Just wonderful stuff as always. Does require more grounding in the Cosmere than most of his other books, but mainly just for the feeling of self-gratification that you know more than the main characters when oblique references to other magic systems or planets are made.

“Tonight Waxillium embraced that duty. He became destruction incarnate. For to worship Harmony was not only to worship Preservation—it was also to worship Ruin, with all that implied.”


Here we are folks, my journey through the Cosmere has finally led me to the epic conclusion of Mistborn era two and my gosh does this book end with a Cosmere rippling bang. The Lost Metal is beyond an incredible journey that will lead you through mind-blowing discoveries, thrilling action scenes, humour and heartbreaking heartache.

It goes without saying but it bears repeating, you need to have read Mistborn era one to fully appreciate era two, but now I also need to urge you all to read Mistborn: Secret History because certain parts of The Lost Metal will not make sense unless you have. There are many other connections to Cosmere books too, and whilst it is helpful to have read Stormlight Archives, Elantris and other novellas found within Arcanum Unbounded, it is not vital. Please note this review may contain spoilers for Mistborn era one, the first three books of era two, it will contain spoilers for Mistborn: Secret History and mild spoilers for the other Cosmere books. It is too hard to write this review without mentioning characters or magic systems from other worlds.

The Lost Metal is the book where we finally get some answers. From the kidnappings of Allomancers in The Alloy of Law, the secrets of the Set and their true intentions, Harmony’s indecisiveness, Telsin’s treachery and the wider threat to Scadriel from unknown forces, all is skilfully brought together and revealed. Though as Sanderson repeatedly states, “there’s always another secret.”

Since The Alloy of Law, the city of Elendel has been plagued by the criminal organisation known as, the Set. With the major leaders of this organisation being Wax’s uncle Edwarn and his sister Telsin, Waxillium has spent years trying to bring them down. Yet in the aftermath of finding the Bands of Mourning, Wax has now retired from being a notorious lawman and becomes a senate, swapping reining in criminals to reining in politicians instead, perhaps a job no easier and just as deadly. The Set will not go unchecked though as when Detective Marasi and her partner Wayne uncover suspicious weapons in the City of Bilming, they are once more hot on the tracks of the Set’s whereabouts. However, events escalate when Wax accidentally discovers a new type of bomb, one that could cause an immense amount of death and he fears the Set may already be planning to use it. To make matters even more dire, the God Trell is preparing for an invasion, his strings are pulled by a higher force within the Cosmere and Harmony, the God of Scadriel, is blinded to the events unfolding. He once again calls upon Wax to be his Sword, and our Dawnshot knows he is the last hope left, for if he fails the world will fall to ruin.

“In the Roughs you depended on your gun, your instincts, and your ability to ask the right questions. Here he had to depend on others to do the right thing. And so far there had been no greater test of his faith in humanity-serial killers included–than working with politicians.”

Our narrative picks up six years afterThe Bands of Mourning, and that passage of time is immediately felt. The lives of our characters have greatly progressed both in a professional and personal manner. Marasi is a well respected detective, no longer sidelined or mocked, Steris’ preparation and planning becomes ever more vital especially when dealing with politicians, she finally begins to see her worth, Wax buries the demons from his past and feels contentment in his life, and Wayne… Well Wayne remains himself but with an added layer of depth. Each character now has more responsibility and people they care for, making the stakes of their mission to stop the Set and the invasion ever more higher. It is clear the time for insecurities and second guessing has passed, these characters must now become the heroes Scadriel needs and put their skills into action one last time.

Speaking of action, this is perhaps the most action packed instalment in the Mistborn saga. I found Sanderson did a superb job of exploring the Metallic Arts even further and showing how the advancement of the magic system, particularly in the use of Hemalurgy, was both fascinating and frightful. In fact I loved how balanced this novel was, from characters facing the perils before them head on, to the politics, to laugh-out-loud humour, and to the breathtaking action sequences, this is a novel which never has a dull moment. Sanderson is a master of building powerfully charged characters, ones which fully embrace his intricate magic systems, yet they are never so powerful that they cannot be challenged, or even killed, and this time around Wax and Wayne meet their match in combat, quite literally. This created many exciting and quite amusing scenes throughout which of course I revelled in. We also see returning characters from Mistborn era one, which added an extra slice of delight. However, what this novel really excels at are the connections made throughout the Cosmere.



Here is where my review becomes Cosmere spoilery so be warned.



If you have read Mistborn Secret History then you will know that Kelsier is not quite dead, and if you have read Oathbringer you will know of the organisation called the Ghostbloods, and if you have read Rhythm of War then you will know the leader of the Ghostbloods is revealed as Kelsier himself! With this in mind, Sanderson’s introduction of two key characters, Moonlight and TwinSoul, we finally see agents of the Ghostbloods come into play. Honestly, their introduction was epic, previously we had only seen the Ghostbloods in short glimpses here and there but in this novel they play a significant role. Seeing Moonlight and TwinSoul reveal their powers and knowing they came from other worlds, ones we have seen before and one new, elevated the narrative tenfold, and I feel most readers will agree. The absolute astonishing beauty of The Lost Metal is that Sanderson merges together different magic systems, not just that of Allomancy and Feruchemy. Different powers are used for different tasks in truly inventive and surprising ways, it is simply jaw-dropping. I feel going further Worldhoppers such as the Ghostbloods will no longer be lurking in the background, they are going to be central to events throughout the Cosmere, not just on Scadriel, the planet they are sworn to protect. Though whether they are a force for good remains to be seen, together they hold a vast array of powers and are certainly not to be underestimated.

“You ever feel,” Wayne said, “like you wish life was like the stories?”

“What do you mean?” Hoid asked.

“There’s always a good ending in those stories. The ones my ma used to tell … they meant something. People, they were worth something.”

“I think we live stories every day,” Hoid replied. “Ones that we will remember, and tell, and shape like clay to be what we need them to be.”

The Cosmere is truly a genius concept, it is a labyrinth which I love cruising through and I find so much joy in seeing how the world’s interconnect in a multitude of ways. There is no doubt Sanderson is a master storyteller, his vision reaches far and beyond and each time he leaves his readers mind-blown.

When I finished The Lost Metal a friend asked if I felt it was a satisfying conclusion, and I had to think. I was left with a few questions, more secrets I wanted revealing, but then that’s with all of Sanderson’s novels, I am always left wanting more which is no bad thing. Yet my answer would be, yes, overall this is a satisfying conclusion to Mistborn era two, one that is worthy of the highest of praise. I particularly loved the multiple epilogues, they gave us a glimpse into how the lives of each character fared and brought a sense of closure. This is a conclusion of epic proportions, a worthy farewell to these characters who have meant so much to us all, but we are also left with a slim hope that we will see them again, perhaps somewhere within the Cosmere.

If it makes you cry, it gets 5 stars. We all know the rules.

What an end to Era 2. When the Alloy of Law came out, I was excited by the change in direction in the writing style and setting compared to the original Mistborn trilogy but felt it lacked a bit of the larger scope and theological elements. From Bands of Mourning, and Secret History, that changes and this series really ups the ante. And with The Lost Metal, the Cosmere connections are really starting to come to life!

I'm so intrigued to see what happens in the next era of Mistborn and also the Cosmere. I think I'm going to have to go reread some Sanderson to prepare.

Thank you to Gollancz for the review copy.

Is this Sanderson’s best writing to date?

The short answer to that question is.. no. But that is not to say that this isn’t a good conclusion. Actually, I really enjoyed this book, but oh boy, there is so much to say. This will be 100% percent spoiler free.

I’ve had quite a rocky relationship with Mistborn Era 2. I read the first two books, Alloy of Law and Shadow of Self, earlier this year and didn’t particularly enjoy them that much. I didn’t think they were terrible, but I didn’t feel very invested, so I took a break from this series. Wait three months, and I am in the mood to give this Era 2 a fair second chance. I started from Alloy of Law again, read that one, and then instantly picked up Shadow of Self and Bands of Mourning, and this time around, I actually really enjoyed it. My expectations were set appropriately when I picked up this series for the second time, and it was like a new reading experience. I started caring for the characters, the plot, the writing style and overall, it was a great reading experience. Not as good as Mistborn Era 1 or anything like that, but nonetheless, worth reading.

So, having gone on this back-and-forth journey with Mistborn Era 2, what did I think about The Lost Metal? This was a fascinating read because I am not caught up with all the books in the cosmere. I have read almost everything in the Cosmere except books 2 to 4 in the Stormlight Archive and Arcanum Unbounded.

Let’s answer the big question. Is this a Cosmere filled book? Are we finally seeing Sanderson starting to pull stuff and worlds together? The answer to that is...YES. I won’t go into specifics, but there are some pretty major cosmere tie-ins, especially in the latter half of this book. Other worlds are mentioned, and more stuff like that, so if you are a HUGE Cosmere fanatic, you will probably love this book. The Lost Metal is an important book for the cosmere. No doubt about it.

And that leads to the other question. Do you have to have read all the cosmere books to enjoy The Lost Metal? The answer to that is...no. While there are many cosmere references, they are not the most important thing about this book. Moreover, you are not supposed to understand all of these references. It is clear that Sanderson is setting up Mistborn Era 3 by hinting at different things.

But let’s go a bit more into detail. Let’s talk about why I think this is an excellent book and why I don’t think this is Sanderson’s best work to date.

Firstly, why is it good? Let’s start with the characters.

Sanderson delivers some incredibly satisfying conclusions to these characters’ arcs. This cast of characters you’ve followed on this big journey are coming to the end of this massive conflict, and I think that Sanderson delivers on giving readers a satisfying conclusion to their journey. The characters’ growth, arcs and conclusions are satisfying, which is excellent news.

Secondly, the pacing is spot on. You constantly move between the different POVs, and the short chapters make this feel like a very quick read, But this is actually the longest Mistborn Era 2 book at 500 pages. The plot thickens and has many turns and twists, and the action is almost non-stop.

Thirdly, if you are a cosmere fanatic, you will appreciate this book because there are so many references and tie-ins happening in this book. Fans will make theories and try their best to guess what this book means for the cosmere world going forward, which is always fun.

Fourthly, a bit of different praise, but the epilogue of this book is amazing. Every chapter in this book is, on average, less than ten pages, but the epilogue is 35 pages and split into shorter chapters. After the main event in this book, we get to see the aftermath and how the events in this book have impacted various characters across a period of 2 years! Sanderson brilliantly wraps up some of these characters’ arcs and also sets up a lot of things for Mistborn Era 3 and potentially even Mistborn Era 4.

Fifthly, this book has a phenomenal Sanderson Avalanche or Sanderlanche, as some people call it. Everything comes together at the end, and the last act is filled with incredible character moments, twists and turns, and lots of action. I read the last 120 pages in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what would happen.

Sixth and lastly, this book wraps up Era 2 really nicely. While reading this series, the first three books might feel a bit episodic. However, this book shows that all the books in this series are incredibly important. Things that happen in Alloy of Law are essential for how the events in The Lost Metal unfold, and I appreciate that.

However, this is not Sanderson’s best work-to-date, and I would even say that this is not even the best Mistborn Era 2 book to date, albeit it is good. So let’s talk about what held this book back from being a 5 out of 5 stars read for me

The Lost Metal is an excellent book for fans of the cosmere and people that love Mistborn Era 2, but it is not perfect, and here is why. Almost all of Sanderson’s previous series have evident beginnings and ends, and it is usually a very self-contained story. In this one, you have a satisfying conclusion to the main characters’ arcs, but this last book does not feel like a proper, proper conclusion if that makes sense. Sanderson sets up some things that will be important for later series, and to be able to make that happen, Sanderson has to introduce a sub-plot that didn’t feel 100% as it belonged in this book. Some readers might not agree with this point here, but I didn’t feel like the plot was as tight as Shadow of Self and Bands of Mourning.

In conclusion, The Lost Metal has lots of great character moments, excellent pacing and an overall satisfying conclusion. The plot just didn’t feel as tightknit as some of Sanderson’s other books, but overall, I had a wonderful time reading this book.

4 / 5 stars

Whenever anyone has asked me what my favourite fantasy books are over the past few years, it has always been, without any hesitation, the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson. Although the last one came out 6 years ago, the series as a whole has always held a special place in my heart. So, when I was asked to review an ARC of the brand-new instalment - ‘The Lost Metal’, I jumped at the chance!

However, as it has been so long since I read the rest of the series, I did need a refresher and I do recommend that you do this even if you have read them before. I wanted to read all six, but my deadline was looming and the first series is very long! So, I read the first and part of the second to remind myself of the magic system and the initial characters of Era 1 before jumping to read 4, 5 and 6 which are part of Era 2. If you are unaware of the series, the two eras are set in the same world, but Era 2 takes place 300 years after the previous series, where the events that have gone before are now stories of myth and legend or the basis for new religions. Although Era 1 is a more traditional fantasy setting, Era 2 is in a more steam-punk industrial revolution type setting with a bit of a Wild West flare in places. You can just jump straight into Era 2, but particularly for this latest addition, there are lots of characters and events referenced from the first Era in here so it might be a good idea to read them all – plus they are all fabulous books, so you are really missing out if you don’t read them!

I have always really loved the characters of the Misborn series, and they all feel realistic and are defined in great detail, with witty dialogue and great character progression which happens throughout. In Era 2 Wax and Wayne are our two (unlikely) heroes and they are both given some fantastic progression in this book. Wayne has always been a firm favourite of mine and some of the dialogue for him in particular is brilliant. I also like that there are strong female leads as well and also that all of the heroes are flawed but this just makes them more relatable. I particularly found myself empathising with Steris in the last 2 books which I wouldn’t have guessed from her introduction in book 4!

There didn’t feel like a 6-year gap between this book and the last one – it feels very much a part of the extended trilogy. There is more emphasis on the Cosmere, including other worlds and other Gods in this book which perhaps is setting us up for Era 3 and certainly some loose ends that I can’t wait to find out more about. From other reviews it seems there is some crossover from Sanderson’s other series’ into this one as well which I’m sure will delight lots of hard-core fans. I have only read this series and Skyward but everything was very clear so don’t feel like you have to read any other series’ to make this book make sense.

Although the book is quite long at 500 pages, it never drags and Sanderson is an expert, assured and experienced writer. There are some scenes which had me crying with laughter and some which just left me crying – a good balance of character progression, action scenes, religious and political drama as well as a tension-filled plot which kept the stakes raised throughout.

My only small criticism would be the newspaper articles which are interspersed throughout the book. I have the official released versions of the other books in the series, and the newspapers look pretty but are unreadable on the Kindle as you can’t zoom into them. I only have the ARC of The Lost Metal but the newspaper sections are just plain text but they feel very jumbled and some are mixed in to the plot which makes them quite hard to read. You can easily skip these if it’s too confusing though and hopefully it’s been sorted out for the official release.

Mistborn still remains my favourite fantasy series with fantastic characters, tense drama with light humour effortlessly mixed in, a well-designed magic-system and brilliant world-building. The Lost Metal is more of the same and I cannot recommend it highly enough – this series displays storytelling at its finest. Thank you to NetGalley & Orion Publishing Group – Gollancz for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I went into this era, I was apprehensive. I adored the first mistborn trilogy and there was a good chance this wouldn’t live up to it… but I was OH SO WRONG! Wax, Wayne, Marasi and Steris deserve all the books they can get and definitely deserved a whole era dedicated to them. The character growth, the adventures, the way they have turned mistborn into a magical western that can be loved even by those that are not so much into that genre… it was such a fantastic fit and I’m so glad I got to “know” them and see them evolve. They’re complex characters, full of layers and growth and they make this era just incredibly addictive and so easy to love.

After Kelsier in the original mistborn trilogy, I never thought another character could capture me as much but… Wayne ❤️ He’s incredibly funny, brave, loyal… and impossible not to love.

And about this book specifically… I’ve loved it. The culmination of four books coming to a perfect ending. The characters reaching their ultimate peak, the fantastic and increasingly addictive pacing that has you staying for “just one more chapter”, the combination with the original story to provide that sense of danger (and remind humans of how scared we are of both progress and of going backwards), Steris finding her own 2 feet, seeing a lot more of her, Wayne and even Marasi… it just works and can’t recommend it enough!

Full spoiler-free review is up!

My god… The Lost Metal was an explosive and stunning conclusion to Mistborn: Wax and Wayne series. Sanderson has delivered another tremendous finishing volume in The Mistborn Saga, reinforcing my excitement for future Cosmere books.

“If you truly were interested in the beauty of the art—instead of some tangential sense of control—you’d want everyone to be able to experience it. The more the better.”

I honestly have no idea where to begin here. The Lost Metal was my most anticipated books of 2022. But personally, this book release goes beyond that for me. Many of you most likely know already that the first Mistborn Trilogy was the series that made me fall in love with reading fantasy novels. On top of that, it felt surreal to be finished reading The Lost Metal. For the past six years, the three books sitting the longest on my TBR pile have always been The Thorn of Emberlain by Scott Lynch, then Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss, and The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson. Yes, against all odds, one of these books that felt like myths have finally been released and read by me. My expectations were understandably so high. I am fully caught up with every Cosmere novel and title. I even did a full reread of the entire Mistborn Saga, starting from Mistborn: The Final Empire up to The Bands of Mourning, in preparation for The Lost Metal. And Brandon Sanderson, once again and to no surprise, exceeded my expectations in many ways with The Lost Metal. He proved himself, again, why he continues to become one of my favorite authors of all time.

“Harmony wants some of us to strike out, begin exploring, learning about the cosmere. It’s become evident that the cosmere knows about us.”

Writing a spoiler-free review for The Lost Metal is not an easy task, to say the least, for me. Sanderson has mentioned for a while now that The Lost Metal will be THE book in the entire Cosmere (so far) that features the biggest Cosmere crossovers and connections yet. And he’s not joking about this. Even the main plot in The Lost Metal involves characters and beings from other worlds and series beyond Scadrial, the world where Mistborn Saga take place. This review will be as spoiler-free as possible, but I will mention a few terms and organizations from other series here. This is unavoidable. We’re almost halfway through the Cosmere timelines so far. Sanderson and his grand vision can’t wait for readers to catch up to reading his books. And to be fair, it has been sixteen years since Mistborn: The Final Empire was first released. No spoiler for Mistborn Saga in this review, but I sincerely hope you’re familiar with the Cosmere before reading this review or even The Lost Metal. With that in mind, first, let me answer the three most frequently asked questions in this review. I assume these are what most readers are interested in anyway.

Did The Lost Metal spoil other books/series in Cosmere beyond Mistborn Saga? Mostly no. But yes, there is one that I (personally speaking, you might not agree) consider a spoiler for The Stormlight Archive. Ghostbloods is a major organization in The Stormlight Archive. Knowing its existence from reading The Lost Metal is not too much of a big deal. However, reading The Lost Metal will give away the identity of the leader behind Ghostbloods. In The Stormlight Archive, this was not revealed until the end of Rhythm of War. Speaking of spoilers, if you’re reading The Lost Metal in an ebook format like I did, I think it would be wise to skip reading the table of content. It doesn’t take a genius to predict a major event in The Lost Metal from the table of content.

Which books should I read before reading The Lost Metal? This is a trickier question than it sounds. Cosmere is now interconnected so deeply, and sooner or later, you will miss plenty of connections or get spoiled if you decide to skip an installment or two. Some call this a chore; I call it a charm. It goes without saying that you should read every book in Mistborn Saga first, and this includes Mistborn: Secret History. These are a MUST before reading The Lost Metal. But I think you should also read Elantris, The Emperor’s Soul, The Stormlight Archive, and if you have time, The White Sand graphic novels. Once again, these are NOT mandatory. Reading every book in The Mistborn Saga should suffice, but personally, I would have been lost or confused in plenty of sections in The Lost Metal if I didn’t read the books I mentioned before reading The Lost Metal.
Was The Lost Metal worth the six years wait? Absolutely yes.

“Those are soldiers, mate. I came down here to the Basin all those years ago ’cuz of a cute little case involvin’ train cars what got robbed in a funny way. How in Ruin’s own name did I end up getting mixed up with dark gods, armies, bombs destroyin’ cities, and… and ghosts, Wax. We still ain’t talked about the ghosts.”

Similar to the publication time gap between The Bands of Mourning and The Lost Metal, the story in The Lost Metal begins six years after the end of The Bands of Mourning. The hunt for the shadowy organization, the Set, continues once more. And after Wax discovers and confirmed a new type of bomb that can unleash an unprecedented level of destruction is in the Set’s possession, he realizes he must once more take on the role of Harmony’s Sword, together with Wayne, Marasi, and Steris. Especially after hearing Harmony’s immortal agent inform that Harmony’s power is somehow blocked in Bilming. As I mentioned earlier in this review, one of the conflicts of The Lost Metal involves offworlders beyond Scadrial, both protagonists and antagonists. And as a Mistborn and Cosmere fan, I will say this: I loved reading the non-stop race against time in The Lost Metal. The Lost Metal is filled with an engaging plot, empathizing characterizations, and ambitious world-building. The themes of politics, justice, responsibility, forgiveness, individualism, science, love, friendship and redemption were written and compounded magnificently. No page in The Lost Metal felt redundant to me, especially if you are caught up with all the books in Cosmere, and everything eventually reached an incredibly satisfying conclusion.

“People are elastic, Wax thought. We can keep reshaping ourselves. And if we’re not quite the same as before, well, that’s good. It means we can grow.”

It was a time of ashfalls and tyrants in The Hero of Ages. Drowned by the cloud of darkness, the power of an evil god, and surrounded by charred bodies, a new myth, legend, and group of heroes were forged. And the characters and story in the first trilogy became the foundational lore for the entire Mistborn: Wax and Wayne. Willingly or not, the events in The Lost Metal will traject the main characters of the second era of Mistborn Saga toward a similar path. They’re guaranteed to become legends in the third era of Mistborn Saga, which, if all goes according to plan, will have its first installment might begin in the year 2025 or 2026.

“Everyone saw the world differently, and the Survivor had made people to complement one another. Metal and alloy. A Push for every Pull.”

I always appreciate when an author succeeds at making every book, including the final installment, in their series imbued with substantial character development. Sanderson’s quality of writing has improved so much since The Bands of Mourning, and I think this is reflected most in the character’s development and world-building. Believe me, this is saying a LOT considering that I have always loved Sanderson’s storytelling style. I just reread the entire Mistborn Saga up to The Lost Metal, and it’s easy to notice the steady increase in storytelling skills. I guess this shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Lost Metal aside, in the past six years, Sanderson also wrote Oathbringer, Dawnshard, Rhythm of War, Skyward, Starsight, Cytonic, three Skyward Flight novellas, and four secret novels project. And I’m pretty sure there is more. If someone told me back then, after I finished the first Mistborn Trilogy, that I would love the main characters in Mistborn: Wax and Wayne as much as the main characters in the first Mistborn Trilogy, I would’ve immediately dismissed the notion. But The Lost Metal certainly proved me wrong.

“Some things… cannot be planned for in life. I struggled to learn that, Varlance. But there is one thing I’ve learned that is true: No matter what else happens, Waxillium Ladrian will get wherever he needs to be. Somehow.”

Wax, Wayne, Marasi, and Steris (starting from The Bands of Mourning) are the core characters of Mistborn: Wax and Wayne. But even then, it is easy to say that Wax has received the most spotlight and development throughout the series up to The Lost Metal. Steris did not become one of my favorite heroines of all time until The Bands of Mourning. There isn’t much more room for Wax and Steris to develop as characters and a couple, but I’m gratified to read about their relationship development. The slow-burn romance building and realization of how much they grew to care about each other were well-written throughout the series. And I think it is safe to say I’ve come to love Wax and Steris as much as I love the relationship between Vin and Elend, even if it’s for different reasons. Wax and Steris have the most mature relationship out of all of Sanderson’s couples in the Cosmere. The way they complement and support each other while acknowledging each other’s strengths and weaknesses were inspiring. And even if there weren’t too many scenes in The Lost Metal to showcase this, every interaction and fond thought they had effectively displayed it.

“Each time he decided on an investigation, it terrified her. She did not let that control how she treated him. She would not be an obstacle. She loved him too much for that. Instead she did her best to be part of his world. It was far less frightening to be shot at than to sit at home wondering if he was being shot at. It was to her eternal gratification that he, in turn, tried to be part of her world. Taking more interest in politics. Spending time with her doing the finances. They fit together, better than she’d ever dreamed they would. And she still felt warm every time they touched.”

But of course, the series wouldn’t be titled Mistborn: Wax and Wayne without the duo and bromance of… well, Wax and Wayne. Wax and Wayne have often been one of my favorite duos of all time in fantasy, and The Lost Metal has highly cemented their position in my rank. The sense of trust and understanding Wax and Wayne have toward one another and how they constantly lift each other up when their partner is down were palpable, heartwarming, and entertaining in equal measure. I’m confident readers will be satisfied with the end of their journey, like I did. And speaking of Wayne… Wayne is one of the two characters that developed the most in The Lost Metal. It was unbelievable. Look, I liked Wayne. As I said, I’ve continuously loved the Wax and Wayne duo. But Wayne has always been… Wayne. Yes, we saw him hide his pain and regret behind his jokes and happy-go-lucky attitude in the previous books. However, we finally really see the maximum depth and complexity of his character and personality in The Lost Metal. Now that we’re at the end of the series, I have to say that if I have to choose, I will have to say I love Wayne more than Wax as an individual.

“You are whatever you want to be, Wayne. You’re the wind. You’re the stars. You are all endless things.”

There is one more main character that developed the most in The Lost Metal other than Wayne: Marasi Colms. Marasi, to me, felt like an integral character overshadowed by the presence of the other characters in the previous books. Sure she has some moments in the spotlight, but relatively, they were repeatedly too short to remember. When I reread Mistborn: Wax and Wayne, I forgot most of her actions and roles in the series. Fortunately, this situation has been fixed thoroughly in The Lost Metal. The new duo of Marasi and Wayne was so good, and I can’t go into details on this. But Marasi, together with other characters from other worlds and series, played an irreplaceable role in the plot of The Lost Metal. And I had a blast every moment of reading her POV chapters here. I have no doubt Cosmere fans will feel the same as I did.

“I’m glad you walked out of the stories and into my life. I’d rather have a friend than a legend.”

Alright, let’s talk a bit about Worldhopper characters. If you’re a Cosmere fan like me, it’s hard to imagine the possibility of the Worldhopper characters and their magic’s existence in this book not becoming one of the highlights for you. It unquestionably was for me. Again, no spoilers on their identity, but there were at least eight Worldhopper characters from other worlds (mostly Sel) and series in this book. Most of these appearances and scenes are texts you should RAFO for yourself. I will, however, mention I am in awe of every scene involving two dominant Worldhoppers in The Lost Metal: Moonlight and TwinSoul. Moonlight (No, I will not tell you her identity) is one of my favorite characters in the entire Cosmere. Assuming that I’m not wrong, though. To see her appearing in The Lost Metal, exhibiting her magic system and playing a role in the story, made my heart soar with glee and excitement. I did not expect it at all, and it was a truly welcome surprise. And then there is TwinSoul, who I believe to be a completely new character in the Cosmere. Sanderson mentioned in the author’s note at the beginning of the book:

“I would like to extend a special thanks to my good friends Kalyani and Rahul, longtime beta readers, who have been encouraging me for years to look into Indian mythology and lore for inspiration for fantasy storytelling. They provided excellent consultation in this book on a certain character who the three of us worked on together to try to expand the Cosmere a little bit in this direction.”

And this is where TwinSoul comes in. You heard that right. Indian lore and mythology now have a place in the Cosmere, and the results of this inclusion that I witnessed here were bloody outstanding and memorable. Seriously, Moonlight and TwinSoul, for lack of better words, were so damn cool and awesome. Simple as that.

I don’t think it is far-fetched to call The Lost Metal the Cosmere volume equivalent of MCU Avengers: Infinity War. Remember, this is the final book in the second era Mistborn Saga. That fact, plus the high quantity of Cosmere crossovers and magic systems in The Lost Metal, summoned one of the best Sanderlanche so far. From my perspective, almost the entirety of the second half of The Lost Metal counts as the Sanderlanche portion. It was more or less 200 pages of action scenes with brief respites. Terrible forces are moving in the Cosmere, and the stakes of the imminent devastation the characters need to prevent were the most dangerous and epic in scope out of all the books in Mistborn: Wax and Wayne. It has been two years since I read Rhythm of War, and I have missed my time of reading a new pulse-pounding Sanderlanche sequence full of carnage, peril, explosions, and emotions. As scenes dissolve into crystal-clear vivid imagery, I was once again reminded why I never fail to think of Sanderson as one of the best authors in crafting memorably superlative climax sequences in epic fantasy.

“Tonight Waxillium embraced that duty. He became destruction incarnate. For to worship Harmony was not only to worship Preservation—it was also to worship Ruin, with all that implied. There were times for careful caution and empathy. And there were times when people pointed a weapon capable of killing millions straight at his home, his family, his constituents.”

Magic systems from other series and massive Cosmere implications aside, The Lost Metal successfully made me more eager for the future of Mistborn Saga. Scadrial continues to be one of my favorite worlds in fantasy. I may not love it as much as Roshar, but it is still one of my cherished worlds in the genre, and it is undoubtedly one of the most special ones for me. With the arrival of new metals, the evolution and combination of allomancy, feruchemy, and hemalurgy ceaselessly keep the magic system, actions, and world-building in Scardrial mesmerizing. Also, one of my favorite factors of reading Sanderson’s book is the function of advancing technologies and science in his world. But this was never done at the expense of forgetting the core history of each respective world in Cosmere. In Mistborn: Wax and Wayne, Sanderson constantly relates to the events of the first Mistborn trilogy while at the same time showing how technologies and science believably transform the world of Scadrial. Based on what I’ve read here, it is more possible than not that the next era of Mistborn Saga will be more superb, intricate, and mind-blowing.

‘”You ever feel,” Wayne said, “like you wish life was like the stories?” “What do you mean?” Hoid asked. “There’s always a good ending in those stories. The ones my ma used to tell… they meant something. People, they were worth something.” “I think we live stories every day,” Hoid replied. “Ones that we will remember, and tell, and shape like clay to be what we need them to be.”‘

Let’s end this review, shall we? The Lost Metal is a spectacular and explosive ending to Mistborn: Wax and Wayne series. It is a half Mistborn half Cosmere crossovers novel. Though a finale is relatively rare in his career, with The Hero of Ages and The Lost Metal, Sanderson proved how great he is at writing a concluding volume in the Cosmere. And this quantity won’t stay this way for long. We will have the conclusion to Skyward series next year and then the conclusion to The Stormlight Archive Part 1 the year after. I feel blessed to partake in this decades-long Cosmere adventure. And without a doubt, The Lost Metal is my second favorite Mistborn installment in the entire Mistborn Saga, just right after The Hero of Ages, which I’m completely biased on. Thank you so much, Brandon Sanderson, for producing another exceptional novel and concluding book in The Mistborn Saga and The Cosmere. I am equally rewarded and brimming with questions and theories. I am looking forward to reading the third era of the saga whenever it’s ready. Until then, to all of you reading this review. If there is one message from the book and series we should remember, I think it is this: be kind.

“You’re meant to be helping people.”

Series Review:

The Alloy of Law: 4.5/5 stars
Shadows of Self: 4.5/5 stars
The Bands of Mourning: 5/5 stars
The Lost Metal: 5/5 stars

Mistborn: Wax and Wayne: 19/20 stars

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„The Lost Metal” is the fourth and the last book in The Mistborn Saga (Era Two) series by Brandon Sanderson. I don’t think the series needs any introduction for the fans, as if you haven’t read any of those books, I suggest you start at the beginning. That said, this review might have some minor spoilers for previous books (as it would be impossible to avoid them, as the world in Era Two is a direct consequence of the end of Era One). There will be no spoilers for “The Lost Metal”, so if you are up to date with previous books, you can read on!
The first surprise was that the book starts six years after the dramatic events of Bands of Mourning. Like, wow, that’s a big time skip. But just a couple of pages in, and I loved it. Elendel made significant technological progress during those years, and so did all the characters. Wax is working as a senator, and he and Steris have two little children, while Marasi and Wayne are constabulary partners and work tirelessly investigating crimes. The Discovery of the whole new south continent caused many troubles with delicate political relations but also opened new trade roads helping with Basin’s technological progress.
But all their seemingly peaceful existence is shattered when Marasi and Wayne find one of the Set’s bases, discovering traces of a plan that could endanger everyone in Elendel. Wax once again put on his Mistborn duster and joins his friends in a perilous mission to Bilming (another city where most of the action takes place).
“The Lost Metal” was my most anticipated release this year, but I was also a bit apprehensive since the ending of Era One was my all-time favourite and mind-blowing story’s end. So, Era Two has a lot to live up to. But, oh boy, Sanderson always delivers the highest quality we expect from his books and adds some more. This book has everything. The most fantastic steampunk vibe with inventions like cars, electricity and skyscrapers; a twisted chase after a cunning criminal organisation; the dark god looming in the background and so many crossovers from other Cosmere worlds it will make your head spin. For those who are up to date with most of Sanderson’s books, it’s a cherry on top. The connections between different worlds are just crazy and to think that the author had planned all his books with so many interdependencies between them is mind-blowing.
And then there are the characters. The Era Two crew completely stole my heart. Every single one of them is so well-written and unique with their quirks and shortcomings that their final arcs in the Lost Metal were delightful. Every single one of them. My favourite was always Wayne, joined by Steris since Bands of Mourning. They were both stars in this book. They never failed to make me laugh, and I don’t think I ever laughed so much reading a fantasy book. But under all the jokes, they are deeply vulnerable people who worked all their lives to put up the barriers around them, preventing them from getting hurt. In “The Lost Metal”, they are all challenged to the point of breaking, and they need to confront their deepest fears and faults to prevail.
I bet you wonder if the end of Era Two lived up to the previous one. It didn’t blow my mind as much as “The Hero of Ages”. But I also need to mention that Mistborn Era One was one of my first Sanderon books. Since then, I have read most of them and know much better what to expect. In my opinion, the ending of “The Lost Metal” was perfect for the story. Did it break my heart? Yes, repeatedly. But I learnt to expect nothing less from Sanderson (damned author knows exactly where to push to make you feel all the feels). It was a perfect amount of bittersweet, and the Epilogues showed us a glimpse of what is to come in the next era.
I absolutely adored this book. I was a bit apprehensive of the whole steampunk western theme of Era Two, as I’m a huge fantasy fan, but I loved every single book here. That only proves that whatever Sanderson writes, I will instantly love. It’s just how it is for me and all the other fans. I hope you all had your copy preordered and have it already in your hands, waiting impatiently to drop everything and read it!

When I wait so long for a book that I have such high expectations for, I’m always scared that those expectations won’t be met. But this book was everything I wanted it to be. It was such a satisfying and exciting book to read. Brandon Sanderson really knows how to write endings.

The stakes in this book are very high, so I couldn’t stop reading. Very scary things happen, but also very exciting ones. It basically feels like the whole book is a Sanderlanche.

While there’s all this tension and action happening, Sanderson still managed to do some incredible character work by giving the characters a final character development that was just incredibly well done. Especially Wayne‘s character development in this book was spectacular. The characters are definitely what makes this series stand out from the rest of the cosmere and therefore the character arcs being done so well just makes the book so good.

The most exciting thing about this book though were all the cosmere references. To me, this book felt like the Avengers Infinity War of the Cosmere. This is the book were it feels like everything kind of comes together and that answers so many questions. I’ve never been so excited while reading a book and it was such a great experience to put together the puzzle pieces and to see in which direction the cosmere seems to go in.
To get this much excitement out of these connections you should definitely read the other cosmere books before this one. You don’t need them to understand the plot of this book, but it just gives it a whole other level of greatness.

I absolutely loved reading this book and it is now definitely one of my favorites of the year, and also one of my favorite cosmere novels.

This was a thrilling end to a fantastic series. The character, writing and plot were top notch and Sanderson has done it again.

There is much to be said when a sprawling series can intertwine with others so elegantly and I cannot wait to re-read this to pick out the little parts. Sanderson really threw a gut-punch here.

This book (and the series as a whole) was very enjoyable. Think 'Indiana Jones' adventure meets 'Sherlock Holmes' in a steampunk, western-like gunslinging fantasy world with loveable characters and lots of action! This final book was a fitting end to the series and tugged at my heartstrings. Thus, as a whole, I would indeed recommend the Wax and Wayne series. However, I would recommend that one only embark on this series after you have read the rest of Sanderson's Cosmere books.

Ultimately, I have mixed feelings about this series. On the one hand, it is fun and entertaining; on the other, it just isn't as good as the original Mistborn trilogy. For me, one of the things that I liked best about the original Mistborn trilogy was how elegant the magic system and world-building was. While it held the potential to be intricately confusing, it never was. In the Wax and Wayne series, however, not only does Sanderson add a whole host of new abilities to allomancy that started to muddy the brilliant simplicity of the original magic system, but he starts to bring in the rest of the Cosmere, tying events to other books that he has written.

For some, this will be a brilliant and highly anticipated convergence of Sanderson's works, but I felt at points that I was maybe missing something. I have read all but the Stormlight Archives and White Sands, so was better prepared than some others might be, yet I feel like I might have appreciated this more had I read all of the above. Indeed, I reckon that I will have to re-read the Wax and Wayne series after I have read the Stormlight Archives!

That said, it wasn't really a hinderance; the book was fully readable and I was able to follow the plot easily enough. As a completionist, though, I wish that I had been fully up-to-date with the Cosmere before stepping into this series.

Nevertheless, despite the slight pessimism of the above, this is still a 4 star series!