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adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
The Stormlight Archives is 100% my favorite book series of all time and it has been a big part of my life for many years. I would recommend this to anyone who loves high fantasy. I would actually recommend this to anyone no matter what.
Even though I love The Way of Kings, it is probably my least favorite out of the Stormlight books. That isn’t to say it’s not good. I still think it’s an amazing book. But I think it just starts off a little slower then the others. Also I have reread it so many times it gets a little stale after a while but that is just a me thing.
This books is packed full of interesting characters, fantastic world building, lore, and so much more! I think people get really intimidated by its size but it is absolutely worth it and I can almost guarantee you will get sucked in. I definitely recommend at least trying it!
Even though I love The Way of Kings, it is probably my least favorite out of the Stormlight books. That isn’t to say it’s not good. I still think it’s an amazing book. But I think it just starts off a little slower then the others. Also I have reread it so many times it gets a little stale after a while but that is just a me thing.
This books is packed full of interesting characters, fantastic world building, lore, and so much more! I think people get really intimidated by its size but it is absolutely worth it and I can almost guarantee you will get sucked in. I definitely recommend at least trying it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Misogyny, Self harm, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Colonisation
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
Reviewing this book is so hard. I want to give it a 5 star. But I can’t. Because the first 500 pages of this book were such a slog to get through.
I was bored by Dalinar’s and Shallan’s chapters. I thought the whole war plot with the Parshendi felt generic and boring. I was so tempted to put the book down and move on. But the one thing that kept me going was Kaladin.
Kaladin is one of the most compelling fantasy characters I’ve ever seen. His backstory is heartbreaking. He has so much depth. He’s just so likable. I had to know where his story ended up. And thats what kept me going.
By the time I got to the end of Part 3 (which is around the 700 page mark), I was hooked. My opinion on Dalinar and Shallan flipped. And I binge read to the end.
I know people say you have to give this book a chance to hook you in, and it takes time to get into. But it shouldn’t take 700 pages to do so. That’s why I can’t give this book a perfect score. But it was still incredible, and I’m fully invested in the story now. Can’t wait to dive into book 2. 4/5
I was bored by Dalinar’s and Shallan’s chapters. I thought the whole war plot with the Parshendi felt generic and boring. I was so tempted to put the book down and move on. But the one thing that kept me going was Kaladin.
Kaladin is one of the most compelling fantasy characters I’ve ever seen. His backstory is heartbreaking. He has so much depth. He’s just so likable. I had to know where his story ended up. And thats what kept me going.
By the time I got to the end of Part 3 (which is around the 700 page mark), I was hooked. My opinion on Dalinar and Shallan flipped. And I binge read to the end.
I know people say you have to give this book a chance to hook you in, and it takes time to get into. But it shouldn’t take 700 pages to do so. That’s why I can’t give this book a perfect score. But it was still incredible, and I’m fully invested in the story now. Can’t wait to dive into book 2. 4/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Blood, War
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Writing: 5⭐️/5
I think Sanderson’s writing is outstanding. Rich descriptions, beautiful dialogue, and stunningly crafted characters all twine together in this novel to create some truly decadent writing. Even the fight scenes were wonderfully written, as Sanderson has a way of describing the action without the details becoming tangled in the movement.
Characters: 5⭐️/5
Sanderson could write a spin-off about probably any character in this series, and I would care enough to read it. Every character feels real in this book.
Plot: 5⭐️/5
The plot and the world in this novel are stunning. I loved learning about the world, and I loved the stories that were explored throughout. It’s a long novel, and yet the pacing is perfect, taking the time to explain each moment that needs explaining. Ugh, I just want to dive into it again.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Someone looking for a remarkable high-fantasy series
- Someone who likes Brandon Sanderson
- Readers looking for a fantasy series with stunning writing
Content Warnings?
- War, violence, blood, slavery, mental illness, suicide, suicidal thoughts, classism, grief, murder, injury, injury detail, vomit
Post-Reading Rating: 5⭐️/5
Love, love, love. Where has Sanderson been all this time?
Final Rating: 5⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That was… a lot. Definitely not an instant favorite, but still a worthwhile read. I have to say, there’s so much worldbuilding for such a large world that I got so confused at times and honestly felt kind of stupid (and still do). I liked our three main POVs, although Dalinar and Kaladin kind of feel like alternate universe versions of the same character, especially with their internal struggles. I also kind of feel like most of the interludes (except for Szeth’s) were kind of unnecessary and made the worldbuilding more confusing because they draw in narratives from different parts of Roshar other than the ones that relate to the main plot and don’t really seem to connect to or add anything to our main storyline. But it also may just be a bit of an issue with adjustment to Sanderson’s writing style, since it’s the first book of his I’ve read. I think I’ll probably continue with this series (since I have basically no idea what to expect in the next books), although maybe not until all the books are out so I won’t have to take a couple months of rereading each time a new book comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, War
Minor: Mental illness
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-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
A solid fantasy epic that feels like a puzzle box you can untangle with enough careful attention. The characters are people I want to know or be, just exceptionally well-made lil people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Grief
adventurous
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, War, Classism
Minor: Self harm
adventurous
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Xenophobia, Grief
Minor: Vomit
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
"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: Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Colonisation, War, Classism