Shadows of Self

Overall, really enjoyed this one. While Alloy of Law felt more self contained western/Victorian action thriller, I found that Shadows of Self started expanding that to the wider Mistborn lore and a lot of very interesting and far-reaching questions are being asked. We also have your usual Sanderson mix of tortured heroes, semi-mysterious comic relief characters, unknowable omnipresent gods and demi-gods, and just a whole lot of fun.

Continuing where the first book left off, we follow Wax now as he, at the behest of Harmony himself, tracks down a mysterious and nigh invincible creature that's looking to start a revolution in Elendel. Marasi is now pursuing her dreams as a constable led by Aradel, while Wayne is still... Wayne.

Steris continues to be my favourite character of this series, if not of the entire Cosmere, which is saying a lot considering she's such a side character who has barely appeared in Books 1 and 2 so far. She's like Mr Collins from Pride and Prejudice, but less pompous and more honest. We left off Book 1 with a really weird and sticky romance undercurrent going on between Wax and Marasi, but which Wax has pointedly avoided by stupidly getting engaged to Steris - and yet, he seems to be gaining ever more affection and respect for her, his partner in this almost-marriage of convenience. I wouldn't be mad if Steris ended up with Wax, but tbh I don't think she needs him to shine on her own. I'm kinda hoping that she'll turn out to be an OP character in a later book - why would Sanderson put such a bright and unique character in the wings for no reason and to serve no plot purpose? Her damsel in distress role has already expired at the end of Book 1.

Some lore theories for the rest of the series: I still wonder what is it that "moves" Bleeder and Bloody Tan and it's not Harmony (and that conversation he had with Wax in his head was so weird and hilarious), it can't be Ruin/Preservation anymore so I'm not sure if it was ever fully explained. I had a Cosmere super-fan explain to me that name Marasi mentions at the end, Trell, is the god of Sazed's old religion. My cross-Cosmere theory is that Trell is going to end up being someone from the Stormlight Archives... it's wild and I don't know enough of my Sanderson timeline and connections enough to back it up but I just have a hunch like that.

Some thoughts on the ending: The moment Bleeder took on Lessie's face and mannerisms, I had a sneaking suspicion that Lessie had been Bleeder all along, but I quelled those suspicions given that Bleeder never revealed it and chose to only say it *just* after Wax had to kill her - again. I gotta say **poor Wax**!! having to kill the person you loved not once but *twice*!! He not only has to work through that but also the whole trauma of realizing that this person you loved had lied big time to you, had murdered a vast number of people, had conspired with your murdering uncle against you, and was inches away from putting a bullet through your head just moments before. I hope Wax realizes that Bleeder, though she had been Lessie, was no less of a murdering psychopath of a kandra.

I'm in too deep now to stop reading this series and so intend to finish up Book 3 before the new book for Era 2 comes out in mid-November.