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The Bands of Mourning

The Bands of Mourning

A Mistborn Novel
High FantasySteampunk
Pages
464
Published
2016
Language
English

Synopsis

A mythical set of metalminds said to grant the abilities of the Originators — the godlike figures of Scadrial's history — has been found, or at least reported found, in the southern continent. Wax, Wayne, Marasi, and Steris travel to the city of New Seran following the trail of the bands and the mysterious Lord Sequence who controls them. The Bands of Mourning widens the geographical scope of Scadrial considerably, introducing new cultures and new understanding of the world's technology, while delivering answers to mysteries planted across the first two Era 2 books. It ends on a significant revelation that sets the stage for the series' final volume.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

AdventurousTenseMysteriousAtmospheric
QuestMystery BoxBetrayalFamily Saga

Genres

High Fantasy Steampunk Epic Fantasy Fantasy Suspense Adventure

About the author

B
Brandon Sanderson

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1975, Brandon Sanderson spent his early twenties working graveyard shifts at a hotel — writing novels at the front desk between guest check-ins. By the time his debut, Elantris, was published by Tor Books in 2005, he had completed thirteen novels in the drawer. His subsequent Mistborn trilogy and the ongoing Stormlight Archive series established him as the primary architect of the Cosmere, an interconnected fictional universe in which most of his fantasy series share...

Characters

Waxillium LadrianProtagonist

The lawman-lord chasing the legendary Bands of Mourning.

Wayne (Mistborn)Protagonist

Wax's irreverent, disguise-loving partner and fellow lawman on the expedition to New Seran.

Marasi ColmsSupporting

A capable investigator on the expedition.

Allik NeverfarSupporting

A charming southerner from a culture with its own Metallic Arts tradition, who becomes an unexpected ally with different knowledge of how the world works.

Steris HarmsSupporting

Wax's meticulous betrothed, who proves unexpectedly resourceful.

All characters in The Bands of Mourning

Frequently asked questions

  • Do I need to read the first two Era 2 books first?

    Yes. The Bands of Mourning is the third of four Era 2 books and assumes familiarity with the events and characters of The Alloy of Law and Shadows of Self.

  • Does this book expand the world significantly?

    Yes — it introduces the southern continent of Scadrial, with cultures, technology, and Metallic Arts traditions previously unknown. It dramatically widens the scope of what Scadrial is.

  • What are the Bands of Mourning?

    The Bands of Mourning are legendary metalminds supposedly created by the Lord Ruler himself, said to store the abilities of both Allomancy and Feruchemy in a form any person can access without being born to the magic.

  • Does this book end on a cliffhanger?

    Yes. The Bands of Mourning ends with a significant revelation that sets up the final Era 2 volume, The Lost Metal.

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