Shadows of Self

It's hard to write a review that is not a comparison to either the first book of the series or to the other Sanderson series. But as I haven't written reviews to those, that's not an option.

So as a stand-alone book, this one tones down the fantasy elements a bit. Mind you, there are still present and very much in the foreground, but the magic/alchemy system has grown so complex by now that the book wisely choses to not depend on a deep understanding or even base it's story to much on discovering more unknown details about it. It rather just treats some characters as having super hero-like abilities to fancy up the action scenes and more than one time offer an easy way out (narrative-wise) to otherwise pretty dead-end situations. The thriller part can't really decide if it wants to be serial-killer hunt or whodoneit. It introduces some distracting characters to finally return back to the central cast for the resolution, which in hindsight wasn't that elegant. I'm personally a big fan of the magic system and the 'discovering long-lost knowledge and abilities' concept so this book let me down a little. I treat it as a bridge to the third which hopefully returns to old form.

Just posting a review for bragging rights. Finished it before anyone I know ;)

Its even more awesome than I was expecting. I often recommend people AoL as a Sanderson starter, but don't think I can any more because you need to read Mistborn to enjoy this book fully.

The book is totally worth the wait, and will make you feel awesome and shitty at the same time. Wayne will have you laughing so hard your friends will get worried and you might sob towards the end as things get far more complex than you'd thought you were getting into.

Also, I'm a total Cosmere nut. I read theoryland just for fun, and this book has some really good gems for the Cosmere lovers among us, especially in the Ars Arcanum. Hoid has a cameo role as well.

Why am I writing this! Blah, just go and read Mistborn and then AoL and then this book. Getting aboard the Sanderson train might get harder as we move ahead, and he's writing books faster than the GoT writers already.

Thinking about it, I might be fine with it if GRRM gives up and chooses Sanderson to finish the series. At least we'll get a happy ending that way.