A review by allegedarchivist
Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

challenging dark inspiring tense slow-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

4.5

The conclusion is as stirring as ever, and Sanderson does incredible work with Kaladin/Renarin/Adolin/Shallan/Dalinar/Jasnah - more than the prior two books, it feels like these characters are richly realized, perhaps being prioritized even over the larger plot machinery. Yet I found myself struggling with the book more than the first few. I know that it’s expected with Sanderson, but I think that the sheer number and weight of characters has stopped being additive and is now an active nuisance. It is difficult to keep them all straight, and I often spend time wrestling with my understanding of the world, in a way that is not very rewarding. I can continue to tolerate this number, but only barely. It feels like he’s pushing the limits of what a novel like this can be, and it’s getting close to the edge. But until it goes over that edge, it’s something to behold.