Best of Stormlight so far

Half way there and ... satisfying payoffs to a lot of the arcs. It's huge obviously but the pace just doesn't let up. Clever opponents and flawed characters on all sides. But everybody's actions make sense.

Few of the main players land in a good place, but there's plenty of time yet.

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Brandon Sanderson needs to write longer books.

Of course this book is another wonderful escape to the Cosmere. There’s only one problem… I would have loved a longer book, this one is waaay too short! When is the next one out? Next year?

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They Just Get Better and Better.

It is difficult to put into words the emotional roller-coaster this novel brought me through. Each time you think you have a semblance of what will happen it is overturned on you in exactly the right way. Brandon is an expert at subverting expectations and this story continues that. After completing the book I want desperately to forget it and start again to feel the utter shock, joy, despair, and everything in between during the wild ride. Thank you Brandon for this absolute work of art.

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Consistently strong conclusion

Sanderson continues to prove an artful display at leaving readers wanting more and feeling satisfied with the state of the story even at the conclusion of a series.

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The most ‘Meh’ of the Sanderson’s books yet.

What initially drew me to Sanderson’s books were his: ‘Here’s a simple premise, now let’s explore the consequences’. He is most famous for his magic systems that way. The Stormlight Archives are becoming bloated by complexity: Multiple planes of existences, Planets, Races and so many types of unexplained powers that don’t really add to the story.

Also, why do every single storming character have deep psychological issues!? Why do they keep rambling about their problems in circles like that? I get that self-acceptance is an interesting concept to explore in the Radiant system, but everyone ? All the time? It is dragging the pace to a crawl. From epic bridge4 to therapist, really ?

It is still a pleasurable book, but I think I’m done with the Stormlight Archives now.

Performances:
Kate and Michael are still very good at what they do. However, the Michael Kramer parts sometimes had background noises in them. Different recording setup or lower editing standards ? I docked a star.

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1 person found this helpful

Way too many words

I’m not sure where the editors were on this book but it had way too many words and repetition. I loved the other books in the series but I won’t be continuing past this one. The book was less action and more about personal introspection. Nothing more frustrating than main characters “finding themselves” or having epiphanies at every single battle, juncture or plot direction. Way too much character therapy for me and I could care less by the end.

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Somethings off

This series used to be about brutal fights, epic political movements and character growth. While all of this is still present in this book, in my opinion it’s watered down. Much of this book is flashbacks to the past. The romances feel like something a junior high schooler would have came up with. I enjoy some talk about emotions and or mental health but to me it just becomes tedious here. I enjoy almost all of Sanderson’s work but this is my least favourite of anything he’s ever wrote.

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5 people found this helpful

Long Book and Totally Lost

Narration was great but the story line had me completely Lost. Jumping back in time and then future then going from reality into some sort of spiritual realm had me completely confused. Once again lost with the weird names of everyone who you never remember. Who was the main character? If you want something to pass the time with or go to sleep with this is the book. I have over 400 books from audible but this I would rank near the bottom. I read all the previous from Sanderson and enjoyed them.

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the world building and storyline are amazing

This book and this series are wonderful!
Unfortunately a couple characters some of the performance takes away from it enough that I skip entire chapters based on which characters are in it and who is narrating.
my fingers are crossed that Shalan ends up being really important but so far, four and half books in (not done this one), she has brought almost nothing to the overall story.

The irony of pointing out perceived flaws in a person reading a book about accepting people for who they are is not lost on me. I've listened to all the stormlight archive books and I'm sorry but my opinion has not changed.
The way one of the narrators emotes words like they're reading to children, hyper sibilance, and they way they force the last vowels of most words through their nose make them completely unlistenable.
I understand that Brando Sando is friends with the narrators and that they are married, so getting rid of one will be impossible.
can we at least get some strong de-essing for then next book so that every word with the letter "s" in it isn't a dentist drill straight through my brain? Forget about wearing headphones and listening to those chapters...

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A good one, ignore lame "DEI" hate reviews

I love this series, so freaking much. This one was good, but I think like most people it may be my least favourite of the Stormlight Archives. Only because I felt Brandon really tied in a lot of otherworldly aspects, and tons of new characters with many scene jumps that it got a tad confusing. I've listened to all Stormlight books twice and I still got a bit confused. This one felt a bit different than the other 4.
It may take a while to adjust to the series becoming more vast but hey, he already said it was the book to bridge the Cosmere.

To people saying Brandon is now too "woke," grow the hell up. He has always been inclusive, and now making some more important characters gay is NOT a big freaking deal. Crikey, you all had nothing to say when it was just smaller side characters. But NOW he has gone too far somehow. I'm so thrilled he made some more important characters diverse, and it's so fitting for who they are (NO spoilers here). Thanks Brandon for always showcasing immense growth, people with disabilities, PTSD, and anything else that so many authors glaze over for "easy reads."

There are a lot more talking, healing, growing aspects in this book, but at this time in history I think we can all use some reflection and inspiration. It really resonated with me, and I hope it does with others.

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