Jessica Steiner (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jessicasteiner) wrote2012-09-07 06:55 pm
jessicasteiner) wrote2012-09-07 06:55 pm
Review: Alloy of Law by @BrandSanderson
Alloy of Law is the newest instalment of the Mistborn series, a novella that forms a sequel to the original trilogy.
I listened to the Audiobook of this novel, which I got from Audible. It's read by Michael Kramer, who also narrated the other Mistborn novels, and whose performance I really enjoy. I'm especially glad that it's the same person, since there are some characters that reoccur, and that just wouldn't have been the same with a different voice.
The original Mistborn trilogy is set in a fairly standard medieval-level fantasy world, though when I say 'standard', don't think that it's anything but very creative. The worldbuilding is up to Sanderson's high standards, and the magic system is amongst the most interesting I've ever seen. The first book of Mistborn is a heist story, and I won't talk too much more about it to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say that it's very worth reading.
Alloy of Law is set several hundred years in the future, in the same world, but a version of the world that has progressed greatly in technology. It's now in a sort of 'Old West' level of technology, with a steampunk flavour, but maintaining the thread of the story and the feel of what made the first Mistborn novels great.
I love the characters in Alloy of Law. Though it took me a bit of time to warm up to Marasi, I think that was probably by design. She starts off seeming like a non-entity, a stereotypical shy and retiring girl with nothing much to her, especially in comparison to the vibrant personalities of the other characters, but she eventually comes into her own. By contrast, the two main male characters, Wax and Wayne, are extremely charming right from the get go, and I could have gone on reading them forever.
The thing I loved most about the book was how Sanderson expanded on the magic system, and showed how the world and technology would be different with the presence of people who can burn metals and use ferrochemy. It was truly fascinating to see the progression.
Honestly, the only thing I'm unhappy with with this book is how short it was. I've heard rumours that there will be more books set in this time period, though I don't know how true those rumours are. If so, I'm really excited! I am certain there will be more books set further in the future, and I'm very much looking forward to those as well.
Overall, the book definitely lives up to the high standards set by the first three novels, and really doesn't lose the feel of the series, which was a risk with a whole new set of characters in a different time period.
I listened to the Audiobook of this novel, which I got from Audible. It's read by Michael Kramer, who also narrated the other Mistborn novels, and whose performance I really enjoy. I'm especially glad that it's the same person, since there are some characters that reoccur, and that just wouldn't have been the same with a different voice.
The original Mistborn trilogy is set in a fairly standard medieval-level fantasy world, though when I say 'standard', don't think that it's anything but very creative. The worldbuilding is up to Sanderson's high standards, and the magic system is amongst the most interesting I've ever seen. The first book of Mistborn is a heist story, and I won't talk too much more about it to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say that it's very worth reading.
Alloy of Law is set several hundred years in the future, in the same world, but a version of the world that has progressed greatly in technology. It's now in a sort of 'Old West' level of technology, with a steampunk flavour, but maintaining the thread of the story and the feel of what made the first Mistborn novels great.
I love the characters in Alloy of Law. Though it took me a bit of time to warm up to Marasi, I think that was probably by design. She starts off seeming like a non-entity, a stereotypical shy and retiring girl with nothing much to her, especially in comparison to the vibrant personalities of the other characters, but she eventually comes into her own. By contrast, the two main male characters, Wax and Wayne, are extremely charming right from the get go, and I could have gone on reading them forever.
The thing I loved most about the book was how Sanderson expanded on the magic system, and showed how the world and technology would be different with the presence of people who can burn metals and use ferrochemy. It was truly fascinating to see the progression.
Honestly, the only thing I'm unhappy with with this book is how short it was. I've heard rumours that there will be more books set in this time period, though I don't know how true those rumours are. If so, I'm really excited! I am certain there will be more books set further in the future, and I'm very much looking forward to those as well.
Overall, the book definitely lives up to the high standards set by the first three novels, and really doesn't lose the feel of the series, which was a risk with a whole new set of characters in a different time period.
Hallodgw
(Anonymous) 2020-11-17 10:15 am (UTC)(link)