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megkrouse's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I struggled to get into this one more than any of the others in the series so far, but I couldn’t say why exactly.
The end is every bit as epic as I’ve come to expect from Sanderson but I was left wondering if there were things I missed/didn’t quite piece together like I should have.
The end is every bit as epic as I’ve come to expect from Sanderson but I was left wondering if there were things I missed/didn’t quite piece together like I should have.
devlavaca's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
sillyman2453's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-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
lorebug's review against another edition
4.5
"i will protect those i hate, even if the one i hate most is... myself."
i think this is the strongest installment so far. dalinar is such an interesting character study. i knew this was going to be an emotional read but i wasn't expecting it to make such an impression on me. the themes of taking responsibility, forgiveness, and acceptance throughout really spoke to me though and i really resonated with dalinar and kaladin's arcs. some truths are hard to swallow.
"you cannot have my pain."
jeranimo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
My favorite Stormlight Archive book so far. Doesn’t have as many Awesome Moments as Words of Radiance, though the overall arc of the story works better and the emotional payoffs are immensely better.
jlkim's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
rubiscodisco's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
Sanderson's third Stormlight Archive novel is exciting, action-packed, and cinematic, bordering on schlock-y, with nice literary themes and a The Last Jedi-type flaw of going off on momentum-breaking detours.
What I specifically like about these Stormlight novels, compared to the one other series by Brandon Sanderson, is the emphasis on pretty epic and universal themes. This time, it's about Dalinar's redemption, about bearing the burden of guilt, about slavery and how that affects those who were emancipated from enslavement, and about grappling with a colonial, imperialist legacy. They were treated so well, in fact, that I could have sworn this book was written post-Black Lives Matter movement and the George Floyd protests in 2020, only to find out this was published quite a few years prior.
My biggest complaint with the Stormlight novels, aside from the first one which was my favorite, is that they're kind of bloated. I'm sure the epic scale was intentional, but at some point we have to admit that some of these sections (glaring at you, Kholinar section) weren't cohesive with the rest of the story, broke momentum, and didn't have to be as long as they were. It's like the author had absorbed Robert Jordan's tendency towards too many named characters and too many location changes from his stint completing The Wheel of Time.
What I specifically like about these Stormlight novels, compared to the one other series by Brandon Sanderson, is the emphasis on pretty epic and universal themes. This time, it's about Dalinar's redemption, about bearing the burden of guilt, about slavery and how that affects those who were emancipated from enslavement, and about grappling with a colonial, imperialist legacy. They were treated so well, in fact, that I could have sworn this book was written post-Black Lives Matter movement and the George Floyd protests in 2020, only to find out this was published quite a few years prior.
My biggest complaint with the Stormlight novels, aside from the first one which was my favorite, is that they're kind of bloated. I'm sure the epic scale was intentional, but at some point we have to admit that some of these sections (glaring at you, Kholinar section) weren't cohesive with the rest of the story, broke momentum, and didn't have to be as long as they were. It's like the author had absorbed Robert Jordan's tendency towards too many named characters and too many location changes from his stint completing The Wheel of Time.
mcloonejack's review against another edition
5.0
People are going to want you to believe Sanderson gets a little too lost in the sauce with this one, maybe casts his net too wide. I would strongly disagree! Yes there is absolutely a lot going on here, but it’s all (to me) just as intoxicating as the first two books, but oftentimes in different ways.
The biggest is Oathbringer’s fitting focus on morality and personal philosophies and general inner turmoil. Taking this truly huge story and carving out character development moments like Sanderson does apparently chafes some people (including at least one popular less-than-thrilled review that, with all peace and love, seems to have entirely missed the slow burn character development), but to me it’s some of his finest work that I’ve read yet. In particular, Shallan’s conversation with Wit and Dalinar’s later scenes are truly stunning, borderline tear inducing.
Sanderson also suffuses some more humor into this one, including my beloved Lift. It’s definitely needed given the weight of this story now.
And the plot! The revelations! The twists and turns! The many still unanswered questions! It is baffling that after three 1,000+ page books there is still clearly so much more story to tell, but there sure is. And I can’t wait for more.
The biggest is Oathbringer’s fitting focus on morality and personal philosophies and general inner turmoil. Taking this truly huge story and carving out character development moments like Sanderson does apparently chafes some people (including at least one popular less-than-thrilled review that, with all peace and love, seems to have entirely missed the slow burn character development), but to me it’s some of his finest work that I’ve read yet. In particular, Shallan’s conversation with Wit and Dalinar’s later scenes are truly stunning, borderline tear inducing.
Sanderson also suffuses some more humor into this one, including my beloved Lift. It’s definitely needed given the weight of this story now.
And the plot! The revelations! The twists and turns! The many still unanswered questions! It is baffling that after three 1,000+ page books there is still clearly so much more story to tell, but there sure is. And I can’t wait for more.
sahayden7'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? No
4.0