From the Bookshelf of 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed]…

Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2)

Brandon Sanderson

Discussion: . Week 1: More Than 500 Pages

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. Week 1: More Than 500 Pages

* Week 1: Introduction
By Jessica · 102 posts · 1093 views

last updated Aug 11, 2015 02:06PM

* Week 1: Progress Post
By Jessica · 100 posts · 421 views

last updated Nov 06, 2015 06:29AM

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What Members Thought

Jun 02, 2018 Rae rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult-fantasy

These books are taking me forever to read, not because they aren't good - hello five star review - but because they aren't the kind of books you can read in small increments. I feel like I need to be able to sit and read for at least an hour at a time, because there is a LOT of detail and a LOT of things going on in a LOT of different locations. Also, things get really exciting and then you have to keep reading, so what I'm saying is this isn't the kind of book you want to read on your lunch bre ...more

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Jan 20, 2015 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, 2015-reading-challenge, five-stars

I stayed up til 5 am last night finishing this... no regrets! I have no idea why this series hooks me so completely, as I've never finished Sanderson's other books, and I'm not a huge fan of high fantasy as a genre. Seriously, I read this entire 1100 page novel in a day and a half. My cat had to see the bottom of his food bowl for almost an entire hour, as I ignored his pitiful mewing until I found out what happened to the characters.

I have only two criticisms, which obviously weren't enough to ...more

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Jun 23, 2020 Nicole rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, adventure, on-amazon, read-2020, gaston-summer-2020

Turning into quite an epic series.

No Mary Sues or Gary Stus here. The protagonists have layers of flaws which might surprise you at times. Still, they're somehow (mostly) eminently likeable. Nor does Sanderson rely on their flaws for plot advancement or conflict, which can be a pet peeve of mine. Raced through this book, and can't wait to see what happens in the next. ...more

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Nov 05, 2017 Scott Flicker rated it it was amazing

I kept yelling go kaladin listening to the graphic audio version of this great book

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Mar 13, 2015 Jesse rated it it was amazing

Shelves: around-the-year-2017, 20-word-reviews

2020 20 word review:

So many great characters with complex stories and emotions. There was much that I didn't remember, and new discoveries too.

The second time through this book (and series so far) has been even better than the first. The way Sanderson manages to interweave so many amazing characters and stories never ceases to amaze me. The ominous unfolding of Shallan's backstory is masterfully done, and Kaladin's inner struggles are engaging without being overdone. Amazing book, can't wait to ...more

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Sep 26, 2014 Nicole rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, read-in-2016, high-fantasy

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I'm kind of sad that The Stormlight Archive is Brandon Sanderson's magnum opus, instead of the Mistborn series. This was a good book - I even liked it better than The Way of Kings - but I didn't really love it. All of Sanderson's hallmarks are here ... expansive worldbuilding, a creative magic system, wonderful action/battle sequences, a preoccupation with religion and its influence on society. But even with all that, this series has left me a little I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I'm kind of sad that The Stormlight Archive is Brandon Sanderson's magnum opus, instead of the Mistborn series. This was a good book - I even liked it better than The Way of Kings - but I didn't really love it. All of Sanderson's hallmarks are here ... expansive worldbuilding, a creative magic system, wonderful action/battle sequences, a preoccupation with religion and its influence on society. But even with all that, this series has left me a little cold so far. Maybe it's the main characters, who with the exception of Dalinar (and Highprince Sebarial, for some reason) have me rolling my eyes as often as not. Oh, Adolin is cool too. But so far I'm pretty ambivalent about Shallan and Kaladin. I guess time will tell.

Also, I may be in the minority, but I'm going to say it nonetheless - this book really didn't need to be as long as it is. I'm not afraid of long books - I've read the unabridged Les Miserables, I've read Atlas Shrugged, I've read just about every Stephen King mega-novel that he's written. But this book didn't need to be 1300+ pages. It's one thing if an author needs to tell a massive story in one book (looking at you, Stephen King!), but there are going to be ten of these books. At the same time, Sanderson's proven that he can write complex, gripping stories without needing nearly as many pages. Once again, I point to Mistborn - I remember reading the first book and thinking "how is this a trilogy? He wrapped up the story in one book!" Or, look at Sanderson's novellas - incredible stories, new worlds and magic systems, great characters, and they're often less than 100 pages! Ultimately, this book felt like being on a treadmill. I knew I was accomplishing something, I felt good about it, but I was well aware that I wasn't really getting anywhere fast.

One last note - as a Cosmere novel, and one of the books in his keystone Cosmere series, there are obviously lots of connections to his other books. But after finishing this, I'm really glad I've already read Warbreaker. (view spoiler)

2016 reading challenge: a book over 500 pages

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Nov 06, 2014 Kayla rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

fave scifi/fantasy author. love love love this series. the world-building is amazing, the depth of his character development is incredible, and he weaves an incredibly intricate tale with so many subplots. Also, I love Kaladin. That is all.

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