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A review by nataliestorozhenko
The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
4.0
“The mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital ones.”
It is such an unusual experience to read such a short book as part of Sanderson's series. The plot combines a lot of action and has a detective feel to it with the combination of steampunk elements, metallic arts, firearms, an action-packed plot, and intriguing characters with strong motivations and peculiarities. It is quite fast-paced and easily consumable.
The world of Scadrial has changed drastically three hundred years after the events of the Catacendre. Our beloved heroes are now myths and objects of worship, which is still painful to accept by the way. Mistborn are figures of the past, and now you can only be an Allomancer, Feruchemist, or both - Twinborn. The steampunky setting was particularly intriguing for me as Scadrial goes through progress that resembles our own industrialization period. There is a lot of talk about machinery, trains, electricity, and high-storey buildings.
The stakes initially seem small, with humanity facing standard capitalist problems, including regions filled with crime and poverty. However, some people take it upon themselves to make things better, and we follow these lawmen closely while they uncover that actually the stakes are much higher than they seem. I loved both Wax and Wayne, the two main characters, who are very different from each other. The way they complement each other is amusing to watch, and their dynamic is one of the highlights of the book. Sanderson is known for writing interesting characters with complicated backstories, and he doesn't disappoint here. Wax, in particular, is relatable, as he's a little older than the typical main character, and his struggles feel realistic and refreshing. Wayne's humor, although lame, had me cackling at all times.
“Wayne's a little attached to that hat," Waxillium said. "He thinks it's lucky."
"It is lucky. I ain't never died while wearing that hat."
Marasi frowned. "I ... I'm not sure I know how to respond."
"That's a common reaction to Wayne.”
I was excited to see some characters from previous books reappear, and I love how Harmony actually helps those devoted to him and keeps the balance. Sazed never disappoints, for sure. But the spiked one? Shocked to see him.
“And don't waste time worshipping Harmony. Doing good was the worship.”
Overall, I had great fun with this book. It's not as groundbreaking as the first era of the series, but it doesn't need to be even compared. Just sit back and enjoy Wax cracking his cases and Wayne goofing around and getting in the way while saving their world.
It is such an unusual experience to read such a short book as part of Sanderson's series. The plot combines a lot of action and has a detective feel to it with the combination of steampunk elements, metallic arts, firearms, an action-packed plot, and intriguing characters with strong motivations and peculiarities. It is quite fast-paced and easily consumable.
The world of Scadrial has changed drastically three hundred years after the events of the Catacendre. Our beloved heroes are now myths and objects of worship, which is still painful to accept by the way. Mistborn are figures of the past, and now you can only be an Allomancer, Feruchemist, or both - Twinborn. The steampunky setting was particularly intriguing for me as Scadrial goes through progress that resembles our own industrialization period. There is a lot of talk about machinery, trains, electricity, and high-storey buildings.
The stakes initially seem small, with humanity facing standard capitalist problems, including regions filled with crime and poverty. However, some people take it upon themselves to make things better, and we follow these lawmen closely while they uncover that actually the stakes are much higher than they seem. I loved both Wax and Wayne, the two main characters, who are very different from each other. The way they complement each other is amusing to watch, and their dynamic is one of the highlights of the book. Sanderson is known for writing interesting characters with complicated backstories, and he doesn't disappoint here. Wax, in particular, is relatable, as he's a little older than the typical main character, and his struggles feel realistic and refreshing. Wayne's humor, although lame, had me cackling at all times.
“Wayne's a little attached to that hat," Waxillium said. "He thinks it's lucky."
"It is lucky. I ain't never died while wearing that hat."
Marasi frowned. "I ... I'm not sure I know how to respond."
"That's a common reaction to Wayne.”
I was excited to see some characters from previous books reappear, and I love how Harmony actually helps those devoted to him and keeps the balance. Sazed never disappoints, for sure. But the spiked one? Shocked to see him.
“And don't waste time worshipping Harmony. Doing good was the worship.”
Overall, I had great fun with this book. It's not as groundbreaking as the first era of the series, but it doesn't need to be even compared. Just sit back and enjoy Wax cracking his cases and Wayne goofing around and getting in the way while saving their world.