The Bands of Mourning (5/5) – ★★★★★
By: Brandon Sanderson
Length: 336 pages
Published: 26 January 2016
Series: Mistborn #6/Alloy Era #3
Previous Book in Series: Shadows of Self
Genre: High Fantasy, Steampunk

One of the greatest aspects of Brandon Sanderson’s writing is the layers of plot and intrigue that he manages to subtly include in his books. Each story has its own unique pull, making Sanderson one of my favorite authors of all time. True to form, Sanderson’s latest book, The Bands of Mourning, is filled with complex plot and in-depth character development wrapped in effortless dialogue and pacing!

The Bands of Mourning continues the story of Waxillium Ladrian as he is drawn out of the relative comfort of the Capitol on the eve of his wedding into the surrounding countryside of the Basin. Still mourning the loss of his first wife and struggling with the part the deity Harmony played in her death, Wax is torn between his obligations as Lord, Lawman, and future husband.

I love that The Bands of Mourning significantly expands the setting of Sanderson’s Alloy Era books. The first three books of the series was mostly focused on Wax’s adventures in the Roughs and his struggles after being called back to Elendale. In The Bands of Mourning, the reader is introduced to new cities and completely new people as Wax, Wayne, Steris, and Marasi pursue Suit and the bigger plans of The Set.

The Bands of Mourning contains mystery, theology, magic theory and good old fashioned shoot ’em up fun making this book even better than the last! Steris, Wax’s stern fiancee, finally starts to come into her own all through this third adventure. I see a lot of myself in Steris and I cheered when she was able to foil expectations and find her own perfect version of happiness. You go girl!

The Bands of Mourning is the perfect addition to Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series! As it is the third of four books, I would suggest not picking it up until you have read the previous books in the Alloy Era. If you want the full impact Sanderson’s writing and the planning that enables him to tell a story that spans hundreds of years, I would recommend starting with the very first Mistborn book, The Final Empire.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series, The Lost Metal, to be released in 2018 and I can’t wait to see where the world of the Mistborn goes next!

Guest review contributed by The Cyborg Knight. This blog focuses on a love for books but also includes photography and life events. She draws a diverse crowd that gives authors a chance to have their books reviewed for a broad audience.