THE ALLOY OF LAW by Brandon Sanderson

Three hundred yearsafter the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.

Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice. One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will.

After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

A first glimpse of the cover for Sanderson’s upcoming Mistborn novel, The Alloy of Law. I like Chris McGrath, but, and I’ll be honest, I’m getting a little sick of seeing his schtick on the cover of so many novels these days; but, I can hardly begrudge a guy his popularity, right? That small complaint aside, it’s cool to see the Steampunk stylings incorporated into Sanderson’s works, and I love that even though they’ve changed artists, Tor has still managed to nicely tie the cover together with the earlier hardcover volumes of the Mistborn Trilogy.

If a cover serves any purpose, it’s to interest potential fans and excite and established ones. This cover gets me excited for The Allow of Law, so it’s a job well done, I suppose. The synopsis has me even more interested — there are few things that get me so giddy as the exploration of what happens as mysticism and magic collide with science and logic. Sanderson is the perfect author to explore that territory.

Waxillium, however, is a stupid name.

Discussion
  • Patrick (YetiStomper) March 16, 2011 at 8:32 am

    Meh. I don’t dislike McGrath covers (his Dresden Covers work for what they are) but I too am suffering a little overload.

  • Anon E. Mouse March 16, 2011 at 8:32 am

    Btw, it’s “Alloy of Law”, not “Allow of Law”. :)

  • aidan March 16, 2011 at 8:40 am

    Oooh, a typo. For shame, Aidan.

  • Stefan (Civilian-Reader) March 16, 2011 at 9:06 am

    I like that there’s technological advance in this – it has often amazed me how some series can be set over hundreds of years, but never really advance technologically. So, it’s nice to see some more realism. Looking forward to it.

  • David March 16, 2011 at 10:50 am

    First thoughts:
    “Oh look, its Harry Dresden and Badger.”
    Second thought:
    I’m still buying it. It sounds cool. A steel pusher who can make himself heavier? Bet he throws a building.

  • Karoline March 16, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Really looking forward to this book! although I agree…Waxillium is a rather..strange name. I’m sure there’s a reason for it :)

  • Raphael March 16, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Afaik it is not Steampunk!

    Also, is it me or does the right guy look like Tom Cruise?

  • andygal March 16, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    I think Waxillium is a cool name.

    Also, Steelpushing and Iron-Feruchemy, awesome. Can you say “I’m sending you flying into the stratosphere, have a nice day?”

  • Dee March 17, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    Yes, he does resemble Tom Cruise a bit, doesn’t he? :D
    The cover doesn’t appeal to me at all – its too similar to the The Blade Itself in style, and doesn’t feel like the books to me.

  • Sarah (Bookworm Blues) March 22, 2011 at 10:26 am

    I’m going to be honest here… the cover isn’t bad but it looks like it should be on a crime novel set in the 1920’s.

  • […] am going to start with a cover that made me SQUEE and jump up and down when I saw it at Aidan’s blog this week. BRANDON SANDERSON HAS A NEW MISTBORN BOOK COMING!!! BRANDON SANDERSON HAS A NEW MISTBORN […]

  • […] a couple of weeks ago, the cover art for the Tor Books edition of Brandon Sanderson’s The Alloy of Law leaked onto the web. It’s pretty, if McGrathy, and ties in well with his other Mistborn […]