End of WoR is goated, but these two as a whole are so very tied to me. If you think WoR is #1, you're right. If you think Oathbringer is #1, you're right.
Unpopular opinion: Rhythm of War is my favorite so far ! I love the flashbacks, I love the heavenly ones ! I love Roboniel! I love how Kaladin managed to be even more depressed ! Venli has my heart !
@@jarielp RoW gets a bad rap - I loved learning and seeing more of the Singers and their culture. The conversations with The Nine. Raboniel was a much better villain than El.
@@jasonbrewbaker3932 i agree !! Meeting El in WAT was disappointing to say the least, i was ready to see him fuck shit up but i guess it’ll happen later in the series 🤷🏽♂️
First off, I love to see how much variety there are in people’s rankings in the comments! To me, that suggests that they are all very solid! My personal list, although I honestly think I have to relisten to them all to solidify my thoughts. 1. Words of Radiance 2. Wind and Truth 3. Oathbringer 4. Way of Kings 5. Rhythm of War
For me least to favorite goes Oathbringer, Wind and Truth, Rhythm of War, Words of Radiance, and Way of Kings. Shallan is my favorite character in the first two books.
Ranking: 1. Way of Kings 2. Oathbringer 3. Words of Radiance 4. Wind and Truth 5. Rhythm of War I will say that RoW had me the most emotional (The Dragon and the Dog, Navani towards the end) but it was sooooo sloooowww and had too much Shallan for me to enjoy. Way of Kings is the book with the least amount of therapy and therefore the best book in the series. Plus, Kaladin is the GOAT.
Oathbringer -(For Dalinar's arc, and quote) Way Of kings -(For nostalgia/worldbuilding) Words of Radiance -(best plot) Wind and Truth -(most Cosmere informative, so far) Rythym of War -(One of them has to be last, did enjoy Navani and Fabrial stuff)
Oathbringer Words of Radiance Rhythm of War The Way of Kings Wind and Truth I’m a Venli fan so I will never understand the hate. She’s a true grey character and not one these high and mighty always on the “heroes” side of the street. The ending sequence of Oathbringer will always have a spot in my heart. That’s true epic fantasy at its best and Sanderson at his best writing/plot wise.
I will admit I was a little harsh on Venli lol, I do appreciate her more as a side character though. Like how she is in Oathbringer and Wind and Truth.
@ I appreciate that. I think for me she’s so fascinating because she’s like Dalinar. She’s grown a lot throughout the series. She originally was close minded and selfish and only focused on her own glory and advancement rather than focusing on her people and trying to truly save them. She tricked herself and allowed herself to be deceived by Ulim. SPOILERS BELOW….. That scene in Oathbringer where Dalinar creates the you know what and stretches out his hand to Venli is sign one of the most moving scenes in Stormlight to “You CAN Change…..You CAN do Better…” Then in Rhythm of War seeing her admit the truth to herself and then reconcile with her mother at the end in that touching scene was so moving…..
Great video! Are you caught up on Mistborn era 1 and 2, and if so, will you be making a similar video about those books? Would love to hear your thoughts.
I feel like the way Brando is setting up this story made it almost inevitable that the first three books are always in the top 3 and the last two are almost always in the bottom spots. He has to set it all up in WoK, then he gets to go HAM in WoR and Oathbringer. Rhythm was.... a strange mix of having to set up the end of the first arc while still trying to pop off and I don't think it always worked. WaT is an ending but NOT an ending and that's rough. It can't end happy, cause we still have to handle Retribution. It can't end in disaster, because we still have 5 books (plus other cosmere, presumably) to beat Retribution. I think because of this, regardless of plot or writing quality, he was sort of pigeon holed into a very static and obvious ranking. Books 2 and 3 are interchangeably #1 and #2, the rest are reader's choice but most people will probably rank these Book 2/3, 1, 5, 4 or 2/3, 5, 1, 4. Man, Rhythm is just in such an awkward spot plot wise. It's a good book but book 4 was always gonna be last for most people I think.
My ranking 1 - WoR 2 - WaT 3 - Oathbringer 4 - RoW 5 - WoK - So we aren't too far off. I would say WaT and Oathbringer are really close, and I would say RoW and WoK are very close. I think WoK is a great, great book, and without a doubt is a fabulous establishing book, but having just reread the entire series (except for WaT) recently, WoK is my least favorite. Of course, I love all of them.
Way of kings was epic, after that. each book was worse and longer. I think I discovered by book 3/4 that Sanderson isn’t my bag. I really don’t care for mental states of the characters… I just want sword swinging, adventure seeking action. Looking forward to starting and finishing the series. Although I think it will be a slog to get through much like rythem of war. Glad I did read them all(so far) .. Way of Kings is amazing
I agree with this statement. Sanderson in this series goes too much into mental states for sure. I feel his other works are more to your taste than Stormlight.
Shallan is the worst (until book 5 when the worst is Jazz-nuh). I will hate on Shallan until the day I die or until Sanderson makes significant improvements to her decision making and POV.
Shallan being "witty" is... just not witty. Brandon does a great job describing someone with trauma splintering their personality, but her dialogue is just out of our guys reach. Brandon can't write teenage girls. Vin had just little enough personality to skate by while other characters stole the show but Shallan just doesn't hit most of the time. The older the female gets, the better he seems to be at writing them.
From best to worst: #1 Oathbringer, #2 Way of Kings, #3 Wind and Truth, #4 Words of Radiance, #5 Rhythm of War. WoR is really overrated in my opinion. It does have some of the best moments in the series, which is why it's above Rhythm, but Shallan has the most boring everything in this book from the travel to the flashbacks and everything, and Kaladin being so abnoxiously dumb the entire book really brings this down for me. The book is saved by scenes like the chasm, the duel, and the Kaladin vs Szeth fight at the end. Rhythm, despite being at the bottom, I do very much enjoy. I definitely liked it better on my second read through, where I knew what to expect
SPOILERS FOR WAY OF KINGS AND OATHBRINGER . . . . . So the dog and the dragon I was just saying "if you know you know" referring to just how good it is. It's one of my favorite scenes (which I go over in my tier list of scenes video) however in terms of Way of Kings I'm referring to when Kaladin swears the 2nd ideal and jumps across the chasm and starts fighting. And in Oathbringer I am referring to Dalinar refusing Odium and shouting "YOU. CANNOT. HAVE. MY. PAIN."
Maybe an unpopular opinion but for words of radiance while it may have the greatest moment in the entire series it still had the weakest writing after rhythm of war and yes i have finished WaT. People generally put WoR at their #1 coz of the "duel" & szeth scenes. For me it's: 5. RoW 4. WoR 3. WaT 2. TwoK 1. OB
WoT Oathbringer WoK RoW WoR for me personally I read Sanderson for his brilliant character, magic systems, and story arcs, and I think by far those are actually strongest in his newest book, while arguably his prose is a bit "weirder"
I don't go by which is best written since I don't feel qualified to judge that so I just go by which one I enjoyed the most 1. Oathbringer. A lot of people say this is the worst one, but in my opinion it has so much cool stuff in it that I enjoyed it the most. Dalinar is my favorite character so I'm biased 2. Words of radiance. A lot of people say this is the best one so I don't need to tell people why 3. Wind and Truth. This one might change once I've had time to reflect 4. Rhythm of war. What I HATED about this book is the science babel. I get why people like it, but I just felt like a teenager again in a class I didn't care about 5. Way of Kings. At the end of the book, I was fully invested, no pun intended, but along the way, I was wondering whether or not this would pay off. It's huge and some parts simply aren't that interesting to me. It's also just a reeeeeeeal downer at parts
There are two types of fantasy readers. The ones who have Oathbringer as #1 and the ones who see that Words of Radiance must be #1.
Oathbringer forever #1
End of WoR is goated, but these two as a whole are so very tied to me. If you think WoR is #1, you're right. If you think Oathbringer is #1, you're right.
Unpopular opinion: Rhythm of War is my favorite so far ! I love the flashbacks, I love the heavenly ones ! I love Roboniel! I love how Kaladin managed to be even more depressed ! Venli has my heart !
@@jarielp I’m assuming u mean rhythm of war
or Im rememeber words or radiance WAYY differently
@ yessss Rhythm of War! Hahaha thanks for pointing that out i fixed it but yes Rythm of War is my favorite ❤️
@@jarielp RoW gets a bad rap - I loved learning and seeing more of the Singers and their culture. The conversations with The Nine. Raboniel was a much better villain than El.
@@jasonbrewbaker3932 i agree !! Meeting El in WAT was disappointing to say the least, i was ready to see him fuck shit up but i guess it’ll happen later in the series 🤷🏽♂️
First off, I love to see how much variety there are in people’s rankings in the comments! To me, that suggests that they are all very solid!
My personal list, although I honestly think I have to relisten to them all to solidify my thoughts.
1. Words of Radiance
2. Wind and Truth
3. Oathbringer
4. Way of Kings
5. Rhythm of War
Way of Kings
Oathbringer
Words of Radiance
Rhythm of War
Wind and Truth
Valid
For me least to favorite goes Oathbringer, Wind and Truth, Rhythm of War, Words of Radiance, and Way of Kings. Shallan is my favorite character in the first two books.
Ranking:
1. Way of Kings
2. Oathbringer
3. Words of Radiance
4. Wind and Truth
5. Rhythm of War
I will say that RoW had me the most emotional (The Dragon and the Dog, Navani towards the end) but it was sooooo sloooowww and had too much Shallan for me to enjoy.
Way of Kings is the book with the least amount of therapy and therefore the best book in the series. Plus, Kaladin is the GOAT.
Excellent video quality and definitely think you’ll be a huge book tuber in the future. Nice video!
Oathbringer -(For Dalinar's arc, and quote)
Way Of kings -(For nostalgia/worldbuilding)
Words of Radiance -(best plot)
Wind and Truth -(most Cosmere informative, so far)
Rythym of War -(One of them has to be last, did enjoy Navani and Fabrial stuff)
I love that your ranking says what you love about each and not what you dislike! Even for RoW!
Oathbringer
Words of Radiance
Rhythm of War
The Way of Kings
Wind and Truth
I’m a Venli fan so I will never understand the hate. She’s a true grey character and not one these high and mighty always on the “heroes” side of the street.
The ending sequence of Oathbringer will always have a spot in my heart. That’s true epic fantasy at its best and Sanderson at his best writing/plot wise.
I will admit I was a little harsh on Venli lol, I do appreciate her more as a side character though. Like how she is in Oathbringer and Wind and Truth.
@ I appreciate that. I think for me she’s so fascinating because she’s like Dalinar. She’s grown a lot throughout the series. She originally was close minded and selfish and only focused on her own glory and advancement rather than focusing on her people and trying to truly save them. She tricked herself and allowed herself to be deceived by Ulim.
SPOILERS BELOW…..
That scene in Oathbringer where Dalinar creates the you know what and stretches out his hand to Venli is sign one of the most moving scenes in Stormlight to
“You CAN Change…..You CAN do Better…”
Then in Rhythm of War seeing her admit the truth to herself and then reconcile with her mother at the end in that touching scene was so moving…..
@@jasonbrewbaker3932 dang ok u know what, maybe i do like venli
@@CosmereHorizons I’m glad I made such a strong argument - your hair color is quite interesting…you dye it? Or is naturally they blonde/golden?
@@jasonbrewbaker3932 HAHA I get this question a weird amount lol, completely natural
Least to favorite 4,......5,1,2,3. Oathbringer is my favorite
the dots between 4 and 5 LOL
Way of Kings is instant clasic.
so true
my ranking so far 3,4,1,2 . Shallan plays a massive to affect these rankings lol. I just don't enjoy reading her parts for some reason
great list! i'm very similar but have TWoK and WaT flipped !
Honestly I get that, most of mine I could flip with the book right next to them
RoW is Kaladin doing a die hard.
I feel you the parts of shallan killed my enjoyment of wor. Every time I was hooked and a flashback came I was instantly annoyed
@@Wolfiech THANK YOU!!! I don’t see many people saying it, so this really feels validating lol
Great video! Are you caught up on Mistborn era 1 and 2, and if so, will you be making a similar video about those books? Would love to hear your thoughts.
@@AMRxlo Yup!! The goal is a few more stormlight while the hype is high, but then hoping over to mistborn in the upcoming weeks!
I feel like the way Brando is setting up this story made it almost inevitable that the first three books are always in the top 3 and the last two are almost always in the bottom spots. He has to set it all up in WoK, then he gets to go HAM in WoR and Oathbringer. Rhythm was.... a strange mix of having to set up the end of the first arc while still trying to pop off and I don't think it always worked. WaT is an ending but NOT an ending and that's rough. It can't end happy, cause we still have to handle Retribution. It can't end in disaster, because we still have 5 books (plus other cosmere, presumably) to beat Retribution.
I think because of this, regardless of plot or writing quality, he was sort of pigeon holed into a very static and obvious ranking. Books 2 and 3 are interchangeably #1 and #2, the rest are reader's choice but most people will probably rank these Book 2/3, 1, 5, 4 or 2/3, 5, 1, 4. Man, Rhythm is just in such an awkward spot plot wise. It's a good book but book 4 was always gonna be last for most people I think.
Yes yes yes yes, I agree with this almost exactly
My ranking 1 - WoR 2 - WaT 3 - Oathbringer 4 - RoW 5 - WoK - So we aren't too far off. I would say WaT and Oathbringer are really close, and I would say RoW and WoK are very close. I think WoK is a great, great book, and without a doubt is a fabulous establishing book, but having just reread the entire series (except for WaT) recently, WoK is my least favorite. Of course, I love all of them.
Fair enough! Not too far off at all! WoK at the bottom I think I would agree if I didn't have sentimental value for it. (Being my first Cosmere book)
@@CosmereHorizons It was my first Cosmere book as well, so I get that sentiment.
2,1, 5, 3, 4
every time you bring up the mink im right there with you what is his purpose 😭
HAHAHAH YOU GET IT.... i don't get him T_T
3,2,1,4 iam reading 5 so far it would be 4th in the list
Way of kings was epic, after that. each book was worse and longer.
I think I discovered by book 3/4 that Sanderson isn’t my bag. I really don’t care for mental states of the characters… I just want sword swinging, adventure seeking action.
Looking forward to starting and finishing the series. Although I think it will be a slog to get through much like rythem of war.
Glad I did read them all(so far) .. Way of Kings is amazing
I agree with this statement.
Sanderson in this series goes too much into mental states for sure. I feel his other works are more to your taste than Stormlight.
Shallan is the worst (until book 5 when the worst is Jazz-nuh). I will hate on Shallan until the day I die or until Sanderson makes significant improvements to her decision making and POV.
As someone who also does not enjoy Shallan, I enjoyed her more in book 5 than any other book.
Shallan being "witty" is... just not witty. Brandon does a great job describing someone with trauma splintering their personality, but her dialogue is just out of our guys reach. Brandon can't write teenage girls. Vin had just little enough personality to skate by while other characters stole the show but Shallan just doesn't hit most of the time. The older the female gets, the better he seems to be at writing them.
I agree with your order
From best to worst: #1 Oathbringer, #2 Way of Kings, #3 Wind and Truth, #4 Words of Radiance, #5 Rhythm of War.
WoR is really overrated in my opinion. It does have some of the best moments in the series, which is why it's above Rhythm, but Shallan has the most boring everything in this book from the travel to the flashbacks and everything, and Kaladin being so abnoxiously dumb the entire book really brings this down for me. The book is saved by scenes like the chasm, the duel, and the Kaladin vs Szeth fight at the end. Rhythm, despite being at the bottom, I do very much enjoy. I definitely liked it better on my second read through, where I knew what to expect
@@masonandreasen8050 I agree with your sentiments of WoR a lot actually…. in my new vid I actually talk about how overrated parts of WoR is
You say a few times “if you know you know” and I feel like I should know! But I forgot haha. Can you spoiler tag what they are in a reply?
SPOILERS FOR WAY OF KINGS AND OATHBRINGER
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.
.
.
.
So the dog and the dragon I was just saying "if you know you know" referring to just how good it is. It's one of my favorite scenes (which I go over in my tier list of scenes video) however in terms of Way of Kings I'm referring to when Kaladin swears the 2nd ideal and jumps across the chasm and starts fighting. And in Oathbringer I am referring to Dalinar refusing Odium and shouting "YOU. CANNOT. HAVE. MY. PAIN."
Maybe an unpopular opinion but for words of radiance while it may have the greatest moment in the entire series it still had the weakest writing after rhythm of war and yes i have finished WaT.
People generally put WoR at their #1 coz of the "duel" & szeth scenes.
For me it's:
5. RoW
4. WoR
3. WaT
2. TwoK
1. OB
Honestly..... yeah this is valid.
WoT
Oathbringer
WoK
RoW
WoR
for me personally I read Sanderson for his brilliant character, magic systems, and story arcs, and I think by far those are actually strongest in his newest book, while arguably his prose is a bit "weirder"
The way the arcs concluded + the pacing was wonderful
I don't go by which is best written since I don't feel qualified to judge that so I just go by which one I enjoyed the most
1. Oathbringer. A lot of people say this is the worst one, but in my opinion it has so much cool stuff in it that I enjoyed it the most. Dalinar is my favorite character so I'm biased
2. Words of radiance. A lot of people say this is the best one so I don't need to tell people why
3. Wind and Truth. This one might change once I've had time to reflect
4. Rhythm of war. What I HATED about this book is the science babel. I get why people like it, but I just felt like a teenager again in a class I didn't care about
5. Way of Kings. At the end of the book, I was fully invested, no pun intended, but along the way, I was wondering whether or not this would pay off. It's huge and some parts simply aren't that interesting to me. It's also just a reeeeeeeal downer at parts
For me its,
WoR
O
TWoK
WaT
RoW
So far:
TWOK
WOR
OB
Enjoy the rest of the ride
For me it's WoR > WoK > OB > RoW > WaT.