About the Book
Shadows of Self is the second book in Brandon Sanderson's Wax and Wayne series, set in the Mistborn universe roughly three hundred years after the original trilogy. Scadrial has modernized, there are railroads, electric lighting, and steel-framed buildings, but Allomancy and Feruchemy are still very much part of daily life and law enforcement. The protagonist, Waxillium Ladrian, is a lawman-turned-nobleman who finds that the investigative instincts he built on the frontier translate surprisingly well to the city.
The story centers on a wave of violence disrupting Elendel's political stability. A shapeshifting Faceless Immortal appears to be orchestrating events, and Wax is pulled into an investigation that cuts closer to home than he expected. The tone is darker than the first Wax and Wayne book, more personal, more politically tangled, while still keeping the action and wit that define the series.
This is not a good entry point for new readers. It assumes familiarity with the Wax and Wayne era, and some background knowledge of the original Mistborn trilogy helps with context. If you're coming in cold, start with The Alloy of Law.
Narration & Audio Performance
Michael Kramer has narrated the entire Mistborn series across both eras, which means he's had years to settle into these characters. His performance here is consistent with the earlier books, clear, well-paced, and capable of differentiating between the main cast. Wax's more serious register and Wayne's loose, comedic delivery come through distinctly, which matters in a book where the tone shifts between the two frequently.
Kramer's style is measured rather than theatrical. He doesn't push for dramatic effect, which suits Sanderson's prose well, the writing handles the drama, and Kramer keeps things clean and readable. Some listeners find this approach a little flat during more emotionally intense scenes, but for an action-heavy fantasy novel with long dialogue exchanges, it's a practical fit. The pacing holds up well across a long listening session, which is important for Sanderson's books given their length.
Production quality is standard for Tor audiobooks, no music or sound effects, just narration, which is the right call for this kind of material.
The Audible Verdict
Kramer's narration is reliable and consistent with the rest of the series, making this a solid audio experience for existing Mistborn fans. The book doesn't gain anything special from the audio format, but it doesn't lose anything either. If you've been listening to this series on Audible already, continuing here makes sense, use a free trial credit if you're coming in fresh.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Shadows of Self is a linear, plot-driven fantasy novel with clear chapter structure and dialogue-heavy scenes. That makes it a reasonable match for audio. There are no charts, maps critical to following the story, or structural experiments that would cause problems in the format. The world-building is embedded in the narrative rather than set apart in appendices, so you won't feel like you're missing essential reference material.
The main consideration is series position. If you're already listening to Sanderson on Audible, continuing with Kramer's narration maintains consistency and saves the mental overhead of adjusting to a new voice mid-series. If you're new to this world, the audio format doesn't make the onboarding any harder than print would, but you'd still want to start with an earlier book before this one.
Popular Listener Questions
Is this a standalone book, or do I need to read the series in order?
You should read The Alloy of Law first, Shadows of Self is the second book in the Wax and Wayne series and picks up directly from the relationships and events established there. Some familiarity with the original Mistborn trilogy also helps, though it's not strictly required.
Is this the same narrator as the other Mistborn audiobooks?
Yes. Michael Kramer has narrated the Mistborn series consistently across both the original trilogy and the Wax and Wayne era, so the voice and style will be familiar if you've listened to earlier entries.
Is this appropriate for younger listeners?
The Wax and Wayne books are written for adults. The content is darker than typical YA fantasy, there's violence, political corruption, and emotionally heavy themes in this particular installment. Teenagers who are comfortable with adult fantasy will likely handle it fine, but it's worth knowing the tone shifts darker here compared to the first Wax and Wayne book.
Does the audio version work if I've been reading the print versions?
Yes. Switching from print to audio mid-series is straightforward here, Kramer's narration is consistent enough that it adds context rather than disrupting how you've imagined the characters.
Similar Audiobooks
The first book in the Wax and Wayne series, essential reading before Shadows of Self, and narrated by Michael Kramer in the same style.
The beginning of the original Mistborn trilogy, which provides foundational context for the world and magic system explored in the Wax and Wayne books.
Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series, also narrated by Michael Kramer, a natural next step for readers who want more from the same creative pairing.
Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicle shares a similar blend of detailed world-building, a magic system with internal logic, and a protagonist defined by practical competence.
Bands of Mourning
The third book in the Wax and Wayne series, the direct continuation after Shadows of Self, narrated by Michael Kramer.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Shadows of Self |
|---|---|
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Narrator | Michael Kramer |
| Genre | Epic Fantasy |
| Year | 2015 |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
Shadows of Self is available on Audible, a reasonable use of a free trial credit if you're already following the Mistborn series in audio format.
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