Scan barcode
A review by koboldmartian
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Well damn.
I needed some time to stew, and gather my thoughts on this book before I wrote a full review. I think this book is incredible and the longer it sits with me the more I find myself loving this book (more so than I already do). This book is incredible. I don't think its necessarily the massive improvement from book one that many people say it is but it certainly is better. Brandon Sanderson certainly knows his audience and how to work them and its pretty obvious that he is having just as much fun writing these stories as we are having reading them.
The Characters.
In this book Kaladin takes a back seat and Shallan gets the center stage. We get to see her awful and tragic past in the full horror that it is. I personally do not see why people dislike Shallan, however I do think that Sanderson could have written some aspects of her better (particularly her internal thoughts on a particular romantic interest). I can easily forgive this though because her story is so tragic and she grows so much in this book, and I don't believe she is done growing.
Kaladin shines as well giving the best one liners and action sequences, some of which had me cheering and screaming in hype! Seriously, Sanedrson KNOWS how to excite the reader.
Dalinar doesn't get too much to do, but I don't think he needed a big role in this book. He just kind of sits back and is the wizened mentor to the group, while his son, Adolin, gets a lot more development. Adolin is the lovable himbo with a good heart. The chemistry between Kaladin and Adolin (or lack thereof) had me cackling. I didn't really likek Adolin in book one, but I have come to love him and his selective ignorance in this book.
Plot.
I don't have too much to say outside of it continues the epic story and conspiracy that was set up in the first book and weaved quite well. There are realizations that I am having now, days after reading, that connect the gaps in the puzzle pieces and that is really fun for me. Mysteries about the Shardblades, spren, the magic, its all a slow burn learning about them, and for a series that takes its time, like this one, I am here for it. I cannot wait to see what is next for the series.
Overall.
I have so much more I would like to say about this book and I could gush about it for hours and dissect every aspect of it, but I won't here. I love what I have read, and I think its a near perfect epic series so far. Its patient, it takes its time, it builds on itself. I won't get into the cliche tropes that this book employs only because I believe it pulls off these "bad" tropes quite well and tastefully.
5/5
I needed some time to stew, and gather my thoughts on this book before I wrote a full review. I think this book is incredible and the longer it sits with me the more I find myself loving this book (more so than I already do). This book is incredible. I don't think its necessarily the massive improvement from book one that many people say it is but it certainly is better. Brandon Sanderson certainly knows his audience and how to work them and its pretty obvious that he is having just as much fun writing these stories as we are having reading them.
The Characters.
In this book Kaladin takes a back seat and Shallan gets the center stage. We get to see her awful and tragic past in the full horror that it is. I personally do not see why people dislike Shallan, however I do think that Sanderson could have written some aspects of her better (particularly her internal thoughts on a particular romantic interest). I can easily forgive this though because her story is so tragic and she grows so much in this book, and I don't believe she is done growing.
Kaladin shines as well giving the best one liners and action sequences, some of which had me cheering and screaming in hype! Seriously, Sanedrson KNOWS how to excite the reader.
Dalinar doesn't get too much to do, but I don't think he needed a big role in this book. He just kind of sits back and is the wizened mentor to the group, while his son, Adolin, gets a lot more development. Adolin is the lovable himbo with a good heart. The chemistry between Kaladin and Adolin (or lack thereof) had me cackling. I didn't really likek Adolin in book one, but I have come to love him and his selective ignorance in this book.
Plot.
I don't have too much to say outside of it continues the epic story and conspiracy that was set up in the first book and weaved quite well. There are realizations that I am having now, days after reading, that connect the gaps in the puzzle pieces and that is really fun for me. Mysteries about the Shardblades, spren, the magic, its all a slow burn learning about them, and for a series that takes its time, like this one, I am here for it. I cannot wait to see what is next for the series.
Overall.
I have so much more I would like to say about this book and I could gush about it for hours and dissect every aspect of it, but I won't here. I love what I have read, and I think its a near perfect epic series so far. Its patient, it takes its time, it builds on itself. I won't get into the cliche tropes that this book employs only because I believe it pulls off these "bad" tropes quite well and tastefully.
5/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and War
Minor: Slavery