Joe
I'm not sure I can praise this book in any way it already hasn't been. All I can say is that if you're a fan of high fantasy, this book should be at the top of your list.
maaan what a fun story and entry to the cosmere. the cast of characters were very lovable, as was the motive for this books creation. if you like adult fairy tales a la The Princess Bride and Good Omens, READ THIS BOOK.
Another stellar standalone from the goat.
This book talks a lot about the nature of investiture and covers some of the logic of the magic system found all across the Cosmere. One of the great things about investiture is that it allows the reader to experience wonder and mystery about the “new” magic systems you encounter across Sanderson's work, while also being able to tie all of it back together in an explainable way.
Anyway, not a great starting point if you're new to Sanderson (try Mistborn), but a must read for a fan of the Cosmere.
holy shit what a book. this is now my favorite of the four secret novels, and its not close. what an AMAZING novel. a must read for cosmere fans, however you'll get the most out of it if you've read a lot of other novels in the cosmere.
This book is proof that Sanderson can be funny. I had a blast with this. Go into it expecting a fun story that isn't as deep as some of his other novels, and you'll have a great time.
wowow. what a novella. a super fun story that's essentially a piracy adventure, with a splash of new cosmere knowledge thrown in.
The women in this book are basically present to cry, flirt, and be moms. Even when they're given moments of strength, they're still weak compared to the men. Only reason this gets two stars is because aside from the blatant misogyny the story is quite good. I just can't give the sexism in this one a pass.
I felt pretty meh through this whole book ngl. Never felt drawn into the story like I was hoping to.
what a book. i know the general consensus is that Words of Radiance is everyone's favorite installment in the Stormlight Archive, but (not having read Rhythm of War) this is mine.
potential spoilies ahead.
the most compelling characters ive ever encountered are in this series, and they have the chance to shine in Oathbringer. Dalinar's struggles with his past and the kind of man they make him today feel so authentic and relatable. Shallan trying to separate her identities and figure out who she truly is resonates with those who struggle with imposter syndrome. Kaladin just, well... being Kaladin... is a journey you don't want to miss. Adolin went from a character that is there to a character i'm glad is there.
also, just wanna highlight the most goosebump inducing quote i think i've ever read:
“Ten spears go to battle,” he whispered, “and nine shatter. Did that war forge the one that remained? No, Amaram. All the war did was identify the spear that would not break.”
oooooooo baby. had to put the book down and do a lap around my room after reading that line.
the further i get into this series, the more confident i am that i'll be rereading it all not too far off in the future. dont wait. read the Stormlight Archive.
I'd give this a 4.5 if I could, because I don't think it deserves a 4, but it also isn't quite the 5-star read I've come to expect from Sanderson. I think this books main issue (and it's a small one at that) is its pacing in the last 25% of the book. I felt the story ramping up to its climax, and then before I had a chance to absorb everything, the book was over.
Still totally worth reading, as this novel was great in every other way. The lead characters were very compelling, and their arcs felt nature and complete.
This one took me a while to finish because Baldur's Gate 3 launched and has been consuming every waking moment of my life.
An amazing conclusion to one of my (n0w) favorite series of all time. Sanderson wrapped up all the weaving storylines beautifully and had it finish in a way that made even the most brutal deaths satisfying and justified.
Highly recommend this series to any fantasy lover.
if there was ever a quote to sum up the organized chaos of the Wax & Wayne series, it's this one.
“Plan?” Marasi asked.
“Not dyin”
“Anything more detailed than that?”
“Not dyin... today?”
Looking forward to more with these characters!
what a book. felt shorter at 1200 pages than WoK did at 1000 pages.
the grand scale of the battles and conflicts in this book are incredible. i usually have a hard time picturing everything im reading in my head, but not so with this. sanderson paints such a clear picture of the story he's telling, and though there's a lot of information you're constantly taking in, it still feels manageable.
the magic system in stormlight archives continues to grow deeper, and im so excited to see how it expands further in oathbringer.
im thoroughly enjoying this series, and cant wait to start the next one.
A great read to dive into after finishing Elantris. This Novella takes place in the same world as Elantris, just on the other side. There are some minor concept spoilers for Elantris here, so I'd recommend reading that book first.