IMO it was quite good, but also uneven.
The Urithiru A-plot is great stuff (even if it's pretty much a high fantasy version of Die Hard), but it takes up so many pages, everything else feels like an afterthought.
Particularly the flashback chapters - in other books they were pivotal stuff, here they are... oddly irrelevant.
I didn't expect such a big focus on Kaladin, too. I feel a bit cheated by the choice to not give much screentime to characters such as Jasnah, Hoid or the Heralds.
Part 1 (before the story splits up in subtories) is great, and things also pick up at the very end of the book, with some of the strongest final revelations/cliffhangers of all Stormlight books.
Plot-by-plot scores:
- Part 1: A+. Manages to catch up, set up the plot for the rest of the book, set up some of the best character interaction, fill the gaps that were left at Oathbringer's end, and it has some solid action too.
- Kaladin's subplot: A. It satisfactorily completes Kal's journey as a character, I really don't know what else is left to tell at this point. Only one kink left to iron, Syl's newfound melancholy. He's a total badass too. Predictable climax, but not unearned.
- Navani's subplot: A. Big cosmic revelations, plus she's just an interesting character, and so is her foil Raboniel. The climax is again predictable, but feels right.
- Venli's subplot+flashbacks: C. Venli is not a very sympathetic character, and the flashbacks are poorly weaved into the story. It sometimes feels as if this were was just a vehicular plot to set up the creation of a new Listener faction. Rlain is great though and all the new singer/listener background stuff is appreciated. This one picks up at the very end too.
- Dalinar's subplot: B-. It's good but it lacks some screentime and real conflict of its own. It's also used as a deus ex machina for Kaladin's subplot - twice. Picks up at the end with the Ishar stuff.
- Adolin/Shallan's subplot: B-. Some great moments, but again, it's missing some meat. Things I miss: the aftermath of the trial in spren society, a larger focus on Kalak.
- Taravangian's subplot: A-. He's just a compelling character, and the final twist manages both to not be predictable but still make sense in retrospect.
Whole book rating: A-
Where it stands for me? I'd say it's in the same tier as The Way of Kings and Oathbringer, but below Words of Radiance.