A review by spootilious
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

 

Read: September 8, 2022 

Title: Rhythm of War 

Series: Stormlight Archives #4 

Author: Brandon Sanderson 

Genre: Fantasy 

Rating: 3/5 

Review: 

Let me begin this by saying that despite the lower rating of this book, the Stormlight Archives as a whole is a wonderful series that I highly recommend. 

 

Now, getting into the nitty gritty: 

 

This book suffers from MAJOR middle book syndrome (which is sad considering that it’s not even the middle book). Rhythm of War such a wildly different feel than the rest of the series. 

 

While I adored the mental illness themes (which were handles quite well) I felt a bit blindsided by them. The issues had been mostly ignored through books 1-3 and then suddenly were a HUGE theme in ROW (even in the beginning chapters). Dealing with PTSD myself, I am happy to see such important topics being discussed but seeing a bit more of a build up would have been preferred. 

 

In addition, I feel as if a few of the main characters are pulling what I call a ‘superman’. ||Basically, when the character has no way out they suddenly discover a new ability. In the case of the ROW, they say a new vow.|| While this is not unusual and doesn’t make for a bad story I do find it a bit annoying. 

 

Lastly (for negatives regarding ROW), I have never been too fond of the flashback chapters of the Stormlight Archives, but in ROW they felt redundant. I will be the first to admit that I did not read these chapters all the way through. I skimmed most and TBH didn’t really miss anything of important. The chapters could have been completely omitted and the ‘big reveal’ with Venli’s character could have been explained to the readers when it was explained to Rlain and it would have made a better climax and (in my opinion) a better storyline for that character. These chapters made the book even longer than it needed to be (this coming from a woman who likes her book thiCC!). 

 

All of that being said I enjoyed ROW. Sanderson has amazing characters, and the world building is always phenomenal. In ROW we get to explore more of Shadesmare which is awesome! The Characters are always great, and the povs are spot on. The imagery is breathtaking. 

 

Overall, a solid book, despite being the weakest in the series. 

 

Quotes: 

 

“Our weakness doesn’t make us weak. Our weakness makes us strong. For we had to carry it all these years.” 

“No one ever accomplished anything by being content with who they were.” 

“Heroism is a myth you tell idealistic young people—specifically when you want them to go bleed for you.” 

“Who do you think is stronger?... The man who has walked easily his entire life, or the man with no legs? The man who must pull himself by his arms?” 

“When good men disobeyed, it was time to look at your orders.” 

“That's the point of having a monarch. A man to wallow in blood, to be stained by it and destroyed by it, so that others might not suffer.” 

“Simple affirmation could be worth more than medication.” 

“Integrity doesn't stop men from killing... It just makes them use different justifications.” 

“If you spend your life knocking people down, you eventually find they won't stand up for you. There's poetry in that...” 

“Places have power over us... Places have memories. Sometimes when you go to a place you've never been, it can be wonderful... because it lets you be someone else. No expectations. No storming memories.” 

“Time. It was a sadistic master. It made adults of children = then gleefully, relentlessly, stole away everthing it had given.” 

“There are no fair fights... There's never been such a thing. The term is a lie used to impose imaginary order on something chaotic.” 

“The best and truest duty of a person is to add to the world. To create, and not destroy.” 

“It's not such a terrible thing, to be too weak. Makes us need one another. I should never complain if someone recognizes their failings.” 

“It will get better. Then it will get worse again. Then better. This is life, and I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. That is truth. I promise you.”