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A review by isabellarobinson7
Oathbringer Part Two by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
Review for Part One can be found here (though I can't say I recommend reading it as it is pretty rubbish)
Rating: 5 stars
What else can I say that hasn't already been said? Oathbringer was everything a fantasy book strives to become and more.
Brandon Sanderson, the master that he is, can keep me, a heavily plot driven reader, entertained while there is no plot progression whatsoever and a whole bunch of characters are literally just sitting around talking to each other (sure, I suppose all the talking does eventually play into the plot in some way, but Oathbringer and all the Stormlight Archive is effectively a character driven story). I never thought I would be so enthralled by such a character focused book series!
None of the following is meant to be taken in a sexist manner, favouring or biased to neither male nor female, just as mere commentary
The gender divide in Roshar, well particularly among Vorin people, is so distinct and drastic that it makes our problems minuscule in comparison. Men and women have different food types, and not just different styles or variations of the same meal, no, men have to eat spicy, strong tasting food and women have to eat sweet, delicately flavoured foods. Imagine the limitations one would have! I guess my own childhood is somewhat to blame, as my mum was an amazing cook and served us all these different kinds of meals, so I grew up on variety and anything else would seem strange to me. But even if I hadn't had that upbringing surely I would still feel the same.
And the differences go beyond food. Vorin women have to cover their left hand, as it is dubbed their "safe hand," regardless of circumstances. What if you were left handed? What if your right hand had been damaged somehow and you were only able to use your left? Heck, what if it were simply too hot to wear any kind of gloves!?
But what surprises me the most is the idea that reading and writing (the storming alphabet for goodness sake!) is considered too feminine a task for men to even learn the basics of. I suppose that reflects our world, as secretaries are stereotypically women, but the amount of freedom that comes with knowing any language is almost unparalleled. Knowing what the papers you sign are actually saying, rather than relying on others to tell you, others who can easily be lying. Or being able to personally read the terms and conditions you are agreeing to before swearing your life by them. Even having a bit of storming privacy when you correspond with other people! No one wants their mum to be listening in when you are courting someone!
I will never forget the little screech of excitement I gave while reading Words of Radiance when Szeth picked up a sword and it said, "Hey, do you want to destroy some evil today?" because Nightblood makes everything better. Same goes for Oathbringer. Contrasting Szeth's rigidity and structure with Nightblood's pure obsession with "destroying evil" is honestly one of the best things Sanderson could have done.
Also, HOID!
Rating: 5 stars
What else can I say that hasn't already been said? Oathbringer was everything a fantasy book strives to become and more.
Brandon Sanderson, the master that he is, can keep me, a heavily plot driven reader, entertained while there is no plot progression whatsoever and a whole bunch of characters are literally just sitting around talking to each other (sure, I suppose all the talking does eventually play into the plot in some way, but Oathbringer and all the Stormlight Archive is effectively a character driven story). I never thought I would be so enthralled by such a character focused book series!
None of the following is meant to be taken in a sexist manner, favouring or biased to neither male nor female, just as mere commentary
The gender divide in Roshar, well particularly among Vorin people, is so distinct and drastic that it makes our problems minuscule in comparison. Men and women have different food types, and not just different styles or variations of the same meal, no, men have to eat spicy, strong tasting food and women have to eat sweet, delicately flavoured foods. Imagine the limitations one would have! I guess my own childhood is somewhat to blame, as my mum was an amazing cook and served us all these different kinds of meals, so I grew up on variety and anything else would seem strange to me. But even if I hadn't had that upbringing surely I would still feel the same.
And the differences go beyond food. Vorin women have to cover their left hand, as it is dubbed their "safe hand," regardless of circumstances. What if you were left handed? What if your right hand had been damaged somehow and you were only able to use your left? Heck, what if it were simply too hot to wear any kind of gloves!?
But what surprises me the most is the idea that reading and writing (the storming alphabet for goodness sake!) is considered too feminine a task for men to even learn the basics of. I suppose that reflects our world, as secretaries are stereotypically women, but the amount of freedom that comes with knowing any language is almost unparalleled. Knowing what the papers you sign are actually saying, rather than relying on others to tell you, others who can easily be lying. Or being able to personally read the terms and conditions you are agreeing to before swearing your life by them. Even having a bit of storming privacy when you correspond with other people! No one wants their mum to be listening in when you are courting someone!
I will never forget the little screech of excitement I gave while reading Words of Radiance when Szeth picked up a sword and it said, "Hey, do you want to destroy some evil today?" because Nightblood makes everything better. Same goes for Oathbringer. Contrasting Szeth's rigidity and structure with Nightblood's pure obsession with "destroying evil" is honestly one of the best things Sanderson could have done.
Also, HOID!