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A review by fiekesfiction
The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Get ready for some long list of complaints and disappointment.
But also for some subjective reasons and particular things that I cannot stand in books. I do see why people liked this book and am just very disappointed to disagree.
But lets start with the good.
I was very excited to read this fourth book in the mistborn world. The first three books are among my favourites. And this story takes place in the same world, just 300 years later. With a completely new group of characters. Since it has been so many years, the world has changed and the magic system has expanded. I was really excited to see all the new ways in which the magic was used, and really loved all the magic parts. I also really enjoyed to see all the references to the old characters (though it also made me miss them and feel sad to not follow them anymore). This story has a very different tone from the first book, instead of trying to overthrow the ruler and change the world, this story just follows two friends who try to solve a crime. And I really liked this shift. The stakes are still high (as they encounter some life threatening situations) but the overall story has a much smaller scope. I loved how Wayne and Wax had fun banter and joke around. It was fitting and nice. they had some moments that actually made me laugh, and it could have been so so great. It could have been so so great, because every time there was an action scene I loved it. I also loved the character Ranette. Everything she did was awesome. (But PLEASE do NOT put her in a romance plot. I really really hope she can stay the way she is.) (She probably won't though.)
Which is exactly why I was so disappointed. Because I saw so many ways in which this book could be really amazing. And I have loved 5 of the Brandon Sanderson books I read so far (the final empire/ the well of ascension/ the last hero/ skyward/ starsight) and I assumed me not liking one book (War breaker) was just a weird one time thing. But now this book didn't work for me either.
There were some things that I expected, like the lack of diversity, which is not great but I knew it was a thing in his book and had just decided to accept it.
I also expected the romance to be 'meh', because I don't really care much about romance in general and Sanderson is not particular good at it. (Though I do really like Vin and El together they are the best.) But in this book it just felt especially unnecessary. I do not understand why so many of his books include relationships where there's a huge age gap with a younger woman (I mean I have some guesses why but none of them are good reasons) and in mistborn I could excuse it with Breeze (who is Wax' ancestor btw) and Allrianne even though I really hated it, because they were side characters who weren't really important in general. Then there was the thing in War Breaker where Suseborn (300 years old) marries Siri (17 years old?), and though there is an understandable kind of twist with him in a way being more like a child, it was sort of okay but also just weird and both of those moments characters in the book actually mentioned it, side characters made comments about how it might be inappropriate, but the fact that they still ended up together in the end (and it is framed as 'the happy ending'), implies that we really actually should root for them. Which is very important to what happens in this book. Because we have main character Waxilium (43 year old) and Marasi (who is 20 or maybe 22 years old) and they both have some feelings for each other. Which is a source for drama as Wax is actually supposed to marry Marasi's cousin, to save his family's reputation. So throughout the book Wax and Marasi are set up as some type of 'doomed lovers'. And I just did not root for them to be together at all. Marasi knows Wax even before they meet, because Wax has somewhat of a reputation as a hero. And she looks up to him. In fact she is a big fan of him and idealizes him. And though he doesn't really do anything to enforce those feelings, he comments on other problems and doesn't really seem to realize what is happening. Maybe because she is not the only one who thinks of him as a hero. Wax also thinks of himself as a hero. There are many moments in which he thinks about how 'he must save these women', not just because there are in fact women being kidnapped, but also in general. It feels very condescending at times. This is not helped much by the fact that Marasi had very few moments in which she could really shine. Which is sort of okay with her character and fits with things she's said, but it still felt annoying when she insisted to come to important fights and then ended up needing to be rescued so many times.
There's also a whole scene where they talk about Vin (who is basically a mythical figure all those years later) and Marasi explains basically how she is not like Vin because she likes dresses. And it just rubbed me the wrong way because, 'I am not like other girls' is a lame thing to say, because Vin is my absolute hero and I don't understand why Marasi would say something to disrespect her even as she looks up to Vin and ESPECIALLY because Vin DID wear dresses. One of my favorite things about the original series was how Vin had a whole character arc of learning that she can be strong AND feminine. I think the point Sanderson might have been trying to make, was that women can be strong in many ways and that Marasi's intelligence was valuable even if she isn't necessarily physically strong. However, this whole point was lost because it was said in a way that depended on disrespecting Vin.
Wayne as a character was probably the best part of this book. I liked his jokes, he is very funny but not in a way that makes him just the comedic relief character, he actually had a personality besides it. His powers and the way he used them were also absolutely amazing. The scenes where he would use his powers were my favorite parts of the whole book. However, he too made some comments that felt weird. It was more acceptable, because everything he said is kind of a joke, but I liked him in general. I do not ship him with Ranette though. Maybe I just like her a lot and want for her to stay single, but I am not yet convinced. I do think I could grow to like them together more so than Marasi and Wax but... meh.
there was also ANOTHER moment that I hated, towards the ending. So this one will kind of include spoilers for where many people end up. So let me give you a quote.
"You should know that I was not touched indecently by my captors. I remain pure."
"Rust and Ruin, Sterris! I'm glad, but I didn't need to know that."
"You did," she said, face impassive. "Assuming you still wish to proceed with our nuptials."
"It wouldn't matter either way."
SO this moment. Cleary Sterris has some unfortunate internalized misogyny (which is understandable given the world it takes place in I guess). And in this moment Wax is being 'nice'. But it feels kind of like they just added this moment to show how nice Wax is. And I personally felt like 'I didn't need to know that' is kind of wrong, if you plan to marry someone. Maybe you do want to be able to talk about that, maybe it is good to know (not for "purity" reasons but for actual trauma). It was just a short moment that is not really terrible but it just stood out to me. I am nitpicking but I just feel like there are many moments where they try very hard and kind of mis the point. </spoiler)
Now let's talk about Sterris. I actually like her. Overall, I am interested in how her story will continue and I have some really big questions about her character that I am curious about. I think I am supposed to dislike her more than I do, but I just feel for her. She really had a hard time through this book. If I could meet any of the characters from this book, I would probably want to meet her to teach her some things about her self worth. Or I would meet Ranette because she is awesome. And the fact that the two characters I would chose are the least prominent, is probably a big sign for why I did not like this book.
I just didn't like most of the characters. Or if I did like them, I didn't like how much they liked other characters. I do know that Brandon Sanderson is good at writing character development, so I really hope that this book was a set up for them growing to become better.
I also think that the way things ended up with Wax actually telling Marasi that they couldn't be together was very good and might be a sign that Brandon Sanderson does agree with my standpoint.
I also just missed the big plot-twists and turns I was expecting this story to have. Compared to his other books, this story was a lot more predictable. (although as a big TEA fan I did completely trust Tillaume and felt betrayed by his reveal. But that was really the only moment where I felt surprised or shocked with the plot. ) I felt like this story was mostly the things I dislike about Sanderson's books piled up and the things I do like weren't there as much. (Like every time there was an action scene I loved it, but then the in-between moments I felt kind of meh.)
And maybe I do just mis the original characters.
But I do think that I might still read the shadows of self, because I really do love this world and I want to know if these characters are going to have great development and become better.
But also for some subjective reasons and particular things that I cannot stand in books. I do see why people liked this book and am just very disappointed to disagree.
But lets start with the good.
I was very excited to read this fourth book in the mistborn world. The first three books are among my favourites. And this story takes place in the same world, just 300 years later. With a completely new group of characters. Since it has been so many years, the world has changed and the magic system has expanded. I was really excited to see all the new ways in which the magic was used, and really loved all the magic parts. I also really enjoyed to see all the references to the old characters (though it also made me miss them and feel sad to not follow them anymore). This story has a very different tone from the first book, instead of trying to overthrow the ruler and change the world, this story just follows two friends who try to solve a crime. And I really liked this shift. The stakes are still high (as they encounter some life threatening situations) but the overall story has a much smaller scope. I loved how Wayne and Wax had fun banter and joke around. It was fitting and nice. they had some moments that actually made me laugh, and it could have been so so great. It could have been so so great, because every time there was an action scene I loved it. I also loved the character Ranette. Everything she did was awesome. (But PLEASE do NOT put her in a romance plot. I really really hope she can stay the way she is.) (She probably won't though.)
Which is exactly why I was so disappointed. Because I saw so many ways in which this book could be really amazing. And I have loved 5 of the Brandon Sanderson books I read so far (the final empire/ the well of ascension/ the last hero/ skyward/ starsight) and I assumed me not liking one book (War breaker) was just a weird one time thing. But now this book didn't work for me either.
There were some things that I expected, like the lack of diversity, which is not great but I knew it was a thing in his book and had just decided to accept it.
I also expected the romance to be 'meh', because I don't really care much about romance in general and Sanderson is not particular good at it. (Though I do really like Vin and El together they are the best.) But in this book it just felt especially unnecessary. I do not understand why so many of his books include relationships where there's a huge age gap with a younger woman (I mean I have some guesses why but none of them are good reasons) and in mistborn I could excuse it
There's also a whole scene where they talk about Vin (who is basically a mythical figure all those years later) and Marasi explains basically how she is not like Vin because she likes dresses. And it just rubbed me the wrong way because, 'I am not like other girls' is a lame thing to say, because Vin is my absolute hero and I don't understand why Marasi would say something to disrespect her even as she looks up to Vin and ESPECIALLY because Vin DID wear dresses. One of my favorite things about the original series was how Vin had a whole character arc of learning that she can be strong AND feminine. I think the point Sanderson might have been trying to make, was that women can be strong in many ways and that Marasi's intelligence was valuable even if she isn't necessarily physically strong. However, this whole point was lost because it was said in a way that depended on disrespecting Vin.
Wayne as a character was probably the best part of this book. I liked his jokes, he is very funny but not in a way that makes him just the comedic relief character, he actually had a personality besides it. His powers and the way he used them were also absolutely amazing. The scenes where he would use his powers were my favorite parts of the whole book. However, he too made some comments that felt weird. It was more acceptable, because everything he said is kind of a joke, but I liked him in general.
there was also ANOTHER moment that I hated, towards the ending. So this one will kind of include spoilers for where many people end up. So let me give you a quote.
"Rust and Ruin, Sterris! I'm glad, but I didn't need to know that."
"You did," she said, face impassive. "Assuming you still wish to proceed with our nuptials."
"It wouldn't matter either way."
SO this moment. Cleary Sterris has some unfortunate internalized misogyny (which is understandable given the world it takes place in I guess). And in this moment Wax is being 'nice'. But it feels kind of like they just added this moment to show how nice Wax is. And I personally felt like 'I didn't need to know that' is kind of wrong, if you plan to marry someone. Maybe you do want to be able to talk about that, maybe it is good to know (not for "purity" reasons but for actual trauma). It was just a short moment that is not really terrible but it just stood out to me. I am nitpicking but I just feel like there are many moments where they try very hard and kind of mis the point. </spoiler)
Now let's talk about Sterris. I actually like her. Overall, I am interested in how her story will continue and I have some really big questions about her character that I am curious about. I think I am supposed to dislike her more than I do, but I just feel for her. She really had a hard time through this book. If I could meet any of the characters from this book, I would probably want to meet her to teach her some things about her self worth. Or I would meet Ranette because she is awesome. And the fact that the two characters I would chose are the least prominent, is probably a big sign for why I did not like this book.
I just didn't like most of the characters. Or if I did like them, I didn't like how much they liked other characters. I do know that Brandon Sanderson is good at writing character development, so I really hope that this book was a set up for them growing to become better.
I also think that the way things ended up
I also just missed the big plot-twists and turns I was expecting this story to have. Compared to his other books, this story was a lot more predictable. (although
And maybe I do just mis the original characters.
But I do think that I might still read the shadows of self, because I really do love this world and I want to know if these characters are going to have great development and become better.