist. A kandra researcher has returned to Elendel with images that seem to depict the Bands, as well as writings in a language that no one can read. Waxillium Ladrian is recruited to travel south to the city of New Seran to investigate. Along the way he discovers hints that point to the true goals of his uncle Edwarn and the shadowy organization known as The Set.

MY REVIEW

Three books in (of four) in Mistborn Era 2 and it is once again proofed that Sanderson definitely knows how to build up suspense throughout a series. Even if I did enjoy the first, The Ally of Law, it wasn’t the strongest beginning, it was a bit confusing. But as he builds the story, it just gets more intense, intriguing, and captivating. Shadows of Self connected Era 2 to Era 1 and The Bands of Mourning continues with that connection while at the same time expanding the Cosmere universe. But still in a mystical way and I as a reader am still not sure how it is all connected yet. But there is one more instalment in the Mistborn series and I can’t wait to read it.

The Bands of Mourning had such a strong beginning that I managed to secure a face sunburn because I didn’t want to leave the beach in the middle of the prologue, midday in Australia. It got me hooked! But after having finished the book, I can’t really say that I understand how it was relevant to the rest of the story except for the fact that you got a small piece of background on the relationship between Wax and his sister Telsin. There were questions left unanswered.

The group are exploring new places in the searches for the bands of mourning, and I would just like to say that when they reached the city of New Seran and checked in, I was smiling throughout the whole scene. It was so chaotic among the characters but still so clear. Sometimes, it feels like certain types of highly intensive scenes, like battle scenes, can be so disorganized and it is hard to keep track of what is actually happening. I always get visuals in my head when reading, usually not in fighting scenes or when things are happening quickly. Sanderson really manages to stay calm and clear in his writings, even in chaotic events. That’s impressive! And also hilarious in this specific scene.

The characters are definitely developing and the most prominent one is surprisingly Steris and her relationship to Wax. I recognize myself a lot in Steris and really appreciate that kind of character in a fantasy world like the Cosmere universe. I hope to see more of her in the next one.

It’s so easy to read Brandon Sandersons books. Not that the story and magic systems are easy, he just makes it so easy to follow along and to be engulfed in the world. Everything he does is golden! Five out of a possible five!