The Bands of Mourning

The sixth Mistborn industrial revolution fantasy (after Shadows of Self)—and the second featuring crime-fighter Waxillium Ladrian and his sidekick, Wayne—is more steampunk than dystopian. The novel kicks off with Wax’s wedding to Lady Steris, but the festivities are put on hold after an inconvenient flood, and then Wax learns that Harmony, one of the Faceless Immortals, is incommunicado. Soon Wax and Wayne head off to hunt for the Bands of Mourning, a mythical artifact associated with long-defeated Lord Ruler. This quest is classic Sanderson, with magic, intrigue, and witty repartee. All the familiar elements from the earlier Mistborn novels are here, including the metal-based magics of allomancy, feruchemy, and the forbidden art of hemalurgy (about which more is revealed over the course of this story). Open questions from earlier adventures are finally addressed, and Sanderson skillfully weaves in new opportunities for the dynamic duo’s next adventure. Die-hard fans will be delighted to finally learn more about the mysterious southern lands they’ve previously heard about in passing. Agent: Joshua Bilmes, JABberwocky Literary Agency. (Jan.)