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kat_sanford's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dillonbrantley's review against another edition
2.0
The actual story is fine, if relatively uneventful. I definitely would not have finished this series if I wasn't so invested in The Cosmere, however.
Unfortunatrly, the art is inconsistent and often there are story gaps between panels that make it very difficult to follow what is happening. Ultimately, I think the prose version would be my preference, personally.
Unfortunatrly, the art is inconsistent and often there are story gaps between panels that make it very difficult to follow what is happening. Ultimately, I think the prose version would be my preference, personally.
sambora's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
3.25
Well... I finally got around to reading White Sand! I can finally say I've fully caught up on the Cosmere.
The White Sand omnibus smooths out a lot of the issues the individual volumes had, but even revised as it is, it is far from perfect.
The world-building and magic system(s) are, as usual, where Sanderson shines. No surprises there.
The characters were good too.
While the protagonist, Kenton - bless him, is a bit cliché at times, the cast of secondary and tertiary characters really were strong and stood out far more to me.
Ais and Aarik were both brilliant conflicted characters, and seeing Baon and Khriss' Cosmere origins was a lot of fun too.
We get occasional glimpses of the Shard of Autonomy, and even a very brief glimpse of Hoid, which was pretty neat.
The plot was fun, but it's easy to see this is very early Brandon plotting.
It was a tad repetitive, and I was left wondering multiple times why this story was chosen as the one to get a graphic novel adaptation - there is a lot of politics, a lot of travel, and while the magic is flashy... It's sand! It's all one colour! It really didn't make for a huge spectacle, even on the full page pieces - but I digress.
Generally speaking, I liked the story, the ticking-clock worked well, and I appreciated the way perspectives and inner monologues were handled and depicted. Quite clever.
Where White Sand falls short, in my estimation, is still primarily in the artwork.
The art is good. It's good! Not amazing, but definitely serviceable... But the consistency on the other hand! Sheesh! It's all over the place!
I know this isn't something the Omnibus could have easily fixed, but cripes, it really could have done with a bit more reworking.
Changing art mid-chapter? Having chapter 12 alone look like a children's book? Was there really no way of redoing these sections?
Despite this omnibus already taking far far too long to produce, I honestly think it would have been worth going over these bits again.
That said, the additions we got here were good, and the edits were definitely appreciated. I liked the journal entries and the prologue... Both were great. But overall these graphics novels just left me excited for the revised and fully canonical prose version, which is apparently in the works, so I'll look forward to that.
3.25 starmarks, for White Sand. RIP to the boombox.
I hope we get to see Darkside at some point, be it in graphic or prose. Despite my mixed feelings towards this story, it'd be a shame to not revisit Taldain and see what else it has to offer.
The White Sand omnibus smooths out a lot of the issues the individual volumes had, but even revised as it is, it is far from perfect.
The world-building and magic system(s) are, as usual, where Sanderson shines. No surprises there.
The characters were good too.
While the protagonist, Kenton - bless him, is a bit cliché at times, the cast of secondary and tertiary characters really were strong and stood out far more to me.
Ais and Aarik were both brilliant conflicted characters, and seeing Baon and Khriss' Cosmere origins was a lot of fun too.
We get occasional glimpses of the Shard of Autonomy, and even a very brief glimpse of Hoid, which was pretty neat.
The plot was fun, but it's easy to see this is very early Brandon plotting.
It was a tad repetitive, and I was left wondering multiple times why this story was chosen as the one to get a graphic novel adaptation - there is a lot of politics, a lot of travel, and while the magic is flashy... It's sand! It's all one colour! It really didn't make for a huge spectacle, even on the full page pieces - but I digress.
Generally speaking, I liked the story, the ticking-clock worked well, and I appreciated the way perspectives and inner monologues were handled and depicted. Quite clever.
Where White Sand falls short, in my estimation, is still primarily in the artwork.
The art is good. It's good! Not amazing, but definitely serviceable... But the consistency on the other hand! Sheesh! It's all over the place!
I know this isn't something the Omnibus could have easily fixed, but cripes, it really could have done with a bit more reworking.
Changing art mid-chapter? Having chapter 12 alone look like a children's book? Was there really no way of redoing these sections?
Despite this omnibus already taking far far too long to produce, I honestly think it would have been worth going over these bits again.
That said, the additions we got here were good, and the edits were definitely appreciated. I liked the journal entries and the prologue... Both were great. But overall these graphics novels just left me excited for the revised and fully canonical prose version, which is apparently in the works, so I'll look forward to that.
3.25 starmarks, for White Sand. RIP to the boombox.
I hope we get to see Darkside at some point, be it in graphic or prose. Despite my mixed feelings towards this story, it'd be a shame to not revisit Taldain and see what else it has to offer.
sentetia's review against another edition
1.0
I'm actually DNFing a Brando book ... (41%)
I'll definetly read this when it becomes a novel. - Brandon isn't a graphic novel/comic writer.
I'll definetly read this when it becomes a novel. - Brandon isn't a graphic novel/comic writer.
__crazy_cat_lady__'s review
adventurous
fast-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
4.25
dec3696's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
badbadwolf's review
adventurous
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Violence, Murder, Grief, Torture, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, and Death