Reviews - Sixth of the Dusk

975 reviews for:

Sixth of the Dusk

Brandon Sanderson

4.09 AVERAGE

vxpauls's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 stars. Decent but probably wouldn't re-read.

smiley_kylie's review against another edition

4.0

"Never move without asking yourself, is this too easy?"

Dusk is a trapper on a dangerous island where birds can grant people special abilities. In this quick novella, Dusk is faced with repercussions for advancements in technology in his primitive land. The story is super short, so I didn't feel I had quite enough time to truly connect to the characters, but it's a great introduction to them and to this slice of the universe. It certainly has me excited to see what comes next in Isles of the Emberdark!

ohmsix's review against another edition

5.0

These short novellas have been exceptionally done to convey much about characters, worlds, and systems. I'm left with the same satisfaction that Shadows for Silence in the Forest of Hell left me with. I'm always fascinated to know what our imaginations produce when painting the stories we read; this story for me had lots of imagery my brain pulls from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (specifically when it came to the section of Patji's Eye) and Dredge (when thinking about The Pantheon). That alone leaves me wanting more.

I also read this right after Isles of the Emberdark was announced and revealed to be a continuation of this short story - so I'm excited to dive into that later this year!

marylu412's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I went into Sixth of the Dusk not really knowing what to expect, and honestly, I was hooked pretty quickly. The setting is one of the most unique I’ve read in the Cosmere—mysterious, dangerous, and beautifully atmospheric. Sanderson doesn’t waste time with lengthy exposition, but somehow he still builds this rich, immersive world filled with magical birds (yes, birds!) and an island that literally wants to kill you. It’s wild.

The main character, Dusk, is quiet and introspective, which gives the story this steady, almost meditative tone, even while the tension slowly builds. It’s not action-packed in the traditional sense, but it definitely kept me intrigued. There’s also a fascinating exploration of colonization, technology, and cultural preservation that added a lot more weight to such a short novella.

The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I wished I had just a little more time in this world. Things wrap up pretty quickly, and I was left with more questions than answers—but in a way that made me excited for what might come next. If you’re a Cosmere fan, or just love thoughtful, compact sci-fi fantasy, this is absolutely worth your time.