I’m a sucker for Brandon Sanderson. The Mistborn series (this is book 6) has his signature elaborate world building, and it also tells a story across time- three sets of trilogies in the same world, but set in three different eras.

The premise is that people are given magical powers through metals which connect them with gods. A Coinshot can rapidly push or pull metals other than aluminum. Other characters can make speed bubbles to slow or speed time. There is an elaborate belief system which is explained in the first (oldest in time) trilogy, but I had totally forgotten this by the time Book 6 came out.

At first I almost went back to reread the earlier books but realized I didn’t really need to. Other than some disorientation in the beginning I quickly was able to follow what was happening and soon became engrossed in the book.

The Lost Metal is a story of good guys and bad guys, in a sort of magical cowboy setting. The good guys are for justice and equality. The bad guys want all the power and try to develop a weapon that will both kill all their enemies and curry favor with their gods.

The highlight for me was Wayne, a wise-cracking constable who likes to make mischief and is clever with manipulating time. He is the sidekick you can’t help rooting for. In this book the hero of the previous two in the series, Wax, takes second fiddle, allowing other characters to emerge.

Steris, Wax’s wife, is another unexpected hero. A compulsive neurotic, Steris spends her free time making disaster preparedness plans for her home town of Elendel. When the imminent explosion of a massive bomb requires the sudden evacuation of the city to save thousands of lives, her obsession brings her to center stage.

The magical powers in this book are so unusual this it does help to have read the earlier books in the series. Nonetheless the plot is riveting and the characters quirky. I give this book 4👍 out of 5👍.