A review by caitann
Rhythm of War, by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
THIS is why I read books, why I fell in love with books in the first place and still love them today - THIS is a story perfected. WHAT an absolute accomplishment. It seemed so daunting at first to start this - I had to read so many recaps, felt like cramming before a history exam hahah - but I should never have worried; from that first paragraph I felt welcomed back in with open arms. I can't begin to express my AWE at the stunning scope of Brandon Sanderson's imagination - and it got even BIGGER with this instalment. Entire new worlds! The science behind everything! This whole brilliant, glorious cosmere! I am obsessed! Sanderson's genius, his care for his characters, his willingness to take his time with them so we feel every ache, every win, every loss, every joy, every moment, every heartbeat, is an absolute GIFT to get to read and experience. Like, how did we ever get so lucky to have this man write books for us?! Does this world even realize?! This book is literally 1200 pages and I savoured every word.
Also I can't go without mentioning his handling of mental health here - the emphasis and empathy he places on it, the time he spends on it...truly incredible, and a lot of it has echoed long after the pages were turned. I've never before read mental health talked about in this way in an epic fantasy novel, and while I've read many other books that of course have dealt with the topic very powerfully, none have moved me exactly like this, though maybe that's because I've now spent nearly 4000 pages with one of the main characters it concerned and lost my heart to him on a thousand different occasions - I haven't felt an ache like that for a character since Harry Potter. Kaladin, you beautiful soul. I definitely cried over my coffee for you more than once.
Okay I could go on FOREVER about the gloriousness of this book and all of the brilliant heart and work put into it but will attempt to restrain myself except to add BLESS YOU, Brandon Sanderson, for your reliability, your genius, and your wonderfully timely book releases (always enormous, and ALWAYS of quality). We often talk about other fantasy greats in the same breath as you...but should we? I think you're in a league of your own.
Also I can't go without mentioning his handling of mental health here - the emphasis and empathy he places on it, the time he spends on it...truly incredible, and a lot of it has echoed long after the pages were turned. I've never before read mental health talked about in this way in an epic fantasy novel, and while I've read many other books that of course have dealt with the topic very powerfully, none have moved me exactly like this, though maybe that's because I've now spent nearly 4000 pages with one of the main characters it concerned and lost my heart to him on a thousand different occasions - I haven't felt an ache like that for a character since Harry Potter. Kaladin, you beautiful soul. I definitely cried over my coffee for you more than once.
Okay I could go on FOREVER about the gloriousness of this book and all of the brilliant heart and work put into it but will attempt to restrain myself except to add BLESS YOU, Brandon Sanderson, for your reliability, your genius, and your wonderfully timely book releases (always enormous, and ALWAYS of quality). We often talk about other fantasy greats in the same breath as you...but should we? I think you're in a league of your own.