Beth Morrison
"And so, in the face of the most awful darkness he’d ever felt, Kaladin Stormblessed took a deep breath.Then stood up."
I loved the destination, but sometimes I struggled with the journey.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this, but I understand the criticisms people have and can see where it missed the mark for some. Ultimately, I am happy with the ending to this epic first arc and I’m excited to see the repercussions of these events, not just for Roshar, but for the expanding Cosmere.
RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 5⭐️
Plot: 4⭐️
Setting: 4⭐️
Themes: 5⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3⭐️
Emotional impact: 4⭐️
Rounded overall: 4⭐️
More in depth review 👇🏻👇🏻
Characters:
Sanderson's characters are always what does it for me. He has the ability to write such compelling people with problems that feel so real and relatable. My favorite characters have always been Kaladin, Adolin, and Jasnah—so I was happy in this book with seeing their big moments and arcs completed. I also really enjoyed Szeth's flashbacks and learning about his past. I was satisfied with everyone's endings, however, Shallan’s arc specifically didn't work for me as well as the others. I also wished the cast hadn't been so split up, as I missed that group dynamic.
Plot:
The 10-day structure made everything feel intense and more impactful. It started off fine, but it did feel like a marathon at times. The pacing slowed down significantly around day six, then went into classic "sanderlanch" for days 9 and 10. While I enjoyed the overall story, at nearly 500,000 words, I didn't feel like every page was earned, and I think the book could have been edited down to keep the momentum tighter.
Setting:
The world-building remains top-tier, but the separation of the characters made the setting feel a bit disconnected. I really wished everyone was together more on Roshar instead of being scattered across different locations and realms. I wanted more time with everyone together in one place for this big conclusion.
Themes: 5
Thematically, the book is a heavy exploration of what we choose in the pursuit of truth and who we are willing to hurt to get there. It asks deep questions about legacy and whether uncovering the truth actually brings peace or just more justification for conflict. These ideas were powerful, though some of the delivery was occasionally overshadowed by the pacing and the repetitive nature.
Personal Enjoyment: 3
Is it my favorite Stormlight or even Cosmere book? Definitely not. I really enjoyed it for the most part, but there were hurdles in the journey that kept it from being a perfect experience for me. Still, I am really excited to see what the next arc will bring and even the next cosmere books.
Emotional Impact: 4
This was a bit of a mix. Some of the comedy felt "YA" and featured cringe one-liners that felt out of place for Sanderson, which pulled me out of the moment. However, when it hit, it hit hard. The reveals had me gasping and I shed tears multiple times during the sadder moments. Sanderson definitely knows how to deliver those moments to his readers.
Rounded Overall: 4
All of this to say, I am happy with the ending to this epic first arc. It had its flaws, but the destination was worth it. I will absolutely be continuing my journey through the Cosmere
"And so, in the face of the most awful darkness he’d ever felt, Kaladin Stormblessed took a deep breath.Then stood up."
I loved the destination, but sometimes I struggled with the journey.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this, but I understand the criticisms people have and can see where it missed the mark for some. Ultimately, I am happy with the ending to this epic first arc and I’m excited to see the repercussions of these events, not just for Roshar, but for the expanding Cosmere.
RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 5⭐️
Plot: 4⭐️
Setting: 4⭐️
Themes: 5⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3⭐️
Emotional impact: 4⭐️
Rounded overall: 4⭐️
More in depth review 👇🏻👇🏻
Characters:
Sanderson's characters are always what does it for me. He has the ability to write such compelling people with problems that feel so real and relatable. My favorite characters have always been Kaladin, Adolin, and Jasnah—so I was happy in this book with seeing their big moments and arcs completed. I also really enjoyed Szeth's flashbacks and learning about his past. I was satisfied with everyone's endings, however, Shallan’s arc specifically didn't work for me as well as the others. I also wished the cast hadn't been so split up, as I missed that group dynamic.
Plot:
The 10-day structure made everything feel intense and more impactful. It started off fine, but it did feel like a marathon at times. The pacing slowed down significantly around day six, then went into classic "sanderlanch" for days 9 and 10. While I enjoyed the overall story, at nearly 500,000 words, I didn't feel like every page was earned, and I think the book could have been edited down to keep the momentum tighter.
Setting:
The world-building remains top-tier, but the separation of the characters made the setting feel a bit disconnected. I really wished everyone was together more on Roshar instead of being scattered across different locations and realms. I wanted more time with everyone together in one place for this big conclusion.
Themes: 5
Thematically, the book is a heavy exploration of what we choose in the pursuit of truth and who we are willing to hurt to get there. It asks deep questions about legacy and whether uncovering the truth actually brings peace or just more justification for conflict. These ideas were powerful, though some of the delivery was occasionally overshadowed by the pacing and the repetitive nature.
Personal Enjoyment: 3
Is it my favorite Stormlight or even Cosmere book? Definitely not. I really enjoyed it for the most part, but there were hurdles in the journey that kept it from being a perfect experience for me. Still, I am really excited to see what the next arc will bring and even the next cosmere books.
Emotional Impact: 4
This was a bit of a mix. Some of the comedy felt "YA" and featured cringe one-liners that felt out of place for Sanderson, which pulled me out of the moment. However, when it hit, it hit hard. The reveals had me gasping and I shed tears multiple times during the sadder moments. Sanderson definitely knows how to deliver those moments to his readers.
Rounded Overall: 4
All of this to say, I am happy with the ending to this epic first arc. It had its flaws, but the destination was worth it. I will absolutely be continuing my journey through the Cosmere