A review by spootilious
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 

I loved this book! Though, there were a number of places that fell short. 

 

Compared to The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance picked up the pace and really embellished the foundation characters. I breezed through the book much faster than I expected. However, I found the ‘plot twists’ to be extremely predictable. Only once in the 1080 pages was I generally surprised (and the even was a small one that happened in the wrap up). 

 

I’m worried that this book (and possibly the next) suffers from middle book syndrome. 

 

The big fight at the end (specifically the bits between two main characters) was so drawn out and repetitive that I skimmed most of it and didn’t feel like I missed anything of importance. 

 

The emotional depth of some of the characters (at given points, not all the time) was very well written. The writing wasn’t as poetic as The Way of Kings. The illustrations were stunning and helpful, and I absolutely ADORED the humor throughout the book. High Fantasy books tend to take themselves too serious at time, and that does not seem to be the case with Stormlight. 

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It may not have been as good as the first, but it was fun and exciting. Highly recommend this series to Fantasy lovers. 

 

 

Quotes: 

A woman's strength should not be in her role, whatever she chooses it to be, but in the power to choose that role. 

 

I say that there is no role for women--there is, instead, a role for each woman, and she must make it for herself. 

 

Power is an illusion of perception. 

 

Two blind men waited at the end of an era, contemplating beauty. 

 

All stories told have been told before. We tell them to ourselves, as did all men who ever were. And all men who ever will be. The only things new are the names. 

 

Expectation wasn't just about what people expected of you. It was about what you expected of yourself. 

 

For glory lit, and life alive, for goals unreached and aims to strive. All men must try, the wind did see. It is the test, it is the dream. 

 

To age truly was to suffer the ultimate treason, that of one’s body against oneself. 

 

Beauty was out there, all around. To create art was not to capture it, but to participate in it. 

 

The sensation—it’s not sorrow, but something deeper—of being broken. Of being crushed so often, and so hatefully, that emotion becomes something you can only wish for. If only you could cry, because then you’d feel something. Instead, you feel nothing. Just . . . haze and smoke inside. Like you’re already dead. 

 

All people are musicians" Wit countered. "The question is whether or not they share their songs.