Rate: 5/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overview (No Spoilers):
Every time I read a new book by Sanderson I’m equally excited for new material and terrified that it won’t live up to the lofty expectations his work has cultivated. At this point, I don’t know how I have any doubt left, with each novel getting better and better. So to clarify, this review will contain an ample amount of unabashed fangirling.
It has been since 2018 since I’d last enjoyed Wayne’s ceaseless banter and it took quite a while to get back into the groove of the Mistborn Saga. And while I loved every minute of this read, I definitely missed out on key connections and Easter Eggs both from the few works in the Cosmere I haven’t read yet and the general forgetfulness that comes with time away from a literary world. Arcanum Unbound is also the only book in the Cosmere that I haven’t read, and believe me, I will be promptly correcting this oversight. Had I read the aforementioned novel many of the new characters and magics would not in fact have been new material. That said, please let me reiterate, my rust in no way hindered my level of entertainment or comprehension, but just kept me from making the deeper connections.
Wayne and Steris are again two of my favorite characters. When reading at night, I found I would stay up later than planned when one of their chapters would be next in the queue. Throughout The Lost Metal, both of these characters struggle with their insecurities and crippling past experiences. By the end my heart was so happy as they both accepted their idiosyncrasies and embraced who they are, both their strengths and weaknesses.
Wax and Marasi have their own struggles as they navigate their new roles and how the changes shape their self-worth. With Wax retiring and becoming a politician, Marasi has growing pain that chafe as she steps from beyond Wax’s long shadow. Thankfully, she has Wayne to keep her company. In previous novels, Marasi’s powers were always viewed as a liability, but with help from her beau, the potential and application of her powers is fascinating and a rather brilliant twist.
I feel like a reread will be necessary as there were so many overlapping characters, not only from the Mistborn Saga, but the Cosmere as a whole. We are treated to familiar characters such as Marsh, Sazed, and Kelsier, but Sanderson includes pieces from his other series, e.g., direct threats from Roshar and Shadesmar.
The Lost Metal has new characters that add their own unique, or in this case cloned personas with Gertruda and Dumad, who play great henchmen and show up at the most random of times. They prove to be a thorn spike in the side of our protagonists as The Set mettles with hemalurgy to create super soldiers.
Overall, The Lost Metal is a brilliant ending that left me sobbing big ugly tears while still laughing. Sanderson manages to close the door on the Mistborn Saga, while simultaneously opening up a whole new set of implications for the Cosmere. I can’t wait to see how he will continue growing his complex and delightful literary universe.
Additional Insight (Spoilers Abound):
- Who is Prasanva/Twinsoul’s sister on Roshar?
- How were the Bands of Mourning drained? Did Daal know ahead of time?
- Will Dlavil listen to Kelsier and leave Marasi alone?
- What will happen to the people who spent seven years kidnapped? How will Armal’s reunion with her family and children go?
- What happened to the mutated, hermalergy animals?
- How will Adawathwyn and the rest of the corrupt politicians be handled when they creep back into Elendal?
- Did Wayne’s sports teams idea flourish?
- Talk about ugly tears when Wayne not only dies but the different ways he takes care of the people he loves. I was simultaneously crying and laughing when Wayne made the lawyers leave stuff for Wax randomly.
- Will Wax be a Mistborn after accidentally inhaling Lerasium?
- Hoid was brilliant as always, He showed up when unexpected, like in a boat to pick up Wax in the middle of the ocean, in the middle of the night.
- Who was getting sent in from Roshar? Sure I can make my guesses, but I would love to read the other side of that exchange.
- Who was getting sent in from Roshar?
- It was fascinating to see the difference between the Ghostbloods here and the ones in Roshar. The ones in Roshar have almost a ‘bad guy’ feel or are obsessed with collecting power at all costs. The ones in Elendal actually felt like ‘good guys’ or at least had a better pitch than the ones in Roshar. I just had a major epiphany moment as I have now realized that Scadrial, which is the Ghostblood’s whole focus on protecting, is actually the world that Eledale and the Mistborn series inhabits. Mind blown. How many other connections did I miss out on. I really need to start a reread of the whole Cosmere.
- Who is Moonlight/Shay-I actually and will she ever be able to be recovered from her Goddess stamp?
- Steris was again the bright star of this book. We saw her skills finally appreciated by the masses, well at least the people in power. Varlance listening to Steris and doing the right thing made my heart so happy.
Vocabulary Builder:
Turgid: excessively embellished in style or language
Accoutrement: an accessory item of clothing or equipment
Conner: one that tests or examines
Maladroit: lacking adroitness
Pernicious: highly injurious or destructive
Sapient: possessing or expressing great sagacity
Persnickety: fussy about small details
Adage: a saying often in metaphorical form that typically embodies a common observation
Patina: an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character
The Critiquing Chemist 