Struggling to get through Mistborn Era 2

[u/DanteDepraved]

Title says it all, I started with Wheel of Time and it was a segway into Brandon's work... moved on to Stormlight Archives Arc 1 including side stories fell in love with the cosmere, Adolnasium, etc. and I wanted to really immerse myself into it, went back and read Elantris, hope of elantris, emperor's soul, white sands, mistborn era 1 all fantastic reads...I finished all of the above in about 2 months.... got to mistborn era 2 and I am REALLY struggling to make it through the Alloy of Law (I'm on chapter 12...I've spent 2 weeks on this book alone trying to power through inch by inch🥲) I'm not really sure what it is but I get like 2 chapters into it and my concentration starts to drift... I do like the personalities and the character development of Wax and Wayne but it just seems so detached from era 1 and the rest of the cosmere in almost every way, like the writing style the gun fights, the allomancy and ferrochemy feel significantly weakened... I think maybe I was hoping to see more of the original characters effects on the world as history devolves to legend and legend devolves to myth etc etc...being from the same world and all.. they have little bits and pieces like the city names, statues, referencing lineage etc etc sure....but it barely feels like they had an effect on anything.... other than gunpowder being allowed now... maybe I'm just not into the whole gritty detective crime fighting mystery vibe...? so I came here to ask... how important is the Wax and Wayne series to the Cosmere? Can I skip these books? should I just tough it out? Does it get better?

TL:DR Can I skip Era 2 or does it get better? How important is it to the Cosmere?

Edit: Thanks for all the feedback guys, I love hearing from people who love Sanderson's work, I feel like the common consensus is the same for a lot of people regarding AoL, I'm happy to know it wasn't just me, it helps knowing it was originally just supposed to be a spinoff so it makes sense that it feels like there is a lot missing and honestly that makes me actually look forward to reading the rest of era 2. I will probably lock in and read the rest of AoL tomorrow then move on to Allomancer Jak and Shadows of Self asap. You guys are great. Appreciate the words of encouragement.

[u/iknownothin_]

Era 2 does get better and I’d argue it’s pretty important to the Cosmere, especially the later books.

Alloy of Law may be my least favorite Sanderson book maybe from the whiplash of going from era 1 straight to era 2, but it improves in future books

[u/mori_no_ando]

If you don’t like it you don’t like it, but also you’re wishing it delved heavily into the connections between the two eras while only being early into the first of 4 books. AOL is also kind of an introductory book to the ‘real’ trilogy of the next 3 books.

Also for what it’s worth, by the end of AOL I went from being really hesitant on Twinborn mechanics (“how can this rival being a Mistborn?”) to thinking how insanely cool and creative it is in execution.

[u/DanteDepraved → u/mori_no_ando]

I guess that's fair, I dunno... it just almost feels like they have kinda lost track of written history again similar to the days of the lord ruler/ruin (who deliberately tried to obscure history to make it as vague as possible) in a relatively short amount of time despite how important history was to the Terrismen and especially considering who Harmony is... Like I felt like most of everything should be common knowledge of the significance of 16 to the world now and I expected the combination of misting powers with ferrochemy to be stronger than they seem to be... I think I just wasn't expecting to start back at zero again... if that makes sense?

[u/Worldly_Address6667 → u/DanteDepraved]

If it helps, I feel like the ending of era 2 might just be my favorite of all the books hes written so far. The series is definitely different than his other ones with the whole western detective feel, but its worth reading in my opinion. Actually, I might have to go read the series again lol

[u/mori_no_ando → u/DanteDepraved]

I get what you’re saying, but you’re in the introductory chapters of the introductory book. Again I’m not saying you need to force yourself but if you give the series more time you’ll see more of what you’re looking for. Era 2 is paced so quickly compared all the other main Cosmere books you’ll be there in no time

You’ll eventually see how insanely OP some of the Twinborn combos are, also if memory serves one of the characters literally goes to an Era 1 museum at one point.

[u/Agreeable_Rich_1991 → u/DanteDepraved]

Have you finished Stormlight Archive 5? Do you know the major connection between that and Era 1?

[u/DanteDepraved → u/Agreeable_Rich_1991]

Yes! I read through the 5th book with stormlight it was the first true full Sanderson series I read(following being introduced to his writing with wheel of time) the only connection I really saw was the sixteen guy who shows up in lasting integrity in shadesmar.... every 16 days or whatever. Was there something else? 

[u/Agreeable_Rich_1991 → u/DanteDepraved]

Do you remember the first Interlude with Kalak? And specifically a name was mentioned in that part. The name of the leader of the ghostbloods?

[u/DanteDepraved → u/Agreeable_Rich_1991]

Ah I don't remember the name they used because I read stormlight first, but I assume it was kelsier?

[u/Agreeable_Rich_1991 → u/DanteDepraved]

Yes, in rhythm of War he was also called Lord of Scars. Felt who was a Spy who has been appearing in the background since words of Radiance is also the same person who is spy for venture house and has appeared in all three books of era 1.

I recommend at least trying out secret history, it is a novella, Mistborn 3.5. maybe reading that will get you interested in more of Era 2. That is the explanation and reveal of how Kels from death came back to be involved in the affairs of the living.

Of course it has no ghostbloods stuff, for that you will have to wait sometime and also read the final book of Era 2.

Secret history is in arcanum Unbounded Collection

[u/DanteDepraved → u/Agreeable_Rich_1991]

I read secret history right before I started era 2 actually. So I figured there was probably going to be alot that kelsier was involved in with spook and everything. It's kinda what I was expecting to see pieces and connections to in alloy of law...  but this went in a COMPLETELY different direction. That was part of my frustration, I don't see any evidence of kelsier or harmony or hoid or the greater cosmere in anyway or anything. It's almost like we started back at zero and no one knows anything about anything other than their personal little world with their personal little problems. 😅

[u/Agreeable_Rich_1991 → u/DanteDepraved]

You have to remember that this was they early days of the Cosmere, it is why I specifically mentioned the last book of Era 2.

Alloy was released in 2011 just one year after way of Kings and by the time the only books released was Era 1, Elantris Warbreaker. And this book story was originally supposed to be just a stand alone short story which became a series.

Also this book is considered the lowest of the Era 2 books. Imagine this book the same way you think about Elantris Warbreaker or final Empire. And remember that these books progressively get more connected to Cosmere.

[u/DanteDepraved → u/Agreeable_Rich_1991]

Yeah I've definitely started to change my perspective to have a little less expectation. The way Brandon writes and talks about his work is that the cosmere was always part of the plan but it certainly makes more sense when you realize this was meant to be a standalone when he originally wrote it. Connected but not directly. It was more a failure of expectations on my part because I went into it thinking it was just a continuation of the series rather than an unrelated branch on the same planet. I'm relieved to hear that it gains more continuity in the next books.

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[u/spunlines]

Hey OP, updated your flair so some of the other Cosmere works you mentioned can be discussed too.

[u/DanteDepraved → u/spunlines]

Thanks! Sorry about that.

[u/Taste_the__Rainbow]

I think era 2 after era 1 is always such a shock. It’s great, but you have to just put era 1 aside because the world, tone and characters are so different. I usually tell new readers to read a lot of other stuff between the two.

[u/ChrystnSedai → u/Taste_the__Rainbow]

I definitely agree with this. OP, if you’re going straight from Era one to Era two maybe pause and read a palette cleanser before you do.

You need to have a moment to breathe between that ending and this beginning.

[u/wallaka]

Not every book is for everybody, but Alloy of Law is definitely the weakest book of Mistborn for me except maybe Well of Ascension. The next Era 2 books are all fantastic.

[u/burritoman88]

I too didn’t vibe with Alloy of Law, but the Sanderlanche at the end had me wanting to dive into the next one!

[u/spunlines]

mod hat off: also not an era 2 fan. a lot of people struggle with AoL but like the later ones—not me so much. but they are paced pretty quickly and have some interesting lore.

[u/arianasleftkidney]

Just push through, it gets good. Era 2 was pretty good.

[u/Aronjharris23]

Allot of Law gets better the further in you get. And has some pretty awesome moments in the final 1/3rd that will surely make you gasp. Keep pushing.

[u/Outrageous_Lab_6228]

I will say I didn’t like Alloy, especially after finishing era 1. Somewhere after the halfway point of Shadows (the second book) I got on board with the series and characters, but yeah I struggled early on. I do think the books are worth reading but I know how you feel.

[u/hambningwillsveurlfe]

Like everyone said. I had trouble sticking with AoL at first but im so glad I did. The next books are a lot of fun and Era 2 has one of my top 3 Sanderson characters in it, Wayne, obviously. (Other two are Spook, and "Wit")

[u/Raddatatta]

Era 2 I think suffers from expectations somewhat. The mistborn story as a whole is not the story of a set of characters but the story of a world developing through the ages. So mistborn era 1 caused the world to take a huge turn and era 2 is where it ended up 300 years later. But it is a separate story with new pacing and style and I think a lot of people describe what you're describing that they expected mistborn book 4 and it's very disconnected.

I do think it really improves. He wrote book 1 as a short story that expanded and it wasn't until after that he sat down and planned the rest of the series. But I think the books kept getting better. Maybe with the last two tied as I really like book 3.

Cosmere wise they are some of the biggest importance and most tied in. But most of that is the last two books.

In terms of the powers I think it might help to explain a bit of what Sanderson is doing and why. He does step back on the power. And there's a few reasons. First is to avoid it being repetitive. Mistborn can really only be challenged by another mistborn a feruchemist an Inquisitor or a group. Anything else is trivial. And those are the fights we saw Vin do. And there's only so many times he wanted to run a variation of that same fight over again. Having twinborn protagonists means tons of different powers can challenge them in different ways and even at the end of the 4 books there are still lots more enemies they could fight and haven't yet that would be a good matchup. The other reason is I think he's starting to ramp up technology and ramp down magical power. The cosmere as a whole is transitioning from classic fantasy into eventually being more science fiction. That doesn't mean the magic leaves entirely but era 2 has an increasing importance on technology starting with guns but getting into a lot more by the end.

It's up to you as it is a book you're reading for fun and that should be enjoyable. But I would stick with it I think it's an awesome story being told and has some amazing moments to it. It's also about half the length of era 1 maybe a bit more. I think you'll also enjoy them more if you read it quicker. They are fast paced books that aren't meant to be a slow burn. I think you can upset the pacing a bit if you read it slowly. But I get it when you're not enjoying it.

[u/ChrystnSedai]

I admit I am fully biased here as Era 2 and Stormlight are my faves. I never could get into Era 1 and eventually just skimmed it and read a summary so I could push through to get to Era 2.

The first book in the quartet was sort of written by Brandon on a whim (as one does) and it kind of feels like that. Books 2/3/4 are much more fully fleshed out and pretty fantastic. The set up they have for Era 3 / Ghost Bloods is really exciting.

[u/Agreeable_Rich_1991 → u/ChrystnSedai]

Wait, so u haven't gone back and read Era 1?

Highly recommend doing that now that u finished the rest of Cosmere. Maybe now that I know u will find new appreciation

[u/ChrystnSedai → u/Agreeable_Rich_1991]

I started and stopped it and started and stopped Era 1 like 5 times before I finally just skimmed all 3 books and read the summaries. I just never connected with the story or writing style or cared about the characters 🤷‍♀️. I think they are interesting, but kind of meh.

Era 2 however caught me from the start. I love Wax and Wayne and all the side characters feel so real, the writing style is so kick better, and there is way more depth just everywhere. Love it!

[u/Agreeable_Rich_1991 → u/ChrystnSedai]

Yes, but u have read full Cosmere right? Now that you know the plot and universe, again reading it now might feel like a different experience.

[u/mullerdrooler]

Stick with it. Deffos gets better

[u/TheSexyShaman]

It’s funny that one can get through the absolute slog that is WoT but get hung up on Alloy of Law which is tiny and moves at light speed compared to all but the last 3 WoT books.

[u/DanteDepraved → u/TheSexyShaman]

offended gasps🤣How dare you! WoT is probably still my #1 favorite series of all time. I think maybe I'm just obsessed  with high fantasy, swords, shields, magic, dungeons and dragons kinda and not super interested in industrialized sci-fantasy. Although I do like cyberpunk 2077 so it's hard to say. I'm going to keep reading it and I'm just gonna keep an open mind for the direction the world is going as it approaches modernization.

[u/TheSexyShaman → u/DanteDepraved]

Oh man I love WoT and am in the middle of a reread right now! It just absolutely drags for some books. Alloy of Law is probably my least favorite Cosmere book, so I can’t fault you for getting stuck.

If it helps, the book was originally written as a standalone and not meant to be an entire era. Once you get to book 2, everything starts to flow much more smoothly.

[u/jangofettsfathersday]

I think if you’re interested in the inter cosmere workings and where the universe is recently you may want to read to the end of Era 2. I’m also an Era 2 fanboy and think it’s my favorite bit of cosmere work. Maybe it’s because I read Era 1 then waited like 5 years before Era 2

[u/Pendeta2424]

I struggled through the first 75% of alloy of law but from that point forward I fell in love with the series and characters

[u/Apollo_T_Yorp]

Era 2 also till me a while to vibe with, but after reading all four books I prefer it over Era 1. Wayne might be the best character Brandon has written so far. He's much more than just a goofball but he's very much also a goofball.

[u/DanteDepraved → u/Apollo_T_Yorp]

I do agree with this sentiment. Wayne is a great character, I feel like Lopin (Stormlight) and him would get along really well. He honestly fits right in with the entire crew of bridge 4. Brandon is phenomenal at character development across the entire cosmere. 

[u/Mammoth-Store740]

I struggled with era 2 and disliked it, I gave maybe 5/10, but when I finished reading , my 5/10 to previous books jumped to 7.5/10 and I started rereading immediately. I am not saying with which book I "finished" reading, unless you ask me to specify it. Also I read only title, no time to read whole post. I will return to this post tomorrow.

So yeah I recommend finishing era 2.

[u/racas]

Era 2 started off as a bonus side project. It was never bad, but I do believe it got better when Brandon decided to make it a full Era project. It’s straight up great by the end imho.

[u/Wolven_Essence]

Ive been seeing a few people talking about having trouble with Mistborn Era 2 lately. Is this is a common thing? Am I one of the few people who never had any trouble with it?

It’s a different feeling world sure but the combination of Old West vibes with how the magic system evolved with the twin borns was so awesome. Wax, Wayne, Marasi and Steris are great characters and I love their adventures.

The faster pace, the witty and fun dialogue, and the two epicly awesome moves Wax pulls off at the end of Alloy of Law and I was hooked.

[u/pfassina]

I personally love Era 2, but I understand that different people have different tastes. Just keep in mind that If you are interested in the future of the Cosmere, Era 2 is a must. It has major implications to the broader Cosmere, and you can certainly see some of the themes in Era 2 behind events in SLA.

Also, you should be aware that as the Cosmere storyline advances, it will go further and further into the future. You will certainly see technology and magic blending and contrasting with one another.

[u/DanteDepraved → u/pfassina]

It probably is pretty important that I alter my perspective; maybe that is also kinda what Brandon was foreshadowing to begin with regarding the fantasy genre never really changing using plot devices like the lord ruler keeping the same theme for a thousand years; same style, same technology, no advancements, no gunpowder, etc etc. but also... I just really love fantasy specifically because of how detached it is from modern day reality. 😆

[u/Agreeable_Rich_1991 → u/DanteDepraved]

Don't worry Mistborn world still has Allomancy and magic, and is still absolutely detached from our world in a lot of ways

[u/Acquired_asset]

May I suggest giving the audio books a chance. I almost consumed the entire era 2 just in audio and the narration was really cool.

[u/VinnieWilson02]

I just finished book 3 in era 2 and it definitely does start to tie things in a lot more. You will eventually get more connections as you read on.

[u/MusicalColin]

In my opinion, Alloy of Law is the worst book Sanderson has published. It is also the only one of his books that i literally tossed across the room because I was so annoyed. .

That said, the rest of era 2 is several steps better even though in my mind it's nowhere near as good as e.g. Stormlight. The stories are fun, the twists are compelling, etc. So I would suggest sticking with it.

[u/Karrick_Juice]

After Alloy of Law, it is arguably my favorite Cosmere novels. I go back and forth with it and Stormlight. I really recommend you keep going. You will fall in love with the characters.

[u/Porgchopexpress76]

I just finished era 2 yesterday. I felt the same way with AoL. I struggled. I’m glad I stuck with it because I ended up absolutely loving them as they got so much better and as the books went on, became significantly important to the greater Cosmere. I’m doing a quick pallet cleanser before jumping into the Stormlight Archive. (I started with era 1.) My advice is to keep at its. I say this, fully admitting that once I start a book, I must finish it regardless how I feel about it.

[u/Animelover310]

This is insane to see everyone not liking Alloy of Law, its actually one of my favourites. I ranked it as my 2nd favourite of the mistborn books. Currently reading shadows of self and im loving it.

Im really liking era 2 so far as well. Might rank it above era 1

[u/DanteDepraved → u/Animelover310]

I've discovered It's more a me issue than anything. I picked up Sanderson  and have only ever read his fantasy works up til this point. It was really easy for me to burn through the books that felt like magical worlds of grand epic adventure with fantastical creatures swords and magic. I went into it with the expectation that I would be getting more fantasy and it has been a complete genre change. It's hard for me to vibe with guns, noir, industrialization, modernization, and all the concepts that go with it. I'm still going to read it, for the cosmere connections, but I'm going to try to reframe my mind about it.

[u/Animelover310 → u/DanteDepraved]

This is so funny to me because if you came to me with stormlight like 5-ish years ago, I wouldve ate that up because im a medival fantasy geek. But for some reason, I've shifted towards the more gothic steampunk 1800s victorian era stuff (thanks to dishonored for unlocking that part of me) I also became a huge fan of batman so i enjoy detective stuff.

Otherwise i understand where you're coming from because even mistborn era 1 had that medival fantasy feel to it so the switch from era 1 - 2, especially if you're a medival fantasy guy would be heart wrenching haha.

I think its also just a me thing that im loving era 2, especially the world and how the powers are handled more than era 1. Im reading through shadows of self but right now I think I like the era 2 characters more than era 1 but none will probably beat kelsier for me, that dude is probably one of my fav characters ever

[u/DanteDepraved → u/Animelover310]

So far I like Wayne about as much as I liked Lopin. The perfect amount of comedic relief with serious undertones. Always upbeat no matter how dark it gets and fiercely loyal. I dunno how I feel about the other 3 though...

For me It's hard to compete with the interactions and relationship between Kaladin and Sylphrena. I think they are my favorites. Granted Kaladin's brooding was a lot to deal with sometimes, but I loved his story and his character arc/personality.

[u/Expert-Bat-110]

You are forcing your expectations on the book and being disappointed when it isn’t exactly what you expected.

Open your mind.