Title: The Alloy of Law
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: Mistborn #4, Wax & Wayne #1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 332
Published: 2011, Tor Books
My Grade: 3.5 out of 5

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.

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.

MY REVIEW

As far as Sanderson goes, I have to admit that this was not up there with Elantris and Mistborn Era 1. But I would say that has more to do with the setting than anything else. The old West is not really what I am into and I would say that that is the main reason why this one didn’t get a 5, which I almost counted on.

I knew that the story took place 300 years after Era 1 which of course made me interested since the ending of Era 1 was so unexpected and drastic and world-changing. But I honestly think it would have been cooler to know what happened straight after. 300 years later, and there are lots of things that developed, they are referencing to the old days and titles of people back then, but you as a reader don’t really know who they are referring to yet. Which is both a captivating thing, because you want to continue to read to be able to understand what they mean, but also a little bit frustrating that you don’t already know. Even if “you were there” when it happened in Era 1.

The familiarity with Sanderson’s work is definitely there though and that is a comfort. The story is progressing a little bit slower than I would like. The full book only covers a short amount of time, even though it doesn’t feel like it due to so many events keep coming.

I also found the character Wayne to be too much. At least in the beginning, but he definitely grew on me.

All in all, a great read! But I wasn’t as excited to pick it up to continue the story as I was with Era 1. And I would say that is because of the setting. It is fantasy, the allomancy is there, but still wasn’t as magical as The Final Empire. I will continue to read, if I know anything about Sanderson at this point, is that it will most definitely pick up. 3.5 out of 5.