About The Lost Metal
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: Mistborn Era 2 - Book #4
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Steampunk
Other works from the Author: The Stormlight Archive Series, Elantris, Warbreaker, Skyward Series, The Mistborn Saga
Page Number: 507 pages
Audible Listening Time: 18 hours 46 mins
Goodreads Rating: 4.48/5
My Rating: 2/5
As a die-hard Brandon Sanderson fan, I eagerly awaited "The Lost Metal," the highly anticipated conclusion to the Wax and Wayne series. However, the experience left me with conflicting emotions, like a bittersweet parting from cherished companions. While moments of brilliance and familiar charm flickered throughout, the overarching narrative struggled to reach the heights I, and perhaps many other fans, had come to expect from Sanderson's masterful storytelling.
My initial hope was for a story brimming with the depth and complexity that characterized the first Mistborn era or Sanderson's work in the Wheel of Time. Even keeping pace with the previous entries in the Wax and Wayne series would have been satisfying. Yet, "The Lost Metal" fell short on these fronts.
Looking back, my experience with the book is a paradox. On the one hand, Era 2 held a somewhat special place in my heart. The camaraderie between Wax and Wayne, their witty banter, and the innovative evolution of the magic system were all elements I deeply enjoyed. These aspects were thankfully present in "The Lost Metal." However, the narrative frequently separated the core characters, leaving me feeling a sense of disconnection and yearning for their usual dynamic.
Then came the ending. While I appreciated and understood the resolution of the first Mistborn era, the conclusion of "The Lost Metal" lacked the same emotional impact. It felt abrupt and, dare I say, inconsequential compared to the epic scale of previous finales.
Furthermore, unlike Sanderson's other works, "The Lost Metal" left a strong sense of incompleteness. The narrative introduced several intriguing plotlines and character threads, only to leave them dangling without proper resolution. It felt like a bridge to Era 3 rather than a fulfilling culmination of the Wax and Wayne story. This unfinished feeling, coupled with the limited involvement of the Kandra and the perplexing portrayal of the Ghostbloods, further amplified my disappointment.
Despite these criticisms, the book wasn't entirely devoid of redeeming qualities. The fight scenes, as always, were a testament to Sanderson's talent for crafting thrilling and imaginative action sequences. Each character's unique use of the magic system was showcased with remarkable creativity, keeping me engaged on a visceral level.
However, the true highlight of "The Lost Metal" for me was Steris's remarkable journey of personal growth and self-acceptance. Her evolution throughout the series, culminating in this final chapter, embodies the strength of Sanderson's storytelling ability. Her arc served as a beacon of light amidst the narrative's shortcomings.
With the understanding that revisiting the book after reading the broader Cosmere might enhance my experience, I acknowledge the hints and connections that likely flew over my head due to missing pieces of the larger puzzle.
Ultimately, I award "The Lost Metal" a 2-star rating, with the caveat that this evaluation might change upon a future reread after catching up on other Cosmere works.
“City folk, particularly politicians, were intimidated by small arms. They preferred to kill people with more modern weapons, like poverty and despair.”
“You are whatever you want to be, Wayne. You’re the wind. You’re the stars. You are all endless things.”
“People are elastic, Wax thought. We can keep reshaping ourselves. And if we’re not quite the same as before, well, that’s good. It means we can grow.”
“Lock a man in prison, and you might stop him from committing crimes. Teach a man to respect himself and his community, and you stopped everyone he might have taught, recruited, or bullied.”
“Damn, Wax. I just say things! You’re not supposed to actually pay attention to them!”
Amazon Blurb of The Lost Metal
Return to #1 New York Times bestseller Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn world of Scadrial as its second era, which began with The Alloy of Law, comes to its earth-shattering conclusion in The Lost Metal.
For years, frontier lawman turned big-city senator Waxillium Ladrian has hunted the shadowy organization the Set—with his late uncle and his sister among their leaders—since they started kidnapping people with the power of Allomancy in their bloodlines. When Detective Marasi Colms and her partner, Wayne, find stockpiled weapons bound for the Outer City of Bilming, this opens a new lead. Conflict between the capital, Elendel, and the Outer Cities only favors the Set, and their tendrils now reach to the Elendel Senate—whose corruption Wax and his wife, Steris, have sought to expose—and Bilming is even more entangled.
After Wax discovers a new type of explosive that can unleash unprecedented destruction and realizes that the Set must already have it, an immortal kandra serving Scadrial's god, Harmony, reveals that Bilming has fallen under the influence of another god: Trell, worshipped by the Set. And Trell isn't the only factor at play from the larger Cosmere—Marasi is recruited by offworlders with strange abilities who claim their goal is to protect Scadrial . . . at any cost.
Wax must choose whether to set aside his rocky relationship with God and once again become the Sword that Harmony has groomed him to be. If no one steps forward to be the hero Scadrial needs, the planet and its millions of people will come to a sudden and calamitous ruin.
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