Hark
Brandon Sanderson has become a titan in the landscape of modern SF/F. He's achieved this with his epic world building, great pacing and bombastic climaxes to keep readers hooked and The Stormlight Archive, poised as his magnum opus, is no different. Sanderson did something that was thought almost unthinkable at the time of the first books release, he created a fresh, unique setting in a post Tolkien world. But instead of crafting heroes of myth as his cast he's instead put everyday people with everyday struggles as his cast and that's where it's story is most compelling.
Wind and Truth is the mid point climax in a planned 10 book series. As Sanderson's novels are know for there climaxes I had high expectations for this one. Perhaps too high. One major problem I've always had with this series is it's length. Each novel is over 1000 pages long, with that i have no problem but I feel it must be justified. It's as if these are multiple novels stapled together, with some plotlines feeling as if they should've been omitted and published separately as a novella as they're not immediately relevant to the book's major plots. At its worse they feel like set up for future projects. It's incredible that Sanderson can have such great pacing while also making the reader feel like we're spinning our wheels until the finale is within view. Despite this being Sanderson's epic fantasy series each novel suffers from some major flaw that really prevents it from being truly exceptional and cemting it as this generations Lord of the Rings or Wheel of Time. The series was often able to deftly weave discussions of mental health yet in W&T it often feels clumsy or heavy handed. The number of pov's skyrockets here with character switching often happening mid chapter, sometimes even jumping back and forth and back between different characters, in different places for the same chapter. Worst of all are the last minute reveals that serve only to undermine character choices. Wind & Truth has left me frustrated and conflicted. It's the blockbuster season finale of a series I love but I can't help feeling this could've been better. Sanderson is known for his staggering output but I would trade that output in a heartbeat if he would spend that time tightening up his mainline novels. Despite all that it does right I can't help but feel this one failed to live up to all the promises set before it. Journey before destination indeed.
Brandon Sanderson has become a titan in the landscape of modern SF/F. He's achieved this with his epic world building, great pacing and bombastic climaxes to keep readers hooked and The Stormlight Archive, poised as his magnum opus, is no different. Sanderson did something that was thought almost unthinkable at the time of the first books release, he created a fresh, unique setting in a post Tolkien world. But instead of crafting heroes of myth as his cast he's instead put everyday people with everyday struggles as his cast and that's where it's story is most compelling.
Wind and Truth is the mid point climax in a planned 10 book series. As Sanderson's novels are know for there climaxes I had high expectations for this one. Perhaps too high. One major problem I've always had with this series is it's length. Each novel is over 1000 pages long, with that i have no problem but I feel it must be justified. It's as if these are multiple novels stapled together, with some plotlines feeling as if they should've been omitted and published separately as a novella as they're not immediately relevant to the book's major plots. At its worse they feel like set up for future projects. It's incredible that Sanderson can have such great pacing while also making the reader feel like we're spinning our wheels until the finale is within view. Despite this being Sanderson's epic fantasy series each novel suffers from some major flaw that really prevents it from being truly exceptional and cemting it as this generations Lord of the Rings or Wheel of Time. The series was often able to deftly weave discussions of mental health yet in W&T it often feels clumsy or heavy handed. The number of pov's skyrockets here with character switching often happening mid chapter, sometimes even jumping back and forth and back between different characters, in different places for the same chapter. Worst of all are the last minute reveals that serve only to undermine character choices. Wind & Truth has left me frustrated and conflicted. It's the blockbuster season finale of a series I love but I can't help feeling this could've been better. Sanderson is known for his staggering output but I would trade that output in a heartbeat if he would spend that time tightening up his mainline novels. Despite all that it does right I can't help but feel this one failed to live up to all the promises set before it. Journey before destination indeed.