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.
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.
Every kid has that first book or series that they read on their own. When they no longer needed somebody to read to them and could pick something out for themselves. For me it was Goosebumps. I still have that well loved paperback of "Vampire Breath" in my closet. You really knew what you were getting with those. Short, punchy, often gross and hilarious. David Sodegren's paperbacks are a lot like Goosebumps for adults. A brisk 200 pages, gratuitous kills, with a plot and characters just deep enough to sink your teeth into. At worst they're entertaining and at best they'll be remembered in the genre for years to come.
Although compared to The Haar, I would say this is one of his weaker entries. The novel spends quite a bit of downtime with the characters, giving them a lot of time for their interpersonal drama to the point where it can feel like we're just spinning our wheels in the first half. This is broken up by chapters of Sodegren's typical gratuitous kills where he briefly becomes an Italian gore film director. The problem here is the kills are few and far between and serve little purpose other than to build tension for a climax that's over almost as soon as it arrives. Although I think this short format is usually to Sodegren's benefit, this one could've used a little more runway to really stick that landing.
Every kid has that first book or series that they read on their own. When they no longer needed somebody to read to them and could pick something out for themselves. For me it was Goosebumps. I still have that well loved paperback of "Vampire Breath" in my closet. You really knew what you were getting with those. Short, punchy, often gross and hilarious. David Sodegren's paperbacks are a lot like Goosebumps for adults. A brisk 200 pages, gratuitous kills, with a plot and characters just deep enough to sink your teeth into. At worst they're entertaining and at best they'll be remembered in the genre for years to come.
Although compared to The Haar, I would say this is one of his weaker entries. The novel spends quite a bit of downtime with the characters, giving them a lot of time for their interpersonal drama to the point where it can feel like we're just spinning our wheels in the first half. This is broken up by chapters of Sodegren's typical gratuitous kills where he briefly becomes an Italian gore film director. The problem here is the kills are few and far between and serve little purpose other than to build tension for a climax that's over almost as soon as it arrives. Although I think this short format is usually to Sodegren's benefit, this one could've used a little more runway to really stick that landing.
