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Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, War, Injury/Injury detail
I loved it, and will continue following the series from now on.
When it says "High Fantasy," it means it. If you are not a full on fantasy nerd yet, you might struggle with this book. It constantly switches in POVs, timelines, flashbacks, with 5 main POVs and 18 total. Insanely large scale worldbuilding with several detailed cultures, languages, and life styles. Thousands of years of histories, multiple magic and political systems. It's a lot to handle at once, but never once I felt like the book is info-dumping. The page count is totally justified.
It starts slow, REALLY slow. I can see many people unable to get through it due to the sheer amount characters and information it tries to present. You either love it or hate it.
It is the first book in a massive 10 book series, and it sure does settle the ground for your entry to this whole new world. The "payoff" really only starts at the last 100 pages, the ending is a rapid fire of resolutions that felt so satisfying, yet still leaving for more to be desired on the next book. I read the book across a month, but read the last part in one day. That says something.
Favorite highlights: Leadership. Justice. Trust. Overcoming mental health and grief. Exploring real world problems in a fictional world. And, of course:
"Journey Before Destination."
If you are planning to step into this series, be ready for your brain to be rewired. Now everything you see will be a Stormlight reference!
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, War
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Graphic: Genocide, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty
I found it really easy to get used to Sanderson's prose, it felt perfectly descriptive enough while not sounding too technical. Even though it is always daunting to get into a new fantasy series, especially one with a universe as complex as the Cosmere.
The characters had me hooked really easily, and the entire time i was reading I found myself genuinely caring about their well-being and their goals.
The highlight of this book for me was closer to the ending, with the
Graphic: Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail