Reviews with content warning for Fatphobia - Edgedancer

TW: gore, violence, fatphobic statements by the main character

Ahh I can't wait to pick up Oathbringer now that I have finally read Edgedancer!

This novella (take novella with a pinch of salt - this is a 272-paged book. It's a novella in Sanderson terms) focuses on Lift who we received an interlude from in Words of Radiance. I loved her interlude so I was very excited about reading this. While Lift is still one of my definite favourites, reading Edgedancer wasn't quite as great as The Way of Kings or Words of Radiance.

Lift is an unpredictable, unreliable main character - and this shows in the way that the novella is written. The reader is largely unaware about what will happen next and what is the point of the current events. I really enjoyed it in the interlude, but here it feels like a bit much. I wish we had some sort of a side character who could explain some of the stuff that Lift is up to. But regardless, Lift is a joy to read from (other than a couple fatphobic, jarring comments she makes).

We receive a tiny bit of needed backstory related to Lift but also to overall bigger events that were hinted at in Words of Radiance. The authors note at the end gave me the impression that this backstory will be crucial in Oathbringer. I really enjoyed the story, but maybe craved a bit more of it? I didn't quite catch what actually happened in Lift's past - and who the heck is Darkness exactly. But this might just be me, and I'm hoping that all things will become clearer once I get to Oathbringer. (Also I need to acknowledge the fact that I read Words of Radiance some time ago already and things didn't come back to me as quickly as I hoped)

Content Warnings

anigoose's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I knew I didn't like Lift, and that it would be a bit annoying to slog through. But I wasn't expecting to dread trying to finish this either. The fatphobia and the ableism were very very hard to read through. And because I have been listening to more audiobooks, they are more glaring and obvious - i can't skim over and pretend my favorite authors aren't casually horrible. It was tough.

I'm tired of primarily white fantasy authors leaning heavily on disability, particularly learning disability or Down's Syndrome as a way to show Tolerance and Intolerance and deal with Otherness. The way they are described is always so tropeful and harmful, since the authors are trying not to use any science words. It's just upsetting.

Thousands of disabled people are killed by the hands of their carers every day. It's a terrifying and unacknowledged genocide. It should not be used as a casual plot point. I'm tired of it.

Less important, hearing someone read aloud the inane shit Lift says makes it sound as inane as it is. I was gonna scream if i heard another "starvin'"

Content Warnings

catastrophic's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Enjoyed this a lot, I've read Stormlight a few times but this was the first time putting Edgedancer in between books 2 and 3. I liked seeing more of the world, of Lift and her complex motivations, the role of Edgedancers, and the Skybreakers. Lovely, straightforward romp without too much plot complexity or heavy themes to bog you down. Wouldn't recommend reading without Stormlight though

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