[Review] Words of Radiance - Brandon Sanderson

Titel: Words of Radiance

Series: Stormlight Archives #2

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Publisher: McMillian Audio

Published: 04.03.2017
Format: Audio, english,

Synopsis: Goodreads

Review: 4*, GoodReads, LovelyBooks, Amazon

 
Six years ago, the Assassin in White, a hireling of the inscrutable Parshendi, assassinated the Alethi king on the very night a treaty between men and Parshendi was being celebrated. So began the Vengeance Pact among the highprinces of Alethkar and the War of Reckoning against the Parshendi.

Now the Assassin is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin's master has much deeper motives.

Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status "darkeyes." Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl.

Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined.

Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.

The doors of the Stormlight Archive first opened to us with The Way of Kings. Read that book – now available in all formats – and then Words of Radiance, and you can be part of the adventure every dazzling step of the way.

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Wow it took me a looong time to finish this (audio) book. But to be honest I’m kinda happy about that, now I only have to wait a little over a month for the next book, yay!

As this is the second book in a series, there will be spoilers, be warned.

Of course, we all know Sandersons worldbuilding is incredible. No matter which of his books you read, the world is amazingly detailed and thought through to the end.

In this part of the epic I was especially fascinated with the Parshendi society and their way of life. It is simply great to see a whole new culture being brought to paper.

The plot is very long-winded, but flows nicely and is in no way boring or to long-winded. It is very confusing however, but not in a bad way. Once one question is answered, another pops up and new secrets are being hinted at. Along with this comes another thing Sanderson is a master at, planting details and plot points that seem completely harmless and then picking up on them again as part of a grand scheme later on when you have forgotten about them happening in the first place.

For me these things were always a surprise, as I listened to the audio book over quite some time, but if you read it in a shorter period of time it should be easier to recall all the details.

As for the characters, both Shallan and Kalladin grew on me and I really started to feel for them. I enjoyed seeing them grow and discover their powers more and more. I really enjoyed seeing them with all their flaws and trying to figure out what is right and wrong. While I wasn’t sure what to think of either of them during the first book, I now can’t decide whom I like more. I’ve also come to really like Dalinar and Aedolin is starting to grow on me as well.

I’m honestly having trouble with knowing what to say. This book was simply amazing and it was my constant companion for almost two months, but I’m having trouble differenciating between what happened in the first book and this one.

Regardless, I can’t wait to continue with the series!