Wind and Truth
Ratings232
Average rating4.4
Please take a writing course instead of giving them
The two stars are for Adolin
Contains spoilers
Wow. I'm not going to go into detail, but what a ride.
The main spoiler bit is that I was expecting more arcs to conclude, but he pivoted the whole thing into feeling like a true beginning of the war for the Cosmos. I do hope the choice of timescale for the next half doesn't cut too hard on the threads he left open.It's pretty clear there will be some passage of time, but most of the characters don't feel like their stories are finished.
This book is the truest definition of a journey. Finishing a 1300 page book and coming away wanting more story takes a special kind of magic and Brandon Sanderson just has it. Worth every second.
A very lukewarm climax from an author who is know for his bombastic climaxes. Much like the previous book, Rhthym of War, it can feel like we're just biding our time until we get within swinging distance of the finale. Which for a thirteen-hundred page book is insane. I couldn't stop thinking about how Lord of the Rings, with only a thousand pages, gets so much done. When I had initially read the first three books in this series I believed this would be Sanderson's magnum-opus, one that could be compared to Lord of The Rings or Wheel of Time, but now I'm not so sure.
The series had always done a stellar job of keeping the reader immersed in its unique but harsh feudal setting, with dialogue and cultural differences. But again, this has become less prevalent as the series has continued. We start off with a caste system, gender roles and slavery to conversations about therapy. To clarify, I'm not against this progression but when a culture is being reformed their should be character friction.
Speaking of character friction, there is almost none in this or the previous book. We have learned that some main characters have killed the loved ones of other different characters and yet we have never seen this discussed by the characters, opting instead to just keep them separated in some cases. To over simplify, world building such as different factions of religious groups, nations or alliances are their to create friction and force character choices. Some of which Sanderson actually undercuts here.
I love Stormlight and it will always have a special place in my heart but that is also why I feel such a deep disappointment from Wind & Truth. Also because I feel Sanderson could've done better. I sincerely hope he reduces his output, if anything to give himself and his team a break, but also to hopefully focus on the quality of his entries and be less concerned with setting up future projects. The Journey was enjoyable but not the Destination.
I have been waiting for this for YEARS! After rereading the series this year... what I can say it's a book that delivers. It is probably the most intense, fast-paced, long, addictive and crazy book in the SL.
It is long but man, I did want more! Here is my spoiler-free review of it in case you want to have a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaOtI_XYyPo&feature=youtu.be
I have been waiting for this for YEARS! After rereading the series this year... what I can say it's a book that delivers. It is probably the most intense, fast-paced, long, addictive and crazy book in the SL.
It is long but man, I did want more! Here is my spoiler-free review of it in case you want to have a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaOtI_XYyPo&feature=youtu.be
A review of two minds here.
Wind and Truth is an impressive novel. Nobody has ever tried to write a Western epic fantasy series of this scale before: of cosmic proportions, with thousands of characters, gods, and varying degrees of reification, and most importantly, an ending. And Brandon Sanderson has successfully pulled it off without letting it develop into a web serial soap opera. He has concluded most of his threads, finished most of his arcs, and found some organization in a 2.5 million word behemoth of a story. The series is moving, epic, and an extraordinary feat of fantasy writing. We must all appreciate his effort, spirit, and hard work.
Conversely, he has somewhat finally fulfilled a pathway to becoming a caricature of himself. The oversincere moments of his early career and the granitic, heroic character arcs of the mid-2010s have yielded to a neverending sequence of distant, withdrawn sketches reminiscent of improv comedy; parables and skits that sometimes pack emotional punch but more often just are there to keep us entertained. The first half of this book read as prefatory action to a promised massive conclusion, which somehow limped towards a visible finish line with stops at a couple aid station plot twists along the way. For me, the duty of drawing the series to a midpoint eclipsed the enjoyment, surprise, and escalation that one usually anticipates from a Sanderson ending. His talent and earnestness have created an expectation that even he cannot fulfill.
Unlike Rhythm of War, the story arcs in this one did not read as separate novels, but Shallan's arc, which shifted towards an incredibly moving and sweet romance between Rlain and Renarin, was the standout here. An honorable mention goes to the main focus of the book, the journey of Kaladin and Szeth through Shinovar, which contained a much better flashback sequence than the previous book and a stodgy and heavy handed, but moving, theme of self-discovery and healing.
While Sanderson and his team have thankfully eliminated much of the fan service, I do worry if the book is too fundamentally esoteric for a reader who has not immersed themselves in the most recently available theories. And I wonder if Sanderson dropped too many hints in previous books for theory connoisseurs to be shocked by many of the climactic reveals.
Readers outside the immediate fandom will deem the closing arcs of the first Stormlight Archive series a slight failure, unable to meet the burden of expectation the first two books established. There are undeniably bright moments. I hope Sanderson, as he has discussed in interviews, will write the second series on a slightly smaller scale, potentially with 200-300k word books. It certainly seems time for Sanderson, like his characters in Wind and Truth, to break free of duty and start something new.
6.5/10
I started The Way of Kings last summer (July ‘24) and I'm sad to have this journey end for now.
The Stormlight Archive has some of the best written characters I have come across. All of these characters are so deeply fleshed out that I find myself relating, to some extent, with all of them. Back in Oathbringer, Dalinar writes “The most important words a man can say are, ‘I will do better'.” Months after reading that line, I still find myself thinking back to it and reflecting. Reflecting on how every character is striving to do just that, reflecting on how I want to be a better person and not let my own past define who I will be. Sanderson covers a many heavy themes through this story but I found those of redemption and morality to be the most poignant, especially in Wind and Truth.
The story being broken up into 10 sections/days was a smart decision. There is a sense of urgency in every chapter that isn't present in the previous books, and while some of the early days feel slow, the final days are a full on sprint to meet the deadline of the contest.
All in all, Wind and Truth was a fantastic conclusion to the first arc of The Stormlight Archive, with a destination that was just as satisfying as the journey.
2 palabras. Faltó intensidad. Por lo épica que ha sido la saga hasta ahora me cuesta creer la falta de intensidad y carencia de eventos que tuvo el libro. Cualquier libro del archivo tuvo una gran intensidad en su final y Viento y Verdad que tenía que ser el más intenso de todos siendo la conclusión del primer arco del Archivo de las Tormentas no cumplió.
Otro fallo fue la duración de capítulos y la exageración en cantidad de puntos de vista en cada uno. El punto de vista de Venli fue pésimo, 10 días para no hacer absolutamente nada pero nada de verdad. El de Renarin, Rlain y Shallan muy similiar, 10 días para lo que hicieron es una exageración.
El punto de vista de Jasnah fue solamente interesante la conversación con Taravangian y ella siendo de los radiantes bastante más experimentados y del cuarto ideal hizo poco y nada. La trama de Sigzil estuvo un poco estirada a mi parecer pero dentro de todo bien, conectando con el Hombre Iluminado.
La trama de Dalinar y Navani fue muy interesante saber los eventos del pasado pero habían cosas que se repetían mucho y daban vueltas siempre con lo mismo. Por otro lado la parte de Kaladin me gustó aunque se encuentra el mismo problema que hay con la gran mayoría de personajes, ideas repetidas y tramas alargadas.
Sin embargo la conclusión de Kaladin en el libro fue buena, aunque no se decir cual es el problema o que faltó, siento que necesitaba más intensidad y sentimiento la escena final. El pasado de Szeth fue decepcionante, extremadamente alargado como casi todo el libro. Además, estándo en el presente en el mismo lugar del pasado faltó una conexión entre ambos como ocurre en los primeros tres libros.
Finalmente esta la trama de Adolin Kholin, mi personaje favorito del Archivo de las Tormentas junto con Kaladin. Fue sin duda el mejor punto de vista, dandole un desarrollo de personaje aún mayor del que vimos en el Ritmo de la Guerra. Sus charlas con Yanagawn, las peleas contra los fusionados y tronadores, sus recorridas por el campamento de Azir y la resistencia final fueron de las partes mejor desarrolladas del libro.
Odium ascendiendo a Retribución me pareció una jugada acertada como también la muerte de Dalinar Kholin, el hecho de que no sepan que tomó la única decisión que les va a dar una chance de ganar y piensen que perdió. Kaladin heraldo, caballero radiante del quinto ideal también, se veía venir pero muy bien.
Y ahora vuelvo a las primeras dos palabras, faltó intensidad. Habiendo peleas en todos los frentes, batallas a muerte y duelos entre Dioses, creo que el hecho de que solamente Dalinar haya muerto y encima en el final del libro me hacía sentir como que no había tanto en juego y faltaba intensidad.
Y así termino mi review de Viento y Verdad que venía con altísimas expectativas que no se lograeon cumplir, aún así el libro se lleva un 4/5.
The book overall was pretty disappointing though the end and set up for the next arc in the series is quite well done. Many of the characters are set up to deal with new and unique struggles which should make for a great launch in book 6. The main problem with this book for me was the pacing and just a feeling of bloat like the book could have been under 1000 pages and not lost any of the emotional impact. The constant jumping between POV characters in each chapter got pretty annoying so I didn’t feel like some important character moments hit as hard.
Another thing I was not a big fan, as I am a Christian, is the inclusion/glorification of a gay relationship with one of the main characters. I'm fine with those things being present in books as a mention to describe a character but when it becomes a prominent part of the narrative where that scene is a climatic part of the book, then I start to wonder if this is a book I should continue reading. I am willing to give Brandon some leeway here as the vast majority of this books are not like this, but it will make me start to consider not reading his works if this trend continues.
I’m still looking forward to book 6 but there need to be some changes from book 5 for sure.
2.5 STARS - Disappointed to say the least...going to need the 10 years to see if I even continue with the cosmere at this point
Pros:
Conclusion was satisfying
Hype moments are hype as always
Still love the world
Cons:
WAY TOO LONG
seriously way too long, at least 400 pages too long for the story it tried to tell
MCU-ahh lines just takes you out of the immersion
MID.
Wind and Truth feels like a triumph. It falters in it's editing, and probably it's length, but I found it deeply satisfying and thrilling as a fan of the series. I do think some real work needs to happen in the editing department to tighten up these novels and give them the finish they deserve, but this series was a delightful read so far. Very much looking forward to whats next.
I have never been and likely never will be more excited for a book than I was for wind and truth. There is very little Brando could have written that would have made this book less than a five star read for me. That being said, wind and truth earned that rating. The character work is as impeccable as ever. From adolin defining his own role in a changing society and, in doing so, catapulting himself, briefly, to the top spot on my favorite characters list. To kaladins incredible, emotional journey that began on the edge of a chasm way back in the way of kings culminating with some of the deepest, most inspiring moments I’ve ever read. And everyone else in between who faced and were able to overcome their personal challenges in this book. Tears were flowing many times in this one. The entire series was always about these characters more than any overarching plot and wind and truth dove into that even more(although the plot is very much there, and also great).
It’s not a perfect book. I wish he had stuck with classic parts rather than each day being its own. Whereas the earlier books build to a mini climax at the end of each part, some days felt a little flat and I think could have been combined while sticking to the ten day timeline for greater impact in the middle of the book. My only other criticism is that I wished we had more sections like day one where it was just kaladin and shallan. As more and more povs get added, the impact reduces slightly and ultimately there are about five characters I consistently want to hear from and know the inner workings of their minds, leaving more mystery around less important characters and their motivations.
Overall, I leave the storm light archive feeling fulfilled. This series was solely responsible for reintroducing me to the beauty of reading two years ago. I love each and every one of the characters for different reasons and it will be a long seven to ten years without hearing from them or knowing if I’ll ever see some again, but I know it will be worth the wait.
[read 25/12/24] Much to think about. For better or for worse, full Sanderson. Wobbled around 3 stars for a while, so reality is probably around a 3.5 as this book had by far some of his weakest prose to date, but it did stick the landing and I did get emotional in the end. Gonna miss this gang!
Very disappointed. I loved most of Sanderson's work up to this book, and was very excited for the future of the cosmere. I love fantasy, but instead of that I got trans soldiers, talk about racism, pronouns, therapy and a budding same sex relationship. For that, I could just read my X timeline.
And even without all that, the story and the “conclusion” to the first arc of the Stormlight Archive were not that great.
I like this book, but the “magic” has become somewhat inconsistent. I prepared for this by reading Misborn Era Two, Warbreaker and The Sunlit Man. It's not as good as Way of Kings or Words of Radiance, but 5* because it ties hundreds of hours of reading—over many books—together.
I was disappointed by this installment in the series. Rhythm of War was incredible, but this book didn't quite live up to the others. I fully acknowledge I'm in the minority with this opinion
1. Half of the characters appeared to accomplish nothing (I'm looking @shallan, rlain, renarin, and all the stuff with mishram...??).
2. The other half of characters who accomplished something could have done it in 100 pages, but since there were SO many side plots, it was drawn out. over. 1300. pages. (i'm looking @my poor guy Kaladin)
3. A little bit too modernized - I felt like the beauty/mystique of the high fantasy of the previous 4 books was lost in this one. There were a few things that contributed to this - like the genre turning more sci-fi in the end than fantasy, with all of the gods/shards...idk.. Also, all of the therapy with Kaladin and Szeth. Therapy is a great concept and practice. I am 100% in support of going to therapy. But I usually read my fantasy books AS my therapy, with characters fighting through their problems and finding support in their friends amidst wars and powerful enemies and plots. I don't usually read my fantasy books to see characters going to.....actual therapy.....if that makes sense. I can (and do) read self help books for that. I'd prefer showing, not telling - aka Kaladin or Szeth showing us how to overcome emotional struggles and depression through their experiences. Not Kaladin repeatedly mentioning he is Szeth's therapist now. It made all the stuff he said feel so cringey and lowkey from like a #PositiveThoughts instagram bot account or something. idk. But i fully acknowledge this is just a PERSONAL PREFERENCE and Sanderson still included lots of showing too. Again, I'm NOT anti-therapy.
4. This book was fineish up until ~pg 1200 when i started to realize that, like Season 2 of Arcane, very few things were going to get cool resolutions.
5. What the heck with the fifth ideal??? The fourth ideal was so sick in the last book but then Kaladin getting to the last one didn't get anything bc we only have 20 pages left and he's gonna be a herald so what do the sick powers even matter?
6. The ending of book4 made taravangian/odium out to be such a scary villain. in this book.. he's not that scary. the tension was lost. idk. I think part of it was when Wit just realized on his own that Taravagnian had altered his memories.
7. It felt like we were fighting an entirely different war than we have been the past 4 books. Half of the conflicts have been between the Parshendi and the humans and they have been JUICY. Some serious casualties and wars. This book kinda dodged the conflict by saying, “the power of love is enough. Now we're all good.” Idk maybe. Just felt like a cop-out.
Anyways, just a few thoughts. Still loved books 1-4. Will consider reading the next set of the series in like 30 years when they're all out. Some great set-up in this book for the future books.
The strength of this series 100% rests on the shoulders of these characters, with some support by the world building and lore, and that is the strongest part of this book along with the plot ending/semi-ending we are given—and while I love what was shown and given to us here, I do think there was something lost in diluting the cast with so many constantly-changing POVs and the condensed timeline this book takes place within. I love these characters, but condensing everything to 10 days and short 1/4-chapters-per-POV at a time with them did not feel like the best version of structure for this story to me. Additionally, I think this is the first time I have been genuinely distracted by the more modern-colloquial prose this series has taken on. I re-read TWoK this summer, and there is a noticeable shift in the linguistic atmosphere that I don't really enjoy as much in comparison to the first book.
That all being said, I still feel this is a solid 4 stars for this series. My favorite part of TWoK was Dalinar's visions of the past, and my favorite part of RoW was the explorations in the Cognative Realm—so getting multiple characters exploring the Spiritual Realm and the history of Roshar and the Cosmere were excellent. Additionally, I absolutely loved Renarin and Rlain's storyline through this book (I was literally Shallan in that one scene, jumping up and down clapping at their union), and very very much still enjoyed following Dalinar's journey from beginning to end.
Shallan, despite being one of my favorite characters in the series overall, definitely feels extraneous in this volume in particular—especially because I have never cared for the Ghostbloods subplot, and that was quite literally all she did this book. Honestly, a victim of the 10-day timeline this story takes place over.
On a different side of things in this map, if anything is true throughout this first 5 books of this series, it's that Kaladin's arc is the strongest and best overall. His character has grown, and regressed, and grown, and regressed, and grown—all in such believable fashion that I feel like, despite diluted POVs in this volume, he is still the heart and soul of this series. His and Syl's progression of whatever their relationship/dynamic is was beautiful, and his kindness and empathy with Szeth and the Heralds was so well realized after everything that he has been through and learned. A+ there.
Overall: I feel for sure that this is more of a Part 5/10 than it is a Part 5/5, and genuinely hope that in the years before BrandoSando starts on Part 6 that something reverts back to TWoK-era prose and pacing/focus within POVs, but there is no denying that this was a strong and interesting chapter in the Stormlight's overall plot and progression. I'm curious to see how it it eventually looks in retrospect once it is truly only the halfway point in the series, but for now I feel that it was a satisfying semi-conclusion to this part of the story.
An (un)satisfying conclusion to the first arc of The Stormlight Archive.
The Stormlight Archive has had it's ups and downs for me. The highs have been high, but the lows have been low. Wind and Truth felt very solid to me throughout and, despite some pacing issues, I think it was the perfect conclusion to the first arc.
Immediately after finishing the book I found myself really torn about the ending. I spent the next few days thinking about it over and over, and came to the conclusion that the reason I didn't feel satisfied was because I was going to be waiting 6+ years for the next chapter. In retrospect, the ending really is solid, and it has opened up arc 2 of the series to become very interesting indeed.
Immediate gut feeling on rating this was 4 stars, but having spent so much time thinking about the ending and the journey to get there I've given it a 4.5⭐.
I just hope I get as much pleasure from the rest of the Cosmere as I've had with Roshar...
If I could, this would be more like a 4.8 stars but I didn’t feel it quite deserved a perfect 5. I loved all the stories, although one was definitely the standout throughout the whole thing. The character development from each major character is exactly what I wanted. Overall, there were so many great stories and moments (both funny and serious) that made me love this book. I just had a few minor issues with scope, pacing, etc. that made me feel that it wasn’t quite perfect.