simone_ebony's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I can absolutely see why people think this is too much of a filler book, but I still really enjoyed it. Id say the first 60% of it was kinda slow but it was definitely enjoyable.
brneely's review against another edition
4.0
Well of Ascension is one of the best Sandersoon books I've read. Its strengths and weaknesses are all very Sandersonian, so if you like his style, this book is one you'll enjoy. If you struggle with him, this will be no exception.
To begin, the pacing, as always, is a struggle. The first third of this book is remarkably slow and is almost a challenge to push through. Perhaps it would be a little better if you were taking breaks in between books, as the refreshers Sanderson sprinkles in would feel less repetitive - but still, it drags.
However, once the book reaches the halfway point, it really takes off and becomes fantastic. Sanderson plays with his magic system well, sticking to its rules but pushing its boundaries in genuinely rewarding ways. The characters throughout the novel, though occasionally a bit trope-y, are really rich and fun. The political intrigue is played quite well, and the relationships throughout this book are even stronger than in Mistborn: The Last Empire.
Sanderson does an especially good job of writing characters whose trains of thought are rational and compelling yet result in contradicting actions or ideas. Often, these plot developments can feel ham-fisted, but Sanderson does it to great effect here.
As always, fans of hard magic systems will enjoy this more than fans of soft systems. Though I'm in the latter camp, I still enjoyed this book.
I do feel somewhat let down with the conclusion, which is split into two major sections. The first section is some of the best writing I think Sanderson has ever done - the 700 page investment pays off unfairly well here and had my emotions rioted. However, the second section of the conclusion felt a bit rushed and left too much open for me to be fully satisfied. Perhaps its the age-old Book Two of a Trilogy issue, but I wish there was more.
Overall, a wonderful book and an easy recommendation to fans of Sanderson or the genre.
To begin, the pacing, as always, is a struggle. The first third of this book is remarkably slow and is almost a challenge to push through. Perhaps it would be a little better if you were taking breaks in between books, as the refreshers Sanderson sprinkles in would feel less repetitive - but still, it drags.
However, once the book reaches the halfway point, it really takes off and becomes fantastic. Sanderson plays with his magic system well, sticking to its rules but pushing its boundaries in genuinely rewarding ways. The characters throughout the novel, though occasionally a bit trope-y, are really rich and fun. The political intrigue is played quite well, and the relationships throughout this book are even stronger than in Mistborn: The Last Empire.
Sanderson does an especially good job of writing characters whose trains of thought are rational and compelling yet result in contradicting actions or ideas. Often, these plot developments can feel ham-fisted, but Sanderson does it to great effect here.
As always, fans of hard magic systems will enjoy this more than fans of soft systems. Though I'm in the latter camp, I still enjoyed this book.
I do feel somewhat let down with the conclusion, which is split into two major sections. The first section is some of the best writing I think Sanderson has ever done - the 700 page investment pays off unfairly well here and had my emotions rioted. However, the second section of the conclusion felt a bit rushed and left too much open for me to be fully satisfied. Perhaps its the age-old Book Two of a Trilogy issue, but I wish there was more.
Overall, a wonderful book and an easy recommendation to fans of Sanderson or the genre.
rbenkert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
inthemiddle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
readwithjulez's review against another edition
5.0
”It's easy to believe in something when you win all the time...The losses are what define a man's faith.”
I’m coming to really love the “avalanches” that Brandon Sanderson is known for dropping at the end of his books. The ending of this book (just like the first in the series) was amazing.
I will say that certain parts in the middle of the book were a little slow, and the relationship issues with Vin and Elend were kind of weird, so the rating lost 1/2 a star, but I literally loved EVERYTHING else.
I love political intrigue in a story, and that was the biggest focus of this book. The character development in this one was also wonderful, especially for Vin, Elend, and Sazed. Even Breeze got some more depth and I loved it!
renhageman27's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nootnoot72's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
john_hewitt's review against another edition
5.0
Very good, but maybe not quite as good as the first book. Book 2 is a bit messy at times with plotlines being picked up and then dropped and then picked up again 200 pages later.