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A review by aldoregan
Words of Radiance Part One by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
second read: June 25, 2018
i’ve always considered this series as the BEST one that i’ve ever read but oh my god i think i completely forgot how absolutely brilliant and mindblowing this book actually is and this is only part one !! idk how sanderson does it, but somehow each book turns out to be better than the previous one.
first read: Dec. 31, 2016
01/03/2016
*Reviewed this book as a whole instead of dividing it into two parts (first and second half of Words of Radiance)*
“Words are where most change begins.”
I am, yet again, in awe of Brandon Sanderson's work. Before reading this book, I have to admit that I was very nervous because of two reasons. One was because of the things that might happen in this book, The Way of Kings killed me so I had no idea what Words of Radiance would do to me. Second was because I didn't know if this was going to be as good as The Way of Kings. The first book set the bar way too high, I wasn't sure if this book was going to meet (especially exceed) my expectations. That's the problem when the first book is so good, the expectations for the next book are way waay waaay higher. But I am glad to say that this is actually and surprisingly even better than The Way of Kings. I kid you not. It was more amazing, more brilliant, more thrilling, more exciting, more suspense, more action packed, more badass, more of everything that we got in the first book. And that is saying a lot because after reading The Way of Kings, I immediately declared that it was the best fantasy book and the best book I've ever read ever. And now that I've read the second book, this series undoubtedly is the best series that I've ever read! No question. I know I've said this before but it is truly unlike any book that I've read.
“All stories told have been told before. We tell them to ourselves, as did all men who ever were. And all men who ever will be. The only things new are the names.”
Every chapter, every scene was just spot on amazing. And I am so excited and nervous for what's to come. I keep forgetting that this is only the second book out of ten books, which means that SO MUCH MORE COULD HAPPEN. SO MUCH MORE. I'm literally drained from the WoR ride not because it was boring but because it was so wild and exhilarating. I am just so excited for what's to come next, for what Sanderson has in store for us.
“Do not let your assumptions about a culture block your ability to perceive the individual, or you will fail.”
Honestly, Brandon Sanderson is literally one of the best fantasy authors who have ever existed. To be able to create such a massive world with incredible characters, astonishing worldbuilding, filled with scenes that will just leave your heart racing nonstop, scenes that will leave you laughing your ass off, scenes that will either break or warm your heart. Everything about this world Sanderson has created, the characters, the story, EVERYTHING is just so engaging and brilliant. I can't even begin to think how much planning each book Sanderson has to go through because everything is just so brilliant and excellent and soooo good and so unique and amazing etc I am still in awe.
“I say that there is no role for women—there is, instead, a role for each woman, and she must make it for herself.”
I love the characters, obviously. Sanderson shaped the main characters up so well in a way that made them seem real eventhough they are, in fact, fictional. These characters are very flawed and they all have this dark side but this is what makes them human. Kaladin Stormblessed remains as my favorite, and Dalinar, along with Shallan in a close second. All the other characters were splendidly well done. You can really see that Sanderson didn't just create the side characters for the heck of it, they all had purposes and they all had something to bring into the story and they were all necessary. It's just great how Sanderson introduces to us these minor characters but he doesn't let them stay on the sidelines. Everyone literally has a role and I'm just so impressed because we don't see that a lot in books, whatever genre it may be.
“I will protect even those I hate,” Kaladin whispered through bloody lips. “So long as it is right.”
The worldbuilding is just WOW. It is so complex, and so massive, but very well thought of *applause for Sanderson*. A world this big? Anything could go wrong and could go all over the place. But Sanderson knows his stuff so soooo well. He knows which direction he's going. He knows this world so much that it becomes realistic even though it is fantasy. You can really see that every aspect and detail about this world, Sanderson has planned and crafted it excellently.
“I seek the truth,” Shallan said. “Wherever it may be, whoever may hold it. That’s who I am.”
We got so much more answers this time, especially regarding the spren (whom I actually thought were not going to play a big part in the story). But Sanderson also left us with more questions unanswered GAAAAH.
“Beauty was out there, all around. To create art was not to capture it, but to participate in it.”
Plot is all the stars in the galaxy out of 5! There were so many surprises all throughout the book, from the beginning until the end. Things that I never thought would happen(like when Adolin killed Sadeas) . Pacing was on point, yet again. There was never a dull moment. Whoever's point of view I read, whatever scene I read, was engaging. Interesting. Exciting. Astounding. Thrilling. Suspenseful. This book, the previous book, this series is just SOOO SOOOO GOOD AND SOOOO SOOO BRILLIANT. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT SO SO SOetc MUCH.
I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH DO I NEED SAY MORE?
IM GLAD I PICKED THIS SERIES UP BECAUSE THIS IS TRUTHFULLY THE BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ AND I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT GAAAAH I NEED YOU BOOK THREE.
"Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination."
FAVORITE PARTS:
1. Shallan's backstory. In The Way of Kings, it took a longer time for me to actually like Shallan unlike with Kaladin and Dalinar. But in this book, she became one of my favorites. It really helped how we got to learn so much more about her from her backstory and it just really made me appreciate her character and who she is right now. I can't imagine how she managed to be so brave and so full of light even when she's grown up surrounded by darkness, abuse, and hopelessness. I commend her for it, honestly.
2. Shallan killing Tyn; summoning her Shardblade and being BADASS.
3. Shallan spying for the Ghostbloods and being the wisest inexperienced spy ever.
4. Kaladin and Shallan's first meeting bc wow that was hilarious and amusing.
5. When Adolin, Kaladin, and Shallan were reunited with Wit because damn hilarious.
6. The fight with Kaladin, Dalinar, and Adolin against the Assassin in White aka Szeth.
7. That duel Adolin had against four Shardbearers thaAT HAD ME SCREAMING. THEN KALADIN JUMPS DOWN THE ARENA OR WHATS IT CALLED TO HELP SAVE THE DAY.
8. When Kaladin finds out that Adolin locked himself in the prison as well because it seemed unfair that Kaladin was locked up.
9. When Dalinar finally believed Kaladin about Amaram.
10. Kaladin and Shallan stuck down in the chasms because that part was too precious for me to handle. Especially when Kaladin finally understood that him and Shallan were far from different at all. And when they confided to each other, aaaaahhhh precious.
11. That fight scene against the Parshendi in the last few parts was AMAZING.
12. When Syl came back and became a Shardblade/Honorblade and Kaladin was alight.
13. When Kaladin saved Dalinar and he was like "these are my winds you bastard" (not his exact words but y'know hahahah) to Szeth. BADASS.
14. The fight between Kaladin and Szeth. THE BEST BATTLE IVE EVER READ EVER.
15. That last part with the four Knights Radiant gathered together!!!!
12/31/2016
AAAAND THE FIRST HALF IS DONE! OH GOD THAT WAS A BRILLIANT FIRST HALF! WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END 2016! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
.
.
.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is only the first half of a massive book because WOW that was an amazing first half!!!!!
*Full review to be posted once I finish part 2.
i’ve always considered this series as the BEST one that i’ve ever read but oh my god i think i completely forgot how absolutely brilliant and mindblowing this book actually is and this is only part one !! idk how sanderson does it, but somehow each book turns out to be better than the previous one.
first read: Dec. 31, 2016
01/03/2016
*Reviewed this book as a whole instead of dividing it into two parts (first and second half of Words of Radiance)*
“Words are where most change begins.”
I am, yet again, in awe of Brandon Sanderson's work. Before reading this book, I have to admit that I was very nervous because of two reasons. One was because of the things that might happen in this book, The Way of Kings killed me so I had no idea what Words of Radiance would do to me. Second was because I didn't know if this was going to be as good as The Way of Kings. The first book set the bar way too high, I wasn't sure if this book was going to meet (especially exceed) my expectations. That's the problem when the first book is so good, the expectations for the next book are way waay waaay higher. But I am glad to say that this is actually and surprisingly even better than The Way of Kings. I kid you not. It was more amazing, more brilliant, more thrilling, more exciting, more suspense, more action packed, more badass, more of everything that we got in the first book. And that is saying a lot because after reading The Way of Kings, I immediately declared that it was the best fantasy book and the best book I've ever read ever. And now that I've read the second book, this series undoubtedly is the best series that I've ever read! No question. I know I've said this before but it is truly unlike any book that I've read.
“All stories told have been told before. We tell them to ourselves, as did all men who ever were. And all men who ever will be. The only things new are the names.”
Every chapter, every scene was just spot on amazing. And I am so excited and nervous for what's to come. I keep forgetting that this is only the second book out of ten books, which means that SO MUCH MORE COULD HAPPEN. SO MUCH MORE. I'm literally drained from the WoR ride not because it was boring but because it was so wild and exhilarating. I am just so excited for what's to come next, for what Sanderson has in store for us.
“Do not let your assumptions about a culture block your ability to perceive the individual, or you will fail.”
Honestly, Brandon Sanderson is literally one of the best fantasy authors who have ever existed. To be able to create such a massive world with incredible characters, astonishing worldbuilding, filled with scenes that will just leave your heart racing nonstop, scenes that will leave you laughing your ass off, scenes that will either break or warm your heart. Everything about this world Sanderson has created, the characters, the story, EVERYTHING is just so engaging and brilliant. I can't even begin to think how much planning each book Sanderson has to go through because everything is just so brilliant and excellent and soooo good and so unique and amazing etc I am still in awe.
“I say that there is no role for women—there is, instead, a role for each woman, and she must make it for herself.”
I love the characters, obviously. Sanderson shaped the main characters up so well in a way that made them seem real eventhough they are, in fact, fictional. These characters are very flawed and they all have this dark side but this is what makes them human. Kaladin Stormblessed remains as my favorite, and Dalinar, along with Shallan in a close second. All the other characters were splendidly well done. You can really see that Sanderson didn't just create the side characters for the heck of it, they all had purposes and they all had something to bring into the story and they were all necessary. It's just great how Sanderson introduces to us these minor characters but he doesn't let them stay on the sidelines. Everyone literally has a role and I'm just so impressed because we don't see that a lot in books, whatever genre it may be.
“I will protect even those I hate,” Kaladin whispered through bloody lips. “So long as it is right.”
The worldbuilding is just WOW. It is so complex, and so massive, but very well thought of *applause for Sanderson*. A world this big? Anything could go wrong and could go all over the place. But Sanderson knows his stuff so soooo well. He knows which direction he's going. He knows this world so much that it becomes realistic even though it is fantasy. You can really see that every aspect and detail about this world, Sanderson has planned and crafted it excellently.
“I seek the truth,” Shallan said. “Wherever it may be, whoever may hold it. That’s who I am.”
We got so much more answers this time, especially regarding the spren (whom I actually thought were not going to play a big part in the story). But Sanderson also left us with more questions unanswered GAAAAH.
“Beauty was out there, all around. To create art was not to capture it, but to participate in it.”
Plot is all the stars in the galaxy out of 5! There were so many surprises all throughout the book, from the beginning until the end. Things that I never thought would happen
I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH DO I NEED SAY MORE?
IM GLAD I PICKED THIS SERIES UP BECAUSE THIS IS TRUTHFULLY THE BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ AND I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT GAAAAH I NEED YOU BOOK THREE.
"Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination."
1. Shallan's backstory. In The Way of Kings, it took a longer time for me to actually like Shallan unlike with Kaladin and Dalinar. But in this book, she became one of my favorites. It really helped how we got to learn so much more about her from her backstory and it just really made me appreciate her character and who she is right now. I can't imagine how she managed to be so brave and so full of light even when she's grown up surrounded by darkness, abuse, and hopelessness. I commend her for it, honestly.
2. Shallan killing Tyn; summoning her Shardblade and being BADASS.
3. Shallan spying for the Ghostbloods and being the wisest inexperienced spy ever.
4. Kaladin and Shallan's first meeting bc wow that was hilarious and amusing.
5. When Adolin, Kaladin, and Shallan were reunited with Wit because damn hilarious.
6. The fight with Kaladin, Dalinar, and Adolin against the Assassin in White aka Szeth.
7. That duel Adolin had against four Shardbearers thaAT HAD ME SCREAMING. THEN KALADIN JUMPS DOWN THE ARENA OR WHATS IT CALLED TO HELP SAVE THE DAY.
8. When Kaladin finds out that Adolin locked himself in the prison as well because it seemed unfair that Kaladin was locked up.
9. When Dalinar finally believed Kaladin about Amaram.
10. Kaladin and Shallan stuck down in the chasms because that part was too precious for me to handle. Especially when Kaladin finally understood that him and Shallan were far from different at all. And when they confided to each other, aaaaahhhh precious.
11. That fight scene against the Parshendi in the last few parts was AMAZING.
12. When Syl came back and became a Shardblade/Honorblade and Kaladin was alight.
13. When Kaladin saved Dalinar and he was like "these are my winds you bastard" (not his exact words but y'know hahahah) to Szeth. BADASS.
14. The fight between Kaladin and Szeth. THE BEST BATTLE IVE EVER READ EVER.
15. That last part with the four Knights Radiant gathered together!!!!
12/31/2016
AAAAND THE FIRST HALF IS DONE! OH GOD THAT WAS A BRILLIANT FIRST HALF! WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END 2016! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
.
.
.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is only the first half of a massive book because WOW that was an amazing first half!!!!!
*Full review to be posted once I finish part 2.