Oathbringer
Ratings1,039
Average rating4.6
9/10
Ok after some thought i decided to rate it a step below from the previous books. It's still an amazing entry to Stormlight but some parts were a bit of a drag. Part 5 is insanely good though. Probably the most intense Sanderlanche I've read so far.
The first thing that you will notice about any of the Stormlight books is that these things are huge. This one is no exception - a great weighty tome of a book. Interestingly, they seem to have gone to a thinner paper between Words of Radiance and Oathbringer hardcovers, because although Oathbringer has more pages it has a slimmer spine. The net effect is that this book is denser, which makes it a heavy weight to have in you hand.
This is all of course secondary to the contents of these pages. You would have to have been living under a rock for the last decade or so if you are a fantasy fan and have not heard of the Stormlight Archives. These are books that are whispered of in hallowed tones as one of the best if not the best current epic fantasy series. Sanderson has a wonderful breezy writing style that is just so easy to read. Beyond this is his fantastic imagination, which builds amazing worlds with unique and interesting rules. Roshar, the world of Stormlight is at the pinnacle of these.
Oathbringer picks up pretty much where Words of Radiance left off. The Radiants are back and Dalinar is doing his best to unite the nations of Roshar against the coming Desolation. This is book 3 out of a planned series of 5 and it definitely feels like a middle book. There is a lot of set up towards the finales and moving the various characters around to where they need to be. The plot does not progress a huge amount, but it does have an ‘Empire Strikes Back' type moment that really gives a nice twist to the story.
The world, the characters and the story are all fantastic to return to, and whilst this doesn't quite strike the highs of the first two books in the series this is still epic fantasy at its best. I cannot wait for Rhythms of War to see where the story takes us next!
Ok, I really love Sanderson, and tear through his books (including this one) so quickly, but i felt like Oathbringer was just... ok
First, one of the things I absolutely LOVED about Way of Kings/Words of Radiance was how Sanderson effortlessly flipped between perspectives, without losing the overall flow of the story. Oathbringer, on the other hand, switches between incredibly fast-paced, beautiful scenes, and, well, boring ones. And, I understand that a lot of this was necessary for plot-building, but it just felt so disjointed. Characters were well built and gorgeously vivid as usual.
Additionally, another (more personal) comment– I feel like what Sanderson wants me to feel is just in direct opposition to how I actually feel, with regards to plot, characters, etc. I mean this primarily through a perspective of diversity, gender, racism, and imperialism. I know it's fantasy, but to think that fantasy has NO bearing on our perspectives of the real world and the way we engage with politics is, in my opinion, ignorant.
I began to have this shift in perspective in Words of Radiance, and it only got stronger in Oathbringer. For example, the Lighteye vs. darkeye trope? WHY do we continue to sympathize with Lighteyes? I understand the idea that we should not generalize (of course not!), but let's not forget that Lighteyes have oppressed and enslaved darkeyes/Parshendi for centuries? Even worse than Lighteye vs. darkeye drama, ideas of capitalism/racism are so strong in Oathbringer (literally enslaving another race, calling them “savage” “unintelligent” etc.) but... we're on the side of the colonizers? I'm not sure, but that just didn't sit right with me. Lastly (and there are many, many, more things, but this review is getting long) the “Dalinar is the Chosen One” trope. Dalinar is honorable, kind, compassionate, but also the Blackthorn? a murderer of villagers and innocent people? I get that he's grown, of course everyone does. but let's not pretend that Dalinar is some completely changed, amazing, 100% honorable person. and I get that this is a personal opinion, ton of my friends LOVE Dalinar, but, WHY CANT JASNAH BE KING.
I know the above makes it seem like i hated this, but i absolutely did not. I loved it and read it in less than a week. I am excited to read Rhythm of War, but don't think I won't be keeping my eyes out for problematic tropes/arcs!
I really like this series, these characters, and Sanderson's writing, but this one felt especially long to me. There are certain points where everything is happening at a mile a minute and I couldn't put the book down, but other times dragged quite a bit for me.
There are some things that happen, especially in the climax and denouement, that seem very cliche and yet still mostly work with the way that Sanderson is able to build momentum into a frantic blur of scenes. There's a fight near the end that feels like something straight out of a final boss encounter in a video game.
Sanderson has built a great world in this series and tends to dole out interesting new ideas at rapid pace, but it seemed like in the last act so many new ideas came out of seemingly nowhere (though I do admit I may have just flat out missed some foreshadowing) that it lost some of the impact for me as it felt as though literally anything could have happened.
I still enjoyed this book quite a bit and couldn't stop reading for the last quarter of it or so, and I'll eagerly await the next one.
Tras la relectura y habiendo leído el resto de los libros en el Cosmere, resulta uno de los libros más satisfactorios en la saga. Sin embargo, no lo recomiendo para alguien que no esté muy versado en fantasía epica.
Los pequeños detalles y referencias son lo que hacen de Oathbringer un libro maravilloso.
There were some twists that I GENUINELY did not foresee in this book. Sanderson outdid himself, truly.
Really enjoyable! Sanderson really fleshes out his world-building in this one. The momentum of the story is kept throughout and doesn't drag. Excited for whenever the fourth is released.
“A journey will have pain and failure. It is not only the steps forward that we must accept. It is the stumbles. The trials. The knowledge that we will fail. That we will hurt those around us.But if we stop, if we accept the person we are when we fall, the journey ends. That failure becomes our destination.To love the journey is to accept no such end.”
Yeah, that didn't make me cry, at all!
The character interactions are still the strongest in The Stormlight Archive. Part 5 was glorious with the changing POVs. I have a lot of questions, but the most important one is: How old exactly is Hoid?
Oathbringer is yet another book in the Stormlight Archive that succeeds to give heart to the story of love and peace.
If I were to seek out an author that keeps on giving within an extended series, it'll be Sanderson.
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Audio read by: Michael Kramer and Kate Reading
Amazing book and addition to The Stormlight Archive! I loved this book for giving us a lot of backstory and history of the world. There is also some really amazing character moments for the main protagonists.
I think the ending wasn't as climactic as the previous two books but it leaves the story in a good place for the final two books of the first 5-book arc of the series.
Incredible! Oathbringer totally lived up to my expectations after [b:Words of Radiance 17332218 Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2) Brandon Sanderson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507307927l/17332218.SY75.jpg 16482835]. The plot was engrossing and deftly intertwined with backstory and world building. Sanderson is truly a talented writer. We find out a lot more about the lore and magic system in this book too. However, while Oathbringer is an easy five stars, I didn't enjoy it as much as [b:Words of Radiance 17332218 Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2) Brandon Sanderson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507307927l/17332218.SY75.jpg 16482835]—I think primarily because the flashbacks focus on Dalinar, and I don't care for him as a character. But, don't get me wrong, this is an incredible book. I'm looking forward to the fourth book, though I'm not excited that I have to wait until 2020.On second read: I really enjoyed the reread/relisten!
The only way I can describe this book: frustration spren replaced by hope spren accompanied by anticipation spren.
“The most important words a man can say” are a perfect summation of the journey Dalinar Kholin has taken through the series as a whole. Take your next step, read this series. I only hope it touches a deep part of your spirit the way it did mine.
Not as good as the first two but still a great addition to the story. I wasn't expecting a efw of the turns that it took but I'm excited for the next one to come out!
Overall, this wasn't my favorite in the series. The slog through Shadesmar just felt like it got a little old for me. But what I did like, I enjoyed immensely. I loved the exploration of Dalinar, and his path from tyrant to redemption. Also, I think the climactic main battle in this book has to be one of the best climaxes in all of epic fantasy novels. All the various elements going on in the book finally come together seamlessly. Look forward to the next one.
Weakest of the three but still very enjoyable, another great entry by Sanderson - overall 4.5 stars.
Couple of gripes -
1. Certain subplots felt skewed from the previous book but I'm holding out hope that things will make an interesting turn. Specifically - Adolin's story. His murder of Sadeas goes virtually unexplored and without any repercussions in this entry - deliberately so, I'm hoping. Because of this, and the fact Adolin is otherwise a bit too shiny, I hold out hopes of him turning evil and becoming an interesting, conflicted villain which I think the larger story is lacking. Dalinar starting out a tyrant and turning good would be a great opposition to this if you ask me. Also, I've never bought Shallan and Adolin as a couple. Their scenes together in this I find unconvincing and a bit sickly in places. Some of the best scenes in the previous book, the ones that really shone for me and actually had me grinning and even occasionally laughing were those between Kaladin and Shallan sniping and teasing one another. Similarly, the most touching, heart wrenching scenes involved their interactions too. That depth of connection seems to have been dismissed, sidelined and skewed here, I suspect mainly as a stall, but we'll see. Shallan I continue to find an interesting character. Love the splitting of her personality, though this does present a bit of a problem given the length of these texts. The Shallan we like who is struggling to find herself, escapes within these other characters. The problem is these extra voices dilute Shallan's and we gradually lose sight of her. Other minor issues - There is a lot of competing lore; histories, magic systems and gods to contend with which can bog down the story in places. Finally I find it utterly bizarre that the first thing one Knight doesn't say to another is "So what cool stuff can you do?" Wouldn't Dallinar (the general) be highly motivated to figure out what everyone's abilities were? Appreciate this is being deliberately held back, it just seems strange nobody raises this with more urgency.
Finally Kaladin (everyone's favourite) was great to read as ever and I always looked forward to his chapters. After the highs he reached at the end of book 2, however, it seems natural (albeit perhaps a tiny bit disappointing) that he would need a bit of a cool down here. Overall I like the path he is taking, I just feel he needs more personal connections. For much of the book he feels a bit sidelined and, well, lonely.
Gripes aside, Sanderson is one of the best and this is definitely worth the read.
I love Brandon Sanderson's books, so maybe I'm biased, but this was another book that proved why I love them so much, especially the Stormlight Archive and why I readily recommend them. This was everything I hoped for and more!
It really did start very slowly and I even had a bit of a time getting into it at first. I think partially because The Words of Radiance had been SO epic and the end of it had finished on such a high note, that when this one delved back into politics and the groundwork's of what was to come, it seemed a bit underwhelming. BUT perseverance is SO very worth it in this case. All of the early drudgery has a purpose and it comes full circle in spectacular fashion in the last half of the book.
Although the focus is a lot on Dalinar, who as a character, has now quickly shot into my favourites in this universe, the others we've come to love also go through journey's, changes and destinations that were both sometimes unexpected, but also somehow exactly how it should have been.
Kaladin, Bridge Four, Shallan and Adolin all stood out to me and I enjoyed following their journey again to unexpected places.
I can't even put into words all the things I loved about this book, it's message and the emotional journey it took me on, all I know was that I loved it! It made me cry (bawl really), laugh out loud and also spoke to me on an emotional level I'm not sure I can really explain, but that I truly feel so very positive about. A book that manages to make you want to be a better person, is a true win in my view. Thanks Brandon Sanderson for another amazing journey!
3.0 out of 5 stars
The hype surrounding Oathbringer was deafening in the fantasy community in anticipation of its 2017 release. I've read most of Sanderson's work and am fascinated by his massive Cosmere universe. That said, Oathbringer was mostly a letdown. I enjoyed The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance, but just felt a total disconnect when it came to this book.
The most frustrating part is that I can't quite put my finger on why I disliked it so much compared to the previous books. Was it too long? Was it unfocused? Was it too uneven? Did it spend the most time with the characters that I like the least? Did the scope expand too much? Do I have Sanderson fatigue? Or was I just in the wrong headspace to connect with this massive tome? Perhaps it was a combination of all of these issues. Either way, I could not become invested in this story until after the 1,000th page, and by that point, the strong ending could not salvage everything that had come before it [Although it did keep this book out of the 2-star range].
I won't abandon this series yet, as I'm still intrigued by Sanderson's world and concept, but if there isn't some sort of story/character shakeup in the near future, my reading experience of future installments will continue to be a trudge rather than a sprint.
See this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
All I can say is wow! Easily one of the best Fantasy books I have ever read and easily one of the best Fantasy Series I have read. Now only 7 more books to go.
After the amazingness of books 1-2 it was going to be hard to match up. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and did gasp at many times at what was going on. At first I wanted more of certain characters, then I started to realize Sanderson was concentrating on the characters with the most areas of growth - which made for a more interesting story.