Julia Byrd's Reviews > Rhythm of War

Gemstones infused with stormlight for Bk 4 of the sprawling, ambitious Stormlight Archive. 💎 This book is over 1,200 pages, took me two months to read, and I loved all of it. It feels like the middle book in a series in a good way. Sanderson has earned the space to develop complex characters. Kaladin Stormblessed struggles with both major depressive episodes (incl. suicidal ideation) and what's basically PTSD. And when he does heroic feats, he's not magically cured of those problems!
❝He lived on willpower alone. But what would happen when he ran out of strength? What would happen when he simply... couldn't?❞
It shouldn't be so radical but it's refreshing and heart-wrenching. Also quick shout-out to my brightness Navani for being 40+ and a badass scholar, holding the tower together while being (in my head) totally foxy.