Scan barcode
fiona_gs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Read and listen carefully due to time jumps. Can be a bit confusing but finishes strongly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War and Violence
Minor: Murder
adammtucker's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
A true slow burn with impressive world-building and lore, the kind you can sink your teeth into and truly transport yourself to a world that feels entirely unfamiliar yet immediately knowable. Excellent characters that never feel unrelatable or overpowered relative to the dangers of their surroundings; prepare to be frustrated, enamored, and sympathetic to each of them at various points in the book. One of the best first books of a series I've ever read. Nothing is given easily and this books requires you to invest in the journey and trust that Sanderson is taking you somewhere special, and so far, it seems he is.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Xenophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
j_2112's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Too long. Takes awhile to adjust to Sanderson s writing. Lots of ground work and world building for book one. Book two is better for sure.
Lots of small details that don't seem to help the book.
"Journey before destination"
Lots of small details that don't seem to help the book.
"Journey before destination"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
amschelly153's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.5
I really enjoyed this book, it’s so complex but well told and I’m excited to finish the series, but it’s a long read so it’ll take me a bit haha.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Grief, War, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
empressofbookingham's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
"That's something very few people are willing to do. They stumble along, hoping, dreaming, pretending. That doesn't change a single storming thing in life. You have to stare the world in the eyes, in all its grimy brutality. You have to acknowledge its depravities. Live with them. It's the only way to accomplish anything meaningful."
~
To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement of the year because I deeply, truly was gripped and thrilled by it.
Things get better: characters that in book one I disliked ended up being my fave as Sanderson went in deep humanizing them with their backgrounds, their past and feelings.
The plot is much more fast paced than the prequel and it gets more tense, exciting, profound. While the world is still being built so easily and vividly. It reached a point I'd forget I was in Kenya reading a book. All else faded and Words of Radiance was radiating with life.
Still enjoy the subliminal commentary Sanderson makes about class, mental health, slavery, religion, love.
There has been room for humorous banter for comic relief, a bit of love that adds so much spice. And uuh the adventure filled my heart up with joy.
I laughed, cried, learnt as the characters learnt about their world, even threw the book during that battle.... Now that's the mark of a GREAT book.
Did I mention the writing style and how he describes his world? Aaargh
And that cliffhanger....
Eh no words can explain the experience I had. Only you reading the books. And only if you want too.
~
To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement of the year because I deeply, truly was gripped and thrilled by it.
Things get better: characters that in book one I disliked ended up being my fave as Sanderson went in deep humanizing them with their backgrounds, their past and feelings.
The plot is much more fast paced than the prequel and it gets more tense, exciting, profound. While the world is still being built so easily and vividly. It reached a point I'd forget I was in Kenya reading a book. All else faded and Words of Radiance was radiating with life.
Still enjoy the subliminal commentary Sanderson makes about class, mental health, slavery, religion, love.
There has been room for humorous banter for comic relief, a bit of love that adds so much spice. And uuh the adventure filled my heart up with joy.
I laughed, cried, learnt as the characters learnt about their world, even threw the book during that battle.... Now that's the mark of a GREAT book.
Did I mention the writing style and how he describes his world? Aaargh
And that cliffhanger....
Eh no words can explain the experience I had. Only you reading the books. And only if you want too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Suicidal thoughts, War, Addiction, Mental illness, Slavery, and Violence
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
DNF at 36%
I was really excited to pick this up because I have heard nothing but great things about this series. I also read and thoroughly enjoyed "Warbreaker" last year, so my next great read from Brandon Sanderson was on my horizons.
Unfortunately, I could not get into this story. I picked it up multiple times over a few weeks and I ultimately found that I did not want to read it. The world building and character development, although written well, was a little too much for me to get into.
Perhaps a different time in the future I will try this again.
I was really excited to pick this up because I have heard nothing but great things about this series. I also read and thoroughly enjoyed "Warbreaker" last year, so my next great read from Brandon Sanderson was on my horizons.
Unfortunately, I could not get into this story. I picked it up multiple times over a few weeks and I ultimately found that I did not want to read it. The world building and character development, although written well, was a little too much for me to get into.
Perhaps a different time in the future I will try this again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Physical abuse, and Torture
lexnicole's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Body horror, Murder, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Violence, War, Blood, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
michellembruhn's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved it! Kaladin is now one of my favorite male main characters ever. His journey of depression and hope and bringing life to others was beautiful and I'm excited to see where he and the bridgemen go from here. Dalinar is a fascinating character I need to see more of, and though I'm still not sure what to think of Shallan I am highly interested in the mystery she and Jasna are chasing after.
I loved the contrasting of ends justifying the means versus the journey being more important than the destination throughout this book. Sanderson's characters make compelling arguments for and against both sides, and that kind of exploration of philosophy in a fantasy book is one of the reasons I read. 🥰
I loved the contrasting of ends justifying the means versus the journey being more important than the destination throughout this book. Sanderson's characters make compelling arguments for and against both sides, and that kind of exploration of philosophy in a fantasy book is one of the reasons I read. 🥰
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Violence
dianatache's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
i cried, i laughed and i fell deeply in love with these characters (except you. shallan. you know why.) . once again i find myself so impressed with the natural progression of sanderson's books. i love how he takes his time with the characters he writes, time to tell you their stories and their thoughts so that, when the time comes, you understand why they make certain choices. you see their progress and you come to root for them, to hope for a better resolution to their stories. and by the last pages when everything gets absolutely fucked, you feel like you're a part of the story yourself. plainly, it's fucking incredible. i can't wait to read the next book in the series. i loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Gore, Violence, and Slavery