Scan barcode
who_knew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I could have put this book down at a lot of points and really struggled to pick it back up again, so I'm glad I had the time to push through and binge a lot of it. It was a really good way to spend the time...
I think I've started taking Sanderson for granted after reading so much so quickly. I'm starting to have an eye for what he does wrong and am getting a bit desensitized to what he does right.
He's a master of multi POV. It's always interesting, the new perspectives being brought to each chapter.
He's not great at emotional impact. I didn't care when
His world building is awesome. The world feels big and overwhelming in the best possible way. It feels silly but somehow still tangible and real.
I think I've been reading too much romance lately. Fantasy writers largely DON'T ever learn to build and break tension the same way as a person who can make you feel fully immersed and invested in just... whether two people kiss. But man, if someone could bring that energy to the fall of an empire like Sanderson's, it'd be a hell of a book.
I guess my takeaway overall is that you have to read this book because it's truly interesting, not necessarily because it makes you Care.
This was still a hell of a book.
I'll read the next one. It'll be great.
Moderate: Murder, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
microbemasher's review against another edition
- 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
Much more political intrigue than in the precious book. The dynamics of the world and its people are really starting to get fleshed out, and Sanderson balances politics/scheming well with danger/action, so the book never feels like the pace is slowed as a result.
Slightly more awkward dialog compared to the other books, but nothing egregious.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Trafficking, Child abuse, War, and Slavery
soyabeanos's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: War, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcoholism, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
takarakei's review against another edition
- 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
Honor is dead... but I'll see what I can do
Graphic: War, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Classism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Grief, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Slavery
animal death/cruelty:aseel_reads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: War, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Grief, and Slavery
kassidyreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Slavery
alext8086's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The positives: This book continues to expand the epic scale of the series. Sanderson is great at creating characters. The book has many incredible moments and a surprising amount of humor. Shallanâs backstory was more interesting than I expected it to be and is expertly written.
The negatives (some spoilers ahead): I have 2 main criticisms of Words of Radiance. First, Kaladinâs arc annoyed me. After having his whole hero awakening arc in the first book, it felt a bit strange for him to drop into such a pit of anger and despair. That being said, it makes sense to a degree, and this is not what bothered me about it. What bothered me is that Kaladin just refuses to develop as a character for about 800 pages. I kept waiting and waiting for the moment when he would change, and it takes forever to come. My second main criticism is that some of the moments that Sanderson spent so long building up were rather underwhelming once they happened. For instance, **SPOILER ALERT** Amaram is finally revealed to have committed the crimes Kaladin accused him of, and nothing really happens. Now, I suspect this is because Amaram will be a villain again down the road, but in the moment I kind of went, âwait, thatâs it?â Additionally, I felt like the return of the Voidbringers was overshadowed a lot by Szethâs appearance.
My other criticism is more a matter of preference: I really wasnât a fan of Shallanâs spy storyline. I donât think there was anything inherently wrong with it, but every chapter she was infiltrating the Ghostbloods, I found myself rushing to get through it so I could get back to Kaladin and Dalinar.
I know I wrote a lot of negatives, but this was still a great book. The last 200 pages were absolutely epic, and Iâm really excited for the rest of the series
Moderate: Domestic abuse
koboldmartian's review against another edition
- 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 needed some time to stew, and gather my thoughts on this book before I wrote a full review. I think this book is incredible and the longer it sits with me the more I find myself loving this book (more so than I already do). This book is incredible. I don't think its necessarily the massive improvement from book one that many people say it is but it certainly is better. Brandon Sanderson certainly knows his audience and how to work them and its pretty obvious that he is having just as much fun writing these stories as we are having reading them.
The Characters.
In this book Kaladin takes a back seat and Shallan gets the center stage. We get to see her awful and tragic past in the full horror that it is. I personally do not see why people dislike Shallan, however I do think that Sanderson could have written some aspects of her better (particularly her internal thoughts on a particular romantic interest). I can easily forgive this though because her story is so tragic and she grows so much in this book, and I don't believe she is done growing.
Kaladin shines as well giving the best one liners and action sequences, some of which had me cheering and screaming in hype! Seriously, Sanedrson KNOWS how to excite the reader.
Dalinar doesn't get too much to do, but I don't think he needed a big role in this book. He just kind of sits back and is the wizened mentor to the group, while his son, Adolin, gets a lot more development. Adolin is the lovable himbo with a good heart. The chemistry between Kaladin and Adolin (or lack thereof) had me cackling. I didn't really likek Adolin in book one, but I have come to love him and his selective ignorance in this book.
Plot.
I don't have too much to say outside of it continues the epic story and conspiracy that was set up in the first book and weaved quite well. There are realizations that I am having now, days after reading, that connect the gaps in the puzzle pieces and that is really fun for me. Mysteries about the Shardblades, spren, the magic, its all a slow burn learning about them, and for a series that takes its time, like this one, I am here for it. I cannot wait to see what is next for the series.
Overall.
I have so much more I would like to say about this book and I could gush about it for hours and dissect every aspect of it, but I won't here. I love what I have read, and I think its a near perfect epic series so far. Its patient, it takes its time, it builds on itself. I won't get into the cliche tropes that this book employs only because I believe it pulls off these "bad" tropes quite well and tastefully.
5/5
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and War
Minor: Slavery
lizcallahan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Blood, and Genocide
lowpollie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Death of parent