Life before Death.
Strength before Weakness.
Journey before Destination.
4.5 stars
There’s so much to this – too much for me to unpack in a single review. This book has been talked about, ripped apart, put back together, carefully dissected, prodded at and left to the Stormfather’s mercy – not necessarily in that order.
And so, I’m only going to mention specifics in my review, my mind is still reeling from finishing this in any case – no spoilers of course.
1. World-building
-It’s vast, it’s detailed (I can tell this even without having read the other two books) and it’s downright fascinating.
-I suppose it makes sense that the Alethi are the lens from which we see things but not much about them interests me (yikes! controversial opinion? not to me). On the other hand, I am without a doubt twice (maybe even thrice) as interested in: the Makabaki, the Parshendi/Parshmen, the Unkalaki and the Herdazians.
-Don’t get me wrong, I like the current main characters well enough but I’ve been in their heads for 1000+ pages so that's different.
-Nonetheless, since this is supposed to be a ten-book series (with books 2 and 3 already published and book 4 on the way later this year) I have hope.
Sometimes the prize is not worth the costs. The means by which we achieve victory are as important as the victory itself.
2. Writing
-whew!
-I don’t want to say too much but I will say this, you surprise me every time, Sanderson.
Too many of us take great pains with what we ingest through our mouths, and far less with what we partake of through our ears and eyes.
3. Magic System
-I definitely knew enough to understand the book but I still find myself hungering for more. Shardplates, shardblades, soulcasters, stormlight… l can’t wait to sink my teeth into it all.
We remember the good times and the bad ones, forgetting that most times are neither good nor bad. They just are.