Wind and Truth

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.