Scan barcode
A review by cpcabaniss
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
Reread August 5th-31 2020
This book is still great after a fourth reading. It's been a few years since I've revisited it in its entirety and it was well worth a revisit. I find myself appreciating Shallan more with each reading.
Kaladin remains my favorite character. I can relate with him on a level that I can't most of the others, likely because of his depression. Some of the descriptions Sanderson uses for his moods seem to be me.
But this series is filled with great characters and magic and a fascinating world.
Reread September 2nd-24th 2017
These books get better and better each time I read them. Now I just need to try and order my thoughts into something that might makes sense. So here goes.
The characters in this story are vivid and real. I definitely have my favorites, but I can honestly say that I don't think any of them are poorly done, even those that aren't likable. Even those that are pure evil.
Kaladin is one of my favorite Sanderson characters, through all of his novels. As I mentioned in my recent review of The Way of Kings, Kaladin is a particularly easy character for me to relate to. He suffers from a deep depression that nearly cripples him, but he still manages to keep going, to improve. The shadow doesn't leave him, and even intensifies in this book, but it's presented so well and so realistically. I see myself in him. He faces a lot of challenges as this story progresses and sometimes it feels like he's stagnant, not moving forward or backward, but that's real so I still appreciated it because it showed his struggles.
I mean, surely you've felt that. Right? For no reason that you can actually figure out, the mere closeness of another human is just infuriating. Yes, I definitely see myself in Kaladin.
Shallan really grows in this story as she develops her abilities and encounters new obstacles as she makes her way to the Shattered Plains. She is an extremely difficult character for me to talk about because I never know what, exactly, I feel about her. At times I like her, and she definitely has a sympathetic story, but then she does something stupid, or makes some "clever" remark that has me rethinking why I ever liked her. But still, I do like her for the most part. And her abilities with Stormlight are fascinating.
Dalinar and Adolin are both excellent, as usual. I always forget how much I enjoy these two until I am reading the story again. It's nice to see a relationship between a parent and child that's actually healthy. Also, Adolin's relationship with Renarin, his brother, is fantastic. It's not a huge part of the overall story, but the few times it does pop up you can see how much they love each other.
Bromances are one of my favorite things to read about and I have been wanting Kaladin and Adolin to become friends since the characters were introduced. It's been an uphill climb, but I feel like that has happened in this novel. For the most part. I can't pull any of my favorite scenes with these two, because it would very spoilery. It would also be entire pages, not just a sentence here or there. So just read it and savor the friendship that--slowly--builds.
The men of Bridge Four, now the bodyguards of the Kholin family, are just as fantastic as ever. Lopen, with his endless supply of cousins and good cheer. Rock and his odd Horneater ways. Teft and his grouchy personality. Sigzil and his curiosity. The list just keeps going, but you get the idea. These guys are amazing. Following their journey from the beginning to this point is inspiring. Now I'm looking forward to seeing where they go next, because I think it could get a lot more interesting.
The interludes in this second installment, which are placed between the various sections of the novel, are more connected to the overall story...or so it appears. There are so many small things that pop up in the main story that hint back to the interludes that appear in both novels, so I'm interested to see how they all play into things. Lift, one of the characters from an interlude, even has her own novella, Edgedancer which I have been meaning to read for almost a year now. Don't worry, it's going to happen in October.
The pacing in this novel was phenomenal. Honestly, the pacing is even better than in The Way of Kings. Things are always building, connecting, and creating new questions. The world is vast and the overall plot is only just beginning to take shape, it seems.
So really, give you a brief review: this is amazing and you need to read it right now.
Oathbringer releases in November and I am so excited to read it!
Reread September 1st to 14th 2015
This book. While I still prefer The Way of Kings, I definitely love this book. I would give them both an infinite number of stars if possible. I noticed so many more things on this read through. So many questions answered and new ones posed.
The characters in here. I just adore Sanderson's characters. Kaladin is by far my favorite. He's just perfect. And I love his development throughout this novel and the first one. Adolin is also great. The two of them together. They just need to be best friends. Bridge Four. Those guys are wonderful. Agh, this book is just amazing. I already feel like I want to read it again. I have so many questions that I hope will be explored in book three.
Reading this again was also great because of my buddies. Thanks Twila, Vippi, and Petra! It's so much fun discussing it with you guys!
This book was brilliant. The wait for book three will drive me crazy. There were so many questions answered and new ones presented. Just brilliant. You can read more thoughts on my blog here: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/2015/04/words-of-radiancebrandon-sanderson.html
"He saw it in her eyes. The anguish, the frustration. The terrible nothing that clawed inside and sought to smother her. She knew. It was there, inside.
She had been broken.
Then she smiled. Oh, storms. She smiled anyway. It was the single most beautiful thing he'd seen in his entire life."
This book is still great after a fourth reading. It's been a few years since I've revisited it in its entirety and it was well worth a revisit. I find myself appreciating Shallan more with each reading.
Kaladin remains my favorite character. I can relate with him on a level that I can't most of the others, likely because of his depression. Some of the descriptions Sanderson uses for his moods seem to be me.
But this series is filled with great characters and magic and a fascinating world.
Reread September 2nd-24th 2017
These books get better and better each time I read them. Now I just need to try and order my thoughts into something that might makes sense. So here goes.
"To be human is to seek beauty."
The characters in this story are vivid and real. I definitely have my favorites, but I can honestly say that I don't think any of them are poorly done, even those that aren't likable. Even those that are pure evil.
Kaladin is one of my favorite Sanderson characters, through all of his novels. As I mentioned in my recent review of The Way of Kings, Kaladin is a particularly easy character for me to relate to. He suffers from a deep depression that nearly cripples him, but he still manages to keep going, to improve. The shadow doesn't leave him, and even intensifies in this book, but it's presented so well and so realistically. I see myself in him. He faces a lot of challenges as this story progresses and sometimes it feels like he's stagnant, not moving forward or backward, but that's real so I still appreciated it because it showed his struggles.
"He listened to them both laughing, and wanted to punch them in the face.”
I mean, surely you've felt that. Right? For no reason that you can actually figure out, the mere closeness of another human is just infuriating. Yes, I definitely see myself in Kaladin.
Shallan really grows in this story as she develops her abilities and encounters new obstacles as she makes her way to the Shattered Plains. She is an extremely difficult character for me to talk about because I never know what, exactly, I feel about her. At times I like her, and she definitely has a sympathetic story, but then she does something stupid, or makes some "clever" remark that has me rethinking why I ever liked her. But still, I do like her for the most part. And her abilities with Stormlight are fascinating.
Dalinar and Adolin are both excellent, as usual. I always forget how much I enjoy these two until I am reading the story again. It's nice to see a relationship between a parent and child that's actually healthy. Also, Adolin's relationship with Renarin, his brother, is fantastic. It's not a huge part of the overall story, but the few times it does pop up you can see how much they love each other.
Bromances are one of my favorite things to read about and I have been wanting Kaladin and Adolin to become friends since the characters were introduced. It's been an uphill climb, but I feel like that has happened in this novel. For the most part. I can't pull any of my favorite scenes with these two, because it would very spoilery. It would also be entire pages, not just a sentence here or there. So just read it and savor the friendship that--slowly--builds.
"You’re a very special kind of weird, Lopen.”
The men of Bridge Four, now the bodyguards of the Kholin family, are just as fantastic as ever. Lopen, with his endless supply of cousins and good cheer. Rock and his odd Horneater ways. Teft and his grouchy personality. Sigzil and his curiosity. The list just keeps going, but you get the idea. These guys are amazing. Following their journey from the beginning to this point is inspiring. Now I'm looking forward to seeing where they go next, because I think it could get a lot more interesting.
“Someone has to care. Too few people care these days.”
The interludes in this second installment, which are placed between the various sections of the novel, are more connected to the overall story...or so it appears. There are so many small things that pop up in the main story that hint back to the interludes that appear in both novels, so I'm interested to see how they all play into things. Lift, one of the characters from an interlude, even has her own novella, Edgedancer which I have been meaning to read for almost a year now. Don't worry, it's going to happen in October.
The pacing in this novel was phenomenal. Honestly, the pacing is even better than in The Way of Kings. Things are always building, connecting, and creating new questions. The world is vast and the overall plot is only just beginning to take shape, it seems.
So really, give you a brief review: this is amazing and you need to read it right now.
Oathbringer releases in November and I am so excited to read it!
Reread September 1st to 14th 2015
This book. While I still prefer The Way of Kings, I definitely love this book. I would give them both an infinite number of stars if possible. I noticed so many more things on this read through. So many questions answered and new ones posed.
The characters in here. I just adore Sanderson's characters. Kaladin is by far my favorite. He's just perfect. And I love his development throughout this novel and the first one. Adolin is also great. The two of them together. They just need to be best friends. Bridge Four. Those guys are wonderful. Agh, this book is just amazing. I already feel like I want to read it again. I have so many questions that I hope will be explored in book three.
Reading this again was also great because of my buddies. Thanks Twila, Vippi, and Petra! It's so much fun discussing it with you guys!
This book was brilliant. The wait for book three will drive me crazy. There were so many questions answered and new ones presented. Just brilliant. You can read more thoughts on my blog here: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/2015/04/words-of-radiancebrandon-sanderson.html