| Mistborn: The Lost Metal | |
| Author: | Brandon Sanderson |
| Cover Artist: | Chris McGrath |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Series: | Wax and Wayne, Mistborn |
| Genre: | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher: | Tor Books |
| Published: | November 15, 2022 |
| Media Type: | Print (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book |
| Pages: | 528 pp |
| Isbn: | 978-0-7653-9119-3 |
| Oclc: | 0765391198 |
Mistborn: The Lost Metal is an urban fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson. It was published on November 15, 2022, by Tor Books.[1] It is the fourth and final book in the Wax and Wayne series and seventh in the Mistborn series.[2] It is preceded by The Bands of Mourning in 2016 and is to be followed by a new trilogy, written after release of fifth Stormlight Archive book and a novelization of the Cosmere graphic novel White Sand.
Six years following The Bands of Mourning, Waxillium Ladrian has retired from his lawman career, and Wayne has become a full constable in Elendel law enforcement, serving under Marasi who has been promoted to detective. Wax, aided by his wife Steris (with whom he has two young children, Maxillium and Tindwyl), has become a prominent figure in Elendel politics, known as the 'Lawman Senator of the Roughs'. Since the discovery of the Southern Scadrials during the quest for the Bands of Mourning, diplomatic relations have been established with its most prominent nation, the Malwish Consortium. However, relations between the north and south remain tense, as do those between Elendel and its neighboring cities in the Basin. Despite Wax's and Steris' efforts, conflict escalates.
Wax's sister Telsin, the leader of the Set, a terrorist group working for Trell (actually a Shard of Adonalsium called Autonomy), plots to smuggle a magical equivalent of an atomic bomb into Elendel. Marasi goes on a mission with a mysterious group known as the Ghostbloods, led by Kelsier, to stop Autonomy's forces from invading the world. Meanwhile, Wax and Wayne go to confront Telsin at the Set's base, killing several Set members, but discover that the bomb is not there, and instead is on a ship headed for the city. Marasi stops enemies in time and disables their portal, preventing the invasion, while Wax reaches the boat with Wayne. The duo discover that the bomb can be defused, but the defuser will die in the process. Wayne sacrifices himself to both defuse the bomb and save Wax. Telsin's overloaded body dies upon Autonomy removing her influence.
In the aftermath, Kelsier and Harmony debate about whether Harmony should introduce technology to the people or not, and Wax lives happily with Steris and his children. The city honors Wayne by putting up a statue of him.
In 2014, Sanderson revealed the tentative title of the fourth and final book of the Wax and Wayne series as The Lost Metal.[3] It was initially planned to be released in 2018, but was subsequently moved to Fall 2019.[4] [5] Later, due to the release of the previously unplanned Skyward series, the publication date was further postponed to 2022.[6] [7] The first printing of the novel consists of 500,000 copies.[8]
The Lost Metal debuted at #2 on the Combined Print and E-Book Fiction New York Times Best Seller list and #2 on the Hardcover Fiction New York Times Best Seller list.[9] Kirkus Reviews called the novel a "fast-paced and entirely satisfying conclusion to Mistborn's second era," praising it as an "action-packed adventure" while dropping hints torwards the future of the Mistborn saga.
Lyndsey Luther and Ross Newberry of Tor.com wrote a review as in-character as Wax and Wayne. They called the story a "romp-roarin', steel-pushin', emotion-wrenchin' rail-car ride full a' surprises, laughs and tears" and said that "Sanderson bloke's right good at spinnin' a tale." They also praised the character growth and connections to other series.[10]
Eric Lake of 17th Shard called it a "pretty good ending" and a "fun read" stating that it "does wrap up the things it needs to do to be a satisfying conclusion." He added that it had "extremely cool moments, fantastic character work, and some really killer Cosmere stuff." However, he criticized the plot and questioned how self-contained it was in regard to crossovers with other Cosmere series.[11]