Journey Before Destination

Rhythm of War keeps the journey on Roshar going strong! It’s a fantastic addition with some fantastic scenes! It’s sets up book 5 and leaves us counting down the next three years

What I Liked-

The authentic way Brandon deals with mental illness. He makes Shallan and Kaladin relatable. He doesn’t “fix” them using Stormlight. They are our heroes, warts and all. He makes it Sri we can feel the pain Kaladin is in. He makes The Three so believable.

Navani - she really shines in this one. She’s no longer “just” the king’s mom. No longer “just” Dalinar’s wife. She is her own character, with her own strengths and weaknesses. With her own awesome arc!

Kaladin’s scene with Tien - the most emotional part of the story for me. So touching and tender. Something that Kaladin has needed from page one of TWoK. Such a short scene, but amazing payoff and well worth the wait.

Adolin’s trial - “We. Chose!” Nothing more needed.

Moash - I love to hate him! He’s past redeemable and I hope he gets what’s coming to him.

Shallan’s backstory - the discovery that Pattern is her second. I can’t wait to see how this comes back.

The ending - there are so many more questions I have now; spren corpses, TarDium, the deal made by Dalinar and Odium. I want answers and I want them yesterday. But, even then, it’s still a good ending and gives enough that the next 3 years are doable.

What I Didn’t Like

Teft - *raises glass* you will be missed!

Rock - Brandon, bring him back you airsick lowlander!

3 years - I don’t want to have to wait for more! I would’ve been happy with the double the size for double the story.

jalumbaugh's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

narsere's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

aiobhin's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

“Journey before destination, you bastard.”

hakeneye's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mrcondescending's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

suave's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

3.25

Final thoughts: the book was slower and more introspective than expected.

Both Shallan and Kaladin were stagnant and had the revelation that the healing process isn't linear, and by the end they both aren't completely better, but have become aware of their problems and are now willing to deal with them head on. I think that message was great.

But the book was definitely too bloated. Best way to describe, this felt like watching the extended edition or Directors cut of a movie, with all the deleted and extra scenes included. Except there was no theatrical cut in this case, even tho the book definitely needed one, or at least something in the middle.

pat_philpott's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

adidooo's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sarahbowling6608's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

More...