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A review by dragonarmy
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
Check out my video review of Rhythm of War: https://youtu.be/hm2frGKwFmo
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Writing a review that does this book justice seems an impossible and daunting task. But if Sanderson can crank out 470,000 artfully crafted words for this mammoth book, then I will do my best.
Rhythm of War is the fourth entry in the epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. We pick up a year after the concluding events of [b:Oathbringer|34002132|Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, #3)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507307833l/34002132._SY75_.jpg|23840254] as our cast of characters continue to establish their new home in the legendary tower-city of Urithiru. Divergent from the preceding Stormlight books, we are immediately thrown into a few fast-paced, climactic scenes rather than the slow burn that Sanderson has historically given us. The stakes continue to rise as Radiant powers are explored and assailed, as the war between the humans and singers intensify, as the union between spren and human are tested, and as our beloved characters continue to face their own inner-demons which might possibly be the greatest war of all.
One of the things that Sanderson has been doing in the series since its genesis but truly shines in Rhythm of War is his exploration of mental health. This has been so rarely explored in a fantasy series and has never been handled so delicately as it is here. Kaladin deals heavily with PTSD and severe depression. Shallan battles dissociative identity disorder. Navani struggles with self-doubt. Sanderson also expertly portrays characters that have physical disabilities, another reality that many authors stay away from. I love the deeper stories of struggle that occur in this book and series. It makes the Immortal Words sworn by the Radiants all the more meaningful and powerful.
While the flashbacks in Rhythm of War are for the listener Veni and the singer Eshonai, the book really belongs to Navani Kholin. It is her story that is one of the more interesting ones. Most of the character growth happens in her storyline. And her villain, the Fused scholar Raboniel, is one of the best realized enemies that you love to hate and hate to love. There was a bond (not that kind) formed between the two scholars that was both vile and beautiful. The realizations that they rediscovered are Cosmere-shaking and truly have the ability to end the war and the Desolations once and for all.
Speaking of the Cosmere... For the first time, readers are no longer able to get by without reading the other books in Sanderson's Cosmere. While there have always been a number of hints to characters and magic systems from other books and series, Rhythm of War dives in deep making the connections undeniable. I, an unashamed lore lover, found these tendrils to be quite juicy and their implications massively significant. By this point in the series, I would strongly advise you to read Warbreaker along with the Mistborn series (Era 1) if you have not done so. You can also read the other short stories and novels as well, but I would say those two are must reads if you want to capture most of the Cosmere reveals in this book.
Rhythm of War is the longest book in The Stormlight Archive to date, as well as the longest book I have ever read. I flew through Parts One and Two, only slowing down once I hit the trudge that is Part Three. That is one of my only complaints. I feel like Sanderson took too long keeping a few of the characters in the same place with the same predicament trying slightly different things and obtaining the same results. I know it all had purpose, but it felt tedious. This book could have been even stronger if 200-400 pages had been edited out. That being said, Parts Four and Five make up for this in substantial ways with the amount of reveals and hype moments that Part Three had been building towards.
Now, the debate I've been having internally throughout my entire reading has been whether or not Rhythm of War has surpassed [b:Words of Radiance|17332218|Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507307927l/17332218._SY75_.jpg|16482835] as my new favorite Stormlight novel. I haven't known my answer and still don't as I'm typing this review. But I'm making my decision right now...
Yes. It's a yes. Rhythm of War is my new favorite Stormlight novel, just barely surpassing Words of Radiance. The sheer amount of character development, inner turmoil, epic scenes, and Cosmere-building have caused this book to take the throne.
I am just so pleased to be reading these books as they come out. I feel like I'm a part of history. Surely, The Stormlight Archive will go down in history as one of the greatest works of fantasy of all time. And I'm a part of it. I'm a part of it.
Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.
---
Writing a review that does this book justice seems an impossible and daunting task. But if Sanderson can crank out 470,000 artfully crafted words for this mammoth book, then I will do my best.
Rhythm of War is the fourth entry in the epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. We pick up a year after the concluding events of [b:Oathbringer|34002132|Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, #3)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507307833l/34002132._SY75_.jpg|23840254] as our cast of characters continue to establish their new home in the legendary tower-city of Urithiru. Divergent from the preceding Stormlight books, we are immediately thrown into a few fast-paced, climactic scenes rather than the slow burn that Sanderson has historically given us. The stakes continue to rise as Radiant powers are explored and assailed, as the war between the humans and singers intensify, as the union between spren and human are tested, and as our beloved characters continue to face their own inner-demons which might possibly be the greatest war of all.
One of the things that Sanderson has been doing in the series since its genesis but truly shines in Rhythm of War is his exploration of mental health. This has been so rarely explored in a fantasy series and has never been handled so delicately as it is here. Kaladin deals heavily with PTSD and severe depression. Shallan battles dissociative identity disorder. Navani struggles with self-doubt. Sanderson also expertly portrays characters that have physical disabilities, another reality that many authors stay away from. I love the deeper stories of struggle that occur in this book and series. It makes the Immortal Words sworn by the Radiants all the more meaningful and powerful.
While the flashbacks in Rhythm of War are for the listener Veni and the singer Eshonai, the book really belongs to Navani Kholin. It is her story that is one of the more interesting ones. Most of the character growth happens in her storyline. And her villain, the Fused scholar Raboniel, is one of the best realized enemies that you love to hate and hate to love. There was a bond (not that kind) formed between the two scholars that was both vile and beautiful. The realizations that they rediscovered are Cosmere-shaking and truly have the ability to end the war and the Desolations once and for all.
Speaking of the Cosmere... For the first time, readers are no longer able to get by without reading the other books in Sanderson's Cosmere. While there have always been a number of hints to characters and magic systems from other books and series, Rhythm of War dives in deep making the connections undeniable. I, an unashamed lore lover, found these tendrils to be quite juicy and their implications massively significant. By this point in the series, I would strongly advise you to read Warbreaker along with the Mistborn series (Era 1) if you have not done so. You can also read the other short stories and novels as well, but I would say those two are must reads if you want to capture most of the Cosmere reveals in this book.
Rhythm of War is the longest book in The Stormlight Archive to date, as well as the longest book I have ever read. I flew through Parts One and Two, only slowing down once I hit the trudge that is Part Three. That is one of my only complaints. I feel like Sanderson took too long keeping a few of the characters in the same place with the same predicament trying slightly different things and obtaining the same results. I know it all had purpose, but it felt tedious. This book could have been even stronger if 200-400 pages had been edited out. That being said, Parts Four and Five make up for this in substantial ways with the amount of reveals and hype moments that Part Three had been building towards.
Now, the debate I've been having internally throughout my entire reading has been whether or not Rhythm of War has surpassed [b:Words of Radiance|17332218|Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2)|Brandon Sanderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507307927l/17332218._SY75_.jpg|16482835] as my new favorite Stormlight novel. I haven't known my answer and still don't as I'm typing this review. But I'm making my decision right now...
I am just so pleased to be reading these books as they come out. I feel like I'm a part of history. Surely, The Stormlight Archive will go down in history as one of the greatest works of fantasy of all time. And I'm a part of it. I'm a part of it.
Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.