Oathbringer

On my second read (listen, actually -- the Graphic Audio version is good), this book is kind of a slog. Most of the first three-quarters of the book tends to draaaag on forever with lots of lame politicky stuff and people wandering aimlessly. Stuff happens, but it's not nearly as fun to read the second time as the previous books. At least the ending is good, which is always the case with Sanderson's books.

Now I can finally start the "new" book (from 9 months ago).

This book is a doorstopper because it's massive. I mean, seriously massive. In my Kindle version, I just read over 1500 pages. I'm a bit exhausted now.

In all honesty, it wasn't as strong as Words of Radiance, but it seriously packed a punch after the 50% mark. The early build-up, plus the book's focus on Dalinar, were too slow for me but once the expedition to Kholinar started, it improved in leaps and bounds.

I still have so many questions, and I think re-reading the series before the next volume comes out will be a requirement, because I had forgotten so much stuff. The world-building can get a bit overwhelming.

Still, it puts the epic into epic fantasy. The next volume could be a bit shorter please, because I find I no longer have time or patience for glacial pacing.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This book takes Dalinar Kholin from "a good character" to easily my favorite character in the series so far. Oathbringer reveals Dalinar's deepest flaws and delivers some gut wrenching, tear jerking scenes while doing it. Brandon doesn't pull any punches here in showing the people of Roshar living the human (and listener, I guess) condition, while keeping the action interesting and subverting some expectations along the way.

MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW

Sanderson once again crafts a lengthy epic fantasy that turns tropes on their heads. Oathbringer is book three in a projected ten book epic, and it shows none of the tendencies towards bloat that middle books of large epics sometimes show. He even successfully adapts and changes some of the formulas he himself has established in previous books. This is one that cannot be missed.

Perhaps my favorite part of Oathbringer is that the characters, while learning from previous mistakes, continue to grow and change. The main characters are largely people who are broken and struggle with themselves or the world or role in which they find themselves. Sanderson has gone to great lengths to give us believable, relateable characters who authentically struggle with mental illness. The dark brooding hero? He's dark and brooding because he battles depression. The spy able to take on any role? Partly because her psyche is breaking into multiple personalities. The tyrant who has done terrible things in the past--can he forgive himself? Sanderson has even made these struggles part of the magic system of his world, as only those who are broken can access the magical energy of the world: Stormlight.

I find myself relating to characters in this series in amazing ways. I'm thankful for Brandon shedding a light on mental illness through heroes who are mentally ill. This says nothing about the ever widening plot of the books, how we are learning more and more about the world of Roshar. Brandon also does an excellent job of addressing things like the effects of slavery and Roshar's version of racism. The prejudice of various characters and nationalities toward one another make a convincing backdrop for an incredibly timely story that in no way comes off as preachy. We need more and more authors to tackle the variety of timely issues that Brandon tackles not out of a need to teach, but because their worlds are real and authentic.

There are themes in this book that will take a second reading to fully appreciate. Questions of us vs. them and what makes it acceptable to use violence to defend "us." Questions of the importance of accepting responsibility for actions and the pain that entails. Questions of right and wrong and even what constitutes divinity. Brandon does not shy away from large philosophical questions. At the same time, each of these questions is grounded deeply in intricately woven characters who we feel intimately connected with. A character sworn to protect must face how to protect friends on both sides of a conflict, and then deal with his failure at doing so and where that leaves him: a failure or merely human?

Epic Fantasy is my favorite genre of literature, and Brandon is a leading voice--if not THE leading voice--in this genre. You will not be disappointed in this book. I consider Brandon's Stormlight Archive to be essential reading for anyone who enjoys fantasy.