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A review by theravenkingx
The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson
slow-paced
2.0
Was this series necessary? No.
Did it form a cohesive, coherent, and well-plotted story spanning four books? No.
Can you skip this series? No, because of all the ties in to the cosmere.
I wouldn't even call this a series; it's more like a collection of Wax and Wayne adventures. Each book wraps up its own story neatly, with only the characters' growth and the lessons they've learned carrying over. You can read them in sequence, but they're also independent enough that you can stop after any book. This is partly why I disliked the fourth book because it tried too hard to link not just with the previous three books but with the entire Cosmere universe.
This book has really worn me out. I need a break from the Cosmere. I am so tired of these never ending developments and additions to my reading pile.
I was pleasantly surprised by the first book, enjoyed the second, and didn't mind the third, but the fourth one made me furious. It seemed like Brandon wrote it just to expand the Cosmere. It lacked its own plot and was overloaded with Cosmere references. It quickly became overwhelming, introducing a new magic system (briefly mentioned in the Stormlight Archive), a new planet, a new god, and several characters from other series.
I appreciate subtle hints that connect his works, but this book was too heavy on Cosmere connections, making it feel like a setup for future books. I hate that it's now essential to read this book and several other series to understand what's going on. You can't enjoy any one series on its own; you have to read all his works in a specific order to keep up. BTW, I am too dumb to remember every tiny detail. I still feel like I know next to nothing compared to people on the internet.
It feels like Brandon is trying too hard now. He's making things more confusing and convoluted. While I generally enjoy the evolving magic systems, it's getting to a point where I don't see an end to it.
Brandon didn't plan on writing this book, and it shows. Unlike his previous works, this one lacks the intricate world-building where every detail, no matter how insignificant, contributes to a surprising and satisfying conclusion. There were definitely quite a few plot points that were left unresolved.
Harmony mentioned that he made life too easy, which led to a delay in technological advancement because people were too content to seek better alternatives. Scadrial is technologically behind, yet Autonomy was still afraid of them. How does that make sense?
Additionally, despite being technologically backward, they managed to create a rocket in the end? Also, the Malwish technology wasn’t as backward. The brewing tensions between Elendel and Southern Scadrial were left unresolved, and the major focus of the book seemed to be on the Cosmere rather than anything else.
Spoilers Ahead
I hate it when authors can't stick to their decisions. Kelsier is one of my favorite characters in the entire Cosmere, and although I wanted him to live, his death made sense. It was crucial to the plot. By bringing him back, Brandon, in my opinion, is undermining his legacy. With that said, I am excited to see what the Ghostbloods are planning and what role Kelsier will play. I wasn't shocked by the reveal because I had already read The Secret History. I am still disappointed, though. He really should have moved on to the beyond with Vin and Elend
I don't understand the hate surrounding Wayne. He may not be the best character, but he's certainly not the worst Brandon has ever written. I enjoyed him for the most part. However, the humor became more juvenile with each installment. The fourth book introduced many plot points for him, but none were properly explored or explained. We don't know why he tried to stop Wax and Steris's wedding in the third book. If it was due to his dislike for Steris (which was never explored), it was a pretty inconsiderate move. His sudden rise to wealth was also never explained, nor why he was so secretive about it. How did he make so many good investments? Why was he calling himself dead? I thought he was being controlled by someone else or had figured out a way to see the future, which was making him rich.
I wanted Wayne to get more page time, but he never played any significant role in any of the books. It felt like Brandon was saving him for this one last act. What he did in the end really made him a true hero. However, it felt like nobody mourned him. Everyone seemed okay with him sacrificing himself.
The relationship between MeLaan and Wayne seemed forced and unbelievable. Marasi and Allik also made no sense whatsoever.
Overall, this book is absolutely necessary to read. You will not enjoy it, and it will be a pain to get through, but you can't risk not reading it because of all the Cosmere-related information it contains.
Did it form a cohesive, coherent, and well-plotted story spanning four books? No.
Can you skip this series? No, because of all the ties in to the cosmere.
I wouldn't even call this a series; it's more like a collection of Wax and Wayne adventures. Each book wraps up its own story neatly, with only the characters' growth and the lessons they've learned carrying over. You can read them in sequence, but they're also independent enough that you can stop after any book. This is partly why I disliked the fourth book because it tried too hard to link not just with the previous three books but with the entire Cosmere universe.
This book has really worn me out. I need a break from the Cosmere. I am so tired of these never ending developments and additions to my reading pile.
I was pleasantly surprised by the first book, enjoyed the second, and didn't mind the third, but the fourth one made me furious. It seemed like Brandon wrote it just to expand the Cosmere. It lacked its own plot and was overloaded with Cosmere references. It quickly became overwhelming, introducing a new magic system (briefly mentioned in the Stormlight Archive), a new planet, a new god, and several characters from other series.
I appreciate subtle hints that connect his works, but this book was too heavy on Cosmere connections, making it feel like a setup for future books. I hate that it's now essential to read this book and several other series to understand what's going on. You can't enjoy any one series on its own; you have to read all his works in a specific order to keep up. BTW, I am too dumb to remember every tiny detail. I still feel like I know next to nothing compared to people on the internet.
It feels like Brandon is trying too hard now. He's making things more confusing and convoluted. While I generally enjoy the evolving magic systems, it's getting to a point where I don't see an end to it.
Brandon didn't plan on writing this book, and it shows. Unlike his previous works, this one lacks the intricate world-building where every detail, no matter how insignificant, contributes to a surprising and satisfying conclusion. There were definitely quite a few plot points that were left unresolved.
Harmony mentioned that he made life too easy, which led to a delay in technological advancement because people were too content to seek better alternatives. Scadrial is technologically behind, yet Autonomy was still afraid of them. How does that make sense?
Additionally, despite being technologically backward, they managed to create a rocket in the end? Also, the Malwish technology wasn’t as backward. The brewing tensions between Elendel and Southern Scadrial were left unresolved, and the major focus of the book seemed to be on the Cosmere rather than anything else.
Spoilers Ahead
I hate it when authors can't stick to their decisions. Kelsier is one of my favorite characters in the entire Cosmere, and although I wanted him to live, his death made sense. It was crucial to the plot. By bringing him back, Brandon, in my opinion, is undermining his legacy. With that said, I am excited to see what the Ghostbloods are planning and what role Kelsier will play. I wasn't shocked by the reveal because I had already read The Secret History. I am still disappointed, though. He really should have moved on to the beyond with Vin and Elend
I don't understand the hate surrounding Wayne. He may not be the best character, but he's certainly not the worst Brandon has ever written. I enjoyed him for the most part. However, the humor became more juvenile with each installment. The fourth book introduced many plot points for him, but none were properly explored or explained. We don't know why he tried to stop Wax and Steris's wedding in the third book. If it was due to his dislike for Steris (which was never explored), it was a pretty inconsiderate move. His sudden rise to wealth was also never explained, nor why he was so secretive about it. How did he make so many good investments? Why was he calling himself dead? I thought he was being controlled by someone else or had figured out a way to see the future, which was making him rich.
I wanted Wayne to get more page time, but he never played any significant role in any of the books. It felt like Brandon was saving him for this one last act. What he did in the end really made him a true hero. However, it felt like nobody mourned him. Everyone seemed okay with him sacrificing himself.
The relationship between MeLaan and Wayne seemed forced and unbelievable. Marasi and Allik also made no sense whatsoever.
Overall, this book is absolutely necessary to read. You will not enjoy it, and it will be a pain to get through, but you can't risk not reading it because of all the Cosmere-related information it contains.