Shadows of Self

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

From number one New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson, the Mistborn series is a heist story of political intrigue and magical, martial-arts action.

Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.

When family obligations forced Waxillium Ladrian to forsake the frontier lands and return to the metropolis of his birth to take his place as head of a noble House, he little imagined that the crime-fighting skills acquired during 20 years in the dusty plains would be just as applicable in the big city. He soon learned that there, too, just being a talented Twinborn - one who can use both Allomancy and Feruchemy, the dominant magical modes on Scadrial - would not suffice.

This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society will now face its first test by terrorism and assassination, crimes intended to stir up labor strife and religious conflict. Wax, his eccentric sidekick, Wayne, and brilliant, beautiful young Marasi, now officially part of the constabulary, must unravel the conspiracy before civil strife can stop Scadrial’s progress in its tracks.

Other Tor books by Brandon Sanderson:

• The Cosmere
• The Stormlight Archive
• The Way of Kings
• Words of Radiance
• Edgedancer (Novella)
• Oathbringer

The Mistborn trilogy:

• Mistborn: The Final Empire
• The Well of Ascension
• The Hero of Ages

Mistborn: The Wax and Wayne series:

• Alloy of Law
• Shadows of Self
• Bands of Mourning
• Collection
• Arcanum Unbounded

Other Cosmere novels:

• Elantris
• Warbreaker

The Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series:

• Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
• The Scrivener's Bones
• The Knights of Crystallia
• The Shattered Lens
• The Dark Talent

The Rithmatist series:

• The Rithmatist

Other books by Brandon Sanderson:

• The Reckoners
• Steelheart
• Firefight
• Calamity

©2015 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

Outstanding Mistborn sequel

I'm going to re-read the Mistborn Trilogy. Now that I've read and enjoyed Shadows of Self, I realize it has been too long since I fully appreciated the world of allomancy, hemolurgy, and ferrochemy, the foundation saga of this fantastic sequel.

Great series

I listened to the series twice to catch the things I missed the first time. I honestly think the second time through the series was even better. I did wait a few months before restarting but if you have the time it is worth listening again. You get more of the small details missed over time.

Excellent 2nd book in this series

If you could sum up Shadows of Self in three words, what would they be?

good twists

Who was your favorite character and why?

Was of course, this book really helps with his depth.

What does Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really love his voices. He is awesome.

just great

very well-thought-out story love the twist in the end was not expecting the way this ended
the best friend of the main character is awesome. he adds a solid balance to the book.

great author! great story!

these books are a great story in the same universe as the mistborn trilogy, if you liked them and wanted more youll love this! read alloy of law first though!

What a great book

I love the narrator and I loved the story; it's full of creative twists and turns!

love this world and its characters

engaging story, impossible to put down, very well done characters. well worth the read/listen.
Leaves you wanting more.

Brandon never lets you down.

Title says it all. flgksl dkslfk kdlslkf ldlalxuif gldlsll.ldldlf kdlslfkfldl kfisif nfisif.uwidkfj kslsokf.isisidk.flflslskfkf kdmdlflfkflfllfl.kddkd kdldld

Great continuation of the story.

Great follow up to the story. love the performance and I can not wait to know what happens.

Not as good as the original trilogy, but decent

This is the 5th book in the Mistborn series overall and the second of the books featuring Wax and Wayne (which are set a few generations after the original Mistborn trilogy). I continue to struggle with this series a bit; I just don’t like the characters and setting as much as the original Mistborn series.


I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook is very well done. The narrator does a great job with character voices and emotion.


Despite my struggle with engaging with this world and characters I still think this is a well written western fantasy. I loved the magic systems throughout the book and enjoyed all the historical references to the original series.


There is quite a bit of intrigue and action throughout; the story is well paced and things are wrapped up nicely. I just constantly found myself drifting and losing interest in both the story and the characters. I had the same issue with Alloy of Law; so if you enjoyed Alloy of Law you will probably enjoy this book. If you didn’t enjoy Allow of Law I would skip this one.


Overall this is a decent continuation of the Wax and Wayne Mistborn books. I personally don’t enjoy these characters and the world as much as the original Mistborn trilogy. However, I know a lot of people really continue to love these books and they are well written. I won’t be reading the last book of this series because I just don’t care...however if you loved Alloy of Law I think you will enjoy this book as well.