The Stormlight Archive

[Hermitfold]

This thread here is to discuss Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archives.

For myself, I just finished the first of Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, The Way of Kings. It was really one of the best books I've ever read. I've always liked epic novels, and this one really takes the cake. Te wy Sanderson can take such a diverse world and show it to us from so many perspectives and tie it together so well is amazing. And when I think that there are going to be ten more like that, I'm stunned.

[aldeayeah]

Fourth book Rhythm of War coming out tomorrow! Let's see if it can beat my favorite yet, Words of Radiance.

* * *

It may be a good point for newcomers to jump into the Stormlight Archive rabbit hole, with only one main book left to end the first arc (initially scheduled for 2023, and Sanderson tends to be very good at sticking to schedule)

* * *

Random quote time!

“Ten spears go to battle," he whispered, "and nine shatter. Did the war forge the one that remained?
No, Amaram. All the war did was identify the spear that would not break.”

[SpoonyViking]

I've heard much about Sanderson, but don't think I've ever read anything by him? Certainly not his big series.
What's Stormlight Archive like? What is it about?

[Trubo]

Wait, there was a third book out already?

[aldeayeah]

What's Stormlight Archive like?

Epic high fantasy, multiple POV, ongoing 10-book saga. Supposedly it's comparable to The Wheel of Time, but I didn't read that.

The prose is kinda utilitarian - effective, but not very sophisticated.

The world building, the story itself and the sheer intricacy are all top notch, though.

The character work is a bit more controversial - some people think Sanderson repeats the same character templates too often and doesn't quite manage to give them a voice, but all things considered, I think he does a pretty good job here.

It's kind of family-oriented, as all of Sanderson's stuff is - he avoids gore/sex by design.

What is it about?

On a very macro, gross level: the end of the world is nigh, and the only way to stop it is to rediscover the ancient magics.

On a more micro level: some very broken people try to get their shit together in the middle of a mostly pointless war.

On a meme level: left hand exposed porn, JRPG-worthy swords, animu powers, crabs everywhere. Also, I am a stick. RAFO.

The first book is infamous for its slow start (it has like 3 prologues in a row).

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but in my experience, most people who can finish the first book get hooked.

For a more in-universe answer, check the back cover text in the first book:

I long for the days before the Last Desolation.

The age before the Heralds abandoned us and the Knights Radiant turned against us. A time when there was still magic in the world and honor in the hearts of men.

The world became ours, and we lost it. Nothing, it appears, is more challenging to the souls of men than victory itself.

Or was that victory an illusion all along? Did our enemies realize that the harder they fought, the stronger we resisted? Perhaps they saw that the heat and the hammer only make for a better grade of sword. But ignore the steel long enough, and it will eventually rust away.

There are four whom we watch. The first is the surgeon, forced to put aside healing to become a soldier in the most brutal war of our time. The second is the assassin, a murderer who weeps as he kills. The third is the liar, a young woman who wears a scholar's mantle over the heart of a thief. The last is the highprince, a warlord whose eyes have opened to the past as his thirst for battle wanes.

The world can change. Surgebinding and Shardwielding can return; the magics of ancient days can become ours again. These four people are key.

One of them may redeem us.

And one of them will destroy us.

* * *

Speak again the ancient oaths.

Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.

And return to men the Shards they once bore. The Knights Radiant must stand again!

- - - Updated - - -

Wait, there was a third book out already?

Welcome to 2017! :P

[black1blade]

Signed copy came today! Been recommended to read dawnshard first though.

[SpoonyViking]

Thanks for explaining, aldeayeah! It looks very interesting! I don't have the time to invest a long-running series right now, but I'll keep it in mind.

[Deathhappens]

I've been reading his other series, Mistborn (which is another way if saying I read the first book and found it interesting, got the second and read about half in one sitting, and haven't touched it in a year). He seems to have a knack for unusual "magic", if nothing else.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh wait, yeah, I remember this. I tried reading this once and couldn't get past the first chapter.

[aldeayeah]

Signed copy came today! Been recommended to read dawnshard first though.

Yeah do it, it has good character development for some secondary characters and some big back story revelations.

- - - Updated - - -

I've been reading his other series, Mistborn (which is another way if saying I read the first book and found it interesting, got the second and read about half in one sitting, and haven't touched it in a year). He seems to have a knack for unusual "magic", if nothing else.

The second Mistborn book is a pretty tough one and super Sandersonian - it has so much foreshadowing, it makes much more sense in a reread after you've done the three books. This is true of the whole first Mistborn trilogy. I haven't had that "I'm missing too many pieces of the puzzle" problem with Stormlight yet.

Oh wait, yeah, I remember this. I tried reading this once and couldn't get past the first chapter.

Yeah that's a common sentiment. Be warned though, if you manage to soldier on through the slow start, that thing is cellulose crack.

Stormlight is vastly better written than the first Mistborn trilogy IMO.

[Deathhappens]

Fair enough. I'll keep it in mind when I'm out of things to read.

[aldeayeah]

Anyone actually read the new book yet?

Rhythm of War

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.

bonus meme

[aldeayeah]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...on/description

holy shit

[pinetree]

I'm never catching up to the Cosmere bro I'm still in Mistborn Era Twooooooo