We’re thrilled to show off Chris McGrath’s cover for Brandon Sanderson’s latest Mistborn book, Shadows of Self. A few months ago, we announced that Sanderson will be publishing two Mistborn books in quick succession: Shadows of Self this fall, and Bands of Mourning, to be released early next year.
Shadows of Self is expected to be released on October 6 and can be pre-ordered here through iBooks. More information about the book:
With The Alloy of Law, Brandon Sanderson surprised readers with a New York Times bestselling spinoff of his Mistborn books, set after the action of the trilogy, in a period corresponding to late 19th-century America.
The trilogy’s heroes are now figures of myth and legend, even objects of religious veneration. They are succeeded by wonderful new characters, chief among them Waxillium Ladrian, known as Wax, hereditary Lord of House Ladrian but also, until recently, a lawman in the ungoverned frontier region known as the Roughs. There he worked with his eccentric but effective buddy, Wayne. They are “twinborn,” meaning they are able to use both Allomantic and Feruchemical magic.
Shadows of Self shows Mistborn’s society evolving as technology and magic mix, the economy grows, democracy contends with corruption, and religion becomes a growing cultural force, with four faiths competing for converts.
This bustling, optimistic, but still shaky society now faces its first instance of terrorism, crimes intended to stir up labor strife and religious conflict. Wax and Wayne, assisted by the lovely, brilliant Marasi, must unravel the conspiracy before civil strife stops Scadrial’s progress in its tracks.
Shadows of Self will give fans of The Alloy of Law everything they’ve been hoping for and, this being a Brandon Sanderson book, more, much more.
EPIC
Does she look kinda like Keira Knightley?
More like Natalie Portman, but they DO look similar, so, tomato or red delicious, either one works!
Will this novel and Alloy of Law be coming out in the Trade Paperback Format?
@2/3: I’m getting more of a Nicole Kidman vibe from her…
More like Kate Beckinsdale.
I have to admit, I sorta wish Wax didn’t look quite so much like Tom Cruise on the cover, but in my head he can look however I want. :D
Nicole Kidman, and a Tom Cruise/Michael Fassbender twist.
Not that it bothers me at all, can’t wait to read the book
She looks like a good blend between Kate Beckinsale and Keira Knightley, I think.
Is it October yet? No? Well, back to Stormcellar, it is, then.
Liam@@.-@, they are hardcover releases. Generally these books are not in trade paperback unless you get an ARC or an export edition intended for the Philippines or the open market (Europe, etc.).
But Tor might decide to do a trade paperback release for the US years later.
More of a Michelle Forbes if you ask me
He does look like Tom Cruise.
Peter@11, Thank you for answering my question. I have recently purchased the entire Original Mistborn Trilogy in the NA Trade paperback format. Just like to have the Series in the same format.
I’m seeing a brunette Rose and a Doctor Who/Captain Harkness(Tennant/Barrowman) hybrid.
LiamM@14 the issue there is that the new Mistborn trilogy trade paperbacks are in the YA/Teen format. Since Vin is the main character of those, they could be reasonably repackaged as YA. But the Wax & Wayne books just don’t work as YA. So if these books did get a trade paperback release, they wouldn’t be the same size as the first trilogy anyway, but would be the larger adult size.
Peter@16 Ok that makes perfect sense. Oh well, I still really enjoy my copies of the original trilogy. On a different thread will there be a 2015 release of Word’s of Radiance Trade paperback in NA with the Mass paperback release coming out soon?
I don’t expect one. They released a Way of Kings trade paperback last year, 3 years after the mass market paperback release. That doesn’t set a precedent.
I am excited to see more of this. I dearly loved Alloy of Law.
But this was never the way I imagined Marasi. Maybe Ranette, but not Marasi. Assuming that is Marasi.
Still, she looks awesome.
Zen @19 – Heh. You’re right, the woman on the cover fits my impression of Ranette much more than Marasi! Oh well…
I definitely see a little Kate Beckinsale in her. Can’t wait to get this one.
@19 & 20 On the Alloy of Law cover, Wayne was holding a gun without looking like a nervous wreck. I can handle this being Marasi compared to that. That being said, I love the overall feel to the artwork on both covers.
Loved / Love Mistborn! But at this point, everything is just a filler to me while waiting on the stormlight archive books.
Really looking forward to this. While I enjoyed the Mistborn trilogy, The Alloy of Law was just so much fun, and I’ll be snagging the new books as soon as I can. ^_^
Also: I don’t care what they look like on the covers – in my head, Wax is played by David Tennant, and Wayne is played by Nathan Fillion.
@24 – Interesting. I’d have put Nathan as Wax, and … I’m not sure who for Wayne. Someone more ordinary looking I guess, who could blend into a crowd without difficulty. And Emma Watson for Marasi? Lots of good possibilities there.
Looks like a near dead-ringer for Willa Holland (with bonus raised eyebrow) and a mid nineties Christian Bale with sideburns to me. In any case – cool!
Peter@11 The mass market paperback for “the Alloy of Law” came out about a year after the hardcover. What do you think the possibilty of a repeat is for “Shadows of Self”?
I imagined Marasi to look a bit less confident. And doesn’t Wax usually wear a cravat instead of a tie? Anyway, I love the art and I can’t wait for October to come!
I imagine Mark Shepperd as Wax, from Battlestar Galactica and Leverage. Granted, this is probably because the audio book reader voices the character with a similar accent.
As far as Wayne, It depends how old you want to go, but I think Clive Owen would be good.
That’s Nicole Kidman on the cover :D
kaya scodelario and michael fassbender
footegirl@27 Yes, the mass market for Brandon’s books pretty much as a rule comes out between 11 months and 1 year after the hardcover. The only exception is his YA books, where those are technically trade paperbacks rather than mass markets, but they still come out about a year after the hardcover.
She looks like me. I’m Willa Holland. I’m an actress. I’m currently playing Thea Queen in CW’s Arrow.
It seems Miss Willa Holland beat me to it. I honestly thought the image was her at first. The other is closest to fassbender for me.
I’d love to see a movie version with Nathan Fillion and Mark Sheppard as Wax and Wayne. Not sure who I’d cast as Marasi.
I have trouble seeing Nathan Fillion as Wax. I just can’t see Fillion playing it straight enough. Wax is more Sherlock Holmes than anything else. The actor needs to have gravitas and intensity in spades.
Peter@32 Will the e-book edition be released when the hardcover is, or will I have to wait for that?
The ebook will be released the same time as the hardcover.
For those unfamiliar with how Chris McGrath does his covers, here is a quote:
http://www.rantingdragon.com/interview-with-chris-mcgrath-cover-artist/
So simplistically, he has models pose for him, photographs them, and then manipulates the photographs. Any resemblance to other real people is due to the models he uses.
@36 I suppose that’s true, though I didn’t see him as being quite that serious, just much more subtle than Wayne. Not sure who would be better, though. If we go by the covers, he resembles Tom Cruise, but I think that would be terrible casting, as bad as when they cast him as Jack Reacher.
I can see a lot of the faces mentioned, but anyone else get a Luke Wilson vibe from that image? For the woman, I’m seeing dark-haired Scarlett Johannson with that expression, but can certainly see Kidman and Beckinsale too.
Yeah, there’s some Luke Wilson, especially because of the receding hair line, lol.
“and, this being a Brandon Sanderson book, more, much more.”
It’s funny cuz it’s true. : )
I cannt wait till shadows of self comes out.
And yeah that does look like you Willa Holland aka Thea queen in cws arrow. I think you’re a really good actor by the way. :)
In my head, Mark Sheppard (Badger in Firefly & Crowley in Supernatural) is Wayne and Viggo Mortensen) is Wax.
Sterris can be played by whoever will play Jasnah (Rooney Mara but in a blonde wig?) and Marasi can be played by Keira Knightley (please?!)