The Bands of Mourning (2016) is the sixth novel in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series and the third installment in the Wax & Wayne era, blending fantasy, steampunk, and Western adventure. Set in the rapidly industrializing world of Scadrial, the story follows Waxillium Ladrian, a nobleman-turned-lawman with Allomantic powers, and his eccentric partner Wayne as they hunt for the legendary Bands of Mourning—artifacts said to grant the powers of the Lord Ruler himself. Their quest leads them to airships, frozen mountains, and a conspiracy involving the elusive Set, all while uncovering secrets about Wax’s own lineage and the god Harmony’s hidden plans.
Sanderson’s trademark twists—including a bombshell ending that recontextualizes the entire Mistborn saga—elevate this beyond a simple treasure hunt. Themes of faith, progress, and redemption intertwine with kinetic action sequences and Wayne’s irreverent humor. The Misborn saga is a Hugo Award Nominee for Best Series (2017)
For fans, The Lost Metal (2022) concludes Wax & Wayne’s arc, while The Alloy of Law (2011) introduces the duo.
The Stormlight Archive
The Mistborn trilogy
- Mistborn: The Final Empire
- The Well of Ascension
- The Hero of Ages
- Alloy of Law
- Shadows of Self
- Bands of Mourning
