The Alloy of Law: A Mistborn Novel

Last summer, I read through Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy because I heard it was a fantastic introduction to modern fantasy. I enjoyed my experience with the trilogy, and - looking for some escapism - I decided to pick up the "spin-off" series set in the same universe. However, with The Alloy of Law, Sanderson has done something particularly fascinating and unique. The Alloy of Law is the first entry in a new trilogy set 300 years after the events of the original trilogy. And this world is not static - it progresses. While the original trilogy leaned into somewhat-familiar classic fantasy trappings (nobility, castles, swords, kingdoms, etc), the new trilogy has more of a western/steampunk vibe (trains, electricity, "horseless" carriages, and pistols). And enough time has passed that the events of the original trilogy have taken on a mythic/religious quality. The new setting and environments are a breath of fresh air. Sanderson masterfully "updates" the world he created without skipping a beat - the dialogue is still witty, the new characters charming, and the action scenes still crisp, easy-to-follow, and thrilling (especially with the addition of firearms). And the metal-based "magic system" is so ingrained into lore and culture that it doesn't even feel like magic anymore - just an extension of the characters. One of my biggest gripes with the original Mistborn trilogy was that at times the books felt needlessly padded and overwrought. The Alloy of Law is much shorter than those books, and while it loses a bit of that "epic" quality, I found the more focused storyline much more riveting and engaging. Filled with Sherlock Holmes-esque detective work, masterfully written shootouts, and some instantly loveable characters, The Alloy of Law is proof that Sanderson is a master storyteller in whatever genre he chooses to pursue. I look forward to continuing this series.

Not nearly as good as the first three Mistborn in my opinion. For those that don't know this is the start of a new series set in the same universe as his Mistborn Trilogy (which is excellent) but many years later with new characters and a 'western' setting rather than the more medieval setting of the first trilogy. If it weren't Sanderson I might have had lower expectations but everything else I've read of his was phenomenal and this was a really by-the-numbers story that I didn't find that exciting. I kind of had to force myself through parts of it due to being bored, which is the opposite of how I read most of his books. The two main characters are kind of cool seeming at first, but were more style than substance in my opinion (and the majority of the substance was in the first chapter), and all the rest were paper-thin (including the villain). The plot was too straightforward given how fantastic his plots are in other books. Anyways its mildly enjoyable but disappointing as a followup to the first Mistborn trilogy.

This book felt about half as long as the ones in the preceding trilogy. Almost more of a novella than a full novel. As a result of the cramped size of the book, character development feels sparse, and where it does occur, very forced. Though characters are not exactly Sanderson’s “thing”, (not that his characters are bad, it’s just not where he shines the most) he usually does a good job of revealing crucial background details about a character over a broader number of pages, and allows more natural character interactions to drive exposition. That isn’t happening here. The contrast is pretty significant, in fact. For example, he goes through a very long process of foreshadowing with the characters in Stormlight Archive, holding back or merely hinting at the traumas and regrettable decisions in their past. And while he doesn’t do that to the same degree in the prior Mistborn Trilogy, the process of characterization there is still more drawn out, and, therefore, more believable. This simply doesn’t happen in Alloy of Law. The book begins with a straight up and down depiction of the tragic event that defines Wax, the main character. The sidekick, Wayne, doesn’t even get that level of attention from Sanderson: Wayne reveals his dark secret in a paragraph-long expository block delivered to a character whom, in canon, he has literally met once or twice before. You could chalk that up to Wayne being a cheeky over-sharer, but you could also chalk it up to Sanderson wanting to cram a novel’s worth of character development into a page or two. Overall, the book feels much more like an extended short story than a true novel; perhaps this is because the pace of the story is very rapid. Or perhaps it’s because the book was intended to be a tacked-on novella (as Sanderson has produced for other series’ of his) rather than a fully-fledged intro to a new series. (I may Google that after I finish writing this, actually. It would explain a lot.) The book is still good, of course. The action scenes are largely clean and well-written, though there were one or two times when I had to reread a description of some gunplay a few times before I “got” it. And, of course, the worldbuilding is there, as the author builds skillfully on the basic principles he set up already in the prior books set in this world. The really interesting thing is the combined Allomancy/Feruchemy powers of people Sanderson labels “Twinborn”. However, he only displays three characters with those kinds of powers in this book, and there’s only really a single memorable execution of a “combo ability”, so to speak, by any of the characters. It’s not the magic that drives this book, really. It’s simply integrated very well into the plot of the book. At no point does it feel like Sanderson is using his magic systems as a deus ex machina; characters with godlike powers counter one another very cleverly and in very logical ways. Like all his books, the systems of magic that make Alloy of Law a fantasy novel (rather than a run of the mill western) are so smoothly written and logically described that they enhance the believability of the narrative, rather than detracting from it. It’s a testament to his skill in designing a setting that when Sanderson’s characters use magical powers to escape perilous situations, it requires almost no suspension of disbelief from the reader. The powers of the characters are sensical and clearly delimited; instead of just “flying”, characters have to leap through the air with careful bursts of magnetic force. Instead of just being “invulnerable”, characters have to spend two weeks being sick so they can spend a minute healing a gunshot wound when they need it. It’s details like that that make the book (like all his books) a compelling read. I only wish there were more of it in there. Over all, The Alloy of Law suffered from a cramped plot and a lack of natural character development. But those flaws didn’t stop me from enjoying the book, and what Sanderson has done to bring the story from a medieval fantasy setting to a western fantasy setting is interesting enough to make me buy the next book in the series. Here’s hoping it’ll be longer than this one was.

Gave it 5 stars because I just love Sanderson's writing style. Not fair to compare it to the original trilogy which was perfect (and more epic due to higher stakes). Still a great read. Sanderson builds on his unique use allomancy in very fun ways. The new protagonist, Wax, is a fun character. Some complain he isn't developed well enough. We meet him and he's already a renowned allomancer. I didn't mind that if you can appreciate how capable all allomancers are supposed to be in his world. In the original trilogy I had disliked how long Vins character took to develop. Alloy if Law is a much faster pace, more like a mystery novel mixed with old west justice. As a follow-up edit, I have now finished the second mistborn trilogy and it's amazing. Sanderson continues to slap you in the face with foreshadowing you just don't see on a first read. Books 4+5 remind you there's always more secrets. Can't wait for the lost metal

This was a 4.5 star book for me, and a whole lot of fun! I went into this book with very high expectations, especially because of my undying love for the Misborn Trilogy. I couldn't wait to get back into this world! And in that respect it did not disappoint. The world is well built and it does stand apart from the original Mistborn world in a fun and ingenious way. With steampunk aspects (which I normally love) and Western flare (which I neither like nor deslike), this world is fully fleshed out without being overwelming. What was amazing, and by far the best part of the book for me, was the action-packed dynamics of this book. The pace is very fast, without sacrificing character development or plot. The new (yes, new!) allomantic and feruchimical powers were incredible and there are so many interweaving possibilities between the different powers, the old world, the new one, the characters, and argh... So good! The one thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was Wax, the main character. All the characters were great, had distinct and interesting voices, wondeful personalities, and great overall appeal... Except Wax. There are some interesting developments towards the end, and he isn't bad at all (I was rooting for him the whole time). But it felt like this was a preface to Wax's true story (which I heard is how Brandon Sanderson describes this). The good thing is that I am sure (because of the ending) that he will be further developed in the next book. It is an absolutely worthwhile read, and if you liked the Mistborn Trilogy you should definetely pick this up. (And if you haven't read the Mistborn Trilogy yet, please do! It's brilliant!)

What can I say that hasn't already been said? I loved everything this book had to offer. I loved Wax and Wayne. Lady Marasi. The fact that Elend and Vin's story didn't really end with the final chapters of The Hero of Ages Because it didn't end there. It was calm for awhile, but there's always someone who thinks they need to rule. There's always someone who has to be the bad guy. There's always someone who is chosen. There's good and there's evil. Which side will prevail this time? Brandon Sanderson delivers the humor in this book. I laughed so much. Wax and Wayne are such likable characters and I can't wait to see where they take us. Excellent book, good sir. Most excellent.

So this probably isn’t the typical first Brandon Sanderson novel that people read. I know he’s famous for his original Mistborn series, as well as helping out with the Wheel of Time series and some other stuff. But the steampunk side to this really intrigued me. I’m glad this was my introduction to his unique take on magic with metals and alloys. Even better, this was a mystery-slash-suspense-slash rescue the kidnapped damsel in distress. All very Victorian, and very wonderfully realized. Those who have read the Mistborn series undoubtedly know all about the system of magic that Sanderson has created–some individuals, known as Allomancers have abilities tied to particular metals, including steel, pewter, gold, etc. They must ingest the metal in order to use their special abilities. There’s a lot more to it that that, but in general I found it fascinating. In addition, Sanderson has some really great characters. Even the “damsel in distress” is not your typical damsel. She’s a cold and calculating woman who creates process procedures for everything. Including engagements and marriage. I adored Wayne in particular, and his trials after losing his beloved bowler hat. It’s little idiosyncrasies like that that make the book enjoyable. I also like main character, even if I wanted to shoot him for the length of his first name. (Another point–there’s quite a bit of humor in the book as well.) The book leaves things very open for a sequel or a series. I have to be honest. I’ve been a little tired of the whole medieval setting fantasy lately. This book was a welcome change of pace and setting.

I have to say up front this is a brittle product compared to the original Mistborn storyline, but Sanderson takes a pretty good whack at blending a good western mystery with a remarkable fantasy world of his making. Some thematic elements from the original series subtly tie future to the past, adding a unique level of interest for Mistborn fans. At the base of the conflict between his new hero Wax, and the mysterious forces he's fighting, are the very ideals that drove his original cast of characters; freedom, choice, and corruption. This book was on my very short absolutely must read list, but it disappointed and lacked the original story's excitement. I enjoyed the industrial-age, turn of the century setting, with its classic lexicon and style, but I didn't care for the pace and plot, which felt forced at many points. The mystery aspect Mistborn fans loved in the originals fizzled a bit in this cowboy follow up. It feels like the victim of an over-taxed author, and there are likely few with as many top-tier projects as Sanderson. If you're already a Mistborn fan it's worth a read, but newbies should probably pass. Only 3 stars because there are far more and better Sanderson works to whet your appetite for fantasy. Tom Clementson (Motley Chronicles)

Once again Brandon Sanderson shows how to write a book. Since this was not the second epic in Mistborn history, this book was a nice change of pace from the saving the world and fulfilling prophecies stuff, with a refreshing scenario set in a very steampunk age, it's really nice to see a writer giving superpowers to his characters and still understanding how said superpowers work. And not needing to add random weaknesses to be able to raise the tension of the storyline. Better yet it is very good to read a history where things run in a smart way and keep consistency. Great job, very good read.

In this novel, Brandon Sanderson tackles what has long been a pet peeve of mine with fantasy series: the lack of technological improvements over time. Taking place 300 years after the Mistborn trilogy, the world has undergone an industrial revolution, moving from the medieval/renaissance culture of the original novels to a setting reminiscent of mid-1800's America (western frontier and all). Sanderson does a wonderful job with this setting, creating a very realistic industrial world that happens to include Allomancy and Feruchemy (the magic systems in the Mistborn universe). The story is told (mainly) from the viewpoint of Waxillium "Wax" Ladrian, a former frontier lawman who's also a "twinborn," with the allomantic ability to push metals and the feruchemic ability to alter his mass. Having returned home after inheriting his uncle's estate and business, Wax is unable to put aside his lawman past as he finds himself embroiled in the schemes of an unknown instigator, whose plans threaten not only Wax, but the lives around him. Witty dialogue, shootouts, and a decent mystery: the Alloy of Law is a fun, albeit short (for Sanderson), romp.

Last summer, I read through Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy because I heard it was a fantastic introduction to modern fantasy. I enjoyed my experience with the trilogy, and - looking for some escapism - I decided to pick up the "spin-off" series set in the same universe. However, with The Alloy of Law, Sanderson has done something particularly fascinating and unique. The Alloy of Law is the first entry in a new trilogy set 300 years after the events of the original trilogy. And this world is not static - it progresses. While the original trilogy leaned into somewhat-familiar classic fantasy trappings (nobility, castles, swords, kingdoms, etc), the new trilogy has more of a western/steampunk vibe (trains, electricity, "horseless" carriages, and pistols). And enough time has passed that the events of the original trilogy have taken on a mythic/religious quality. The new setting and environments are a breath of fresh air. Sanderson masterfully "updates" the world he created without skipping a beat - the dialogue is still witty, the new characters charming, and the action scenes still crisp, easy-to-follow, and thrilling (especially with the addition of firearms). And the metal-based "magic system" is so ingrained into lore and culture that it doesn't even feel like magic anymore - just an extension of the characters. One of my biggest gripes with the original Mistborn trilogy was that at times the books felt needlessly padded and overwrought. The Alloy of Law is much shorter than those books, and while it loses a bit of that "epic" quality, I found the more focused storyline much more riveting and engaging. Filled with Sherlock Holmes-esque detective work, masterfully written shootouts, and some instantly loveable characters, The Alloy of Law is proof that Sanderson is a master storyteller in whatever genre he chooses to pursue. I look forward to continuing this series.

Not nearly as good as the first three Mistborn in my opinion. For those that don't know this is the start of a new series set in the same universe as his Mistborn Trilogy (which is excellent) but many years later with new characters and a 'western' setting rather than the more medieval setting of the first trilogy. If it weren't Sanderson I might have had lower expectations but everything else I've read of his was phenomenal and this was a really by-the-numbers story that I didn't find that exciting. I kind of had to force myself through parts of it due to being bored, which is the opposite of how I read most of his books. The two main characters are kind of cool seeming at first, but were more style than substance in my opinion (and the majority of the substance was in the first chapter), and all the rest were paper-thin (including the villain). The plot was too straightforward given how fantastic his plots are in other books. Anyways its mildly enjoyable but disappointing as a followup to the first Mistborn trilogy.

This book felt about half as long as the ones in the preceding trilogy. Almost more of a novella than a full novel. As a result of the cramped size of the book, character development feels sparse, and where it does occur, very forced. Though characters are not exactly Sanderson’s “thing”, (not that his characters are bad, it’s just not where he shines the most) he usually does a good job of revealing crucial background details about a character over a broader number of pages, and allows more natural character interactions to drive exposition. That isn’t happening here. The contrast is pretty significant, in fact. For example, he goes through a very long process of foreshadowing with the characters in Stormlight Archive, holding back or merely hinting at the traumas and regrettable decisions in their past. And while he doesn’t do that to the same degree in the prior Mistborn Trilogy, the process of characterization there is still more drawn out, and, therefore, more believable. This simply doesn’t happen in Alloy of Law. The book begins with a straight up and down depiction of the tragic event that defines Wax, the main character. The sidekick, Wayne, doesn’t even get that level of attention from Sanderson: Wayne reveals his dark secret in a paragraph-long expository block delivered to a character whom, in canon, he has literally met once or twice before. You could chalk that up to Wayne being a cheeky over-sharer, but you could also chalk it up to Sanderson wanting to cram a novel’s worth of character development into a page or two. Overall, the book feels much more like an extended short story than a true novel; perhaps this is because the pace of the story is very rapid. Or perhaps it’s because the book was intended to be a tacked-on novella (as Sanderson has produced for other series’ of his) rather than a fully-fledged intro to a new series. (I may Google that after I finish writing this, actually. It would explain a lot.) The book is still good, of course. The action scenes are largely clean and well-written, though there were one or two times when I had to reread a description of some gunplay a few times before I “got” it. And, of course, the worldbuilding is there, as the author builds skillfully on the basic principles he set up already in the prior books set in this world. The really interesting thing is the combined Allomancy/Feruchemy powers of people Sanderson labels “Twinborn”. However, he only displays three characters with those kinds of powers in this book, and there’s only really a single memorable execution of a “combo ability”, so to speak, by any of the characters. It’s not the magic that drives this book, really. It’s simply integrated very well into the plot of the book. At no point does it feel like Sanderson is using his magic systems as a deus ex machina; characters with godlike powers counter one another very cleverly and in very logical ways. Like all his books, the systems of magic that make Alloy of Law a fantasy novel (rather than a run of the mill western) are so smoothly written and logically described that they enhance the believability of the narrative, rather than detracting from it. It’s a testament to his skill in designing a setting that when Sanderson’s characters use magical powers to escape perilous situations, it requires almost no suspension of disbelief from the reader. The powers of the characters are sensical and clearly delimited; instead of just “flying”, characters have to leap through the air with careful bursts of magnetic force. Instead of just being “invulnerable”, characters have to spend two weeks being sick so they can spend a minute healing a gunshot wound when they need it. It’s details like that that make the book (like all his books) a compelling read. I only wish there were more of it in there. Over all, The Alloy of Law suffered from a cramped plot and a lack of natural character development. But those flaws didn’t stop me from enjoying the book, and what Sanderson has done to bring the story from a medieval fantasy setting to a western fantasy setting is interesting enough to make me buy the next book in the series. Here’s hoping it’ll be longer than this one was.

Gave it 5 stars because I just love Sanderson's writing style. Not fair to compare it to the original trilogy which was perfect (and more epic due to higher stakes). Still a great read. Sanderson builds on his unique use allomancy in very fun ways. The new protagonist, Wax, is a fun character. Some complain he isn't developed well enough. We meet him and he's already a renowned allomancer. I didn't mind that if you can appreciate how capable all allomancers are supposed to be in his world. In the original trilogy I had disliked how long Vins character took to develop. Alloy if Law is a much faster pace, more like a mystery novel mixed with old west justice. As a follow-up edit, I have now finished the second mistborn trilogy and it's amazing. Sanderson continues to slap you in the face with foreshadowing you just don't see on a first read. Books 4+5 remind you there's always more secrets. Can't wait for the lost metal

This was a 4.5 star book for me, and a whole lot of fun! I went into this book with very high expectations, especially because of my undying love for the Misborn Trilogy. I couldn't wait to get back into this world! And in that respect it did not disappoint. The world is well built and it does stand apart from the original Mistborn world in a fun and ingenious way. With steampunk aspects (which I normally love) and Western flare (which I neither like nor deslike), this world is fully fleshed out without being overwelming. What was amazing, and by far the best part of the book for me, was the action-packed dynamics of this book. The pace is very fast, without sacrificing character development or plot. The new (yes, new!) allomantic and feruchimical powers were incredible and there are so many interweaving possibilities between the different powers, the old world, the new one, the characters, and argh... So good! The one thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was Wax, the main character. All the characters were great, had distinct and interesting voices, wondeful personalities, and great overall appeal... Except Wax. There are some interesting developments towards the end, and he isn't bad at all (I was rooting for him the whole time). But it felt like this was a preface to Wax's true story (which I heard is how Brandon Sanderson describes this). The good thing is that I am sure (because of the ending) that he will be further developed in the next book. It is an absolutely worthwhile read, and if you liked the Mistborn Trilogy you should definetely pick this up. (And if you haven't read the Mistborn Trilogy yet, please do! It's brilliant!)

What can I say that hasn't already been said? I loved everything this book had to offer. I loved Wax and Wayne. Lady Marasi. The fact that Elend and Vin's story didn't really end with the final chapters of The Hero of Ages Because it didn't end there. It was calm for awhile, but there's always someone who thinks they need to rule. There's always someone who has to be the bad guy. There's always someone who is chosen. There's good and there's evil. Which side will prevail this time? Brandon Sanderson delivers the humor in this book. I laughed so much. Wax and Wayne are such likable characters and I can't wait to see where they take us. Excellent book, good sir. Most excellent.

So this probably isn’t the typical first Brandon Sanderson novel that people read. I know he’s famous for his original Mistborn series, as well as helping out with the Wheel of Time series and some other stuff. But the steampunk side to this really intrigued me. I’m glad this was my introduction to his unique take on magic with metals and alloys. Even better, this was a mystery-slash-suspense-slash rescue the kidnapped damsel in distress. All very Victorian, and very wonderfully realized. Those who have read the Mistborn series undoubtedly know all about the system of magic that Sanderson has created–some individuals, known as Allomancers have abilities tied to particular metals, including steel, pewter, gold, etc. They must ingest the metal in order to use their special abilities. There’s a lot more to it that that, but in general I found it fascinating. In addition, Sanderson has some really great characters. Even the “damsel in distress” is not your typical damsel. She’s a cold and calculating woman who creates process procedures for everything. Including engagements and marriage. I adored Wayne in particular, and his trials after losing his beloved bowler hat. It’s little idiosyncrasies like that that make the book enjoyable. I also like main character, even if I wanted to shoot him for the length of his first name. (Another point–there’s quite a bit of humor in the book as well.) The book leaves things very open for a sequel or a series. I have to be honest. I’ve been a little tired of the whole medieval setting fantasy lately. This book was a welcome change of pace and setting.

I have to say up front this is a brittle product compared to the original Mistborn storyline, but Sanderson takes a pretty good whack at blending a good western mystery with a remarkable fantasy world of his making. Some thematic elements from the original series subtly tie future to the past, adding a unique level of interest for Mistborn fans. At the base of the conflict between his new hero Wax, and the mysterious forces he's fighting, are the very ideals that drove his original cast of characters; freedom, choice, and corruption. This book was on my very short absolutely must read list, but it disappointed and lacked the original story's excitement. I enjoyed the industrial-age, turn of the century setting, with its classic lexicon and style, but I didn't care for the pace and plot, which felt forced at many points. The mystery aspect Mistborn fans loved in the originals fizzled a bit in this cowboy follow up. It feels like the victim of an over-taxed author, and there are likely few with as many top-tier projects as Sanderson. If you're already a Mistborn fan it's worth a read, but newbies should probably pass. Only 3 stars because there are far more and better Sanderson works to whet your appetite for fantasy. Tom Clementson (Motley Chronicles)

Once again Brandon Sanderson shows how to write a book. Since this was not the second epic in Mistborn history, this book was a nice change of pace from the saving the world and fulfilling prophecies stuff, with a refreshing scenario set in a very steampunk age, it's really nice to see a writer giving superpowers to his characters and still understanding how said superpowers work. And not needing to add random weaknesses to be able to raise the tension of the storyline. Better yet it is very good to read a history where things run in a smart way and keep consistency. Great job, very good read.

In this novel, Brandon Sanderson tackles what has long been a pet peeve of mine with fantasy series: the lack of technological improvements over time. Taking place 300 years after the Mistborn trilogy, the world has undergone an industrial revolution, moving from the medieval/renaissance culture of the original novels to a setting reminiscent of mid-1800's America (western frontier and all). Sanderson does a wonderful job with this setting, creating a very realistic industrial world that happens to include Allomancy and Feruchemy (the magic systems in the Mistborn universe). The story is told (mainly) from the viewpoint of Waxillium "Wax" Ladrian, a former frontier lawman who's also a "twinborn," with the allomantic ability to push metals and the feruchemic ability to alter his mass. Having returned home after inheriting his uncle's estate and business, Wax is unable to put aside his lawman past as he finds himself embroiled in the schemes of an unknown instigator, whose plans threaten not only Wax, but the lives around him. Witty dialogue, shootouts, and a decent mystery: the Alloy of Law is a fun, albeit short (for Sanderson), romp.

I loved seeing how the world has changed from the Mistborn trilogy. The magic has changed and technology is changing the landscape. I love Sanderson's ability to create a complex world with an elaborate magic systems. He hints at further, larger, problems in this world, which, makes me look forward in reading future additions. The main story is alright. I wasn't terribly interesting in the main villain. Wax and Wayne (Are their names suppose to be similar to the wax and wane of a moon cycle?) are fun characters. While Sanderson excels at world building, he's not great at creating complex characters or character development. Wayne is a standout, but, Wax is your standard good guy with a sad past. Sanderson is also not great at female characters. He seems to feel you only need a few with one being a main character. The main female character in this story is Marasi, a pathetic, fan girl, who's board line obsessed with Wax. She's suppose to be skilled in crime analyst. Honestly, most of her deductions could have easily been done by Wax or Wayne. She eventually contribute something to the story, but, it's an unearned moment because she's just not that strong of a character. It felt more like something created to make her seem important, rather than a moment to be impressed by her. In one scene Wax asks her why she doesn't learn how to fight or use guns. She replies it's "more for men" and breezily explains she just doesn't think that as a woman it's something she should be doing. If You loved Vin from the Mistborn series, prepare to be disappointed by her exact opposite. Sanderson's view on female characters have always been perplexing. Characters in the series have repeatedly said that with so few people with powers, they can't afford to be sexist. Wax reference a character from the previous series as a strong warrior, so there's no reason women can't follow suit. Yet, Mistorn is sparse with female characters. Granted, excluding Marasi, we meet another woman in the beginning, who's name I can't remember. We meet briefly meet another woman is far more interesting than Marasi and I wish she would have been in female character. It's odd that Sanderson seems to see women as being equally as capable as men, yet, does not seem overly interested in creating a world with more than one or two women at a time.

This is a fan’s book for sure. I loved every minute of it and all the references that wouldn’t have seemed important if you had not read the Mistborn trilogy first. It is 300 years since the rebirth and I have to say that some of my favorite things in the book are how the culture and religions of this time evolved around the characters that I loved from the original series; From Harmony’s forearms replacing Lord Ruler as a curse to the religions surrounding the Ascendant Warrior and The Survivor as well as the genealogy back to Lord Mistborn and the naming of cities streets and buildings. If that wasn’t enough for me to be happy Sanderson made sure that I had an entertaining and exciting story filled with mystery and great characters. This is a lighter book than the original Mistborn series and I enjoyed laughing with Wax, Marasi and Wayne. Waxillium has been out in the roughs acting as a lawman for years but is called back to Elendel after tragedy strikes and he is the only heir to his uncle’s house. He isn’t taking to the Lords life well and still itches to be a part of the action. Added to that is he needs to find someone to marry but his rough and tumble past is making that difficult. He does have one prospect but she is a little on the dry side compared to his sneakily snarky one. -- “Lord Ladrian,” Steris said as they began eating, “I suggest that we begin compiling a list of conversational topics we can employ when in the company of others. The topics should not touch on politics or religion yet should be memorable and give us opportunities to appear charming. Do you know any particularly witty sayings or stories that can be our starting point?” “I once shot the tail off a dog by mistake,” Waxillium said idly. “It’s kind of a funny story.” “Shooting dogs is hardly appropriate dinner conversation,” Steris said. “I know. Particularly since I was aiming for its balls.” When railcars full of aluminum start to be stolen directly off the tracks vanishing into the Mists Wax is intrigued and egged on by Wayne a long-time friend from the roughs to join in the investigation. I freaking loved Wayne!!! You want a book with a great bromance this is it. The friendship that he and Wax has is phenomenal and hilarious. -- “You wanna know why I really came to find you?” Wayne asked. “Why?” “ I thought of you happy in a comfy bed, resting and relaxing, spending the rest of your life sipping tea and reading papers while people bring you food and maids rub your toes and stuff.” “And?” “ And I just couldn't leave you to a fate like that...I'm too good a friend to let a mate of mine die in such a terrible situation.” “Comfortable?” “No. Boring.” They have known each other for so long and I totally ate up the dialogue between them and the quirkiness that was Wayne. He has an interesting way of looking at the world and he was never boring. Sanderson easily creates some of the best side characters I’ve ever read. Wayne steals the show, he is a hoot and a half and his philosophies on life just crack me up. -- “So,” Marasi said, “you traded a dead man’s scarf for another dead man’s gun. But…the gun itself belonged to someone dead, so by the same logic—” “Don’t try,” Waxillium said. “Logic doesn’t work on Wayne.” “I bought a ward against it off a traveling fortune-teller,” Wayne explained. “It lets me add two ’n’ two and get a pickle.” AND NOW ONTO MY FAVORITE CHARACTER – I like Wayne but I’m team Marasi she is my girl!!! I know that Steris is the potential marriage partner for Wax but I love Marasi so I ship them together so hard. She and I are having a hoemance that is the female equivalent of a bromance isn’t it? She is like Hermione Granger all grown up meets Nancy Drew in my mind and I love it. Marasi was so full life and questions and so excited to get in on the action even though she is a little terrified of all of the things going on around her. She has a little hero worship going on for Wax as she has read all about his exploits in the roughs but even as she is getting to know the man Wax really is she takes it all in with this wonder and excitement that I love adored. Plus she seems to be able to hold her own with the boys too. -- "He’s fine,” Wayne said, holding the door open for them. “I got quite near my entire rusted back blown off earlier, if you’ll kindly recall, and I didn’t hear nearly an ounce of the sympathy you’re showin’ him” “That’s different,” Marasi said, walking part him. “What? Why? ‘Cuz I can heal?” “No,” she said, “because – even after knowing you only a short time – I’m fairly certain that on one level or another, you deserve to get blown up every now and again.” I cross my fingers and hope that there is more in store in the future for Waxillium and Marasi, I think they could make a formidable couple solving crimes together. The Story - I don’t think Sanderson is capable of writing a bad story at this points. There were clues along the way to let you try and figure it out on your own but the mystery is still so good that I didn’t guess most of it. Plus there is still the wonderful immersement into different combinations of magic and mysticism. I’m always amazed with the sheer amount of information that can be packed into one of these novels and not in a tell you kind of way. Sanderson always shows you how things work and it is always entertaining in the process. I can’t wait to read more of these characters. I almost loved this more than the original Mistborn series but I wouldn’t have loved it nearly as much if I didn’t have that foundation already. Such a great addition to the Mistborn world.

Let me begin by stating that this book is a major lane change from the first three books of the Mistborn Saga. "Alloy of Law" however, seems to aptly fill the giants shoes, so to speak. Without spoiling too much of this book, let's just say that the introduction of "modern technology" and a new cast of characters only serves to add to the depth and complexity of the intriguing world that Sanderson has crafted. I had a hard time putting this book down and that says a lot! If you are on the fence, I would highly recommend giving this book a read. PS: Don't read this book before the first three books of the saga. You will miss out on some FANTASTIC world building! Happy Reading!

You get to see the mistborn world hundreds of years after the previous book. More of Sanderson's well written characters and his imaginative uchronias are introduced for a new set of adventures, skillfully springbording from the expert crafting and execution of the previous series. It didn't capture quite me like the first 3 books, but that's a tall order to top. I'm not disappointed at all.

Every book in this series is awesome! The first three books in the series are probably the top books I recommend to anybody who is looking for a new series to read. Everything I’ve read by this author is awesome. Great world building, great character development, creative ideas, enjoyable read. My husband and I like completely different styles of books, and Brandon Sanderson is the only author we’ve ever found that we can agree on!

I really enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy, and thought it would be worth reading more in the same world and by the same author. I wasn't disappointed. It's interesting seeing an author build a world around an unusual concept of magic. The Mistborn trilogy was very enjoyable, and I was expecting something similar. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author delivered a world whose technology is changing; with this book the world has advanced to steam trains, revolvers, and a generally Victorian level of technology, along with the same interesting and well-designed magic system. The interaction between the technology and magic is particularly well conceived. The characters and their interactions are also well done. The flawed hero, his quirky sidekick, the love interests, the villains: all ring true, and I found it easy to care about the characters. I particularly liked the evolution of the arranged engagement from a pure matter of business into one where the two begin to care about each other, and the complication of the obviously more compatible but less suitable other woman. I do hope that is resolved in a future book, but I can't tell what outcome I'd like to see. The plotting was also fine. The author paced things well, with enough suspense throughout to keep interest high, minor resolutions delivered frequently enough to relieve tension without letting things relax, and a very satisfying conclusion that left only a few things unresolved. Two of those are pretty interesting, though, and I hope for a future book or books to handle them. Given the same level of talent and craftsmanship, I'd be more than happy to read them.

A great addition to the Mistborn world, with the advent of firearms showing a whole new way that allomantic powers can be used. Designed as a stepping stone into the second Mistborn trilogy, The Alloy Of Law serves as an introduction to the new world, with electricity, clocks, trains and other technology from around the turn of the century. It is not the epic fantasy that the Mistborn trilogy was, and is more of a mystery tale with fantasy elements in it. I like the way that there are no more mistborn, leaving only mistings, as well as ferrings, the ferruchemical equivalent who also only have a single ability of the ferruchemical heritage. It also introduces the concept of Twinborns, who have one allomantic ability and one ferruchemical ability, such as the two protagonists, Waxillian Ladrian and his friend Wayne. If the book has one flaw (aside from not being as large as the previous books), it is that there are too many metal analogies. Any person that shows more than one character trait is described as some form of alloy, with Rust and Ruin being the new curse words. Some people have mentioned that the ending felt rushed, but I did not find this to be the case, perhaps because I already new that there are sequels approaching, with the first coming out in about five weeks. All in all though, an excellent, if short, book, and I eagerly await Shadows of Self. INCREDIBLY MINOR SPOILER AHEAD The newspaper clippings are used to shed some light on the general way the world works without forcing in a load of exposition, although the moment I saw one mention Ironeyes or Faceless Immortals sightings I new that this was done as foreshadowing for the next trilogy. Sanderson has already confirmed that Demoux is alive and in the Stormlight Archives, and I wonder how many of the original crew are still around.

This return to the world of Mistborn is as magnificent as it says on the tin. Jumping forward to Scadrial’s industrial revolution was a stroke of genius, and the dynamic between Wax, Wayne and Marasi is effortless. The only major criticism was Wax’s forced arc with Steris. The character is incredibly dry and annoying, and, after seeing how well Marasi and Wax work together, makes you want to bash your head at something. I have faith this will be resolved in the next book.

Those who are expecting more of the same as the first trilogy are going to in for a shock. This is not a fantasy novel as much as a western/mystery mashup set in the same world. If you are looking for a change of pace, this works well in Sanderson’s standard exciting and action packed style. The only criticism is the mystery. It is a bit simple. Anyone who reads many mysteries will see what is coming long before the characters. That said the characters are enjoyable and so even though you know what is coming, the ride is enjoyable.

Most authors maintain their fantasy worlds as static places that don't experience much in the way of technological change over time. Not this guy! I like the fact that, in just a couple of hundred years, humans have come back from the brink of extinction to the Wild West and industrial urbanization. Sanderson has given his characters guns, trains, and a society of laws and lawlessness that correlates to about the year 1900. Combining the abilities of those who can use metal magic with tools also made of metal is an interesting next step. (I hope the next part of the series will replaces metals with plastics and other non-metal materials as a way to keep criminals with magical abilities in check.) It also gives me hope that the next series Mistborn novels will take place in the modern era and have an urban fantasy feel, and the series after that in the future. The characters were complete, although the plot lacked the stakes that were so important in the original Mistborn trilogy. But how does one raise the stakes from complete annihilation of the world? It's actually good that the characters can address more mundane concerns, because the world of the Mistborn now seems richer and fuller. This is a worthy story to follow the original series, and I look forward to seeing these characters return.

Sanderson is a prolific writer. He also happens to be tremendously skillful. I don't love all of his work, but the world of the Mistborn trilogy is terrifyingly, wonderously, imaginative. This continues that universe with an unexpectedly effective twist of humor and camp. A fun read, and a great follow up to the original trilogy. I would suggest reading the Mistborn trilogy first, however, it's not entirely necessary.

I absolutely adore Mistborn and it's universe, but this book was the weakest one I've read. It wasn't bad by any means, there were some cool parts and I liked the characters. But the story itself felt a lot more dull than I had hoped. I found myself zoning out while reading/listening and not really caring about where it was going. When I finished it, I felt nothing. Not at all like the feelings of awe or emotion that I felt with the original three books. If you like Mistborn, I do recommend this book. But don't expect it to wow you, because it probably won't.

(no spoilers will be given in this review) I had finished reading Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series over a year ago and loved them. I had a lot of books on my queue to read and wasn't in a hurry to get to this book. I wish I had. The Alloy of Law is a really good story continuing the Mistborn world but much further in the future. I really did like this aspect becuase in many fantasy worlds, nothing changes for thousands of years and no progress in technology is made. Not so in this book. Advancing from a "midieval" time period to a wild west time was a nice progression as a reader and felt real in that we too progress. By doing this, I didn't feel like Brandon was trying to re-live or re-write his Mistborn novels but to create something entirely new in his wonderfully created world. While not on the epic scale of Mistborn, the characters and story were well written and well thought out. I really enjoyed the characters and the story line in general. Like in real life, some choices made aren't always what we would like the characters to do, but rather what they really feel needs to be done. This really had a true feeling to it and didn't leave you with that "fairytale" feeling. The ending of this book did leave plenty of room for a continuation, and I for one really hope Brandon does decide to continue writting more in this story.

I loved the original Mistborn series, and actually surprised at how much I loved this series too. I didn't think I was going to go for the Western theme but really got into the books and read all 3 in a week and a half. I don't want to give too much away, but they're much more creative than the average fantasy - even the love sequences in this actually surprised me! Very refreshing series, and I continue to be a big Brandon Sanderson fan. That said - I don't think you could start here in the Mistborn series. It'd been a few years since I read the original trilogy, and there were a couple of magic items that I didn't remember or had to come back to me - I'd be surprised if a first time reader of the series would be able to follow along as easily to the magic.

Sanderson returns to the world of Mistborn with a much shorter entry -- this one following some couple hundred years after The Hero of Ages. The old characters remain real to the world but have begun to fade into myth and legend, in a world containing a wild-west-style frontier and a steampunkish urban center. Against this backdrop, a frontier lawman returns to the city, and to the estate he fled years ago, when his father died. He returns to do his duty for the family line and estate, chafing within his social constraints. But he's quickly pulled into investigation of lawbreaking just as he'd done in the frontier, and things get complicated. And there's lots of fun to be had considering the interactions of guns and bullets with allomancy and feruchemy (and how optimal strategy changes in relation to those possible uses, as a second-order effect). This isn't a book like the original trilogy, which did much worldbuilding, character building, and plot development. This is a bit of a thriller, whodunit, cops-and-robbers sort of book, not written in the same serious sense as the initial trilogy. It's more a quick, jaunty exercise in fun; it's not trying to always get it "right" in some literary sense. (Not that the original Mistborn books had that as a goal -- but they left enough things to think about to be reasonably satisfying in that regard as well.) It may be worth reading if you liked the original Mistborn books. It's different enough that it's not quite possible to recommend it unreservedly to readers of them. But it's probably a fair bet. And because it's not aiming for quite the same lofty heights as most of Sanderson's fare, it's a quicker, easier read, too.

Brandon Sanderson's "The Alloy of Law" is an entertaining extension of his "Mistborn" series. It takes place about 300 years after the end of the previous book and, except for the magic system and a few "historical" references (and a few other bits and pieces), could almost be read without having read the previous three books in the series. The tone of the book is much lighter or livelier than those previous books so if you found those books too slow for your liking, you might give this one a try. Along with the change in tone, the change in venue is also interesting. The story is now set in something resembling a steam-era Western (the common reference here seems to be "The Wild, Wild West" TV series). Several reviews here criticize that, but the Western flavor is mild and the technology of that era makes for an interesting combination with the magic system. Given that Sanderson's writing is just as good as it always is here, I'm pleased to rate the book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5. The novels currently in Sanderson's "Mistborn" series are: 1, 2, and 3.

While the cover and the first chapter may make you think this is a western, it is not. Although the main character, Wax, is a former lawman from the Roughs and a descendent of a Mistborn Trilogy character, he is called back to the city to take on his duties as head of his house. The change is difficult, and his guilt over the loss of the woman he loved eats at him. But, there's puzzling things going on in the city, and Wax itches to get involved, despite his having no authority. His friend Wayne, another lawman, comes to town and the two hook up...and their partnership is pure fun. Wayne, as his sidekick, keeps the jokes coming, even at the most serious and dire moments. This is truly a fun book. The plot is good, but if you are expecting something along the lines of the Mistborn Trilogy, you might well be disappointed. Instead, read this as a lighter look at what came after. While there is the metal 'magic' of Mistborn, and several new, interesting powers, it is not the focus of this book. In fact, it almost seems out of place. Guess that's because the story is so much more than simply a vehicle for the metal system. As with the Mistborn Trilogy, and even more so, this does not feel like a fantasy, but more of an entertaining story about characters who happen to possess certain powers. Hard to explain, but once you start reading, you will be caught up more in the story and characters, and think less about it being fantasy. Can't wait for the sequel- we need more Wax and Wayne...and, the tantalizing promise of old friends from Mistborn.

I will admit that I wasn't all that excited to read this book. The Mistborn Trilogy is already my favorite completed work of Epic Fantasy. So I picked this one up expecting to be let down. Sanderson doesn't try to write the same book in fewer pages. What we have here is wickedly entertaining, fast, and fun read. I loved how my knowledge of the first set of books enhanced my understanding of the events of this one. You could read this one of your own but you won't get as much out of it. The warning I would give is even though this book will make sense without reading the ones before it, this novel will destroy a lot of the surprises from the Trilogy. I couldn't help but smile the whole time I read this. The Characters are great. The banter between them is worth the price of admission. Since it is Sanderson writing you can expect more than fun without substance. One character reveals a secret about how he came to know the main character. That passage was haunting. Alloy of Law has a little bit of everything. The Everything is done right! This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed it from page one all the way to the end. So if you have already read the Mistborn Trilogy than get ready for a great ride.

This is a wonderful book. I would actually give it four-and-a-half stars, but only because the sequels, Shadows of Self and The Bands of Mourning, overshadow it, and I can't give them more than five. Brandon Sanderson is spinning an incredibly broad tapestry in his Cosmere: different series covering multiple worlds, over extended periods of planetary history. This particular series is set in an "Old West" time frame, but with a twist: some of the people have arcane powers born from the use of different metals. This, in itself, is intriguing, but it's the interaction between Wax and his truly off-kilter sidekick, Wayne the kleptomaniac deputy, that make this book a real gem.

It took me awhile to get to reading this book. I really enjoyed the original trilogy but the fact that this had very little to do, at least directly, with those books warded me off for awhile. So first off I want to say that the book is good. There are a couple good characters that are fun to read about, the action is good as well. There is both some comedy serious events. NOW that being said lets get to the rest of it. Do you need to read the first 3 books to read this one? No, not really. They will help, that is for sure. There are a number of things and event discussed even briefly that occur in those books and the way Allomancy works is not really explained well in this book at all. OK but what if you DID read the first few books? Will you like the book? Probably. There were definitely things missing. I missed the characters, I missed following a mistborn I missed the huge scale and importance leant to things in the first trilogy. When I finished this book I was left with several feelings. One was that I just finished a good book that I enjoyed. Another was that itr just wasn't the same, I missed all the things I loved in the first books.

I love the worlds Brandon creates, Mistborn was no exception. I decided to return to the world and read The Alloy of Law and was not disappointed. Set in the some 300 years in the future, this world is on the brink of it's own Industrial Revolution. Did I like it as much as The Mistborn trilogy? No, it is not., However it is still an enjoyable read non the less, and it is up to Brandon's standards with plot development, intrigue and engaging main characters. I love the gun-slinging aspects of this story and the hazards and invention that creates with people who can bend metal. I have since moved on to the second novel in this series and have enjoyed it as well. I will say outside the main characters, the secondary characters are a bit light and not nearly as fleshed out nor as interesting.

Alloy of law and all Wax and Wayne novels have a very different feel than the original mistborn series. The pacing is much faster now and it reads much more like a detective novel. Not to mention Wax and Wayne might be my favorite Sanderson characters. They’re a super-powered Sherlock and Dr Watson. This book in particular was brief and almost feels like an intro to this new series. Luckily for us, Sanderson is writing 4 for this series after hearing that many readers felt the similarly. If you like Sanderson, I find it hard to believe you dislike this book and series for that matter. I elected to rate this 4 stars bc the next books are even better. So much so that this is my second time through this series and the only book I’ve read twice before this, “The Hobbit.”

'"Alloy of Law" follows up about 300 years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy. I enjoyed it overall. It's a much quicker read than the previous Mistborn books, it's less philosophical, and it's more focused. It still has interesting tidbits, though. One exchange discusses trust: "Propriety is nonsense... Too much in high society is built around the idea of making sure you don't need to trust anyone... Contracts, detailed operating reports, not being seen alone with an eligible member of the opposite gender. If you remove the foundation of trust from a relationship, then what is the point of that relationship?" On the one hand, removing trust from an equation can simplify things, and the point of the relationship can be any number of things. On the other hand, trust, and strong relationships in general, make things a lot more smooth and enjoyable for all involved. While the novel is, in theory, a standalone, I wouldn't recommend it to someone who hadn't read the first trilogy.

I would give it a 4.5 if it was an option, but I'm rounding up to 5. If you have already read the first 3 books it's well worth the read to continue to enjoy the world the author has created. If you haven't, then it's an ok jumping in point, but you would be better served starting at the beginning. SPOILERS past this point. You have been warned. Seriously STOP reading. I enjoyed the twist of having people twinborn with allomancy and feruchemical abiliites. The book feels similar to the first book in setting up the world and characters, but it tells an enjoyable story that will keep you guessing and continues the trend of descriptive and intense action segments. I look forward to the next book.

Set it a sort of "wild west," this picks up 350 years after the first trilogy. It depicts how society evolves after the epic events in the first trilogy. The main characters are engaging, funny and entertaining. It's not as epic and cataclysmic as the first trilogy, but it works, a change of pace. More of a rough-and-tumble, spy thriller meets wild west adventure. I enjoyed it as well as the other books in this next era of Scadrial, the Mistborn world.

I found the 'new' world from Mistborn very easy to get into. I really liked the new ways he decided to take the powers and as well how he kept many things the same, that is likely what made it such an easy and smooth read. I certainly enjoyed the western feel. I personally have not read many books that are set in this type of period of time and look forward to future books (as it does seem he has left himself room for at the end of this) Every character just has such a great full feel to them.. I think that mostly this is due to the knacks that he creates for them.. one likes to steal, but calls it borrowing.. or trading.. (done.. but a good way to create a good clearly understood character with a bit of mystery as well) I totally enjoyed the bad guy.. one that believes in the cause is always the best.. and I am 100% sure that Sanderson gets this.. which is why he seems to have them so much. The only problem I had wast that it was too short.. Every time I backed out of the book and saw the percentage I read I was aghast at how much I plowed through.. I wanted MORE time in that world! I guess with the next book that will come!

It is a different animal from the original Mistborn trilogy as it is a different time, place and setting, but in the same world. There is a lot in here that might be a bit detracting or difficult to get without knowledge of the first trilogy, but it still can function well as a stand alone. The only negatives I have heard people say about it is due to it being of a different feel and type of story from the first, and I believe that is an extreme disservice to what this book is. The alloy of law follows a murder/mystery and suspense approach with interesting and fun characters. The world may not be ending, but that does not make what is happening any less important. If you read this novel without knowledge of the original Mistborn series, I may be surprised, but say you will enjoy this side story that I can only hope becomes a series in its own right. If you read it with loving knowledge of Vin and Kelsier, please try not to let yourself be trapped in trying to relive the old without enjoying the new world Sanderson is showing you.

The references to the past are welcome and bring back strong memories. This story takes place much much later, and the world has changed quite a bit, but the same allomancy rules mostly apply, and Sanderson's new characters are terrific. Very well done, on to the next one with Wax.

Good story. It takes the world set up in the mistborn trilogy and runs with it, exploring a fascinating wild western world where allomancy and ferruchemy are commonplace. The characters are compelling. But the writing is sloppy - not nearly up to Sanderson's usual standards. The fight scenes are action-packed but the descriptions of physics-defying feats are stilted and lazy. It reads like somebody's fanfiction, not like a polished novel.

While not quite as satisfying as the original trilogy, I couldn't reasonably expect it to be. This story is excellent in it's own right and really plays on the dynamics between the magnificent powers of Twinborn and the inherent weaknesses caused by a reduced ability spectrum, not just in combat but also in the personalities of the characters. Just as in the original trilogy, one feels that the fantastic abilities possessed by some are a part of them as opposed to the terrible divide many novels are plagued by: here is the character and here are their powers, instead of here is the character and one of their many personal qualities is this power, as seen in Alloy of Law. The amount of world-building done in this book impressed me. One can really tell how much this world has been shaped by metal and metal-users in the phrasing and verbage prevalent in this book, though it can sometimes feel a bit forced. As expressed by Sanderson himself, the expected progression of technology over time makes so much sense in a world where most many fantasy novels ignore it and the further effects on the narrative are positive. Somewhat frustrating was the amount of explaining done such that readers unfamiliar with the Mistborn Universe don't feel lost. One can understand the reasons, but might feel the book would have been better with less term-defining and concept-elaborating. The overall reading level required for this book is lower than the trilogy, however one might only notice it occasionally as the pace of the book, the rate of reveals, the usually amusing banter, the surprising amount of character development (for such a short novel), and the constant stream of references to and results of the trilogy kept even this reader engaged.

Although not required, you'll enjoy this book much more if you first read the 'Mistborn Trilogy', which gives you a basis for understanding the frequent references made to the characters' religions. I also appreciate the fact that the author always gives an Appendix in the back of each book so that someone with a lousy memory, like me, can read book after book and not lose track of the important references needed to fully enjoy these books. Although the synopsis of this book, as shown on Amazon, led me to believe that this was a stand-alone book, the ending of the book clearly made apparent that this might be the beginning of yet ANOTHER trilogy...I hope, I hope, I hope!! On a side-note, Brandon Sanderson is the author handpicked by the widow of Robert Jordan to complete Jordan's 'Wheel of Time' mega-series of books. And he truly deserves this honor! What an amazing and prolific author he is!!

This book was a treat. With the original Mistborn trilogy as my favorite high fantasy series to date, I was already excited to read this. Now that I have finished it, I can't wait for more. Sanderson has created an amazing world with equally amazing characters. The change from medieval inspired high fantasy to industrial revolution steampunk-esque was a bold choice and really helped to give this new world it's own identity. It also helps this book be more open to new readers, though long time fans will enjoy all of the slight references to the original series and characters peppered throughout. Whether you're a long time fan of Sanderson and his Mistborn series, or simply a fan of steampunk/urban fantasy stories, I think you'll find this book well worth your time.

The story is presented as a continuation of the Mistborn environment, but it did not really come across as being part of the story. There were some things that were still being held in common, but it is obvious that a lot of the "knowledge" had been lost over time and that this story is now picking up the pieces of a forgotten history. With that in mind, I wish that Sanderson had done a little more background explanation of what the current imposed limitations were -- at least up front. I was a bit confused and bored for the first several chapters as I tried to piece together what was going on and how did this relate to the original series. Once I realized that there was only a passing connection, then the story got to be a little more interesting to me. Overall it wasn't as good as the original series, but it was still an enjoyable read.

I was so enchanted by the first era of the Mistborn saga that I was positively thrilled when I learned the story picked up an era after the rebirth of Scadrial. I love the Wild West feel to this book and seeing how Sanderson’s magic system evolves with the changing technology from medieval to steam-powered. You will definitely not be disappointed with the pacing of action and discovery present in the Mistborn Saga that happens a little faster than his more epic Stormlight Archive.

I loved this book. It's not necessary to read the first Mistborn trilogy to understand this book (I read this before reading the trilogy), but it adds depth. Sanderson does a good job of explaining the world to new readers without bogging down the narrative with explanations that will bore those familiar with Mistborn. Alloy is faster paced than the first trilogy, much shorter, and perhaps doesn't feel quite as "epic," which I know annoys some people, but I don't feel it's really necessary. The problems faced by the characters in Alloy are not as big (yet) as those faced by the characters in the original trilogy, so of course it's not going to feel as epic, and it has no need to. That allows it to be a bit lighter and funnier. Rest-assured the characters are every bit as interesting as those in the first trilogy. The narrative is very vivid and cinematic This is the first book in a new trilogy, so the ending doesn't tie everything up, but according to his website, Sanderson is working on the sequel.

If you liked the world built by Sanderson in the first three Mistborn books, you'll love this even more. He takes the same magic mechanics and pushes them forward into the near past. In my opinion, the Wax and Wayne series is better than the first three Mistborn books, but I'd recommend reading those first or you won't be able to take in the entire world view Sanderson has created.

'm just going to write the same review and attach it to all of Brandon Sanderson's books that I have read. I have been reading science fiction fantasy novels for about 30 years. I enjoy the genre but lets face it, most books follow "The Lord of the Rings" in character and style when it comes to magic stuff cause how can you not when it's the pinnacle. Anyway I digress. Sanderson is the first author to come along that completely broke the mold. I was totally floored by his books and have bought basically everything else he has written. Each new series is amazing. I would recommend Sanderson's books without reservation. I have rarely seen characters like his and worlds that are so creative. I even wrote an email to the author, something I have never done before. Do yourself a favor and pick one up.

I have to say Wayne is the Jar Jar Binks of the Mistborn universe. His character is so annoying, and every time I had to spend extended periods of time with him, I wanted to kill myself. His dialogue is predictably obnoxious. (It further burns my biscuits because we have the same name.) And why does every character have to think everything out? At one point, a character (can't remember which) said they can't let something happen. We, the reader, know the character can't let this something happen or people will get hurt, so to have the character point that out to us (and themselves) made me laugh. I like the Mistborn trilogy, and though this book was fun at parts, it was also filled with some of the worst dialogue I've ever read. I'm not sure if Mr. Sanderson was going for a comedic adventure or what, but I laughed at all the wrong moments.

While lacking the scope of the original Mistborn and his other Cosmere novels, this book represents the author's most accessible to date. While some knowledge of Mistborn's world building would make the callbacks more pleasing, it does a fair enough job of covering the basis of the world and magic systems. Part Western (replete with damsel-in-distress trope), part X-Men, and a lot of fun.

I loved the Mystborn series, and Alloy of Law continues that universe with a whole new cast of characters. It is a joy to revisit that world again, yet experience it in a new light. Setting it in the steam age is great fun. I also love that our protagonist isn't super-powerful, like Vin became. His ability to fighting within the confine of his limitations makes it very interesting and relatable. While I can't wait for the next book in the series, I do wish writers would stop it with the series already. Brandon Sanderson, in particular, has several unfinished series out there. I have ready many of them and I'm starting to get them all confused. Still, I really enjoyed Brandon's writing style. The narrative flows very quickly, and I'm pulled into the action and plot, without tripping over the words.

5 Stars! The reason that I am giving the book The Alloy of Law five stars in because the author, Brandon Sanderson, is very creative and is always reliable for a good book, unlike some other authors that I have read from. He also writes lots of other good books, this book just happens to be the one that I finished most recently. The story starts out with Waxillium Ladrian, the main character, and lawman, hunting a man named Bloody Tan, a murderer in the Roughs, an area surrounding the Elendel basin. Waxillium ends up going back to Elendel, on account of his sister and uncle’s death. There, he goes back to find himself the lord of a great house and just wants to go back to the life that he lived in the Roughs. Unaccounted for, he groups up with an old friend from the Roughs, named Wayne, as they investigate a mysterious gang, known as the Vanishers, that steals valuable aluminum to use for Allomancy and Feruchemy. This book is a great mix of action, adventure, mystery, and a hint of romance that anyone will find intriguing. Also, to learn about Allomancy and Feruchemy (if you do not know what it is already) you should read the Mistborn series.

This is a really neat book. The Mistborn story we all know and love is now mythology almost. Sanderson even goes as far as "corrupting" some of the views people have due to the 400 years of time that has passed (Like Iron Eyes). I am very much looking forward to the 3 books this is meant to foreshadow. I wrote this for those who have read The Mistborn series already... If you haven't, read those first (they are also excellent), then pick this one up and I think you'll appreciate this book even more. That being said, it would fully stand on its own if you haven't, I just feel you'd be missing some of the author's amazing work if you do them in reverse order. I do think he was careful, and reading this would not ruin Mistborn in any way.

Be aware, I don't give five stars unless something is life-changing. While it's not life-changing, I truly enjoyed this book. If you liked The Wheel of Time series, you'll love this book, too. My recommendation? Buy the Mistborn Trilogy, save yourself a bit of coin by buying all three together. (Maybe to push against?) :) Although this is a stand-alone book, the Mistborn Trilogy will give the backstory and make your experience more enjoyable. I really enjoyed the suspense and development of the characters and world in the series. I'm looking forward to the character development in this new series. As with all of Sanderson's books I have read, can't wait for subsequent books. I wish he would do a follow-up to The Wheel of Time series he completed for Robert Jordan.

Just finished reading this book. I found it to be a very good read. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started. But all of my expectations were exceeded. I like much of what Sanderson writes. I find his worlds intriguing and unique. Though there are times that I find the pacing in some of his books to be a bit off. That's not the case here though. The book itself is very approachable. The characters are interesting, and even amusing at times. The plot moves at a good pace. The story itself is relatively straightforward and fun read. Sanderson says in his forward that this is a stand alone story, not one of the originally planned trilogies in this. While I look forward to other stories in the Mistborn world, I do hope we get to read more of Wax.

This book relies heavily upon the foundation of the original Mistborn trilogy. Without that, Alloy of Law would not have been nearly as compelling to me. In fact, if not for a surprising revelation during the epilogue chapter, I probably wouldn't even read the next book in this series. If I do, it will primarily be based on the tie-ins to the first trilogy, not necessarily the newly established characters. It's not that I have anything against them, but rather that I am just generally not as interested in small scale mystery or caper plots. Compared to the epic & catastrophic climax in Hero of Ages, this is just not as exciting nor am I invested in the plight of these characters nearly as much.

Having just finished the Mistborn Trilogy, I was left craving more of a glimpse into the world I had grown to love and admire. While the original trilogy had a great ending, including wrapping up most loose ends, there were still many questions left unanswered. For me, the questions were about the remaining characters, the missing metals, etc. Enter the life of Waxillium Ladrian. Through his eyes we once again experience a world where every character puffs their cheeks out and frowns every few pages (you love that particular facial expression, Mr. Sanderson). This book is short, sweet, fast paced, and to the point. A good read that again let's you picture the chaotic scenes of fights, action, bullets, and burning metals with such clarity you feel as if you're part of the action yourself. I am jumping right into book 2 and eager to read book 3. This series is a "must read" for anyone who enjoyed the original trilogy.

Was it the epic storyline of the first three books set in this world? No. But Sanderson didn't write it to be. Was it a pedal to the metal ride? Heck yeah! (Sorry about the metal joke couldn't resist) If you haven't read the other books and just want to see what a western with magic feels like can you pick this up? Yeah, like I said it's awesome so why wouldn't you! And it's perfectly solo-able. Is the story's background a lot deeper if you know about the history of the world? Yeah, makes much more sense, the magic system you can already take for granted. Just imagine superhero cowboys... Jumping above buildings, floating while shooting bad-guys, ducking under cover to trade quips while time is paused around them. Awesome right? Now that was a waste of time because that is in this book, you could have been reading it.

Alloy of Law continues from he original trilogy, a few hundred years later in an action-packed Western-style adventure. Thematically a great continuation of the Mistborn saga, with new characters, great uses of the unique metal-based magic system, and some fun twists & turns. A page-turner and quick read -- and Mr. Sanderson has released a sequel to this novel and announced the January 2016 release of part three, so the adventures will continue with new surprises awaiting us!

Love that the series continues,quite a time jump to the point where it feels almost like an individual title but enough of the Mistborn lore to make original lovers of the series fall in love all over again

The Mistborn trilogy were the first books I read of Sanderson's, and I have since read most of his other titles. I was excited for the next Mistborn trilogies to be released expecting the same excitement beginning to end. Alloy of Law, to me, was a bit of a dredge up to the last 3rd of the book. There were aspects of the story I loved, but at the same time other parts seemed to drag on. I've never had a Sanderson book take me this long to make it through, but for some reason I kept getting distracted and not pick it up again for weeks. By the end I couldn't put it down and will continue with the 2nd book shortly. Overall, it was a good book, but it was far from my favorite Cosmere book.

Most Enjoyable! I don't know about others, but after trying to deal with the worlds problems all day, I want to see the good guys win! This has some of the flavor of the TV series "The Wild Wild West." Perfect. It is interesting , has great possibilities in the natural continuation of the Mistborn legacy. What I really liked about it was a little of the confident ,capable hero who, despite being surrounded by strange and sinister forces and attitudes, maintains a sort of inner stability and reality checked point of view. Hooray for common sense and having the good guys win! At least I hope it continues in this vein.

This was an excellent continuation of the Mistborn series. Often the worlds created in fantasy novels are depicted as static - they seem perpetually suspended in the Middle Ages with some magic and elves thrown in. The Alloy of Law is set a few hundred years after the Middle Ages-type Mistborn series... and is a western! As with Mistborn, it was clear that Sanderson planned this book out in detail before sitting down to write. It's meticulously plotted and has an internal logic that many fantasy novels don't. In addition, the fact that it's a western fantasy is just irresistible! I'll be rereading this and looking forward to sequels.

Not as good as other Mistborn books. Some might also claim you can read this book having not read any other books set in the universe but you will be missing out on lots of subtle homage to the trilogy this is based on. Having read the other books in the series first you will have a greater appreciation for it. Though not directly linked by any characters save two who aren't even mentioned directly by name, this book builds on the foundations set by those that came before it. For those who've read the Mistborn trilogy I can say that while Wax might be a better protagonist than Vin, The Lord Ruler and Deepness from Mistborn were FAR more compelling antagonists than Miles who Sanderson presents here.

This is not the intriguing plot of era 1 or the worldbuilding of Stormlight. No, this is a fun and enjoyable book with great characters. It was a blast for me, I enjoyed it so much that it earns a five star rating. If you want a pulpy western with two great characters, this is it. Though, do not read this if you haven’t read Mistborn era 1.

So here I was expecting something along the same general fantasy lines as the mistborn trilogy. Instead Sanderson shows off his chops with something completely different. Set 300 years from where the trilogy left off Sanderson builds a world of steampunk metal magic that's delightful. Wax, Wayne, and Marisi are top rate characters, I hope we get more in the next novel, which I'll be starting immediately.

I never thought I would give Brandon a 3 star review. Perhaps if I had waited a while after reading the Mistborn trilogy, it would not have been such a let down. I just never got emotionally vested in any of the characters. Why did my mind keep seeing Royal Dano and Denver Pyle - with Aussie accents, no less? If it had not been for Mr Sanderson's exemplary writing skills, I would have quit half way through. The ending made it worth continuing. No spoilers, but, WOW, I did not see that coming! I will probably continue this series, but it's not high on my list., I'll wait until the price of the next book comes down.

After the Mistborn Trilogy, which was the first of the Sanderson books I had read, I thought to myself, "How will this compare in the least?" And then a few pages in, I realized, well of course, it's BRANDON freakin' Sanderson! There is an exciting adventure and hilarious quip in every page I turn. The tone of this novel is a definite departure from the first three mist born books but this is still so well done.

I liked this book, but didnt love it. The characters were interesting, but fit the same mold as the previous series. Ethical, optimists who are all good at sarcastic humor. I would love to see more interesting characters come out of Sanderson, since some of his other books have done such a great job at making complex characters. I did really like the twist that he took with the world and the historical vibe, but even then, I felt like the immersion was one dimensional. With all that said, the book was still a good read, and I recommend it

A little hard to get into if you are missing Mistborn era one, but the character work is phenomenal! Wax & Wayne are probably two of my favorites in all of Brandon's works.

I really liked the first Mistborn novel and its fascinating characters, fresh new magic system (that was still accessible by casual readers), interesting story and detailed world building that Sanderson is known for. However, book 2 seems to drown in political nuance (I am guessing Sanderson discovered House of Cards while writing it) and book 3 felt like a mash-up of Games of Thrones (tv version, not the books). Fast forward 300 years and Sanderson does an amazing job reinventing his own universe. The Alloy of Law is so much fun, full of adventure, and clever ideas that this new series really could go on forever. (And can you imagine the fantastic movie this would make?) Some free advice: you have wasted enough time reading this poorly written review - buy the book and go read something from a real author!!

Unique but comprehensive magic system, good characters, strong plot. Typical Brandon Sanderson. I recommend it to anyone that likes a combination of westerns and magic.

I wanted to love it, but as much as I respect and admire Sanderson for his brilliant worldbuilding and characterization, something about his writing style just falls flat for me. This is the third of his books I've tried, and I consistently find my attention wandering even in the most suspenseful, actiony moments. Still, the world and characters are so great and vivid that it was worth reading, even though I had to work at it to hang in there till the end. To be clear, it's not that his writing style is terrible! It just is not compelling.

After the 3 quite enjoyable mistborn books, I was hoping for more of the same, or something like it. SPOILER ALERT FOR FIRST 3 BOOKS!!!!!! The first 3 were epic struggle of good vs. evil, that maybe wasn't quite evil. There was political manevering, action, love, epic battles, mysteries and wonder. I actually lost sleep wanting to find out what happened next. I was hoping for something similar for the next book. I realize that what was done in the first could not be repeated, but I was hoping for the same un-put-downable experience. SPOILER ALERT FOR THIS BOOK!!!!! Its a boring sherlock holmes mystery. Sure, it has the buring metals-magic stuff, but it really seemed phoned in. I really didn't care about any of the characters in the novel. There is one mystery in the whole book, and its a lame one (I'll give you a hint- its about a train robbery). New metals are introduced in this book, but they are explained in great detail the second they are mentioned..

Sanderson is a very good author. His imagination is set down in a style of writing that leaves one desiring to read more before setting the book down and taking a rest. At my age, sleep ever eludes me while dozing off at inappropriate times is a constant (joy). The restless despair that comes with not being able to fall asleep comfortably is erased when I know I have a good Sanderson novel to take up my time 'not sleeping'. He's a good read for anyone that enjoys a fragrant wisp of a different world/dimension/plane of existence resembling that place in your mind you know is closer to the truth than not. Quantum physics without the tedium of mathematical equations.

This is a much lighter read than the Mistborn trilogy and set 300 years after those events took place. Allomancy and feruchemy are still present in the population, but allomancers and feruchemists are generally only able to use one metal. Individuals like Wax, who have one allomantic power and one feruchemical power, are extremely rare and are called "Twinborn." The book contains several fast-paced action sequences, creative use of allomantic and feruchemical abilities (including some cool new ones) and humourous dialogue (Wayne). So, with all this going for it why did I give it only three stars? Simply put, this book doesn't have the depth of the Mistborn triology and it didn't leave me breathless wanting more. The storyline is average and the ending is predictable. Also, not every thread was tied up at the end and some questions were left unanswered (e.g., the koloss and kandra), leaving it open for a sequel (I'm not sure where I got the impression that it was a stand-alone novel). Still, if you like action and humor and are curious about what the Mistborn world looks like 300 years in the future, I recommend this book. Overall, it is worth reading and I would buy the sequel if Mr. Sanderson writes one.

I was worried that Sanderson wouldn’t be able to hook me without the original Mistborn characters. I was wrong. The characters he’s created for this novel are every bit as lovable and fun to read about. I love the tribute he pays to the original series in small (and big) ways here and there. Highly recommended if you enjoyed the original three books.

Of the Alloy series I found this one both strong and delightful. The only one I've found more entertaining was the Bands of Mourning. Not to mention that Wax and Wayne make for far more favorable characters to explore this world alongside as we go through their trials and tribulations. Each one is also unraveled to be more than your sterotypical "Goofball Sidekick" and "Grim Protagonist" having a greater depth to them than I ever felt Vin really developed.

I was skeptical about this series after reading Mistborn. I didn't think it could live up to the first trillogy. I was very wrong. This book feels like such a natural continuation of the Mistborn setting. The gunplay mixed with allomancy is startlingly compelling, and the old west/industrial revolution setting interact so interetingly with allomancy. Great start to a great series, Sanderson does it again.

I'm not a writer, I know what I like to read and I know when I've hit gold, for myself anyway. This is my second read of The Alloy of Law. The first time was when it was published at some point after I'd read the original Mistborn trilogy which knocked my socks off. I recently read the fifth book in the series and was promoted to retread Alloy. I had missed the metallurgy of the the trilogy and didn't understand why the was so much less of it. I'm glad to raise the praise to 5 stars.

It's a good continuation of the mistborn world. It could have been longer and I would have liked more character history and development, but I guess that will come in sequels. I'd like more details about the alloys and use of them. They were all well defined in the original mistborn trilogy, but they are interesting enough to spend more time on. I enjoyed the book greatly and will be reading the next and all that I can until the sequels to his other series comes out

This book feels like a palate-cleanser to satisfy a Mistborn reader, but I wonder how it will fit into the planned second saga of Mistborn. Will it be just a throwaway novel, or will it have an impact on the second saga? It's a by-the-numbers book, with some clever uses of allomancy, as is to be expected, though the characters are plain and the otherwise great plotting Sanderson got us hooked to is more pedestrian here, making it harder to elevate the material. The characters feel too overpowered at times and the risk is not upped enough to make you fear for them. We'll have to see if Sanderson continues his plans for the Mistborn world. Maybe if he picks up from where this book left off, he will return to form and give the characters more substance, since it's not the world that needs fleshing out.

If you've read the Mistborn trilogy or are a fan of Bradon Sanderson you'll love these. It has the same pacing and well written action scenes. The magic system is very clever and original. It's a fairly simple story line (especially compared to the Mistborn Trilogy). You are a good guy. There's a girl you like. You and friends chase down a bad guy (and his friends). Highly recommend for those that are fans of fantasy novels.

Not quite as "epic" or world-changing as the first trilogy, but then again they're not trying to overthrow a dark God and his all-powerful priests, or stop the end of the world and the extinction of Humanity. Still, Sanderson's work here started as a break from the Wheel of Time finale that Jordan's wife asked him to complete, but the story here was too grabbing and insisted it be played out. It starts alright, turns a little slow after that, but then quickly becomes a page-turner (with small slow-patches here and there) afterwards. Very original, throught-provoking story involving the results of bringing a magic-system originating in the Middle Ages to the old west. Sequel to come in early 2016!

I'll keep this short. I loved the Mistborn Trilogy. In a sometimes over-saturated genre that can get really repetitive, Sanderson created a unique magic system and setting. In The Alloy of Law he takes that magic system and plugs it right into a world seriously altered, yet wonderfully realized, from the events in Mistborn. It works as a stand alone story yet leaves open a larger picture that will set up nicely for (hopefully) more books. There are plenty of nods to Mistborn for those read them, but it has a very different tone that showcases how good of writer Sanderson is.

With the time jump and technology boom the world has changed quite a bit from the mistborn trilogy books some for the better and some for the worse.

If you've read the earlier Mistborn books you won't be disappointed. If you haven't I highly recommend learning your history first. Regardless, an exciting and enjoyable start to another generation of Mistborn stories. Can't wait to read the next.

The book starts 300 years after the Mistborn Trilogy ends. A new world has emerged, but still has its share of crime. Wax and Wayne are defenders of the law out in the Roughs, but Wax has had to leave the Roughs to move back to the city to take over his deceased Uncle's estate. There Wax has other responsibilities, but soon realizes that crime is rampant everywhere when it threatens his new life. It's an interesting and fun read when the dynamic duo of Wax, and his amusing partner Wayne, get on the trail of a band of thieves.

Brandon Sanderson is one of those authors who is simply superb. The world building, the characters, the uniqueness of each world which gives people special powers, are all richly built up and utilized. Never been disappointed with his books, and this one doesn't disappoint either.

Don't even get me started on the mistborn series or I will never shut up. I been harassing so many companies to make a movie or a show from this series. It would be different from everything that came out so far. I hate reading and I couldn't put these books down. I mean they are just that freaking good. I would recommend this to the entire world. I think kids in highschool or middle should be told about these. I quite honestly don't think you would have to force them. Probably the main reason I hate reading. Just read the entire series and you will see.

Not a lot of plot or depth compared to what I am used to from sanderson. Also not used to this much comedy from him. Well worth reading as his bad books still better than most. Would have been much more agreeable to me at $2·99 rather than $8·99. I am so tired of over paying for kindle books that cost pennies to distribute that I cannot share with anyone. If my eyes were better I would not give Amazon/kindle a dime of my money

I re-read the Mistborn trilogy and started this second set. I love the original mistborn and this was uniquely different with twinges of reference to the previous books. If you liked the original take this for a read. I'm currently reading shadows of self which is the 2nd book. Both are equally good and add an interesting steampunk twist.

I should have never doubted that this would be an awesome book! I read the Mistborn series a few years ago and it was one of my favorite series. When I saw this book released recently I held off picking it up for a while because I usually prefer the medieval vibe with swords and arrows to books with guns and modern technology. Like everything that Sanderson writes it was awesome and I must say that the gunplay was action packed and played into the magic system in a really cool way! Must read!

I love Brandon Sanderson's work, but I find he tends to go a little too off the deep end on his magic systems in the Mistborn books. He keeps reminding you of all the various rules of each metal and such and it gets a little tedious. That said, he's a fantastic author. I would more strongly recommend his Stormlight archive, where the magic system is there, but it's in the background because the characters don't understand it.

Brandon Sanderson is so easy tot read. The Mistborn series is very entertaining and has the edge of your seat thrill. The wax and Wayne series has nuggets in the story line that really bring the legends back to play in a more modern era. Nicely done, a highly recommended read for the fantasy Si-Fi Brandon Sanderson fans.

This can be a stand alone book in the Mistborn saga, you can read this book without going through the initial trilogy. Although Trilogy fans will of course have much more knowledge and overall more enjoyable reading experience. Without spoilers, what Mistborn trillogy fans should know about this book is that it takes place in a complete different story, time and character set of the initial trillogy. So if you have read the book three of Mistborn trilogy, this story takes place hundreds of years after the ending of book three. I would say it's really entertaining but the story is quite more light than the initial trilogy. Definetly would recomend it to the Mistborn fans.

This book was fantastic. I loved the old Western feel mixed in with the immersive Mistborn universe. The romance and intrigue was delicately and delightfully woven in. So excited to continue to the next book.

I like Sanderson, and I am enjoying watching him grow as an author (I REALLY enjoyed The Way of Kings, written just before this book). That said, this book feels sort of tacked on to the Mistborn Trilogy, undercutting what sparked my interest in Sanderson to begin with--his world building. Also, his characters in this book feel a little flatter than those in The Way of Kings, making this feel like something of a step backwards to me. This book was enjoyable, but I recommend almost any of his other books over this one.

My reluctance to read the new trilogy was based on my belief that the only things the trilogies would have in common would be Allomancy. I was initially put off by what looked to be a completely separate story of new Allomancers in a modernized world. In short, I didn't want to be in an allomantic world if Vin and Eland weren't there. But the books have many references to the past sometimes clever, sometimes heart-rending and every once in a while, humorous. For instance, remember Spook's unintelligible street dialect? 300 years later, it is called the High Imperial" language - and universities use it like Latin for their mottoes and emblazon their gates with sayings like " WASING THE ALWAYS OF WANTING OF KNOWING. Lol. Things that we know happened (because we were there) have become legend now. You can read these books apart from the first Mistborn series, but your experience of them will be much richer if you've read the others first. Sanderson generally builds worlds better than he builds people (with the possible exception of Eland Venture, who to date is the best King Arthur-type I have ever come across.) and I prefer fantasy and sci-fi that take the characters AND the story seriously. I find too much light-hearted banter annoying - but at least his characters are not rolling their eyes anymore, in every single chapter, on every single page. I am really enjoying these books, and wasn't sure I would. If you loved the first Mistborn trilogy, I think you will love these.

Brandon has done it again. How does he come up with so many great characters and stories? If you've read and enjoyed his Mistborn series you are sure to like this too. I would suggest reading the Mistborn books first as there are many reference to them. In some ways I enjoyed this book even more than the original series. This might be because the Mistborn world was all new to me but with this book I was familiar with that world and the Wild West. I hope there will be more stories about these characters.

A good sequel to the original Mistborn series, it now centres around Waxillian (Wax) who has his life dramatically changed. A novel in a familiar setting but with some new rules, I found the book was hard to put down. It's a nice peek into the altered or restored world that the previous characters brought to the surviving people. If you like L.E. Modesitt, you will probably like this.

I was skeptical about reading this series after thoroughly enjoying the original Mistborn trilogy. Mr. Sanderson did not disappoint. Highly recommend it!

Great addition to an epic story! Love everything about this series. I stayed glued to each page even during the second reading! I highly recommend it.

I was a bit dissapointed at first to see this novel was set in the future with guns since I am more of a medieval swords and sorcery fantasy kind of person. I ran into a pleasant surprise though to see how Sanderson implemented the allomancy powers along with gun combat. Many of the characters also get to use feruchemy as well making for tons of interesting power combinations. The end is left wide open however so I do hope we get to see atleast another book or two in this setting to close up some loose ends and hopefully look back on the original trilogy and its characters more.

I was a little unsure of this book at first. I really liked the characters and setting of the first three Mistborn novels and I knew everything was going to be different. Instead of the dying fantasy world of the first trilogy we're given a new setting set hundreds of years later after the events of the original books have become myth and legend. It's a fantasy western where a talented and disillusioned lawman takes on one last case. For anyone who's read any of the earlier novels, you will really enjoy this one too. If you like reading at all, I'd recommend this to you. Just read all the other ones first.

This book is absolutely fantastic. Set 300 years after the events of Mistborn: The Hero of Ages, several new allomantic metals have been discovered, technology has progressed, and the characters we know have become figures of history and legend. I had an incredibly fun time seeing how language and religion progressed from the time of the "Originators" in this world of Allomancy and Feruchemy and how use of the metallic arts has adapted to new technologies and lost much reason to stay hidden. On top of that we meet several entertaining new characters, a cohesive story, and the relatable villains that we've all come to expect from Sanderson's writing. All in all, one of the best books I've read in a very long time.

500 years after the end of the Mistborn series, we have the same world, with the same allomancy, this time a lawman with two powers encounters a bad guy former colleague with very great powers. It is an 1880's industrial world at the age of steam and the emergence of electric lights. Weapons technology is the six-shooter, but allomancy provides very interesting and fun shoot-em-ups. Mix of magic and the wild west along with the mansions of 1880's industrialists. Clever idea, really. But none of the character development of the Mistborn series. Fun read though.

While hesitant to read anything pertaining to the Mistborn series that wasn't about the original characters, I'm really happy I did. A lot of fantasy writers don't give us insight into what the world is like after our favorite characters who changed the world have passed and the world is trekking into the future. Sanderson is a talented writer and consistently has me hanging onto every word in each book. The paperback arrived in perfect condition and on time.

I'm a big fan of Sanderson so I feel like my reviews are biased. I loved this entry in the Mistborn universe. I really liked the character development and the interaction between the main characters. It did take a while to understand the nuances of the magic system. It is a little different than before with new lingo and I wish it was explained a little better. But, I can't wait for the next one.

If you enjoyed the first trilogy, this book does a good job of continuing the storyline. Set three hundred years later, it does stand on its own but also smartly integrated references to the first trilogy. If you are a fan of Westerns or the combination of an industrial revolution and magic, this would be a good book. Wish it was longer. But really great character development.

Its set a few hundred years or so after the original Mistborn series, and takes on a new life. I love that it turned into a more wild west detective series so to say, as the magic system really makes the world so unique. Once again, Brandon Sanderson's writing is top notch, and the characters are lively, fun, and realistic. READ IT!

This book departs from the previous books about this world, in terms of landscape and type of characters. What stays the same is Sanderson's ability to show depth to each character, make them believable and keep the story exciting. I found it particularly interesting that the author set this book so much later in time than the last. This allowed development of myths about the previous characters, which were woven at important points in the story line. All the key elements are there. So, if you liked the other books, I think you will like this one, too!

If you're a fan of Sanderson this is a fun novel. It would be hard to follow if you haven't read his mistborn trilogy first so I recommend that. It takes you back to the world of allomancy, and expands a bit with a steampunkish setting this time. Guns, railways, Victorian city, etc etc. Adds a bit of a detective novel in as well. All in all not his best work, but a fun romp through the world you fell in love with during the original trilogy. It's also quite a bit lighter in tone, with very few deaths and a happy ending.

A good beginning to a new trilogy in the same world as the original Mistborn Trilogy, but just good. The only thing keeping it from being great was it's too-short duration. A mere 333-pages compared to the 676-pages, 804-pages, & 772-pages of the original trilogy. After reading the original trilogy this feels like a short story, there was not enough character/plot development. I enjoyed it though, and recommend it to fans of the original trilogy and the genre in general, just don't expect as grandiose a trilogy as the original or other series like Tolkien, Robert Jordan, or Terry Brooks.

After gobbling up the Mistborn Trilogy, I was eager for more. It took me a while to shift from the fantasy type world of Mistborn, to the western world of Alloy of Law, but Sanderson did a great job of tying the two together. After a few chapters I was hooked. According to the forward by Mr. Sanderson, this is not intended to be a series, but he sure set it up to be one in the Epilogue, and I say BRING IT ON! I thoroughly enjoyed this. For new readers, start with the Mistborn Trilogy though.

Train robberies, shoot-outs, bandits and . . . allomancy? For someone not usually attracted to westerns (okay, never attracted) I LOVED Alloy of Law. Maybe it was Waxillium's internal conflict over responsibility vs respectability. Maybe it was a certain young lady's spunky attitude that made her the perfect love interest. Maybe it was Wax's best friend who had me laughing the entire way through. Whatever the reason, this was a fun romp that kept me turning pages late into the night. Alloy doesn't have the deep, emotional impact of the Mistborn trilogy but I didn't miss it in this setting. Great read!

I was hoping this would be as good as the mistborn series and I believe it was. I don't want to get into the book and reveal anything but it was great from start to end.

So I was in a major slump after reading The Mistborn Trilogy. I usually move from one book to the next, but after Mistborn I couldnt bring myself to actually read another novel. It was just so good.. The magic.. the characters.. So eventually this book was recommended to me and it had just enough of the original magic to ween me off so to speak. Characters were pretty good and I found myself laughing quite a bit, it just lacked the epic awesomeness from its predecessor trilogy.. I do look forward to the next book which ive read is in the making. A good, quick read for those of you who are completely addicted to Sanderson's books.

While I liked what was there it feels incomplete. Compared to the other Mistborn books this seems more like Part 1 of Book 2 or 3 of a trilogy.Book one of the trilogy would have been early life and departure from city and establishing himself in the Rough and possibly his whole time in the Rough.Book 2 would have either started with this book or his later years in the rough in which case this would have started book 3. Again loved the characters and it had sort of Sherlock Holmes crossed with a western feel to it. but wanted more.

The story here is not as grand or epic as the original series but I was nice read. This story is lighter in tone with out detracting from the over all plot of the story. Bottom line: - If you liked the world and magic it uses you will enjoy this. - If you like Wild West stories and shoot outs you will like this - If you just finished Mistborn and want something lighter to read, you'll like this.

Brandon Sanderson never fails to baffle me; I have a hard time accepting that someone can write so many books so quickly yet have them come out as good or better than anyone else's. He's definitely a master of the craft. The Mistborn Trilogy gripped me from the beginning. I was very please to come across Alloy of Law yesterday, and I finished reading it today - I had a very hard time putting it down. I really can't recommend this book any more strongly. I love it.

Very good but not the same feel as mistborn era 1 but that is a good thing. This is a good place to go if you want keep reading Sanderson without the stess of the whole cosmere falling around the chatacters. Charming characters and an interesting use of history of technology as a reference.

I want to merely say: It's Brandon Sanderson. Nuff said. But this was the first series I had read of Sanderson, and I was hooked. I can't say enough good things about his writing, and not only Mistborn series. Truly, truly unique. Fascinating concepts - drink metal pieces and gain special powers? It's been a while since I've read this series - I've read it twice - but I can't recommend Brandon Sanderson - ANY of his books - enough!

I was sad to see certain plot devices missing, but pleased to see new ones introduced. Also, relieved to find Sanderson's attention to detail and continuity have not waned. Entertaining and I look forward to seeing where it goes from here. If you enjoyed the first 3 books in this series, this is different but still worth the read. For those unfamiliar with Mistborn, I recommend you start at the beginning, otherwise this may be a nice stand-alone book for fans of western and unusual powers.

I really liked this book. I loved Mistborn, but I've never read a western so I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the three main characters and in my opinion reading the Mistborn trilogy isn't a prerequisite. You can read this one first it doesn't even spoil Mistborn if you read them after. This isn't exactly a negative but this is my least favorite of all of his endings. I foresaw the twist and while I didn't hate the deus ex machina during the fight I don't see why it was necessary. I definitely plan on reading the rest.

I enjoyed this book a whole lot. I enjoy action and adventure, and and as the title of this review states, it is a wonderful follow-up to the mistborn series. It has the names and memories and religions left behind by Vin, (The Ascendance Warrior. hee hee! Think of young, paranoid, Vin, and put that title on her. Does that seem right?)Elend, and everyone else. It's the same, but as you would expect after 300 years. Sanderson mixed modern(ish) things like guns, magical things like Feruchemy, and Allowmancy.

I absolutely loved this book! I found it more interesting and faster pace than the original mistborn series. Even though this series is set 300 years in the future it still has so many tie ins to the original series that it still feels like "home" definitely recommend!

Another good quick read from Sanderson, he does another fine job with a fast-paced, semi-crime thriller with lots of new magic from the first Mistborn series, new characters, yet another small group of misfits looking to take on a larger group. The magic has evolved a bit, so the action sequences, which Sanderson does a great job with, are not just fast paced but fairly intricate and keep you on your toes. It's not just the same old fist fight or sword play, with flying and other magics taking their roles. The humor is a bit forced with one liners but gives the book a lighter air that will have you reading on. Ends with enough of a twist and mystery to want to read the next in the series. Something deeper is definitely afoot.

Not quite as good as the original Mistborn trilogy in my opinion, but still a fantastic read. I enjoy all of Sanderson's stuff so not much of a surprise that I liked this one. I would definitely recommend to people that are familiar with Sanderson's work or the Mistborn trilogy.

I am really becoming an avid fan of Brandon Sanderson. His ability to tell a story and his writing style are truly unique and very enjoyable. The fact that he can move across periods in time seamlessly is extraordinary. This book had great characters and story and bringing the Mistborn world into the Western era was unexpected and just a fun ride for the imagination. Thank you for another wonderful book.

I love this new series post-Mistborn almost better than the original. The setting and way they mix allomancy and firearms is genius!

After the last Mistborn book I was happy to hear that Sanderson would be creating a new series diving into what happens after this whole new world is created. I am a huge fan of Sanderson but am a bit disappointed in his inability to focus on a series. I'm in the middle of several of his series right now and looking for the next book. I tend to like to dive into a series and then come up for air at the end not having another book to dig into stinks. Still, love the book.

After reading the excellent Mistborn trilogy, I was looking forward to getting back into the Mistborn universe with this book. Unfortunately I didn't feel like it every really did. Sure, there are a few references to the trilogy and some of the magic, but no depth. It was one of those books where I kept waiting for the story to start and never really felt like it did. It felt shallow, rushed and incomplete.

After finishing the the Mistborn trilogy, I figured I needed to read the follow up: The Alloy of Law. Like the other Mistborn books things really pick up in the final third of the book. My biggest complaint about the book is that doesn't bring up much about the events in the original trilogy until the very end. If you have read the first three books and want to have a new experience in the universe, I recommend reading the book.

I questioned how well the Mistborn rules were going to work in this setting. Sanderson answered: very well. Just couldn't get enough of this book and its creative use of the alloy magic. The characters were fun and the plot was completely engaging. It does slow down a bit too much in points and I found myself clicking through some of the narration. Even with that, I highly recommend this book (and am very hopeful for the planned sequel).

This was a great follow-up to the Mistborn series. This takes place 300 years after the final showdown in "The Final Empire" and is very interesting to see the world after the sacrifices of the "crew". The only criticism I had with this book is that it felt unfinished, not sure if Mr. Sanderson is going to release another book in this series, I sure hope he does.

The Alloy of Law resumes the Mistborn series about 300 years after the Hero of Ages and is the best book in the series since the first, The Final Empire. While the prose became heavier and the pace bogged down in The Well of Ascension and Hero of Ages, The Alloy of Law returns to the freshness that the seminal novel was, and gives the reader a page-turning read in a steampunk fantasy world. I blew through it in three evenings during a work week because I couldn't put it down, and I didn't regret it. I've already read the next book, Shadows of Self, and Sanderson continues in stride. You won't regret picking up the book if you're a Mistborn fan, and if you're new to the Mistborn books, this is an easy place to jump in--reading the earlier trilogy would by insightful, but is not necessary.

I confess, I haven't found a book of his yet that I disliked in any way. I have enjoyed his Mistborn novels and recommend them to anyone who likes fantasy. He paints vivid scenes without losing himself (or the reader) in mind-numbing detail and distracting paragraphs that fill a book but don't really add to the story. His stories are always well-paced, filled with memorable characters, and have both thought and action (for those of us who crave both).

Really good book with solid characters like, at least I have, come to expect from Brandon Sanderson. If you are a fan of the Mistborn trilogy, this is certainly worth reading. It took me longer to warm up to Wax and Wayne than Vin and Kelsier and Sazed but you'll be hooked nonetheless. And while you are at it, go ahead and buy the other two books, they only get better!

AoL was a good continuation from the original Mistborn trilogy. The fanservice and callbacks to OT characters/events felt like a bit much at some points, but was satisfying overall. The subsequent books in the "Wax & Wayne" series are strong contenders for the best books in the Mistborn saga. Keep reading. You won't regret it.

While I am NOT a western fan I have to agree that sanderson did not leave sxadrial a static place. I dislike the steampunk feel of this book but the action is fast paced and he keeps you wanting to turn pages.

A lighter read than the Mistborn trilogy proper, but just rollicking good fun. Plenty of great banter (which is very hard to do convincingly on the page so hats off to Mr Sanderson) and a page-turning plot. Plenty of scope to develop further, too, so here's hoping for a second trilogy! I truly love the way Allomancy (which is one of the greatest fantasy inventions of all time!) has 'evolved' 300 years on from the days of Vin and Elend. It's basically a whole new ball game, but with a few familiar rules - fantastic.

I like the mist born series. But, this book seemed to have terms that the trilogy didn't. That's fine. But, they could have been introduced better than as anecdotes in conversation between characters. But, the character development was nice, the mystery was entertaining and the verbal play between some of the characters was downright funny. I would not run out to purchase the next book but it will be on my to read list, because Sanderson has another series that has captured my mind - The Way of Kings.

I really enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy and am a fan of Brandon Sanderson's writing (so this is a biased review). "The Alloy of Law" did not disappoint. I really like the universe created by Sanderson and the rules that are established. It makes for the focus to be on a good story, and not trying to come up with a new crazy magical beast. I also have enjoyed Sanderson's work with the completion of the "Wheel of Time". Reading of the Mistborn series is not required prior to reading this book, however it will help greatly with the understanding of the rules of the magical system. Also it'll provide a little more insight into some of the conversations they have about "the Survivor", etc. Read this book, you won't be disappointed.

This does not pick up where the last Mistborn series ended. It is hundreds of years later. I think Brandon hit another home run with this book. Others complain about the end leaving you hanging. That is what a good author does, leaves you wanting more. It's a bit of the wild west meets the big city, and he makes it work. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.

An excellent novel with gripping character development. His story was so well told. Allomancers are So much cooler than superheroes!

I have enjoyed the Mistborn series as all of Sanderson's books, but this book, so divorced from the characters I had come to love, disappointed me. I might have become more engaged with these new characters but for what I felt was rather too much time spent describing the action in the fights themselves. I just didnt come to care about anyone.. Brandon Sanderson still writes GREAT and engulfing stories!

This book takes the world that we came to know in the original Mistborn series and brings it on several hunderd years to a point where it is similar in appearance to that of our world at the end of the victorian era. In a feat that I did not think possible, it seamlessly combines steam-punk elements with those of the western genre, and presents a rip-roarer of an adventure tale, backed up by an insidious political plot. Here's waiting for the next few books in the series where we can see if our heroes can foil the sinister machinations of those who would bring the world to Ruin.

Great book. Love the authors style. I read this book a year after the mist born series which I loved, I found the book an excellent read, however the action scenes seemed a little too one sided, maybe because it had been awhile but the action seemed rushed. I like how it left it open for another series but I wonder if Sanderson will continue with this world. Worthy of 4 stars.

As the opening to the series I found the development of characters and use of medals very interesting and creative. Brandon is a genius with concept development and always uses some unexpected turn in the plot line to change the focus of the story line. I love the series but was hooked after the first chapter. I was fascinated by the use of medals for power and how those powers were used for good or evil. it is a great read.

Wow, I liked the Mistborn Trilogy a lot, but this book was even better and exceeded my expectations. What a great idea- establish the universe, and then set a story 300 years in the future (don't want to spoil original books). Sanderson really writes great, kinetic action scenes, and the characters and story move right along. I burned through this one, and can only hope that now that he is done with Jordan's books, that he concentrates on his on works even more.

I must say that I quite enjoyed this book as on its own. I read it in a few days after burning through the first three books (yeah I'm late to the party, so what?). I had hoped it would continue the series, but that was a pipe dream like calorie-free Nutella. Set in the world of the original Mistborn series, but 300 years later... blah blah blah, get your summary from another review or the general book description. That is not my thing. It is important to note that The Alloy of Law has very little to do with the original Mistborn trilogy, which is quite a shame, but oh well. It is not at the same level as the original 3 books. Those tell a much bigger, more complex story. This is (intentionally) a much smaller scale. That is not necessarily a bad thing, it is just different. It is what it is. The bigger problem (and please realize I still enjoyed this book thoroughly) is that it just feels so incomplete. Not that the ending (no spoiler alert I promise!) is a cliffhanger, but well it is kind of a cliffhanger. It implies that it is part of something much bigger, but doesn't even hint at the direction. Most importantly, it is now almost 2 years after the release, and the long-anticipated sequel is nowhere to be seen. C'mon BSand, get your write on. It's one thing to deliver an incomplete package, but at this point, it is like getting the Box without the D in it. Or like chicken wings without hot sauce. Or some other comparison which isn't as good as those two.

The book had a slow start for me. I'd just finished the Mistborn trilogy, with just one book between, so I was expecting a similar pace to the novel. No spoilers: The novel takes place several hundred years after the trilogy, and civilization has advanced technologically. I found this to be refreshing; so many fantasy or alternate reality novels seem "stuck" where they're at. It takes a little while to get into, but once you do, it gets going at a good clip. I found it an enjoyable story, and I absolutely love Sanderson's writing style and technique. It became clear at the end that he was potentially setting up for another sequel or trilogy, and this was a little disappointing. My opinion was that the mythos was at a point where a series of one-off tales, even set at different time points, seemed more appropriate. This is a mild criticism. For Kindle users: the book has several shots from newspapers. They don't show up on the Kindle well at all (too tiny). This is pretty typical of Kindle editions of things that have images, maps, etc. They're not integral to the story, but if you *really* enjoy such things, stick to the print version.

The author is good, the reader is good. The characters come to life, make the commute much more tolerable. Thank you.

So, The Allow of Law is a continuation of the Mistborn trilogy. If you read that and don't know what Mistborn is, I should slap you. A was a little apprehensive when I started reading this because I'm not a huge fan of westerns. The thing is, this isn't a western. It just takes place in a similar time. So the same functional and balanced magic system is now brought to a time with more metal and emerging technologies. Sanderson has a knack for building interesting characters, both bad and good. The only thing that I didn't like about this book is that there wasn't another to read afterward. I eagerly await the sequel. If you loved the Mistborn trilogy, do yourself a favor and read this. It might take a chapter or two to acclimate you to the new characters and new setting but it will be worth it.

I love this series! It is a little less intense than the original Mistborn series, which was a welcome relief. Though I really enjoyed the original series, this one is a bit more carefree, while remaining a great read with a good plot, fun characters, etc. Brandon Sanderson is a great writer and all his books are free of sex and most language! Nice a clean (though they do have some violence)!

This book has been labeled steam punk but I found to more of a western mystery with magic abilities. I was very drawn to the characters. The only thing that didn't seem to work was the time line. The majority of action happened in one day . It would have been more believable to have it be a week. Especially for the characters to develope the relationship they did and for the amount of information that was revealed in that time.

Sanderson does it again. He brings the world of Mistborn into a new age so spectacularly. He seamlessly continues to expound on the world and magic system that he’d created in the first trilogy while bringing new characters to life with an equally compelling storyline. A must read for any Sanderson fan.

I thought it would be difficult to create a good sequel series to the original Mistborn trilogy, but the way the other takes a fantasy setting and advances it to the western time era. Most fantasy novels have a world locked in time, never developing new technologies or science, but in this, Sanderson shows how a world with magic would incorporate that magic into the world and technology, rather then stagnating.

Came fast. Intact. Decent shape / As described.

I'm a big fan of Brandon Sanderson and the Mistborn series as a whole. What I really like about this sequel is that it's not just "more of the same" of what made Mistborn great, but rather a variation (a wide one!) on a theme. His impressive worldbuilding is given a bit of twisting since this happens quite some time after the timeline of the initial novels. A fantastic read!

This series just shows that Sanderson is tops in the fantasy genre. Seriously. Anything he writes is worth the read. Can't wait to read more of the swashbuckling fun in this series.

I enjoyed this installment of the second Mistborn series. Brandon Sanderson can certainly weave an engaging tale. The dialogue felt a bit strained, but otherwise I enjoyed the characters quite a bit. It left me with as many questions as answers and I look forward to reading "The Bands of Mourning."

I have the rest of the Mistborn series in hardback but having recently bought a Kindle, this popped up as something to review - and I am so glad I did. The Mistborn was an exotic twist on magic in the first place, but this western frontier take on the theme works perfectly. Love the interplay between the hero and his rogue-ish companion, and the understanding that every pairing of skills leaves weaknesses to exploit or be careful of for hero and villain alike. A great read with real characters to get your teeth into.

Setting this next set of novels hundreds of years after the last trilogy was a brilliant move. I'm actually quite interested to see how these turn out. The first book was well designed and the characters are memorable. But then, I expect that out of a Sanderson book. If this turns out to be the last book of 2014 for me, then I chose wisely.

I loved the original Mistborn Trilogy. Predictability in fantasy stories, for me, is a huge issue and I've never had that problem with any of Sanderson's work. Alloy of Law continued that expectation for me and I was not disappointed. Granted, it didn't have the same characters, being years into the future after all, but the new characters were very likable and I would definitely recommend this book series.

I read the original Mistborn trilogy a couple of years ago prior to the release of Brandon Sanderson's first Wheel of Time installment. I'd been reading the Wheel of Time since 1992 and I wanted to get a feel for his work. I think it's quite important for someone considering "Alloy of Law" to read the original Mistborn trilogy first because there's simply too much stuff in here that refers back to the original three books for someone to appreciate this book properly without having read the other three. From the practical standpoint, the system of magic is fairly extensively explained in the first trilogy and it helps to understand it because it's fairly unique in terms of magic systems in fantasy novels. From the enjoyment standpoint, the book is full of place names and "historical" references that depend on the first trilogy, and you will NOT understand the ending of this book if you haven't read the first three. With all that said, I enjoyed this installment. It was entertaining and I found the characters to have somewhat more personality than the ones in the original trilogy, although I have to admit that at times they seemed almost a little bit cartoonish (Wayne in particular). Wayne reminded me a little bit of a less-developed and less-complex version of David Eddings's character Silk, who was one of my favorite characters in those books. (Incidentally, I found it amusing that in a world where a lot of characters have names you don't see in the real world, such as Marasi or Sazed or Elend or Breeze or Spook, we find a guy named Wayne. I assume Mr. Sanderson simply found the pun that arises with two protagonists named "Wax" and "Wayne" to be irresistible.) One of the lead reviews here on Amazon refers to this as a cross between Mistborn and a western. I can see that, but in some ways I find it more a cross between Mistborn and an animated Saturday matinee because the humor factor is ratcheted up substantially compared to the original trilogy (and the "Wax" and "Wayne" aspect is but one example of that). Put differently, this is an entertaining read but it's not a "great" read. I've heard that Mr. Sanderson wrote it in part to help clear his mind between all the heavy-duty work he's doing on the Wheel of Time and the Stormlight Archive. That was rather apparent to me as I read this book, but it in no way diminished my enjoyment of it. In fact I was reading it because I wanted some lighter material between volumes of Song of Ice and Fire, and I found it perfect for that. One last note: I remember reading a comment from Terry Goodkind where he talked about how he hates it when you pick up a book in a series to find all new characters and that he thinks readers want to follow their heroes. In many cases I agree with that, but "Alloy of Law" was one situation where having all new characters was interesting. Of course, part of that was unavoidable; anyone who finished the original trilogy understands why that is. But I went into this book having heard that Mr. Sanderson wants to explore his world's development over time, so having new characters some years later is a natural evolution. (One thing I would have liked to have found out was what happened to the cities in the original novels. Maybe that will come in the future Mistborn books.) So, in sum, I recommend this only to people who have first read the original trilogy.

Alloy of Law seems positioned to be the first volume in a new trilogy in the Mistborn universe, but at the same time, really feels like a one-off side story. Mainly, because it's not really "epic fantasy", in which story arcs span the entire world, and all its different species. It doesn't even really answer the question of what happened to the world after the events of the first trilogy. It's a smallish story about a retired sheriff stopping a band of super thieves. For all that, it's quite enjoyable. I found it amusing that Brandon, who doesn't drink, would have a charming hero who mixed whiskey in with his allomancy shots. The interaction between the two main characters is priceless. The interaction with the tertiary female character is a bit weaker, with a sort of ambiguous attraction between her and the much older main character, as well as a generally weak personality on her that I find a bit distasteful. Not everyone has to be a gunslinging hero, but she just comes off as a weird mix of hero and victim.

Love this series.

I read this after finishing the Mistborn series. I wasn't expecting much (usually follow-ups to an epic trilogy are disappointing) so I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. The feel of the book is very different than the Mistborn series but still very well done and addictive. This book had plenty of humor and wit. I enjoyed the interactions between the main characters. I hope Sanderson decides to turn these characters into a serial, like Sherlock Holmes.

As much as I loved "The Mistborn" Trilogy, I have to wonder the purpose of this book. It seemed to be a rambling repetition of the metallurgy we already knew of from the previous three books. I tried tried to like the characters,but there wasn't enough time spent developing them. Instead Brandon chose to lecture us about the metals. Sorry mate, but that was a swing nd a miss after the trilogy.

This review is a bit hard for me to write. I enjoyed the book very thoroughly, the story was nice addition to the Mistborn lore. However, I purchased this book "NEW". Instead of new the condition should be listed as "Slightly Used by Amazon". There were additional stickers that mentioned Amazon on the cover; additionally there is a nice fat black mark on the bottom of the pages. AMAZON, it isn't new if you use and abuse it in storage!.

This book is fun. Set in a budding industrial revolution within the Mistborn world, with a hero named Waxilliam, and a sidekick (Wayne) -- and a writer who is developing humor, wit, and style. The result is a Western -- a Sherlock Holmesian -- a Victorian -- a fun book to read. Lighter in concept, true to Mistborn, but very different in style. Waxilliam is the coolest guy with the dumbest name in recent literature.

If you read and loved the first three books then you won't regret reading this one. Though the scale of conflict is not at the same level as the first three books I still found it to be an enjoyable read and I can't wait to see how the next few books will unravel this new story.

Brandon Sanderson had created an incredible universe where allomancy rules, but that universe is bound by those rules. It doesn't feel like magic as much as science, and the scene he sets draws me in every time. Same universe, new cast, and I just can't wait for more.

And more Wayne! This is a story, I hope there's more to come. It's a little different then I expected, I thought it would be more like the mistborn trilogy. But instead it's based in the future of their world. It feels a little steampunk and a little Sherlock Holmes.... which are both good things in my opinion. I liked how the religions developed. I hope there are going to be more of Wax & Wayne's adventures in the future.

I just cant get enough of the Mistborn storyline. To be sure, this is not the same as the epic original Mistborn trilogy. However, it does bring you back to that world and it is fun to read about these new characters. I guess the best way to describe it is as a Sherlock homes (the Robert Downey, Jr. version) meets the x-men. I hope Mr. Sanderson continues this storyline.

Well, it's a Mistborn book, but it's not. It ties back to the former trilogy here and there, but truly creates a whole new storyline. I think book two will bring back some of the first set considering what Wax's uncle is up to AND the guy Marasi meets in the alley. Great finish and setup for the next book. It's a worthy read, but much different from the original series.

Loved it. The jump in the Cosmere timeline made it refreshing. Loved the character personalities and dialogue. Cool plot and excellent ending to this book that left me eager for next book due to the mysterious big picture.

After I finished reading the Mistborn Trilogy, I went around looking for something else to read from Mr. Sanderson, and was more than happy to find and fourth book on the series. Reading around some reviews and back up info, I realized it was an stand alone novel, but based on the "magic" style and mechanisms that I got to love on the previous trilogy. Without hesitation, I got into this novel and finish it as fast as I could. As always, Sanderson writing leaves you wanting more, its pace is the adecuate, full of action and drama, and even comedy. These new characters are lovely, and the way they are developed by the author is neat. YOU have to get this book if you liked the Mistborn Trilogy, it is a must have for any fantasy fan.

Instead of creating a static world that the characters interact in, this book shows a world where not just people change, but so does society. Since being introduced to him via WOT, I have seen his evolution as a writer from very good in his earlier books to a great writer in terms world building and the evolution in the world. Maybe these ideas have always been there and maybe its just timing is seeing something similar in WOT, but this book gives a fresh view of the same world he started.

The Mistborn series was some of the best high fantasy I've read, but oftentimes high fantasy leaves an unplundered treasure behind--a rich, fully developed world. Here Sanderson unpacks that treasure. What would happen in that same world 300 years later at the dawn of technology? So much fun!

This is a great follow-up to the Mistborn trilogy. Sanderson has done a great job building on the world he built in the first books, while also giving the world a centuries-later freshening. While the first book still stands alone as a masterpiece, this is a solid follow-up. I wouldn't recommend dropping into the series from this book: read the Mistborn trilogy first.