The Lost Metal – Brandon Sanderson (2022)

The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson, published in 2022, is the explosive conclusion to the second era of the Mistborn series, a cornerstone of the Cosmere universe. Set six years after the events of The Bands of Mourning, the novel blends steampunk innovation with high-stakes political intrigue, divine machinations, and the looming threat of civil war. The story follows Waxillium Ladrian and Marasi Colms as they uncover a conspiracy that may shatter the fragile peace in the Elendel Basin and bring to light powerful secrets long buried. As the world teeters on the brink of transformation, gods, mortals, and machines clash in a tale that redefines heroism in the shadow of an impending cataclysm.

Plot Summary

In the depths of a city churning with smoke, innovation, and unease, the streets of Elendel whisper rumors of rebellion. The airships of the Malwish float like harbingers above the horizon, their masked ambassadors offering unease more than peace. And deep below the city, in tunnels untouched since the time of myths, the shadows stir with movements that do not belong to ordinary criminals.

Marasi Colms, ever meticulous, leads an investigation into a hidden lair beneath the sewers. Footprints and ancient tunnels guide her and Wayne deeper, where secrets of the Set – a clandestine organization bent on subversion – still fester. Wayne, ever full of mischief and melancholy, follows close behind. His jokes barely cover the weight he carries, the growing ache that MeLaan, his immortal companion, is preparing to leave him. They find evidence of something more sinister than smugglers – weapons and technology laced with foreign script, whispering of gods forgotten and powers not meant for mortals.

Above ground, Waxillium Ladrian battles a different kind of threat. In the chambers of the Senate, he stands against the Elendel Supremacy Bill, a proposal that would grant the capital dominion over the Outer Cities. Though born of noble blood, Wax walks the floor like a lawman in a dust-coated trench coat, laying out the corruption and warning of war. With his wife, Steris, the master of preparedness, and his son Max clutching childlike crayon art, Wax fights not only with words but with truths carved out of blood and sacrifice. But even his fiercest effort cannot stop the vote. The bill passes. A fracture in the Basin begins to split.

Far to the north, in the city of Bilming, danger blooms like smoke from a gun barrel. Telsin Ladrian, Wax’s sister long lost to treachery, commands from the shadows. She holds the reins of the Set now, her loyalty pledged to a power far greater – Trell. Under her command, a new metal has been discovered, a metal that warps Allomancy and Feruchemy, threatening the very balance of Harmony’s careful design. The city becomes a fortress, its soul bartered to secrets and gods.

As Wax and Marasi journey to Bilming, the air crackles with tension. Harmony, the god of preservation and ruin intertwined, speaks less often now. His voice, once steady, now wavers beneath the pull of something darker. Autonomy – a force beyond comprehension, whispering promises of freedom through conquest – reveals its touch upon the Set. Trell is not a god, but a servant of one, and Autonomy has sent avatars to prepare this world for transformation or annihilation.

Wax and Wayne, reunited once more with MeLaan and the kandra Twinsoul, forge a plan to breach Bilming. As the city tightens its defenses, Steris works from within, turning bureaucracy into a weapon. Her endless lists and meticulous planning uncover a hidden railway line, a forgotten crack in the Set’s foundation. It becomes the path for their entry, a lifeline through steel and darkness.

In the heart of Bilming’s Set headquarters lies a weapon – a bomb infused with Trellium, capable of destroying Harmony’s influence and remaking the world in Autonomy’s image. Telsin guards it, changed by her allegiance, her body and mind reshaped by Trellium’s corruption. She speaks with certainty, offering Wax the chance to join her, to rule in a world where gods cannot meddle. But he sees the madness in her eyes and knows that she no longer lives as his sister, only as a mouthpiece for something older, colder.

The battle within the city becomes a race against time. Marasi and a small group of allies work to disable the bomb while Wax confronts Telsin. They clash in steel and words, and Wax is wounded. But even as pain racks his body, he refuses to yield. Harmony, though distant, reaches out one last time, gifting Wax a sliver of divine awareness – a Dawnshot – enough to understand the true stakes, to act with godlike precision for a fleeting moment.

Meanwhile, Wayne chooses a different path. He has always run from the weight of his past, from the guilt of lives taken and partners lost. But in this moment, beneath the streets of Bilming, surrounded by wires and whispered destruction, he finds clarity. He locks himself in the chamber with the bomb, knowing only one choice will save the Basin. Wayne, who once feared becoming anything more than a scoundrel, rewrites his story in fire. The explosion consumes the chamber, sparing the world but not the man.

The silence that follows is heavy, a hush that blankets the city like the first snow after war. In the aftermath, Marasi uncovers documents that link the Set to distant lands, to broader Cosmere threats. She takes up a new mission, one that stretches beyond the Basin. Wax returns home to his family, his limp more pronounced, but his resolve sharpened. He carries Wayne’s hat now – a crooked thing, patched and loved – and wears it not as a replacement, but as remembrance.

Harmony speaks once more, quietly, acknowledging that his power is no longer enough. He entrusts guardianship of Scadrial to mortals like Wax and Marasi, and prepares for the inevitability of future conflicts among gods. Autonomy recedes, for now, but the crack left behind pulses with unknown light.

As Steris organizes recovery and Max draws pictures of heroes in hats, the city learns to breathe again. The Basin, wounded but intact, begins to mend. In every tavern, the tale is told – of a madman with a heart full of love who saved them all. And beneath the mists, where old bones remember forgotten names, the winds whisper of change coming once again.

Main Characters

• Waxillium Ladrian – Once a rugged lawman of the Roughs, now a senator and nobleman, Wax is a Twinborn who uses Allomantic steel and Feruchemical iron. Despite political obligations, his heart remains tethered to justice and action. Haunted by past failures and driven by duty, he becomes a reluctant but formidable agent in unraveling a threat that reaches far beyond Elendel. His arc in The Lost Metal balances statesmanship with heroism, as he battles enemies both earthly and divine.

• Wayne – Wax’s loyal and eccentric partner, Wayne provides both comic relief and emotional depth. A master of disguise and a masterful fighter, he manipulates time through Feruchemy and heals rapidly through Allomancy. Underneath his humor lies trauma and guilt, and in this final chapter, Wayne faces profound personal growth and sacrifice, revealing the depth of his loyalty and the burden of his past.

• Marasi Colms – A driven constable and scholar, Marasi has matured into a capable leader. She possesses the power to slow time in bubbles, allowing her to gain tactical advantages. Her tenacity and intellect guide much of the investigation, and her moral compass becomes critical in making decisions about the future of governance and law in the Basin.

• Steris Harms – Wax’s meticulous and pragmatic wife, Steris is a standout character for her unorthodox strengths. Her obsessive planning and lists make her a vital, if often underestimated, force in political and strategic matters. She embodies resilience and intelligence, grounding Wax and pushing him to succeed.

• Telsin Ladrian – Wax’s estranged sister and a key figure in the secretive and antagonistic organization known as the Set. She is manipulative, ideologically driven, and enshrouded in mysteries tied to the god Trell. Telsin’s role deepens the narrative’s conflict, representing familial betrayal and fanatical ambition.

• Harmony – The dual god resulting from the merging of Ruin and Preservation, Harmony watches over the world but is increasingly troubled by his inability to fully act. His divine perspective adds existential weight to the story, as he wrestles with the implications of free will, balance, and his waning control.

• MeLaan – A Kandra and long-time ally, MeLaan adds a non-human but deeply humanizing voice. Her immortality and evolving role as a divine emissary reflect the ongoing transformation of the Cosmere and its ancient powers.

Theme

• Balance of Power and Governance – The conflict between Elendel and the Outer Cities centers on representation and control. Sanderson explores the fragility of centralized power and the necessity of inclusive governance. This political unrest echoes real-world tensions around imperialism, autonomy, and reform.

• Heroism and Legacy – Through Wax and especially Wayne, the novel investigates what it means to be a hero. Is it the willingness to fight, to sacrifice, or to live with one’s past? The narrative challenges traditional heroic archetypes, showing that heroism often lies in humility and choice rather than power.

• Divine Intervention and Autonomy – Harmony’s struggle with inaction and the rise of Trell touches on the theme of divine responsibility and mortal agency. The tension between gods watching and humans acting underscores the philosophical backbone of the Cosmere.

• Technological Progress and Its Cost – The story reflects on industrial advancement and its double-edged impact on society. As magic becomes entangled with technology, questions of ethics, innovation, and societal disparity rise to the forefront.

• Sacrifice and Redemption – Deeply personal journeys, especially Wayne’s, revolve around the price of redemption. Characters are forced to confront their guilt and past decisions, making powerful sacrifices that redefine their arcs and the future of their world.

Writing Style and Tone

Brandon Sanderson’s writing in The Lost Metal is brisk, cinematic, and richly textured, combining tight plotting with expansive world-building. He maintains a fast-paced narrative rhythm that swings between action-packed sequences and intricate dialogue-heavy scenes, particularly in political and philosophical discussions. His prose is precise yet evocative, laced with humor and pathos in equal measure, reflecting the complexity of his characters’ inner lives.

The tone oscillates between light-hearted banter, particularly in Wayne’s scenes, and a brooding seriousness as the characters grapple with existential threats. Sanderson’s unique ability to infuse even the direst situations with levity prevents the story from becoming overburdened, while still honoring the gravity of the unfolding events. The stakes feel personal and cosmic simultaneously, thanks to his layered approach to storytelling. Subtle references to the broader Cosmere deepen the sense of continuity without overwhelming newcomers, making this a satisfying, resonant culmination of Era Two.