Reviews

Rated it around a 3.5/5, though realistically much of it probably leaned a bit lower. To be honest, I think the graphic novel format just isn’t as much for me, as the sound effects and voices made it a bit tougher for me to follow along with what was going on. Though to be fair I also listened at 1.75x speed and while distracted from working out or climbing.

What I Liked About It

I always enjoy Sanderson’s worlds, and I would say overall this one wasn’t an exception. The magic system of sand mastery was nice and made sense, with its powers and limitations and even the potential of overmastery. I liked the parallel plots that kind of wrapped together and intertwined, so that it was clear how each character’s goals differed but the ways they intersected and led to the protagonists helping each other made sense. The way each storyline also wrapped up was very nice, clean, and positive. Happy endings all around, which I guess I can’t complain about.

What I Didn't Like About It

Well I guess not all around, I don’t really like how Eric’s story kinda just ends with him getting screwed over a bit even though he was Kenton’s childhood friend, and how nothing really comes of it. Like sorry bro you’re my homie but I gotta screw your life over, thanks. I also wish that more of the world was built for Dark Side, to better understand both elements of the world. Like it’s kind of talked about but the characters never really experience it in the story, and it doesn’t really play that much of a role.
I feel like the way the plot progressed just felt very basic and almost predictable. Like hm something doesn’t feel right. to incident or attack or something happening, to hm feeling stuck until a eureka moment that happens to solve it. Many of the solutions didn’t feel rewarding or necessarily clever, other than the overmastery.
The main issue I had was that it felt like all the twists were kinda eh. Like the Lord Beggar being Kris’s husband, the betrayal of one subordinate and the double agency of the other, or even the ultimate reveal of Dryal being good and Allorin being the traitor, all felt kinda mid.

hollywickstrom's review

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adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

I’m so glad I discovered the Graphic Audios of these. I think if I had only read the graphic novels, I would’ve enjoyed these much less. The audio adds so much context, narration and additional storytelling to the novel, as the novel is mostly just dialogue. I think this volume wrapped the story up nicely, and I look forward to seeing some of these characters again within the cosmere.