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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One day I’ll 4⭐️ a Sanderson book. Not today, though. This book has two things permanently lost in a way that the consequences are beautiful and do not take away from the loss. I would recommend.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was fine.
This was a mostly boring book that didn't quite grasp my attention despite constant action. It is a fun romp that aims to tease out a lot of what's to come for the Cosmere, by giving us a glimpse of what's to come.
Unfortunately, teases of things to come in the "mainline" books are the most interesting thing about it. I was most gripped in the sections where more interesting events were explained. These could be the focus of another future book, but I was left feeling disappointed that we didn't get more into that.
In terms of characters, I found them to be lackluster, especially the protagonist. Spoilers for the entire book in this next part.Though the choice of protagonist was interesting at first, I found myself puzzled at how this version of Sigzil has absolutely nothing to do with the character from Stormlight. This makes some sense in world as an indetermined amount of time has passed since Rhythm of War, but that leaves me to question: why is it him, then? His main arch is about getting back to his old self and becoming less callous. This could have worked for another character, but Sigzil was simply too small a character in Stormlight for me to buy that he was ever the person that he re-becomes by the end of the novel. I am left feeling like the only reason he was picked to be Nomad was because he's Hoid's apprentice Worldsinger.
It's not all bad though, and don't let my tone thus far make you think that. Sanderson achieves a very specific vibe with this novel that makes the world feel really lived in, as well as making the Cosmere feel really large, like this fantastical universe really is alive. And of course, as always, the action is good and very cinematic, as it tends to be in his novels. Oh, and the climax is quite good! Though I was mostly bored for the rest of the book, I can happily say the last 15-or-so chapters really had me hooked.
Ultimately, it was not a bad book, but it was also not a good book. If you're highly Invested in the Cosmere and have an Intent to learn its secrets, it would be appropriate to give yourself the Command to read it. Hopefully your Connection to it will be greater than mine.
This was a mostly boring book that didn't quite grasp my attention despite constant action. It is a fun romp that aims to tease out a lot of what's to come for the Cosmere, by giving us a glimpse of what's to come.
Unfortunately, teases of things to come in the "mainline" books are the most interesting thing about it. I was most gripped in the sections where more interesting events were explained. These could be the focus of another future book, but I was left feeling disappointed that we didn't get more into that.
In terms of characters, I found them to be lackluster, especially the protagonist. Spoilers for the entire book in this next part.
It's not all bad though, and don't let my tone thus far make you think that. Sanderson achieves a very specific vibe with this novel that makes the world feel really lived in, as well as making the Cosmere feel really large, like this fantastical universe really is alive. And of course, as always, the action is good and very cinematic, as it tends to be in his novels. Oh, and the climax is quite good! Though I was mostly bored for the rest of the book, I can happily say the last 15-or-so chapters really had me hooked.
Ultimately, it was not a bad book, but it was also not a good book. If you're highly Invested in the Cosmere and have an Intent to learn its secrets, it would be appropriate to give yourself the Command to read it. Hopefully your Connection to it will be greater than mine.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery
adventurous
challenging
fast-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
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i’m really struggling to judge this book. don’t get me wrong, it was enjoyable and i would recommend it. the concepts were really cool and i genuinely enjoy the world-building that Sanderson does.
BUT, it took me a lot longer to grasp some of the main plot points in this book and to get an understanding of the main character. which it turns out is completely reasonable because this book is rooted much deeper into the cosmere than Tress of the Emerald Sea or Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. in fact, the main character of this book is a supporting character from an earlier Sanderson series, and so a lot of their backstory, which is kind of critical, was just not present in this book.
tldr:
i was understandably confused for a lot of this book because it’s technically an offshoot of another series and i probably should have looked into if it was truly a stand-alone
the story was really fun, a bit more serious than the other books of Sanderson’s that i’ve read so far, but still fun with some pretty high stakes involved
Sanderson’s world-building is a pretty big slay if you ask me
BUT, it took me a lot longer to grasp some of the main plot points in this book and to get an understanding of the main character. which it turns out is completely reasonable because this book is rooted much deeper into the cosmere than Tress of the Emerald Sea or Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. in fact, the main character of this book is a supporting character from an earlier Sanderson series, and so a lot of their backstory, which is kind of critical, was just not present in this book.
tldr:
i was understandably confused for a lot of this book because it’s technically an offshoot of another series and i probably should have looked into if it was truly a stand-alone
the story was really fun, a bit more serious than the other books of Sanderson’s that i’ve read so far, but still fun with some pretty high stakes involved
Sanderson’s world-building is a pretty big slay if you ask me
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not my favorite Sanderson book, but a good one.