Words of Radiance by Brandon SandersonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have waited for the Words of Radiance for 3 years, and an hour ago, I had finally finished this book. It has taken me an entire week to complete this book, and I feel… disappointed.
What’s good about this book? The climax where Kaladin finally found his place. It was one major emotional payoff after 1000+ pages. It’s equivalent to, if not better than, the plateau rescue Branderson wrote 2 years ago.
There's probably lots of fantastical aspects of this book that plenty of people have waxed lyrical about (see other 4-star or 5-star reviews).
However, let's also address what went wrong.
1. Kaladin’s unwavering loyalty towards Dalinar, contrasted with his abrasive attitude towards Adolin and Shallan
Although at times the friction between Kaladin and Adolin/Shallan had been able to drive the plot along, at others it completely drags the story down. Kaladin comes across as extremely prejudiced and narrow-minded, sometimes unnecessarily so. I thought he would have grown past this after the plateau rescue in book 1, but apparently not. In fact, it may just have gotten worse as he has even more opportunities to interact with light-eyes here in this book. Despite his prejudice, he remains exceedingly loyal towards Dalinar and even risked his own life saving Adolin from one very tight spot. What’s with this dichotomy of individual behavior? And don’t tell me youthful arrogance and idiocy, because that completely contradicts his role as a leader.
2. Why is Roshar so special? In Mistborn, we only had Hoid make a cameo as an informant, a role that could be appropriately described as a neutral observer. Yet, starting with Book 1 of The Stormlight Archives, we have seen Captain Demoux, Hoid, Vasher and even Nightblood having pivotal interactions with the Roshar characters and influencing the ongoing conflict. Perhaps this is Brandon Sanderon’s 3rd major Cosmere series, and cross-series appearances are just symptoms of an increasingly complex universe (think Marvel and DC). But the write-and-expand-model is uncomfortably reminiscent of The Vampire Diaries. So give me a rationale why they are so intent on stopping Odium (contrasted with Scadrial’s independent struggle against Ruin). Make me believe why .
3. Regardless of Sanderson’s actual intention to make Shallan the central character of Book 2, it is undeniable that Kaladin is yet the most pivotal character in the entire series so far. Cases in point: the plateau climax of Book 1, Kaladin’s ascension at the end of Book 2. As a result, I felt extremely disappointed at the one-dimensional character and simplistic story developments for Kaladin. I do appreciate the background stories on Shallan, but really, Sanderson’s style has always been to write a full series focusing on 1 key character and using peripheral characters to flesh out the world or provide alternate viewpoints. With Words of Radiance, Sanderson proved that he has yet to be able to develop a sufficiently complex and interesting second character capable of sustaining reader interest on its own merits.
4. Kaladin is abrasive and depressive. Shallan is a liar. Dalinar is a tyrant. Adolin is a peacock. Yes, viewed in one way, this is adding depth to characters. Viewed in another light, the developments are so atypical of readers’ perception of them from Book 1 that it becomes so much harder to relate to them. It made me question my existing assumptions about them, and in doing so, I don’t know who they are any more.
5. The ending: Everything written after the plateau Oathgate was activated is a BLOODY MESS. Dalinar's commands for the entire Alethkar encampment to uproot themselves and move into the shattered plans were apparently obeyed without question (WHAT? Didn't we have a chapter where Dalinar was ridiculed and discredited in front of EVERYONE earlier in the book?) The entire Alethkar army continued moving for weeks into the middle of the shattered plains, their capital be damned. The characters began to see visions in the tower. How Shallan got her shardblade before she accepted key truths about herself and became a radiant (contrasted with Kaladin)? How did Szeth and Eshonai get to Urithiru tower in earlier Interludes without owning a true shardblade to activate the Oathgate fabrial?
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