I don’t know how I could respond to this with anything less than five stars. I feel like I’ve just emerged from a hurricane or something (a fitting image, in the circumstances).
I’ve decided not to worry too much about the content of this review. I could never fully convey the experience of reading this book, or the way it played on my emotions just as strongly as it played on the part of me that likes a mental challenge. Any attempt to explain the plot and how much the characters and their arcs have grown on me will just end up sounding trite. Trying to explain just exactly what was so satisfying about a book that provides such an immersive reading experience is by definition going to come across as hollow. You should all just trust me and read the book to experience it for yourselves.
But I shall try anyway.
Words of Radiance is the second book of ten in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series. It takes place in world called Roshar that is rocked by hurricane-like storms called highstorms, and its people, well . . . you know. NO. Fuck this shit. I can’t explain it. I CAN’T. IT’S TOO MUCH. AND I LOVED IT TOO MUCH. AND I’M SO OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW EMOTIONALLY.
Look, this book is meaty. It was immersive. The characters, my God, THE CHARACTERS AND THEIR ARCS. So much satisfying movement and development and things actually happening. SO MUCH COOL WORLDBUILDING. I mean, the ambition of this series. Just check this post out and tell me you don’t like this guy I DARE YOU. If you like fantasy AT ALL, you need to be reading this series.
I am abusing my capslock privileges; of that I am aware.
Logically, I know this book (this series) isn’t going to be for everyone, but I just find it so impressive I want you to try anyway. Turns out Sanderson is not only a good writer, but a smart one, and a smart speaker, and a kind human being. Look, I don’t like to brag (LIES) but I met him last weekend and he was kind and spoke to every person he met, until he was literally red-faced and hoarse and clearly just needed to have a sit and a nice cup of tea. His answers on the panel I went to were always the most interesting and the most helpful. I would pay serious money to take his writing class. I may also have told him that I wanted to punch one of his main characters in the face (at this point I was only 3/4 of the way through the book). He signed my book anyway.
This review was so ridiculous and unhelpful I can’t even believe I’m going to post it. YOU’RE WELCOME.