Series: Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson ("Way of Kings")

[Gabi]

Eric wrote: "Introduction by Sanderson:

[spoilers removed]"

I'd say (view spoiler)[ it is an underlying theme of the whole series, but in this one here it is even more prominent than in the previous ones. Although I already found Shallan's story in the second one to have been excellent. (hide spoiler)]

[Eva]

I agree, I love that he includes big real-life issues in such brilliant ways. And it never becomes too heavy or depressing, because you know it's the Stormlight Archives and there will be a Sanderlanche at the end, and there is always love, friendship, glory and hope despite of these things, it doesn't just end in unresolved bleakness, and people are able to work through their problems and at least improve and find meaning in their lives.

By the way: people keep talking about how GRRM kills of characters, and yet: (spoilers for *previous* books) (view spoiler)[Sanderson killed off both Eshonai, Elokhar, Graves and Jezrien in shocking ways (hide spoiler)], so I'm always anxious about every character - I don't think anyone is safe! He usually seems to be more merciful to main characters, though.

I must say I'm so happy we're getting so many Navani POV chapters, she's growing into my favorite character (along with Adolin), I just love her so much. I find her very relatable and such a wonderfully well-written powerful older woman, which is pretty rare in SFF literature.

I've reached chapter 42, and there have already been such epic moments - and one reveal that truly shocked me and pulled out the rug from under me. I'm so worried now! Spoilers for chapter 36: (view spoiler)[So worried about Shallan - how will she cope now that she can't trust Pattern anymore? And does this mean Pattern is untrustworthy, or does he have a good reason for his actions? Is he maybe protecting her through this? Why is he lying, spying for the Ghostbloods, and keeping secrets? I just cannot believe he'd have any bad intentions, but even back in book 1 there was that rumor that Cryptics aren't trustworthy... (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

Eva wrote: "Spoilers for chapter 36: ..."

OMG, yes! (view spoiler)[ I was really shocked by this revelation. This was a good one cause I didn't see it coming. Such a shattering moment for Shallan. (hide spoiler)]

I'm with you on Navani. I dearly love her POVs. So many really good female characters there.

[Gabi]

Completely spoilerfree: I love Wit!

[Travis]

Allison wrote: "Through Chapter 17."

I just finished this chapter.

(view spoiler)[And, yeah, I don't remember chapters in the previous books having so much exposition about the larger Cosmere. I actually had to pause after this one and listen to a podcast to help reorient myself to what's going on. It's been so long since I read Warbreaker or Elantris. (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

Gabi wrote: "Completely spoilerfree: I love Wit!"

!!!!!!!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I've finished Ch 49

(view spoiler)[ Holy crap, that section had me on the edge of my seat! 41, when Kaladin is deciding between standing up for everyone or taking a bit of abuse but keeping his head down where he says "you learn to avert your eyes as a slave" literally took my breath away. I love how it's not just that Kal is "a fighter" but that he's been through a lot of trauma and that's what his dad doesn't seem to grasp. So painfully well done.

But I do have to wonder how a dad could look at his son, shash branded and not think...okay, clearly something in my worldview doesn't match his because yes, sure, I'm a civilian who's always been controlled by my brightlord, but I wasn't literally branded a slave, and essentially marked for death, a promise that could be fulfilled by whoever wanted it.

Also, Adolin's solution was one I didn't see coming, and I really, really liked that. Super curious about Maya.

I'm hoping that we're in the groove now, so the clunkiness of the early chapters will feel less and less present. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

Allison wrote: "I've finished Ch 49

"

(view spoiler)[ Lirin never did understand Kaladin. He never came to terms with the fact that his son didn't choose his own profession over one where he had to kill people. I think he will never be able to comprehend what is going on inside of his son - or better, he isn't willing to try to understand, at least not yet. Lirin is a good person, but within his limited field of expertise (where psychology isn't a part of). Hesina comes across as the more open one of those two.

The 'clunkyness' you mention is nothing that I felt. The second half was a lot better than the first, cause it got me on an emotional level, but that's because I never was a fan of tactical war scenes. Nearly all of the flashbacks in Oathbringer were on the boring side for me. (hide spoiler)]

I finished yesterday and I still feel a kind of a hole. Usually I just go on to the next book. But at the moment I'm making a break from reading. Cause honestly I don't know what I want to read after the experience of RoW. Perhaps I go and buy the Mistborn series ... I've read in several comments (view spoiler)[that the different cosmere worlds are coming together now and I know so little of others outside of Roshar. (hide spoiler)]

[Travis]

I'm back at ch. 28. The Interludes between Books I and II were sooooooo juicy!

[Eric]

Chapter 30 here. Sort of slow going at the moment.

@Gabi: I thought the Mistborn series was great! I think the last I read was The Alloy of Law.

[Nicol]

I’m so far behind from everyone! I’m in the middle of chapter 18. I absolutely loved the Mistborn Trilogy and it was the first Sanderson books I read. They are still one of my all time favorite series.

[Gabi]

Travis wrote: "I'm back at ch. 28. The Interludes between Books I and II were sooooooo juicy!"

In each book the interludes were some of my most favourite parts. So much to puzzle there.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Speaking of, re, part 2:

(view spoiler)[ Anyone have guesses about who's talking and to whom in the flavor text at the beginning of each chapter?? (hide spoiler)]

[Eric]

Mystery is part of the fun. ;)

[Gabi]

Allison wrote: "Speaking of, re, part 2:

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I got the name of two planets while listening, Scadriel (apparently where Mistborn takes place) and Threnody, where I only could find a short story of. And it sounds like there are a lot more 'powers' like Odium, Honour, Cultivation and such scattered over the planets of the system. One of those is apparently speaking. But who and to whom? ... that's the part that just gives me brain nods ... (hide spoiler)]

[Nicol]

Travis wrote: "Allison wrote: "Through Chapter 17."

I just finished this chapter.

[spoilers removed]"

which podcast did you listen to?

[Travis]

Nicol wrote: "

which podcast did you listen to?"

The Shardkeepers. Not sure if it's the best one though. Looks like there are MANY!

[Eric]

Finished with Chapter 47. Sanderson is finally in giddy-up mode.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

through chapter 64

(view spoiler)[ i guess the writer of rhythm of war is Mraize's babsk. still no guesses on who he's talking to. (hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

just started 83 (view spoiler)[ Kelek showing up was a surprise! but ur meaning original in the dawnchant made me realize that urithiru sounds like earth worth the Roshar preference for palindrome (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

Allison wrote: "just started 83 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ The mention of "ur" made me too think if the Dawnchant was one of the Earth languages (hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

omg (view spoiler)[Dabbid's (hide spoiler)] chapter X:::(

[Eric]

Finished Chapter 68

(view spoiler)[While I understand what Sanderson is doing, his flashbacks to the "Singers" are becoming annoying.>/spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Agreed, Eric. I'm pretty confused about my response to this book so far.

[Eric]

Allison wrote: "Agreed, Eric. I'm pretty confused about my response to this book so far."

I seriously doubt it'll be a five star read for me. There are a lot of different irons in the fire for this one. I put the book down for awhile yesterday and set out my Christmas decorations. Way early for me to do that, but this has been a strange year.

[Gabi]

Oh, I'm sad to hear it doesn't work for everybody here. I was touched so deeply by this book like I haven't been touched by any one of the three before this (or it is due to my current emotional state? Idk)

[Anna]

(The book had dropped from the thread, as sometimes happens, and as I was adding it back in, I accidentally typed "rhythm of ear". Sadly, that book doesn't exist, but surely it should!)

[Eric]

Ha, ha "rhythm of ear." It is said that if one has rhythm they most likely have a good ear. 😎

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

oh man. i just finished chapter 108. those last few chapters... crying

[Eric]

Allison wrote: "oh man. i just finished chapter 108. those last few chapters... crying"

You are storming along! :)

[Travis]

Allison wrote: "oh man. i just finished chapter 108. those last few chapters... crying"

Uh oh!!! Scared!

I'm at ch. 83 and agree that this one feels less consistent than the others. I liked Allison's comment that it shows its seams. Am I right that there are way more plot threads and settings here than before? I also think some of the writing and the characterization seems weaker than in previous volumes. (view spoiler)[Isn't there something else to say about Lift than that she's always hungry? (hide spoiler)]

That said, I'm mostly enjoying it and finding some of the characters particularly moving. I'm especially loving the chance to get to know more about (view spoiler)[Rlain, Dabbit, and Navani (hide spoiler)].

[Eric]

Finished Chapter 100. If I have to read one more flashback to the "Singers," I will scream!

[Eva]

I loved this one so much!

On a more humorous note, this is the first fantasy novel I've read in which a tinfoil hat would actually protect you from magic (well, at least somewhat)!

[Bonnie]

Cosmere report:
-Read Edgedancer from the library.
-Started Oathbringer ; realized I did not remember enough.
-Re-read War of Kings and Words of Radiance.
-Went over this thread, in wonderment over some of our lightheartedness in terms of 2020 (my personal and U.S. political), Pandemic etc.
-Re-read beginning of Oathbringer.
-Made lemon bars.
-Went over to Kindle while typing that to make sure it is Oathbringer, not Oathbreaker. That is positive, right?! Affirmative, life-bringing.
-HERE WE GO!

[Alabaster]

Finished RoW a few weeks ago (got my copy 2 days after release :)), and walked away from it with a book hangover of stupendous magnitude. Since then, I've been getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night as I've re-read the entire series cover-to-cover in a desperate attempt to stay in Roshar.

[Alabaster]

Allison wrote: "Re the allomancy (I'm in Ch 11 of RoW, but I don't think this is a spoiler past maybe Ch 6)

[spoilers removed]"

this little chunk has relatively minor spoilers, but does some minor spoilering for each book in the cosmere. Enter at your own risk.

(view spoiler)[ Taking that to the next level I'm pretty sure all of the forces that we see throughout the cosmere are actually the same force, just used in different applications. We see the Dor in Elantris, the Breath in Warbreaker, Stormlight in the Stormlight Archives and allomancy in Mistborn. Since we know that these stories all take place in the same universe/system, is it possible that instead of various different forces, each soryline has developed an individual application of the same force? (hide spoiler)]

The post this ties into is from a little bit back - Allison's post on Nov.19.2020

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I think that's a very promising premise, Alabaster!

[Hank]

I asked this question in an update thread and thought I would post here. I loved the first two books but Rhythm just isn't working for me, however I am invested enough that I would like to know what happens without reading a summary. I asked Allison what 200 pages I should read before giving up.

I totally get why Eve, Gabi and Travis loved it but I just don't have the patience right now. What would y'all as editors keep as the must have chapters?

[Travis]

Hank wrote: "What would y'all as editors keep as the must have chapters?"

I think you could skip the flashback chapters (until the very last one, which is also the book's final chapter).

[Alabaster]

Travis wrote: "Hank wrote: "What would y'all as editors keep as the must have chapters?"

I think you could skip the flashback chapters (until the very last one, which is also the book's final chapter)."

I'm going to second that. The flashbacks add a great depth to the story, but if you're just looked for a synopsis, you can probably skip them. Unfortunately, BrandoSando's writing style is so drawn out that it isn't really possible to abbreviate the entire story into 200 pages as read in the book. Any plot point progression happens over like 20+ pages, so it's really impossible to shorten to lower than 500-600. But yeah, you can for sure skip the flashbacks.

[Hank]

Thanks for the suggestions Alabaster and Travis!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I personally think I could have likely edited this one down to about half its length, easily. I kinda wanna get out a red pen and see how close i get.

[Alabaster]

Please don't deface a perfectly good book like that. I'm begging you here.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

mwahahahaha

[Alabaster]

wait no that's lord of the rings. Stop. Go back

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Better?

[Alabaster]

*Sigh* At least it's not a hardcover edition. And that's WoR :)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

heehee!!

[Anna]

Please no open spoilers for any book, not even the first one! :)

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[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I am pretty comfortable saying many of us are sophisticated enough to pick up on "writing craft" and simply disagree with you! I don't like reading an author all at once because all authors have styles, and things that one wouldn't notice normally become a lot more noticeable if over-consumed. A break seems like a good idea here!

The last time I read WoK and WoR was like 2 years and several tens of thousands of pages ago, so I don't remember exactly what you're talking about, but I know you're not alone in not digging his style! I will say that Kaladin's growth as a young man with depression and PTSD as it leads to "old soul" type gravitas rings really true for me, though of course I know that many people experience those things differently.