Book Review: Oathbringer, by Brandon Sanderson (Book Three of the Stormlight Archive)

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Book, Book Review, Brandon Sanderson, Cosmere, Fantasy, Reading, Stormlight Archive

I’m reporting in this time with the latest installment of the Stormlight Archive, recently released in November 2017.  Before embarking on this 1,200 page adventure I followed the author’s advice in the preface and read a (relatively) short novella titled Edgedancer.  I do highly recommend reading that as well, though my review from here on out will focus solely on my thoughts regarding Oathbringer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but do have to say that I found it slightly slower to get into than the others.  I think what threw me off initially was Kaladin being apart from the Bridge Four crew.  I’ve grown accustomed to their banter being a major part of the story and its absence gave the early chapters a slightly different feeling than the other books.  However, by the time Kaladin, Shallan, and Adolin arrived in Kholinar the story had quickly ramped back up.  Their subsequent journey home through Shardsmar and the Battle of Thaylen City that closed out the book were both off the charts exciting, ending this part of the story on an exhilarating high.  In the midst of all that action, there was also a pretty major revelation about the history of Roshar and the people who inhabit it.  It certainly changed the perception of some past events and I am very curious to see what additional info comes to light in the next book.

Speaking of Roshar’s inhabitants, the characters were once again strong throughout the book.  The main trio of Dalinar, Kaladin, and Shallan were as engaging as ever, though this time around the arcs of Dalinar and Shallan received the most page time.  It was really interesting to learn Dalinar’s backstory and see how he became the person we presently know him to be following the impulsive violence of his youth and its consequences.  His flashbacks served as an excellent illustration of why the other nations are so reluctant to trust his calls for an alliance.  As for Shallan, she faced some demons of her own this novel.  Determined to repress and escape her own traumas and insecurities, she spent a large part of the book using her Lightweaving skills to create new identities whenever she deemed her original self inadequate.  The progression of her transformations was really quite fascinating to watch as she teetered on the edge of losing herself.

What made this story truly epic, though, was how enjoyable the secondary characters were.  A book on this large a scale can’t get by on its main characters alone and happily this story featured so many other interesting people that I have to force myself to stick with only my absolute favorites here.  Most notable for me, was finally learning more about (and meeting!) the three Shards on Roshar; Honor, Cultivation, and Odium.  Also, much to my delight, both Lift and Wit made a number of memorable appearances and managed to steal whatever scene they were in, regardless of the situation.  Rounding out my list, I am additionally looking forward to seeing what happens regarding the strange spren bonded to Renarin and Venli as well finding out what is in store for the various members of Bridge Four; Teft, Rock, and Moash in particular.

At this point I am sad to say that my time in this universe has to be put on hold.  Looking at the author’s anticipated release schedule, book four in this series isn’t planned for release until 2020!  That in conjunction with the next Mistborn novel being slated for 2019 means I’m going to have to look for my Cosmere fix elsewhere.  I’m thinking Elantris is next.

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Book Review: Words of Radiance, by Brandon Sanderson (Book Two of the Stormlight Archive)

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Book, Book Review, Brandon Sanderson, Cosmere, Fantasy, Reading, Stormlight Archive

I couldn’t get my hands on this book fast enough after finishing Way of Kings and eagerly dove into the next 1,000 pages of the series.  For those of you reading on, please be aware that this is indeed the second book in the Stormlight Archive.  I don’t provide any spoilers for this particular novel, but you can probably assume a few things about the first novel based on what I say below.

The action picks up not long after the end of the previous book and once again focuses primarily on Dalinar Kholin, Kaladin Stormblessed, and Shallan Davar.  Arguably at the center of all the action, Dalinar opens this book with a major target on his back.  Seeking to protect the legitimacy of the throne, he embarks on an ambitious plan to change the course of the war against the Parshendi for good, perhaps permanently altering the Alethi political landscape in the process.  Meanwhile, as the members of Bridge Four adjust to their new lives and positions, Kaladin finds his faith in Dalinar and King Elhokar severely tested when certain past events begin to figure prominently into shifting present day alliances.  Finally, Shallan and Jasnah Kholin have set off for the Shattered Plains with information vital to the Alethi war effort.

I absolutely loved this and had a really hard time putting the book down.  At one point I exclaimed to my wife that even though I was already 870 pages in, I was really worried I wasn’t going to get enough before the ending.  The world created on Roshar is immense and absolutely fascinating.  In addition to the main story, there were once again a number of one-off chapters depicting people and places somewhat removed from our heroes.  I really enjoyed this variety of perspectives and appreciated finally seeing the world through Parshendi eyes.  By the end of the book it is quite clear we’re gearing up for a major conflict in the next installment.  It will be interesting to see how the new Surgebinders develop their skills.

What really made the story for me though where the characters.  The main ones were all well written and interesting, though it did take a bit of time before Shallan and Dalinar’s son Adolin grew on me.  I know there’s a lot of readers out there rooting for a love triangle, but I find them well suited for each other and don’t find that potential story arc that interesting (yet at least).

Kaladin, however, is without a doubt my favorite.  He’s an easy guy to root for, not just because he’s both honorable and a total badass, but for his personality as well.  His relationship with Syl is simultaneously funny and rather touching and in combination with his spells of depression serves to humanize someone who might otherwise be an overly intense character.  Although I most definitely want to see him get vengeance for the wrongs done to him, my biggest hope is that his circumstances have changed enough that he can better channel the anger and resentment he carries.  I’m really looking forward to seeing how he develops his personality and powers throughout the series.

Another character I have particularly enjoyed so far is Wit.  He gets very limited page time, but I just can’t get enough of him.  He’s obviously a major player in whatever events are happening in the larger Cosmere and spending time with him always feels like getting a peek into the inner workings of this universe.  He also has some of the best lines in the series and makes several excellent plays on language.

I can’t wait to find out where the series goes from here and am already getting started on book three, Oathbringer.  Certain developments in this story also have me looking forward to the next  Mistborn book, since it seems there may be a major connection between the two worlds (though only someone who’s caught up on that series would notice).  Pretty safe to say I’ll be reading a lot more Brandon Sanderson novels.

Book Review: The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson (Book One of The Stormlight Archive)

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Book, Book Review, Brandon Sanderson, Cosmere, Fantasy, Stormlight Archive

My next reading adventure starts me off in another epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson.  Published in 2010, this is the first book in what is currently planned to be a ten book series that explores a different planet within the author’s Cosmere.

Coming in at roughly 1,000 pages, there is a whole lot of world-building and introductory information provided in this novel.  The story takes place on a planet called Roshar, which is populated by various human (and a few not quite so human) races advanced to roughly the medieval era on Earth.  Severe weather phenomena called highstorms regularly rage across the planet, resulting in some interesting adaptations in the indigenous plant-life and allowing crustaceans to flourish in niches we might  otherwise expect to see mammals.  Also in abundance in this world are a vast array of fairy-like creatures called spren that seem to be semi-physical manifestations of emotions and elements.  Highly varied in shape, size, and ability to interact with humans, these creatures appear and disappear according to their surroundings and are suggested to be not entirely a part of our plane of existence.

The main system of magic is centered around using gems to collect energy (referred to as Stormlight) released by highstorms.  Once infused these gems are used to power a variety of objects, the most common of which are devices called fabrials.  Depending upon the type of device and skill of the user, fabrials provide a variety of functions ranging from simple heaters and light sources to allowing for long-range communication and the transformation of matter from one state to another.  Stormlight charged gems are also used as to power the formidable shardplate armor and shardblade swords held by the planet’s elite.  Prized relics of legendary figures from Roshar’s distant past, these weapons were originally wielded against evil creatures called voidbringers during a series of devastating upheavals, but now only serve to grant their bearers an immense advantage in more mundane conflicts.  Also connected to these legends are Surgebinders, people able to physically draw Stormlight into their bodies and from it obtain greatly enhanced skills and abilities.  Supposedly a lost ability, we nonetheless meet at least one such individual in the story.

The story is told by following the paths of four primary characters.  The first of these is Szeth-son-son-Vallano, a man largely responsible for setting off the central conflict in the novel.  Outcast by his people for an as yet unspecified heresy, Szeth is referred to as Truthless; a status that binds him as an absolute slave to whomever holds his Oathstone.  Despite a deep-seated personal aversion to violence Szeth is a highly skilled assassin and Surgebinder, two talents he is often forced to make use of at great cost to himself.  We first meet him at a feast held in honor of a truce between the powerful Alethi and Parshendi kingdoms where he succeeds in dramatic fashion at recreating hostilities between the two powers.

Cut to six years later and the two sides are still at war.  Despite their numerical advantage, the Alethi highprinces overseeing the war effort are unwilling to unite their forces and have instead made sport of the conflict, competing amongst themselves for the right to battle the Parshendi over harvesting gems from the cocoons of rare creatures that live on the battlefields.  It is here that we meet our next two characters, Dalinar Kholin and Kaladin Stormblessed.  Dalinar is a high-ranking Alethi noble and a trusted advisor to his nephew, and current king, Elhokar Kholin.  An honorable man and legendary warrior, he is dismayed by the lackluster war effort and is pushing for a resolution to the seemingly endless conflict.  His fellow lords, however, view his skepticism as cowardice and there are whispers questioning his sanity and competence as rumors regarding the visions he sees during highstorms start to spread.

Kaladin, on the other hand, is a former spearman.  Nicknamed Stormblessed in better times for an uncanny ability to stay alive, he has been betrayed by the minor lord he was serving and sold into slavery.  To his surprise, he eventually finds himself sold into the army of highprince Sadeas, a brutal and callous man who also happens to be the chief rival of Dalinar Kholin, and given the role of bridgeman; the lowest and most expendable position in the army.  Depressed and defeated, Kaladin is on the verge of giving up until he is coaxed back from the edge by an unusual spren named Syl.  With newfound determination he begins to organize his fellow bridgemen and seeks a way to become the man he once was.

The final main character is Shallan Davar.  Though she is currently somewhat on the periphery of the main conflicts, her character looks to be very important going forward.  The only daughter in a collapsing noble family, she is desperately seeking to apprentice herself to Jasnah Kholin, esteemed scholar and sister of King Elhokar.  Her real goal however, is to steal a powerful fabrial from Jasnah, a device she and her brothers hope can transform worthless tracts of their family’s land into valuable mines.  It’ not long, however, before Shallan’s natural curiosity and scholastic ambition take over and she begins to doubt her resolve, especially as she comes to value her new experiences and discovers some hidden abilities of her own.

Reading on a Kindle, I didn’t realize at first just how long this book was and continued on in awe as the story just kept coming.  Fortunately, I found it to all really fascinating and absolutely loved the world and it’s characters.  Everything in the book felt necessary towards building the story, even the smattering of one-off chapters featuring people and places seemingly far removed from the main plot.  However random some of them may seem at present, these characters all felt like they had important perspectives to offer and presented tantalizing glimpses of the world beyond the gaze of the main characters.

On that last note, there were definitely a few places where I caught references to the larger world Sanderson is creating.  In this regard, I am particularly happy to have read Mistborn: Secret History before this book, as having knowledge of some of the people and places encountered therein really enhanced my appreciation of this story.  I was really excited when I caught a passing reference to Ruin at one point and have since learned that there izs considerable fan speculation that one of Roshar’s constellations is seen briefly in Bands of Mourning.  Since I don’t presume to know much of this larger universe yet, and I’m sure there was even more stuff that I missed.  

What I can say is that all this left me very eager to jump right into the second book, Words of Radiance.  I have so many questions and can’t wait to get answers!

Book Review: Mistborn: Secret History, by Brandon Sanderson

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Book, Book Review, Brandon Sanderson, Cosmere, Fantasy, Mistborn, Reading

After taking a few weeks away, I am diving back into Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere.  This novella, published in January 2016 only a few days after the release of Bands of Mourning, purports to fill in some of the gaps in the Mistborn storyline, tie it into the larger universe, and give the reader some more time with a particular character they may have not gotten enough of in the original trilogy.

Before I continue on with this post I want to share a brief except from the author’s preface:

This story contains enormous spoilers for the first three Mistborn novels.  Seriously, please don’t read this unless you’ve read those books.  I’d actually prefer you wait until you’ve finished book six, The Bands of Mourning, because some of the reveals in this story will spoil that book as well.

He’s not kidding, although I don’t think this book would make much sense to someone who has not read the first trilogy anyway.  Regardless, I’m putting the rest of this post after a break so as to not inadvertently ruin things for anyone new to the series.  I won’t give away all the details, but I do have some specifics I want to discuss.  You have been warned.

Book Review: The Bands of Mourning, by Brandon Sanderson (Book Six of the Mistborn Series)

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Book, Book Review, Brandon Sanderson, Cosmere, Fantasy, Mistborn

A dreadful realization came over me as I was finishing this book.  As I neared the end it suddenly hit me that I was going to have to wait for the next one to be published before I could get closure on the series.  According to the author’s current timeline, it looks like I am going to be left in suspense until at least 2018!

This story begins six months after the conclusion of the previous book.  Mere minutes before the scheduled start of his wedding ceremony, Wax is approached by a small group of kandra seeking his assistance.  Their agent ReLuur has returned home from an investigation crippled and missing one of his hemalurgic spikes, but also bearing evidence of an incredible discovery.  Included among his possessions is information that could lead to the long-lost Bands of Mourning, the deceased Lord Ruler’s Feruchemic bracers thought to contain a considerable remnant of his power.  Feeling betrayed by Harmony and offended by the timing of the request, Wax initially refuses to have any involvement in either the search for the missing spike or the artifacts.  He comes around, however, after finding out Marasi has agreed to help and that the Set organization is most likely involved as well.  The journey takes out heroes far outside the familiar confines of Elendel to the city of New Seran and frontier beyond, where many new threats and challenges await them in their quest.

I was a bit unsure about this book after the first couple of chapters.  With Wax still reeling from the events and revelations that ended the last book, this one opened on kind of a down note.  This, in combination with Wayne’s usually amusing antics only serving to make him look like a real dick, had me worried that the series was about to take its first stumble.  How wrong I was!  Once the story got going the book recovered quickly and I couldn’t put it down.  Both Wax and Wayne redeem themselves, and we get to see some very different sides of each by the time the book ends. I also liked that Steris emerged as a strong, relatable character.  It is now very clear that she makes an excellent partner for Wax and I’m looking forward to seeing where she goes from here.  For a final thought on the characters, it was a lot of fun to have MeLaan back.  Let’s just say she is an excellent companion for Wayne and, as a kandra, brings a unique perspective to most situations.

The highlight of this book, though, was its implications for the story going forward.  With each of these novels, the world of Scadrial keeps on getting bigger and by the end of this particular installment we very clearly get a sense of how much the world has changed since Ruin’s  defeat and of how little we’ve seen of the planet thus far.  My guess is that the final book  is likely to feature a lot of new people and places; all made accessible by some pretty cool new technologies that appear.  This change in scope, in combination with the spreading social unrest and political resistance to Elendel in the surrounding cities, brought a sense of epic adventure to the story, giving it a Raiders of the Lost Arc-like feeling.  Hanging over everything, though, there was once again a lot to think about in regard to Harmony; in particular the extent and limits of his powers, his role in shaping life on Scadrial, and what, if any, equivalent forces exist.

Speaking to that last point, this novel marks the first time in the series that we see the word “cosmere” in print, used somewhat interchangeably for “universe” by some of the characters.  I am getting really curious how deep we are now into that shared universe.  Although it did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book, there were a few places where I strongly suspected that certain people or events might be part of a larger picture I am not yet privy to.  Cautiously looking into this after reading the book confirmed that was indeed the case, though not necessarily where I thought.  Since I seem to have about a year to go until I can pick up the last installment of this series, my goal now is to fill up my reading list with some books that might help me fill in some gaps.  I get the impression that some of our old friends were quite busy in the space in between the two sets of books.

Book Review: The Hero of Ages, by Brandon Sanderson (Book Three of the Mistborn Series)

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Book Review, Books, Brandon Sanderson, Cosmere, Fantasy, Mistborn

Here we are with the final entry in the original Mistborn trilogy.  It has been an excellent journey so far and I couldn’t wait to find out how the story ended.  As usual there are no spoilers for this particular book, but since this is the end of the series I highly recommend skipping this until you have read the first two books.

Another year has passed and all is not well on Scadrial.  Ruin, the malevolent force released at the end of the previous book, has been growing in power and is on the verge of fulfilling its desire to destroy the world.  Koloss led by Steel Inquisitors are marauding through the countryside, ashfall and earthquakes are occurring with alarming frequency, and the mists have begun appearing earlier and earlier and have begun to seemingly strike down people at random.  The only hope for our heroes appear to lay within the Lord Ruler’s hidden storage caches they discovered to exist at the end of the last book.  Desperate for the vital supplies and cryptic clues about fighting Ruin, Elend and Vin are struggling to secure the final two caches which lay in unfriendly hands.  With time running out Elend splits what remains of his forces between the two sites.  While Breeze, Sazed, and Spook travel to the city of Urteau to parlay with an erratic Skaa populist that has risen to power, Elend and Vin lead their army towards the heavily fortified city of Fadrex to secure the final store by any means necessary.

I liked this book a lot and definitely felt it provided a worthy end to the story.  Full of surprises and suspense, it also gave satisfying answers about the origins of the mists and what caused the drastic changes to the world.  I won’t give away the ending, but what I do want to say about it is: Wow, I did not see that coming!  For the book as a whole, the author did a great job in setting a tense, urgent mood, and I particularly liked the mysteries surrounding the storage caches.  I was often reminded of my favorite parts of Heretics of Dune, in particular the chapter in which Odrade uncovers the ruins of Sietch Tabr and the God Emperor’s message.

I also enjoyed that the story again explored a larger portion of this world.  It gave the book an even more epic scope than the others while allowing characters like Spook, TenSoon, and Sazed more page time as well.  There were again a few slow spots, this time on account of an unnecessary amount of time spent rehashing established information every few chapters or so.  My eagerness to read on gave me the momentum to speed through these parts, but what really bothered me was that this took away time I could have been getting more new story.  Don’t get me wrong, I thought this book was great.  I just wanted to get as much of it as possible in the pages provided!

Luckily for me there is indeed plenty of more story out there.  There are a couple of novellas associated with this trilogy and a follow-up series set a few hundred years after these events.  Further, as if all that wasn’t enough, I found out all of those works are part of an even larger collection of the author’s works known as the Cosmere, a shared universe in which some of his various other series take place (and eventually overlap).  Pretty safe to say my reading list is now well stocked for the immediate future.