The group of insurrectionists that allied themselves with Kelsior in the first book may have been a bit more one dimensional than the small group of Wax’s allies, but that also meant there was always a chance they could be killed in any scene. At least through this book, the stakes have not felt nearly as high. As of this point, that has led to one of the drawbacks for this series in comparison to its predecessor. There are scenes of quick draws and train robberies, and the scale is much smaller than in the prior trilogy.

Whereas the first trilogy read as an 70/30 fantasy & military split, this series is probably about 60/40 fantasy & western.

It’s a testament to Sanderson’s writing that the entire book is not just explaining how these complicated abilities work, although there is a decent amount of time spent on them and a lengthy appendix in the back to help clear things up. Against this backdrop, Wax and Wayne are continuing to pursue Wax’s uncle who has some big plans that possibly involve hemalurgy (the forbidden third form of metal burning to gain special abilities).

As cars are becoming common place, and other scientific breakthroughs like phonographs, telegraphs, electricity and flight are beginning to appear, those born with allomantic and feruchemical abilities are becoming more rare (no Mistborns are alive that we know of, along with feruchemists, allomancers have about 1/16th of their old abilities), more common (more people have the ability to utilize one metal) and more complicated (twinborn, those with one allomantic and one feruchemical ability, having two abilities plus one new effect from the combination) than ever before. Book three of the Wax and Wayne series continues the Mistborn Universe into the turn of the century scientific world.

The bands of mourning