The fifth novel in the Mistborn series, Shadows of Self shares more in common with the original trilogy than the Alloy of Law–the fourth book. In that book, we’re introduced to the characters of Wax and Wayne. Despite their different personalities, the same letter at the beginning of their names makes for a confusing read. Thankfully most of that got straightened out in the first book starring these two vigilantes out in the wild west.

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Alloy of Law comparisons aside, Shadows of Self isn’t a standard Mistborn novel. While the magic systems are still ever-present in the world and have evolved since the days of the original trilogy, their importance has dwindled. Shadows of Self is a mystery whose clues and conclusion rely on knowledge of the previous books to get the full effect the author intended.

The star of this new era of Mistborn is Wayne and Michael Kramer’s portrayal of him. He steals every scene he’s in and his point of view scenes are a delight. All the characters are well-rounded, but I know I’m not alone in thinking that Wayne brings life to an otherwise like-minded cast.

Overall, Shadows of Self is a darker tale set in the Mistborn universe, filled with murder, mystery and an easy to spot twist. Its balancing act between dark fantasy and light-hearted epic fantasy is blurry at best, but because of Wayne, stays clear of complete Grimdark territory.

4/5 Stars

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