Marius Sørensen
7.5/10
Part 2 was awesome! Some classic but fun fantasy elements even though everything feels kinda obvious. However, when rating this book, it is important to remember that part 1 is absolutely horrendous.
10/10 for the book (second readthrough)
10/10 for the Graphic Audio adaption
This book is just too good. The way Sanderson pushes the plot forward through the characters is perfect. The world expands at a record speed and it is perfect when reading this for the second time. The first time was marked with confusion, but this time I appreciate the concepts of the Cosmere and the foreshadowing on a whole other level. Onto the next one!
I have never listened to anything Graphic Audio before, but it was awesome. I do understand that some people think it is a bit too much, but I find it fun compared to many regular audiobooks. I was thoroughly immersed in every one of the pivotal moments on this listen.
7/10
This is a classic Sanderson work, but it lacks the absolute polish and finesse he has developed in his later books. Some of the twists in this book feel awesome while others feel lackluster and overlooked.
Just like with all the other Cosmere works I can't wait to see how all this is going to tie together in the end.
7.5/10
I think this is the best book thus far for me (publication order). To keep following Eustace is fun and the dynamic between Jill and Eustace is pretty fresh. Marsh-wiggles are awesome and Puddleglum enhances the book with his ongoing drawl of doomsday propaganda. This book feels like an actual adventure, something I don't feel about any of the others (except the first).
7.5/10
This book was fun, and feels like it is more filled with content than the others. I am a fan of exploring worlds, so the literal world building in this book was fun.
As with all the others the obvious christian paralells are a bit tiring and boring.
8.5/10
Really cool part of the Cosmere. I love how Brandon is just talking about different worlds and peoples of the Cosmere as if we know as much about it as Nomad does.
The only reason this isn't 5 stars is because the names were a bit weird, and the pacing was off at times.
9/10
Wonderfully stupid and witty. The story is fun and super fast-paced. As per usual, we are able to explore an interesting magic system and world. I have no idea how this man never runs out of ideas for new planets.
Definitely recommended even if you haven't read any cosmere at all!
9/10
Just a tiny bit too romancy for me, otherwise another Sanderson masterpiece! I liked the part where Painter fights at the Black Gate while Yumi destroys the Ring.
8/10
A tad slow at times, and the ending was anticlimactic. Still has to be the coziest fantasy book ever written!
8.5/10
Awesome all the way to the end. The final battle was a bit confusing to me, and I am not sure how to feel about the first part of that epilogue. It seemed a bit rushed and too easy to me. The second part of the epilogue was unexpected and sets up the next two books nicely.
3.5/10 - audiobook
Listened to this as an audiobook, and it did not work for me at all. I will have to come back and try out the written version. It's like my brain simply can't handle Tolkiens prose in the audiobook format. The same thing happened with The Silmarillion...
10/10
It's fun to listen to something so different. Jennette fluently takes the reader through her entire life, while deftly describing each and every one of her struggles and how most if them lead back to her abusive mother. The humor, the narration by the author herself, the intimate explanation of her feelings, and the description of each significant relationship she has had kept me listening for hours on end.
9/10
I feel like I just read a short version of Kaladins' character development. It was awesome to read a male viewpoint in this series, especially one dealing with anxiety and immense pressure. To me, Jorgen feels like the most relatable and realistic character in this series (thus far).
As always with this man, his magic systems and world just expand endlessly. Bravo!
9/10
Back on track after the chaos of the previous books. Fun twists and turns that you never see coming.
8.5/10
Compelling story and an interesting viewpoint. It is always cool to explore Sandersons' new worlds, and this book really dove into the taynix magic system.
7.5/10
Overall it was very good. Most of the examples came from a marketing domain, which I found very hard to map over to anything I have worked with.
I liked the prose. It feels like the author is just telling me about something he knows a lot about, rather than having the grand solution to all problems stuffed down my throat.
6.5/10
The middle was way too slow and feels like it doesn't contribute much to the story. The main character is still loaveble and her small crew of companions are a fun bunch.
Brandon saves the book in the last 4-5 chapters by doing what he does best, having the characters learn something new about their enemy and their magic system.
9/10
All problems from the previous book have been solved in this entry as the characters become more familiar and I feel like the relationships between them are much clearer.
The story in it self is grand and awesome. The descriptive battles and depictions of characters and magical beings are in the very elite of fantasy authors I have read. The choices characters make are believable and understandable.
I very much recommend this series and can't wait for the third entry.
This floor: 3/10. Everything else: 9/10
The first third was good and not too complicated as the characters didn't even know what was going on. At some point, however, they knew everything about the layout, and the entire book spiralled into chaos. I have read hundreds of pages while repeatedly thinking the same as the characters themselves: “Please God, just let me move on to the next floor.”
9/10
Goddamnit, Donut. These books are incredible. Today, I actually had to make the very hard choice of whether to play Baldurs Gate with my friends or keep reading about some other guy “playing” an RPG.
I have also stolen about half of this book for my dnd campaign.
7/10
I would have liked a slightly deeper dive into the actual technology, but I guess that's not the point of the book.
7/10
Very well narrated audiobook by the man himself. This book kept me hooked even though I have no general interest in American politics. I have to subtract one star for all the stuff that I did it understand at all.
9.5/10
Just pure fun. It was refreshing for me to read something where the humor is front and center rather than just some comedic relief dribbled between all the grimdark. Every single character is likeable and familiar. On to the next one!
10/10
Absolutely phenomenal book. One of the best audiobooks I have ever went through. Entertaining from the first page all the way until the last. Definitely recommend!
Update:
I listened to it again and I am left with the same feeling as before. This audiobook was so good I ended up doing every chore possible around the house as an excuse for listening all day.
I feel a bit melancholy when I finish such a good book, but at least now my balcony is clean.