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library_rift's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
caillou_kaju's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
isabellarobinson7's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Rating: 3 stars
Surprisingly for a Sanderson, the ending was the weakest part.
Dragonsteel Prime had some good ideas character-wise and thematically, but Sanderson just did not have the skill to execute them in a way that draws the readers in, like he does now. I read another one of the "Sanderson Curiosities" a few years ago, The Way of Kings Prime, and most of my criticisms I brought up in my review for that book translate to this one. The characters lack the nuance that Sanderson is known for, and because of that, if this book had been traditionally published before his other works, I don't think we would have latched on to the characters like we now do.
The same goes for his early plot work. The beginnings of great stories are there in both Dragonsteel Prime and The Way of Kings Prime, but they are really just parts of the design process that lead to us getting the cannon The Way of Kings. In that way, I feel like I read the development of The Stormlight Archive backwards, going from the regular published The Way of Kings, to the prime version, to even earlier in the story's evolution with Dragonsteel Prime.
My decision to read this book was almost 100% due to Michael Kramer and Kate Reading's narration. I was uploading the e- and audiobooks to my laptop in order to transfer them to my phone so I could read them (does anyone actually read on their laptop/computer) and when the audiobook finished uploading, it just started to play. I'm not exaggerating when I say I heard Michael Kramer coming out of the speakers and thought, "whelp, I can't stop him now. I guess I'm reading this book." I mean, who am I to turn Michael Kramer off?
And in a similar vein to this book, the ending of this review will be lacklustre and abrupt, because everything I want to say I have said, and I have no concluding thoughts.
Surprisingly for a Sanderson, the ending was the weakest part.
Dragonsteel Prime had some good ideas character-wise and thematically, but Sanderson just did not have the skill to execute them in a way that draws the readers in, like he does now. I read another one of the "Sanderson Curiosities" a few years ago, The Way of Kings Prime, and most of my criticisms I brought up in my review for that book translate to this one. The characters lack the nuance that Sanderson is known for, and because of that, if this book had been traditionally published before his other works, I don't think we would have latched on to the characters like we now do.
The same goes for his early plot work. The beginnings of great stories are there in both Dragonsteel Prime and The Way of Kings Prime, but they are really just parts of the design process that lead to us getting the cannon The Way of Kings. In that way, I feel like I read the development of The Stormlight Archive backwards, going from the regular published The Way of Kings, to the prime version, to even earlier in the story's evolution with Dragonsteel Prime.
My decision to read this book was almost 100% due to Michael Kramer and Kate Reading's narration. I was uploading the e- and audiobooks to my laptop in order to transfer them to my phone so I could read them (does anyone actually read on their laptop/computer) and when the audiobook finished uploading, it just started to play. I'm not exaggerating when I say I heard Michael Kramer coming out of the speakers and thought, "whelp, I can't stop him now. I guess I'm reading this book." I mean, who am I to turn Michael Kramer off?
And in a similar vein to this book, the ending of this review will be lacklustre and abrupt, because everything I want to say I have said, and I have no concluding thoughts.
westburys's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sayshara's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was neat to see some proto-Cosmere ideas and how they changed in later Sander-works. The ending left me wondering what happens to the characters in this other timeline.
palulukan_makto's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A very fun read! I don't remember when was the last time I was so hooked on a book. Even though it's one of Brandon's earlier books, and no longer canon, plus some parta have been cannibalized into The Stormlight Archive (like The Shattered Plains for instance), it's still a very fun cosmere book to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, War, and Genocide
Minor: Rape
cultneophyte7's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed reading this quite a lot! Nice to finally get a glimpse into Yolen, if only a non-canon version, make acquaintance of Frost, and an early version of our friend Hoid. The first two parts are like really good, gets a bit boring in the third, but I think that's mainly just because of the whole Shattered Plains arc, a much much (like a thousand times) better version of which eventually made its way into Stormlight Archive. Jerrick is definitely an interesting character, some of whom eventually got made into Kal, and some into Shallan - and you can see shells of many other characters too, characters we've all come to love and admire. It's always just so fascinating to read early works/drafts like these which eventually evolve into much grander works. I'm just glad that most of the worldbuilding and lore is still going to be canon, and some characters too (Hey Bat'Chor!), when Dragonsteel does come out eventually, maybe two decades down the line. Wasn't really planning on reading this initially, but like, just gotta fill that Cosmere void somehow as I wait painfully for Wind and Truth to come out. And Adonalsium bless Brandon for always dropping these surprise works, catering to this addiction.
ahauntedpiano's review against another edition
Reading too many things rn, I'll finish when I have my physical copy
futuregazer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5