A review by lizziepurpleserenity
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional hopeful informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I am still processing this and will be right up until I reread. It is impossible for me to give a Stormlight book less than 5 stars, but it doesn't mean everything about it is perfect. We're deeper in the world now, I am finding it easier to be more objective than I was at the beginning and to have an issue or two with certain characters or whatever.

I enjoyed the overall structure and pacing of this book, once I realised that each Part was structured like a miniaturised Sanderson book - some slow build-up to a mini 'Sanderlanche'. And even though (this spoiler is only about pacing and structure, not plot details)

there wasn't a Sanderlanche at the very end as epic as in previous books, some really big things happened.

Very concisely, my main disappointment:

was with Venli. I was really excited going in, to learn more about her and about Willshaping and was expecting some interesting and complex discussion about freedom, but I found her chapters, especially the flashbacks, a bit dull. She never really came alive for me, I don't 'get' her. The highlight for me (as a BSc Geosciences) was the manipulation of the stone, I want more of that!!.

Another irritant for me:

was Jasnah x Wit. Did we need that?? It did not feel right. LOVE that Jasnah is asexual, though.

However, most of the rest of the book far outweighs the disappointments. What was awesome:

Kaladin. Back in I think Words of Radiance Shallan had become my favourite main character at one point (Rock is my favourite overall!), much as I always loved Kaladin too but Kaladin and his arc has overtaken her for me by a <i>long</i> way with this book. I love he and Syl so much and I found all the stuff going on with him, and Navani (who was so awesome in this too - I wish we had had flashbacks for her instead of Venli), at Urithiru a LOT of fun. Plus, top marks for Sanderson's handling of mental health, depression, PTSD etc (not to mention Dissociative Personality Disorder as well). As for Shallan's story and Shadesmar etc, that was all fine, intriguing and dark. Oh and, Dabbid meant so much to me, I cried in his chapter. One of my new favourite Bridge Four characters.

Also,

F**k Moash!!! Man, Teft's death HURT. But it was awesome.

There is obviously SO much more I could say but not enough hours in the day so this is all you're getting here!
 
I cannot believe we have to wait a few years for book 5. Bring it on!!!