oashackelford's Reviews (358)

Warbreaker

Brandon Sanderson

5.0

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I was not expecting to like this as much as I did, and I am only sad now because he left room for a potential sequel, but I don't think he will be writing it any time soon. My main problem is, that while the main storyline has been wrapped up nicely, I still have questions that I want answered and I would like to see these characters happy.

Summer of Blood: The Peasants' Revolt of 1381

Dan Jones

3.5

challenging dark informative slow-paced

Cole and Laila Are Just Friends

Bethany Turner

3.0

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

dont read again

The Way of Kings

Brandon Sanderson

5.0

adventurous challenging sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Wow.....

I don't know what I was expecting when I opened this book. I had read the mistborn trilogy and loved it, but it felt like that one was more about politics and taking down political systems and so I guess I figured the way of kings would be similar. I was not prepared for the in depth discussions about honor, the right way to rule, what makes a good man, or the betrayals that came up in the book. I do feel like this book, while fantastic and still having conflict and a purpose, was mostly exposition to set up the sequels. The level of world building in this book is so high. I feel like in Harry Potter, the fact that Harry is raised by muggles does a lot for helping the audience get into the rules of his world, because we are learning right alongside him. Sanderson does not hold your hand in this series. He gives enough context for you to figure out what is happening but I did feel that I had to pay a lot of attention or risk getting confused.

Seriously a good read though. I have a book hangover now, and while I have other books on my TBR to get to, I am having a hard time getting into them because the stakes are lower.

A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

Timothy Egan

4.5

challenging informative sad medium-paced

This book made me so sad. It was incredibly interesting how the Klan used peoples' fear of otherness to their advantage, but so sad that when humans get into large groups that normally logical people will give in to their worst qualities and join in on a mob mentality.

Content Warnings