Initial Impressions 11/9/15: 4.25 - 4.5 stars 
 SHADOWS OF SELF really ended on a strong, solid, and mind-blowing note... But I will admit that I'm just not connecting to these characters as much as I had the original cast in the first three Mistborn books. I do LOVE them all. I adore Wayne, Marasi is awesome, and Wax is also an enjoyable character. I think it's in part because Wax is a bit... distant? Closed off? Not in a bad way but I just don't feel a lot of emotion from him (in any which way) so it's a bit harder to connect with him. He has his purpose of upholding the law and keeping peace in the city but it wasn't quite enough of a driving force to really compel me to get incredibly invested in his story like I first had with Vin, Kelsier, and Elend. I'm definitely getting there but I've noticed that he doesn't keep me as engaged. 
 I noted in THE ALLOY OF LAW that I was missing so much from the original trilogy and that is DEFINITELY happening in SHADOWS OF SELF. There's a lot more going on in reference to many of the original characters and their trials and tribulations throughout that time which I LOVE. It seems like things might continue to connect in the next book and even dig a little deeper so I'd definitely love to see that. 
 Then ending, like all of these books, was just incredible. I made sure to listen to it (I was listening to the audio) in a larger chunk because I don't have large spans of time to listen to audio a lot of the time (something may have also affected my experience, being chopped up like that) and I definitely needed to give the ending my attention! I love how not only were there TWISTS and SURPRISES and FEELS but more connections were forged to the first three books and a new idea was added. I'm always impressed how this series and these concepts continue to grow. Just when you think you know everything, something else is introduced and it knocks me off my feet in the best way. The surprises at the end totally amazed me. (view spoiler)[Lessie! God metals! Wax and Harmony! Eeeeep! (hide spoiler)] I can't wait for the next book and thankfully I won't have TOO long to wait! 
 Full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 12/28/15: SHADOWS OF SELF was one of my most-anticipated reads of the year. I fell in love with Brandon Sanderson's work over my first read of MISTBORN, became obsessed with his Reckoners Trilogy, and really just can't get enough of the Mistborn world. SHADOWS OF SELF definitely continued the wild ride in this incredible fantasy world and left me wanting even more! 
 One thing I noted in my read of THE ALLOY OF LAW was that it was hard for me to switch to a whole new cast of characters since it picks up a few hundred years after the first three Mistborn books. I was hoping to connect more to the characters in SHADOWS OF SELF and I definitely think I got there but I also feel like I'm still not as into them as I was with the characters of the original trilogy. I'm not sure if it's Wax's logical and law-abiding nature that's throwing me off (I love emotional rogues) or the fact that there really isn't a transition from old characters to new since this takes place so much further after the original timeline but I still wasn't quite making it to the same level of love as I had with the first three books. 
 The character connection is really my only "complaint" about these books, though. I just adore Brandon Sanderson's writing and I'm continuously amazed how things tie together. There are things that were present in the first three or four books that I got answers for in SHADOWS OF SELF and it's a totally mind-blowing experience because I didn't even know I was missing a piece of the puzzle until it was exposed. Sanderson is constantly expanding the world, coming up with new ways to build on previous events, adding more aspects to the rules of the magic system, and really just continuing to grow absolutely everything that he's already established. I love that it all feels natural and whether that was the plan the whole time or he came up with this concepts as he went along, the books really do feel like one big giant piece. 
 The reveals at the end of the book, as always, were simply amazing. Again, pieces I didn't even know I was missing popped up and all at once, everything clicked and I was presented with even more questions about everyone's situation. Ties are made THE ALLOY OF LAW, the Mistborn trilogy, and even things that pre-date MISTBORN. The craftsmanship of these novels is simply remarkable and always leave me wanting more! 
 There was also a lot more connection to the original books in SHADOWS OF SELF as well which easily made me totally geek out. It was so exciting to see specific characters referenced by name, in specific places, and their legacies found within legends. I was so happy to see so much more of the original trilogy referenced because it really brought even more feelings to the surface. 
 It's hard to really get into detail in a review when it's the fifth book in a series but if you're reading this review and you haven't started on the Mistborn books yet, all I can tell you is DO IT. I find it hard to believe that someone can be disappointed with them because everything is just so well done. I'm constantly dying for more and I cannot wait to see how this trio of books closes out!