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takarakei's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There were multiple points while reading this book when I was actually screaming out loud, on the edge of my seat, and crying. This is only my second 5 star book of 2024 so far.
Honor is dead... but I'll see what I can do
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Blood, Classism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Grief, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Slavery
animal death/cruelty:peonierose's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Colonisation, Death, Slavery, Murder, and War
aseel_reads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Things are happening !! Mwahaha 😂 the reason this doesn't get 4.5 stars is because things only picked up in the last 30% and I wish there had been a bit more plot earlier in the 1000+ page book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: War, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Grief, and Slavery
kassidyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Slavery
johannaplatt's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A great second book from the Stormlight Archive. Really enjoyed the character development over this book, and the action was tense and engaging, especially the last quarter of the book - I found it difficult to put down! Multiple POVs were not confusing, there's enough context info to figure out what's going on. Can't wait to read book 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, Violence, and Slavery
koboldmartian's review
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
katrinarose's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed the action we got in this book, as well as the character development from Shallan and Kaladin. I do feel like there were parts that dragged, and while I’m happy some information/answers were revealed, I still feel like there’s a lot of lore that still hasn’t been explained which can be frustrating. As always, the action-packed ending was great.
One thing I keep thinking about is the Parshendi people - I get racist vibes from the portrayal of a mostly dark-skinned subservient species who are secretly savage villains, and I’m wondering if this will be directly or indirectly addressed at some point. The whole lighteyes vs darkeyes dichotomy in humans seems like a pretty clear metaphor to me for skin color stratifications in our society and this is mostly shown as bad - until it’s shown darkeyes actually turn into lighteyes when they bond with a shard blade. So I don’t know, I guess the next books will ultimately reveal how it’s all meant to be taken.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and have high expectations for the next ones.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, Classism, Death, and War
Moderate: Death of parent, Slavery, Racism, and Grief
blythemind's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Violence, Classism, Emotional abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Dementia, Drug abuse, Grief, War, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, and Death
adbird13's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Happy to have guessed at least two major plot points. I struggle with the interludes....I'm sure they have great payoffs but it really takes me out of it. Thank the storm father they killed off that one lady I can't remember her name who was so annoying so quickly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty and Suicidal thoughts
chilliam_mc's review
slow-paced
4.5
I liked this book even better than the first. The world building just continues to deepen and I’m obsessed.
However, it’s not 5 stars bc I still do not agree with a lot of Sanderson’s plot choices regarding the Parshendi. I did love that we got some of their perspective in this book. And I LOVE their culture and powers and stuff. But the narrative choices regarding their history, enslavement, and genocide are extremely harmful. I have a lot of notes.
However, it’s not 5 stars bc I still do not agree with a lot of Sanderson’s plot choices regarding the Parshendi. I did love that we got some of their perspective in this book. And I LOVE their culture and powers and stuff. But the narrative choices regarding their history, enslavement, and genocide are extremely harmful. I have a lot of notes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Genocide