Words of Radiance by Brandon SandersonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow.
No spoilers ahead, except for The Way of Kings. If you're reading this review, I'm guessing you've already read The Way of Kings. If you haven't, go back and read it RIGHT NOW.
I wasn't sure how Brandon Sanderson would top himself after The Way of Kings. The first installment of the Stormlight Archive was more original, exciting, and heartfelt than the start of any other fantasy series I've read. In the 1000+ page journey, you find yourself caring deeply for Dalinar, Shallan, and Kaladin as you navigate the strange, sci-fi world of Roshar.
Sanderson adds even more action and mystery to Words of Radiance. Plot twists abound. Your favorite characters face impossible obstacles. And the badguys you love to hate--namely, Sadeas--seem untouchable.
I finished Way of Kings feeling like Kaladian had finally "made it." He would no longer face death every day on bridge runs. He'd scored a much cushier job working for Kholin family. He'd proven himself in battle and earned Dalinar's trust. Things were finally looking up for him after hundreds of pages of setbacks and misery in Way of Kings.
I was wrong.
Working for the royal family only leads to more complications for Kaladin. Demons from his past continue to plague him as he navigates working around lighteyes.
Fans of Shallan will be glad to learn more about her mysterious past through flashbacks. She's not one of my favorites, but she gains a lot more depth in this book. And, of course, she discovers more of her Soulcasting abilities.
Some of my favorite sections of this installment were the Interludes. They really help expand the scope of the book early on, giving the story an epic feel without taking the main cast out of the Shattered Plains.
I'm glad Oathbringer is already out, because Words of Radiance ends with a bomb. If every book of the Stormlight Archive stays this high quality, Sanderson will surpass the greatest authors of the fantasy genre.
-jas
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