The Alloy of Law

The Allow of Law
By Brandon Sanderson
Tor Books, 2011. 332 pgs. Fantasy

Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads, electric lighting, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. After twenty years in the Roughs, Waxillium Ladrian has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he's paid a visit from his old partner, Wayne, who is in Elendel investigating a gang of thieves known as the Vanishers who have been stealing from railcars and kidnapping ladies. Despite Wax's misgivings, they decide they are honor-bound to uncover the perpetrators and save the victims.

This was a great read with interesting characters and an exciting plotline. If you read the Mistborn series and like it, you don't want to miss this. If you didn't read the Mistborn series, you can still read this if it interests you and Sanderson provides enough background for you to understand what's going on and how things work. But having read the Mistborn series, I really enjoyed the little breadcrumbs he leaves throughout the book of references to the original characters. This book is left a little bit open-ended, resolving the immediate problems of the book and yet leaving larger problems unexplored, so I'm guessing there will definitely be more from Wax and Wayne (duh, I just got that) in the future. By the way, Wayne may be my new favorite male character from a book. I would have a crush on him if he wasn't such a miscreant.

BHG