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sofijakryz 's review for:
Words of Radiance Part One
by Brandon Sanderson
Two more weeks with Sanderson!
This time, it‘s Part I of “The Words of Radiance“.
Highlights:
1) The readers finally discover the first name of Highprince Sadeas.
2) Shardplate isn‘t the best choice of clothing when planning a trip to the loo.
3) Pictures of Rosharian fashion magazines depicting hot dudes just like those on military propaganda posters <3
After some characters of “The Way of Kings“ finally change their circumstances, the readers can finally catch their breath. Temporarily, of course, as none of the war, assassins, strange visions, other realms or secret, ominous organisations leave the characters in peace completely.
It‘s not that Sanderson suddenly steers the plot towards some high-tension thriller. No, he chills and calmly tells the story he fancies in the way he wants and at the pace he desires. Here he throws some intrigues to the readers, there he drags the events out for about half a book, intermixing that with some minor intrigues or promising foreshadowing. Implying that if you want to know more, kiddo, RAFO. RAFO.
So obediently did I read on.
I had thought that after plenty of opportunities for the readers to make extensive study notes on various species of crustaceans and plants (and their properties), any further worldbuilding is going to be cosmetic. However, Sanderson just casually forces the readers to hold some beer. Large one, on top of that.
I had been really waiting for this but I almost stopped expecting. The readers finally get more information on Parshendi and parshmen and their similarities with and differences from human beings. The descriptions are gradually weaved into the story. And tell you what, this alternative model of life is decent. Absolutely credible. Actually, something that can be expected from a writer that knows a thing or two about biological and natural sciences.
The readers are also lured into wondering what the hell the Shattered Plains are. While there are plenty of strongly suggestive hints, it is not yet revealed what they are exactly. So the readers get plenty of room for speculation.
Further knowledge of Roshar geography is also developed while the characters explore the Frostlands or the Reshi isles.
Which makes me wonder: will Shinovar be described in more detail at some point? I would very much like to learn why this country is the only place in Roshar so similar to the _____. Is that any reference to the Tranquiline Halls? @_@
Apart from Rosharian biome and geography, the readers get more familiar with some of the characters. “The Words of Radiance“ is mostly told from the present and past perspective of Shallan. And I find her a bit ambiguous as a character. Shallan of the past lives in the shadow of some very unfortunate circumstances; however, she is very strong for the sake of herself and others around her. However, the current Shallan is kind of contradictive in a way: just like the Vorin culture, she is both impressive and annoying at times. She is somehow reminiscent of that shoujo manga/anime girl: at times she is so conservative, traditionalist and naive, doing some really weird and awkward things; at other times she just switches on the mode of a superwoman and does some really cool sh*t.
Which, in a way, is fair enough. Just like so many other characters of The Stormlight Archive she is so alive and human, with flaws and lovely features, shielding herself under some emotional masks just so she doesn‘t break down. Turns out that life, even in a fantasy world, is not unicorns and roses at all.
I really want to find out what exactly led her family to their current situation.
As for other characters, I‘m so glad that different plot lines increasingly interweave. However, they do not necessarily become one. While, as expected, more and more characters encounter one another, it does not mean that just because the readers love them, they will like one another, too. Fair enough: they only see those faces that their fellows show. The advantage of that is that, from the point of view of the readers, the characters are revealed with all their complexities when introduced through different perspectives of other characters. The disadvatage of that is that some scenes or parts of the book seem somewhat dragged out.
There, there. There is some action and dramatic scenes! As well as some dragging out.
I told you, Sanderson writes what he wants in a way he feels it must be written.
Despite this, I am not wholly convinced that there wasn‘t a scene or two with elements of fan service. Or was that the author lightly mocking his own work and the culture he depicts? The former would be meh, while the latter...
I mentioned previously that I absolutely love how Sanderson uses secondary and minor characters. And that he very beautifully foreshadows that some of them are way more important to the plot than the readers would think at first. And yes, he‘s doing that again!
What about the plot then? Well, I did mention it does oscillate a bit. Some... situation. Then – a wait. Tipping the balance more towards a wait. Though, truth be told, after that dramatic scene with The Tower in “The Way of Kings“, I find all other situations way less disturbing. Though I should. Am I reading too much Sanderson and too quickly? One should hold their horses when reading this gentleman and stop to think once in a while. Just to digest that lot of information, for one.
I do feel some clouds accumulating, though. And you already have an inkling of what the Rosharian storms are like, don‘t you?
This time, it‘s Part I of “The Words of Radiance“.
Highlights:
1) The readers finally discover the first name of Highprince Sadeas.
2) Shardplate isn‘t the best choice of clothing when planning a trip to the loo.
3) Pictures of Rosharian fashion magazines depicting hot dudes just like those on military propaganda posters <3
After some characters of “The Way of Kings“ finally change their circumstances, the readers can finally catch their breath. Temporarily, of course, as none of the war, assassins, strange visions, other realms or secret, ominous organisations leave the characters in peace completely.
It‘s not that Sanderson suddenly steers the plot towards some high-tension thriller. No, he chills and calmly tells the story he fancies in the way he wants and at the pace he desires. Here he throws some intrigues to the readers, there he drags the events out for about half a book, intermixing that with some minor intrigues or promising foreshadowing. Implying that if you want to know more, kiddo, RAFO. RAFO.
So obediently did I read on.
I had thought that after plenty of opportunities for the readers to make extensive study notes on various species of crustaceans and plants (and their properties), any further worldbuilding is going to be cosmetic. However, Sanderson just casually forces the readers to hold some beer. Large one, on top of that.
I had been really waiting for this but I almost stopped expecting. The readers finally get more information on Parshendi and parshmen and their similarities with and differences from human beings. The descriptions are gradually weaved into the story. And tell you what, this alternative model of life is decent. Absolutely credible. Actually, something that can be expected from a writer that knows a thing or two about biological and natural sciences.
The readers are also lured into wondering what the hell the Shattered Plains are. While there are plenty of strongly suggestive hints, it is not yet revealed what they are exactly. So the readers get plenty of room for speculation.
Further knowledge of Roshar geography is also developed while the characters explore the Frostlands or the Reshi isles.
Which makes me wonder: will Shinovar be described in more detail at some point? I would very much like to learn why this country is the only place in Roshar so similar to the _____. Is that any reference to the Tranquiline Halls? @_@
Apart from Rosharian biome and geography, the readers get more familiar with some of the characters. “The Words of Radiance“ is mostly told from the present and past perspective of Shallan. And I find her a bit ambiguous as a character. Shallan of the past lives in the shadow of some very unfortunate circumstances; however, she is very strong for the sake of herself and others around her. However, the current Shallan is kind of contradictive in a way: just like the Vorin culture, she is both impressive and annoying at times. She is somehow reminiscent of that shoujo manga/anime girl: at times she is so conservative, traditionalist and naive, doing some really weird and awkward things; at other times she just switches on the mode of a superwoman and does some really cool sh*t.
Which, in a way, is fair enough. Just like so many other characters of The Stormlight Archive she is so alive and human, with flaws and lovely features, shielding herself under some emotional masks just so she doesn‘t break down. Turns out that life, even in a fantasy world, is not unicorns and roses at all.
I really want to find out what exactly led her family to their current situation.
As for other characters, I‘m so glad that different plot lines increasingly interweave. However, they do not necessarily become one. While, as expected, more and more characters encounter one another, it does not mean that just because the readers love them, they will like one another, too. Fair enough: they only see those faces that their fellows show. The advantage of that is that, from the point of view of the readers, the characters are revealed with all their complexities when introduced through different perspectives of other characters. The disadvatage of that is that some scenes or parts of the book seem somewhat dragged out.
There, there. There is some action and dramatic scenes! As well as some dragging out.
I told you, Sanderson writes what he wants in a way he feels it must be written.
Despite this, I am not wholly convinced that there wasn‘t a scene or two with elements of fan service. Or was that the author lightly mocking his own work and the culture he depicts? The former would be meh, while the latter...
I mentioned previously that I absolutely love how Sanderson uses secondary and minor characters. And that he very beautifully foreshadows that some of them are way more important to the plot than the readers would think at first. And yes, he‘s doing that again!
What about the plot then? Well, I did mention it does oscillate a bit. Some... situation. Then – a wait. Tipping the balance more towards a wait. Though, truth be told, after that dramatic scene with The Tower in “The Way of Kings“, I find all other situations way less disturbing. Though I should. Am I reading too much Sanderson and too quickly? One should hold their horses when reading this gentleman and stop to think once in a while. Just to digest that lot of information, for one.
I do feel some clouds accumulating, though. And you already have an inkling of what the Rosharian storms are like, don‘t you?