Shadows of Self
| <Shadows of Self> | |||||||
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| Setting | Scadrial, Cosmere | ||||||
| Released | October 6 2015[1] | ||||||
| Publisher | Tor Books | ||||||
Shadows of Self is the second book set in Mistborn Era 2.[2] It was released on October 6 2015.[1][3]
An excerpt was released on Brandon's website which involves preparation for Wax and Steris's wedding.
Cover Blurb
“
With The Alloy of Law, Brandon Sanderson surprised readers with a New York Times bestselling spinoff of his Mistborn books, set after the action of the trilogy, in a period corresponding to late 19th-century America.
The trilogy’s heroes are now figures of myth and legend, even objects of religious veneration. They are succeeded by wonderful new characters, chief among them Waxillium Ladrian, known as Wax, hereditary Lord of House Ladrian but also, until recently, a lawman in the ungoverned frontier region known as the Roughs. There he worked with his eccentric but effective buddy, Wayne. They are “twinborn,” meaning they are able to use both Allomantic and Feruchemical magic.
Shadows of Self shows Mistborn’s society evolving as technology and magic mix, the economy grows, democracy contends with corruption, and religion becomes a growing cultural force, with four faiths competing for converts.
This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society now faces its first instance of terrorism, crimes intended to stir up labor strife and religious conflict. Wax and Wayne, assisted by the lovely, brilliant Marasi, must unravel the conspiracy before civil strife stops Scadrial’s progress in its tracks.
Shadows of Self will give fans of The Alloy of Law everything they’ve been hoping for and, this being a Brandon Sanderson book, more, much more.
”
—[1]
Plot Summary
In this book, the kandra Paalm attempts to throw the city in revolt to 'take it back' from Harmony. Paalm worries many of the main characters, since she was using Hemalurgy to access Feruchemy and Allomancy, a feat that seemed to be impossible for kandra. Wax chases Paalm, attempting to stop her kills and actions before they occur. Paalm impersonated Governor Replar Innate, in order to better encourage the city to revolt. Paalm manages to take the city to the cusp of killing the governor and overthrowing the government, but Aradel, the head constable, manages to take control of the city by arresting Governor Innate. Aradel is named the interim governor, and is then elected to be the actual governor.
Wax finally manages to capture Paalm by shooting her with a Hemalurgical spike. This allows Harmony to take control of her, but Paalm decides to commit suicide instead. As she is dying, Paalm reveals that she is Lessie, Wax's wife that was thought to be dead. Wax is furious at Harmony for concealing this from him, and refuses to communicate with him at the end of the book. Paalm was working for Trell, an entity that Harmony is unaware of. Paalm had also managed to make new hemalurgical creatures, another task thought to be impossible.
Behind the Scenes
Following completion of The Alloy of Law Brandon plotted out three more books following the same characters to finish the story, the first of which is Shadows of Self. Brandon wrote the first third or so of Shadows of Self in 2012 between drafts of A Memory of Light to keep from being burned out. The book was then shelved until the later half of 2014. He however had difficulty re-acquainting himself with the characters and story, which is a common problem for him when he stops work on a story part-way through. To remedy this he jumped ahead and wrote the sequel, The Bands of Mourning, before going back finishing Shadows of Self.[4]
Brandon has explained that the title "Shadows of Self" refers to the multiple roles a person occupies over the course of their life, as well as to the inclusion of a kandra character.[5]
Awards
- /r/Fantasy Stabby Award for Best Novel of 2015[6]
Cover Art Gallery
US Hardcover
UK Hardcover
Notes
- ↑ a b c Cover Reveal for Brandon Sanderson's Shadows of Self
— Tor.com - Feb 23rd, 2015# - ↑ {{{3}}}
— Theoryland - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "qa-836-36" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Shadows of Self and Bands of Mourning announcement
— Tor.com - Dec 18th, 2014# - ↑ State of the Sanderson: December 2014
— Brandon's website - Dec 18th, 2014# - ↑ Shadows of Self - Title Thoughts
— 17th Shard forums - Jul 20 2015# - ↑ 2015 Stabby Awards Results Announcement
— Reddit - Jan 9th, 2016#