Book description
Hey, have you ever wanted to hop on a time-traveling train that's stuck between the age of coal and the age of skyscrapers? No? Well, strap in, because The Bands of Mourning is that train, and it's a rumble-through-history kind of ride, narrated with the kind of enthusiasm that only a true Mistborn fan can deliver.
First off, this isn't your run-of-the-mill fantasy. It's set 300 years after the original trilogy, so Scadrial is straddling the cusp of the Industrial Revolution. Imagine electric streetlamps flickering on a canal-lined boulevard, a steam-powered locomotive chugging past a glittering steel-framed tower that's practically hugging the clouds. Sanderson throws us into this oddly anachronistic world where the Lord Ruler's legacy is still alive-literally, in the form of the mythical "Bands of Mourning." Think metal-minded suits of armor that grant the wearer the powers of the Lord Ruler himself. If that's not enough to make your head spin, consider the plot.
Waxillium Ladrian, the protagonist (yes, that Waxillium-no, he's not a waxy fellow, just a pretty name), is summoned north from Elendel by a kandra researcher who's come back with pictures that look like they were taken by a very confused paparazzo. These images supposedly depict the Bands, but they're wrapped in a language nobody can decode. Classic Sanderson-cryptic clues, high stakes, and a mystery that feels like a treasure hunt where the treasure is literally a metal suit of mind-control.
As Wax travels south to New Seran, the plot thickens like a well-stirred potion. He encounters hints about his uncle Edwarn and the shadowy organization known as The Set. Edwarn-who you might think is just another "old family guy"-turns out to have ambitions that could tip the scales of power in Scadrial. The Set? Think of them as the corporate shadow of a modern empire, pulling strings from the back rooms of skyscrapers while the city blinks to the rhythm of progress.
What makes this audiobook shine is the narrator's voice-energetic, slightly sarcastic, and perfectly tuned to Sanderson's worldbuilding. The pacing keeps you engaged, the dialogue is snappy, and the humor is sprinkled like confetti. The narrator never loses the thread, even when the plot goes from railroads to high-tech mind-suits.
The biggest win is the way the book bridges the old and new. You get the familiar Mistborn magic, but with a twist of modernity that feels like a science-fiction-meets-fantasy mashup. It's a clever reminder that the future can still have a past-especially when the past is made of metal and mind.
Bottom line: if you've ever wanted to ride a steampunk train into a future that still hoards the Lord Ruler's power, this audiobook delivers. Sanderson has wrapped a mystery, a quest, and a satirical nod to corporate intrigue into a package that's as fun as it is thought-provoking. Grab a seat, enjoy the ride, and remember: in Scadrial, the past is literally in the metal, and the future is a bit too bright for comfort.
Street Squirrel
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Grotas
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Mauve Cactus
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Stud muffin
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Green Scavenger
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Domino
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Sass Burst
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Alberta
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Spoiler
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Swedish Twizz
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Goldman
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience