I applaud your honesty in scoring. RoW definitely isn’t the best Stormlight book, and it’s nice to see someone who doesn’t hype things us for the sake of hyping things up.
The reason the spren are pulled into the physical realm I think is to find a way to give cognitive shadows a body. Heralds trying to figure out how there the only ones who get one. Ie fused and kelsier.
Wonderful review. I think the biggest issues with this broil down to this being penultimate book of the first half of the Stormlight Archive. It didn't need to be as good as it. It just needed to be set up for the last book, tying up lose end book 5 would not be able to get to. Brandon did that masterfully, far better than I have seen in other penultimate books. We get a satisfying conclusion to Kaladin's personal character arc. This reason alone will likely keep the book in my top five favorites for year to come. Currently it is my favorite, but my favorites change all the time. Not that Kaladin's part is done in the story. It's not. He will have a big part to play in book 5. However, for me if he didn't swear the 5th ideal at this point I would still be happy. I love Navani. Loved all the lore and realmatic science that came out of her part. You might have felt this part overdone and I understand why, but Brandon wasn't only going deeper into the magic system on Roshar, but Navani's discoveries have larger Cosmere implications. So thought it felt slow, as set often does, it all needed to be there. And Navani's statement to Moash "Journey before Destination, you bastard!" oh I want that on a t-shirt. It is my second favorite moment of the book after Kal swearing the 4th ideal. Most of your other comments I agree with, but as I said that has more to do with this being a set up and loose ends book. Book 4 was supposed to be Eshonai's book. So Brandon gave us a perfunctory flashback sequence. It was interesting and I do empathize with Venli's now. It just didn't work as well with the rest of the book. I can forgive it though with Navani's and Kaladin's parts being so good. Well this going long. I will just end with that I feel this story and pacing were a 7 out of 10, but I do get where you are coming from.
You make excellent points. I do feel that penultimate media should be able to stand on its own, just as first books are able to, and as you say it is rare. We understand the characters better and thus are able to go deeper into the world in a way that we often cannot do while introducing new elements, and when they have strong spines they resonate with the reader in unique ways. There is a weariness that comes with having trudged so long with haunted heroes, a feeling that ages our souls and draws us in. I would agree with Crem's assessment due to the overall pacing and structure and you make a fair point about the intention and that Sanderson is able to do decently what many other beloved authors cannot. It also should indeed be considered that we are at a waypoint, and although we will end at just another moment in their lives by book five, that is when it must feel the most final.
Somewhere in the book, Formless was referred to as a “he” and that really threw me. Like, what if Shallan actually felt that she was a he and her personas were all faked. That would have been a crazy reveal for Adolin to deal with. In Navani’s musings somewhere she said that she needed to find someone that wasn’t a threat to the Sibling to bond. After Dabbids interactions with the Sibling and the Sibling saying that Navani wasn’t worthy, I was convinced Dabbid was gonna step up to the plate. When Renarin said he knew they perfect person, I knew it was Rlain, real fast. When Mraize said he was so intrigued by Lightweavers, I was pretty convinced that Wit is actually working for the Ghostbloods. Gotta say I was super disappointed that Radiant was the killer. I really thought Ishnah was Iyatil. I was super surprised with Todium. I really should have saw that coming. It was mentioned several times that Cultivation isn’t a “good guy”, she just wants to see change. That makes me really wonder what her end game is. Tons of change happened to Dalinar but I don’t think he’s done yet. Todium is obvious. What on earth is in store for Lift now? Especially since she’s a Lifelight user?
I believe it was the breaths he had accumulated from Nathilus. At the end he said his pitch was off meaning he lost a "heightening" due to the loss. Man I am already humming to craving at the possibilities. Dalinar might not make it the 10 days.
You r being too kind in reviewing the structure, i would rate it 4/10 , imo venli could have told her story to rlain or navani in a chapter or two .. they could have bonded on it etc and her flashbacks could have been avoided. I just hope in next books sanderson avoids doing flashback of an already dead character or a character which is going to reveal events that we have already experienced with only minor pov changes to the aforesaid character.. Other than that i think Part 1 and Part 5 are my most favorites, navani js one of the important character for me now and i just love i know so much more about lore, magic system and where everybody stands but yeah its sadly the book or all the stuff which could not be in book 5 so they all make up book 4 .... I am also worried about structure of book 5 considering the 10 days bit i dont want it to be structured in a way where we spend all 10 days in the whole 800-1200 pages 😅 or something Todium was unexpected totally but i figured out Shallan had a spren earlier to pattern however that whole plot point was not much engaging other than the new information we learnt about sprens and shadesmar it was all predictable
Taravangian as Odium is absolutely terrifying. Good lord.
TOdium completely surprised me! I have no idea what's going to happen
I applaud your honesty in scoring. RoW definitely isn’t the best Stormlight book, and it’s nice to see someone who doesn’t hype things us for the sake of hyping things up.
The reason the spren are pulled into the physical realm I think is to find a way to give cognitive shadows a body. Heralds trying to figure out how there the only ones who get one. Ie fused and kelsier.
Wonderful review. I think the biggest issues with this broil down to this being penultimate book of the first half of the Stormlight Archive. It didn't need to be as good as it. It just needed to be set up for the last book, tying up lose end book 5 would not be able to get to. Brandon did that masterfully, far better than I have seen in other penultimate books.
We get a satisfying conclusion to Kaladin's personal character arc. This reason alone will likely keep the book in my top five favorites for year to come. Currently it is my favorite, but my favorites change all the time. Not that Kaladin's part is done in the story. It's not. He will have a big part to play in book 5. However, for me if he didn't swear the 5th ideal at this point I would still be happy.
I love Navani. Loved all the lore and realmatic science that came out of her part. You might have felt this part overdone and I understand why, but Brandon wasn't only going deeper into the magic system on Roshar, but Navani's discoveries have larger Cosmere implications. So thought it felt slow, as set often does, it all needed to be there. And Navani's statement to Moash "Journey before Destination, you bastard!" oh I want that on a t-shirt. It is my second favorite moment of the book after Kal swearing the 4th ideal.
Most of your other comments I agree with, but as I said that has more to do with this being a set up and loose ends book. Book 4 was supposed to be Eshonai's book. So Brandon gave us a perfunctory flashback sequence. It was interesting and I do empathize with Venli's now. It just didn't work as well with the rest of the book. I can forgive it though with Navani's and Kaladin's parts being so good.
Well this going long. I will just end with that I feel this story and pacing were a 7 out of 10, but I do get where you are coming from.
You make excellent points. I do feel that penultimate media should be able to stand on its own, just as first books are able to, and as you say it is rare. We understand the characters better and thus are able to go deeper into the world in a way that we often cannot do while introducing new elements, and when they have strong spines they resonate with the reader in unique ways. There is a weariness that comes with having trudged so long with haunted heroes, a feeling that ages our souls and draws us in. I would agree with Crem's assessment due to the overall pacing and structure and you make a fair point about the intention and that Sanderson is able to do decently what many other beloved authors cannot. It also should indeed be considered that we are at a waypoint, and although we will end at just another moment in their lives by book five, that is when it must feel the most final.
And Kelsier running the Ghostbloods! Blew my mind.
Epic review! Too bad dawnshards had no mention in the book despite a novella being released just before RoW
That is a great point!
I think because book 5 is just gonna be crazy. Dawnshards fully utilized.
Somewhere in the book, Formless was referred to as a “he” and that really threw me. Like, what if Shallan actually felt that she was a he and her personas were all faked. That would have been a crazy reveal for Adolin to deal with.
In Navani’s musings somewhere she said that she needed to find someone that wasn’t a threat to the Sibling to bond. After Dabbids interactions with the Sibling and the Sibling saying that Navani wasn’t worthy, I was convinced Dabbid was gonna step up to the plate.
When Renarin said he knew they perfect person, I knew it was Rlain, real fast.
When Mraize said he was so intrigued by Lightweavers, I was pretty convinced that Wit is actually working for the Ghostbloods.
Gotta say I was super disappointed that Radiant was the killer. I really thought Ishnah was Iyatil.
I was super surprised with Todium. I really should have saw that coming. It was mentioned several times that Cultivation isn’t a “good guy”, she just wants to see change. That makes me really wonder what her end game is. Tons of change happened to Dalinar but I don’t think he’s done yet. Todium is obvious. What on earth is in store for Lift now? Especially since she’s a Lifelight user?
BRO WHAT PAGE
No comment on Odium stealing Wit's ... whatever he lost? Memory stealing! That seems rahl bad.
Rest assured, this will be talked about. My next video is focusing on Odium, the one after that is specifically analyzing the epilogue itself.
I believe it was the breaths he had accumulated from Nathilus. At the end he said his pitch was off meaning he lost a "heightening" due to the loss. Man I am already humming to craving at the possibilities. Dalinar might not make it the 10 days.
@@blairtm1977 You are definitely right. And I'm terrified for Dalinar 😬
Diggin the channel dude, also, nice nice synths.
Thanks! I appreciate it!
Wow, harsh. I think that Navani's chapters are the divisive issue.
I am just here to inform you that Taravangian-Odium = Tod, this has been decided.
Todium is funnier 😅
Both are fantastic
I agree. Especially given that in my native language, German, Tod literally translates to "Death".
@@user-yv8bw3zf6n It is known
I wonder I'd a divine biochromatic breath could restore a dead eye.
I want to say I just found your channel, and you are making some killer stuff! I'm doing a like, a comment and a subscribe!
Storms yes!
Thanks, gancho! Glad you're enjoying it.
Who is the dragon in roshar other than chiri chiri
Cultivation, or rather the vessel of Cultivation
The Honor Spren follow Honor. It is not honorable to follow the opinion of one spren forced to say words against her knowledge.
I'm just here to bully Swafford.
😎👉👉
Excellent, let's start a club!
You dont really start giving an opinion on any part of the book until almost 5 minutes into the video.
You r being too kind in reviewing the structure, i would rate it 4/10 , imo venli could have told her story to rlain or navani in a chapter or two .. they could have bonded on it etc and her flashbacks could have been avoided.
I just hope in next books sanderson avoids doing flashback of an already dead character or a character which is going to reveal events that we have already experienced with only minor pov changes to the aforesaid character..
Other than that i think Part 1 and Part 5 are my most favorites, navani js one of the important character for me now and i just love i know so much more about lore, magic system and where everybody stands but yeah its sadly the book or all the stuff which could not be in book 5 so they all make up book 4 ....
I am also worried about structure of book 5 considering the 10 days bit i dont want it to be structured in a way where we spend all 10 days in the whole 800-1200 pages 😅 or something
Todium was unexpected totally but i figured out Shallan had a spren earlier to pattern however that whole plot point was not much engaging other than the new information we learnt about sprens and shadesmar it was all predictable