History Literature / ShadowsOfSelf

* ImmuneToBullets: Ten Soon warns Wax that his modern weapons will be useless against the new hemalurgic constructs Bleeder has created. Subverted immediately though: it turns out they just take MoreDakka, which [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter Wax is happy to provide.]]

** The [[spoiler:suicide method for Kandra mentioned by MeLaan]].

* DiabolusExMachina: When Wax is able to finally [[spoiler: defeat Bleeder with a bullet made of his Hemalurgic earring, she reveals that she's his not-so-dead wife Lessie, then begins a newly developed, irreversible suicide method for Kandra that kills her in less than a page's space.]]

* MedievalStasis: Far from ''medieval'', but Harmony does note that, due to the fact that he's largely given them everything they need, the people haven't advanced as quickly as they're supposed to. They were supposed to have radio a century ago, and they haven't made any advancements in aeronautics at all. They haven't even made developments in ''irrigation and farming' because the Elendel basin is so fertile anything you stick into the ground will grow fast and healthy.

* InLoveWithTheMark: [[spoiler:Harmony sent Paalm to Wax (as Lessie) when he was in the Roughs to act as a bodyguard. But she fell in love with him, so when Harmony ordered her to send him back to Elendel, she refused, knowing he was far happier in the Roughs. He pushed harder, and eventually the event with Bloody Tan occurred]].

* MedievalStasis: Far from ''medieval'', but Harmony does note that, due to the fact that he's largely given them everything they need, the people haven't advanced as quickly as they're supposed to. They were supposed to have radio a century ago, and they haven't made any advancements in aeronautics at all.

* DiabolusExMachina: When Wax is able to finally [[spoiler: defeat Bleeder with a bullet made of his Hemalurgic earring, she reveals that she's his not-so-dead wife Lessie, then begins a previously-unknown, seemingly-irreversible suicide method for Kandra that kills her in less than a page's space.]] This contradicts both her love for Wax and everything we knew about Kandra. Somebody took a cop-out with his plot twist juice.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: While Harmony is grumbling about Elendel's lack of announcement, he mentions that "others" who haven't had as many advantages have progressed farther. This references the people on the other side of the planet, who the author has mentioned in interviews.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Part of Elendel's widespread corruption is dealt with, the mob that was about to burn down the city was eventually dispersed. In the process Wax discovers that Lessie, the woman he loved in the Roughs, was actually a Kandra bodyguard planted by Harmony who then kills herself in order to remain free of Harmony's influence.]]

* ExtremelyShortTimeSpan: The bulk of the narrative, not counting the intro, the epilogue, and a few flashbacks, takes place over the course of less than two days.

* ExtremelyShortTImeSpan: The bulk of the narrative, not counting the intro, the epilogue, and a few flashbacks, takes place over the course of less than two days.

* VictoriasSecretCompartment: [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated.]] Some women can hide objects in their cleavage, but [[spoiler: [=MeLaan=]]] has them all beat: [[spoiler: being a kandra, she can actually store objects ''inside of her breasts''!]]

* VictoriasSecretCompartment: [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated.]] Some women can hide objects in their cleavage, but [[spoiler: MeLaan]] has them all beat: [[spoiler: being a kandra, she can actually store objects ''inside of her breasts''!]]

* VitriolicBestBuds: Steris and Wayne have taken to insulting each other. It's not clear if they're friends that don't actually like each other, or enemies that kind of like each other. [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]], however. Steris is doing it because she's trying to genuinely connect with Wayne. Wayne, however, outright states [[BrutalHonesty he finds her repulsive]].

* VitriolicBestBuds: Steris and Wayne have taken to insulting each other in a friendly manner. It's not clear if they're friends that don't actually like each other, or enemies that kind of like each other.

* BloodMagic: The book Marsh (who, it should be noted, is seen as the Grim Reaper) gave Marasi at the end of ''Alloy'' turns out to be his own personal journal, detailing his careful study of Hemalurgy.

* DamselOutOfDistress: Marassi is taken hostage early on as part of a standoff. She takes advantage of a moment's distraction to pull out a revolver and [[BoomHeadshot shoot him in the head]].