The Bands of Mourning is a fantasy novel written by Brandon Sanderson. It is the sixth book in the Mistborn Saga (the third book in the Wax and Wayne trilogy). This adventure has another reasonably straightforward premise. Wax and the gang go on a wild goose chase to find the long-lost ‘bands of mourning’ (which were previously owned by the Lord Ruler.
I want to start this review by saying that The Bands of Mourning is without a doubt my favorite Brandon Sanderson novel that I’ve read thus far. Yeah, I said it. That means that I liked it better than all three books in the trilogy. So what? This novel is fantastic and I stand by my opinion.
There is so much to love about this book that I’m having trouble finding a place to begin. I’ll start with with the plot. Really, when you boil it down, it’s the search to find the bands of mourning. Of course, this is Brandon Sanderson were talking about. This is a Cosmere novel. This book is riddles with plot twists, side stories, and other worldy occurrences. However, the main mission is to get to the bands of mourning before Suit. I appreciated the direct nature of this story. Sanderson, like in all of his novels, makes promises early, leads the audience through the progression of story (while thoroughly explaining the decision making making by characters), and then provides a spectacular payoff. He’s mastered a formula for writing that not only works but makes reading his books extremely enjoyable.
Now, lets talk about Wax and Steris. This might just be because I have a soft spot for a good love story but I absolutely adored their romance in this book. The more that Sanderson reveals about both Wax and Steris’ personalities the more is seems impossible to imagine them not being together. There is a scene in particular that I enjoyed. Wax is using his coinshot abilities to get them out of a sticky situation. High above the clouds, Wax realizes his fondness for Steris. The scene is quite breathtaking. I truly hope that thier relationship works out in the end. That sentiment is a byproducto of Sanderson’s ability to organically grow their love for eachother.
Onto character development, Sanderson continues to impress with amount of depth that he provides characters. In The Bands of Mourning specifically his analysis of Wayne is astounding. An entire chapter in this book is dedicated to a leisurely stroll that he partakes in. Written from Wayne’s point of view made it extremely entertaining. Being able to dive into the mind of a character is one of Sanderson’s strengths.
Also, Marasi goes through a vast expansion of character depth in this novel. Sanderson focuses primarily on her desparation to feel valued by others (mainly Wax). He really dives into the essence of Marasi, explaining how her passions in life have drastically chaged since her time as a child.
Of course, this isn’t a Sanderson novel without an unbelievable ending. There are a littany of twists in this book and the finale is the cherry on top.
I truly loved reading this book and I can’t wait to start reading another of his works!
P.S. Elantris is up next!
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