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aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.25
Things are happening !! Mwahaha đ the reason this doesn't get 4.5 stars is because things only picked up in the last 30% and I wish there had been a bit more plot earlier in the 1000+ page book
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Words of Radiance is a good book. I really enjoyed it. However, it is certainly not perfect.
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
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
koboldmartian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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
Well damn.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and War
Minor: Slavery
lizcallahan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I cannot rate this book highly enough! In my opinion, a fantastic sequel to the original book, and elevates these characters by shining a light on their growth. Shallan's arc was particularly revealing of her character, and Gabe so much more depth than a frightened girl away from home. Cannot wait to see what Urithiru brings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Blood, and Genocide
lowpollie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Death of parent
sab7800's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death, Racism, Blood, War, Sexism, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Slavery
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Suicide attempt
blenchbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Genocide, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
theguildwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
This book built on everything laid out by the first and then surpassed it. It gave a lot of things I was waiting for and had even more surprises than I could have expected. It reflects on some of the darkest corners of being human and shows that love is never simple. Progress is rarely a straight line, and people slip more than once as they move forward and grow. I think what this book did -- more than anything -- that I loved the most was show that people are not one-dimensional. Characters I met in the previous book and spent all those pages despising were given new light in Words of Radiance. If they were not redeemed, they were, at the very least, understood. Brandon Sanderson showed, once again, the strength every person is capable of, especially those we expect it from the least. I was blown away by this sequel and cannot wait to see what Oathbringer has in store. Another 5/5 from Brandon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism and Slavery
I was more than satisfied with all of Shallan's flashbacks in this story. Not only did it explain her coming to be a Radiant as well as her family situation back home, but by the end it provided the explanation for Shallan's constant love for her father. By her final flashback, the whole story of the Davar house becomes a tragedy. The chapters slowly brought me to love and care for her brothers that, in the previous book, I couldn't quite bring myself to like. And then, with the revelation that her father had taken the blame for Shallan's mother's death after Shallan was forced to kill her in self-defense, you understand his anger, his abuse, his complete mental break from the trauma of all of it. Kaladin's persisting prejudice and his struggle to overcome it despite several characters putting him in his place was frustrating but completely realistic. He had a lifetime of being mistreated by lighteyes, of having some of the worst parts of his life handed to him by them playing their games, that his interactions with Dalinar (and eventually Adolin and Shallan) were not just going to undo. Only by being shown goodness from them time and time again did he eventually see his own prejudice and fully overcome it. Adolin being so good at his core is why I think he was the one to do what he did to Sadeas. He saw, in that moment, that Sadeas was never going to stop being Sadeas even in the face of the world ending. Adolin knew they needed his father to lead them through it all, and that Sadeas would find away to take all the honor and faith Dalinar had earned that day and turn it against him. And, with the world ending, they did not have time to play the politics game anymore. They didn't have time to do things the honorable way. Sadeas had to go. And I think it was Adolin's good heart that pushed him to do something so drastic. He saw past the games, past the codes, past the honor, and he thought about what needed to be done for everyone to survive.apollonhymn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Domestic abuse