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A review by timtalkinbooks
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This one is hard.
The story that Sanderson has weaved in these 4 books and 2 novellas is incredible. Each entry slowly building and revealing a world that you can tell Sanderson has had planned for years.
This time around it felt like Sanderson just wanted to get to Wind and Truth and he's using Rhythm of War to set it all up.
Granted, every book in this series has been setting up for something to come later. So I've come to expect that going into a Sanderson series.
I have a feeling that we won't feel a true sense of finality until Stormlight 10. (I don't even want to think about my age when that book releases.)
Still, with making your book one gigantic 1200 page set up you're going to run into some issues.
I love that Sanderson uses these broken people as his protagonists, frankly after the year I've had, I saw some of myself on Kaladin this time around.
It just starts to feel like he's spinning his wheels a bit here.
Like, he knew he wanted Kaladin to swear the fourth ideal by books end. Unlike Words of Radiance though, Kaladin's internal struggle just didn't feel as rich this time.
We know he's depressed and has been dealing with not being able to save everyone after losing his brother for three books now. This time, I'm just tired of hearing how sad he is. I think that might sound a little callous, but after hearing this man say the same 3-4 things about his mental state for 4 books, it gets a bit old.
I think by books end Sanderson pulls it out but it was a slog to get there.
I could stay here all day typing about how the characters in this book frustrated me this time around. I could write 1000 words on Shallan ALONE, but I'll just say this.
I think Sando set Shallan up in the last book really well. It makes sense that she spends this whole book running from and pushing down her feeling to the point that it all explodes.
BUT
It's another case of it just going on for too long. We keep hearing about Formless, we keep seeing Shallan sink back into herself after one whiff of having to deal with something hard and by the time Formless makes an appearance. I didn't care. (I also thought the fact Formless was only around for like 2 chapters after being built up as something really dark inside her waiting to be released to be frustrating as well.)
I just wanted it to be over and I wanted everyone around her to stop enabling this multiple personality thing, I wanted her to tell someone about the Ghostbloods and her past, it was more frustrating than compelling throughout.
Her sections have never been my favorite to read in this series, but this time around I genuinely considered skipping some portions because I was so sick of it.
Finally, I think Sanderson finds Venli and the singers to be more compelling then they are. He had a lot to do after revealing that the humans are the actual Voidbringers in the last book and I don't think he was successful.
The flashbacks to Venli and Eshonai's childhood had some intriguing moments.
I love how almost every major character was in the palace for Gavilar's assassination. He does also need to explain how all this destruction and transformation was brought into the world.
I think the fact Venli caused it and wants redemption for it could be interesting.
I just never connected to the Parshendi ever. I was interested with the flashes to Eshonai in Word of Radiance, but once we got full chapters in these characters POV, seeing how they world and society worked, I just didn't care.
This could definitely be a me problem, I fully accept that, but when a good portion of the book is meant to focus on characters you're not connected to or you're genuinely starting to hate a bit, it can make for a frustrating read.
It's the first time I've felt the drag of the length, it's the first time I didn't want to read every POV, every plot point.
There's been so much good in this series though, I will give this one a pass. I think everything set up in this book is going to pay off in some insane way Wind and Truth, but I'd say Rhythm of War is a bit of a miss. Not bad, I could never call something this dense and rich bad, but not his best by a long shot.
That's okay. When you're writing a 10 book series some are going to miss, but some are going to hit with a punch like Oathbringer and that's why I'm along for this ride. There have been so many incredible payoffs and moments in this series that I'm in until the end.
Now, my wait for Wind and Truth begins. I don't know how ya'll have done this for four years. I'm already sad I have to wait two months before I can see what happens.
(Also very intrigued that Wind and Truth might just take place over TEN DAYS. That alone has me hyped.)
One other thing.
When I started this series in November of last year, I honestly thought I wouldn't make it to this point. It took me years to get through three of the Game of Thrones books and I still haven't finished the last two.
So getting to this point, finishing 4 gigantic TOMES, has me feeling very proud.
This year took a hard turn on me in June and has taken me to some dark places mentally. So there were times when escaping to Roshar was helpful. Seeing these characters try to beat their own demons and protect those they love has been inspiring.
I know they're all fictional, but seeing them push past what life throws at them has made me feel like I can also push past what life has thrown at me. I know Sando ain't reading my Goodreads review, but I hope he knows how much his characters have meant to me this year. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who have told him these exact things.
So thank you Sanderson. I'm so glad I started reading Mistborn in 2023.
"Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination."
The story that Sanderson has weaved in these 4 books and 2 novellas is incredible. Each entry slowly building and revealing a world that you can tell Sanderson has had planned for years.
This time around it felt like Sanderson just wanted to get to Wind and Truth and he's using Rhythm of War to set it all up.
Granted, every book in this series has been setting up for something to come later. So I've come to expect that going into a Sanderson series.
I have a feeling that we won't feel a true sense of finality until Stormlight 10. (I don't even want to think about my age when that book releases.)
Still, with making your book one gigantic 1200 page set up you're going to run into some issues.
I love that Sanderson uses these broken people as his protagonists, frankly after the year I've had, I saw some of myself on Kaladin this time around.
It just starts to feel like he's spinning his wheels a bit here.
Like, he knew he wanted Kaladin to swear the fourth ideal by books end. Unlike Words of Radiance though, Kaladin's internal struggle just didn't feel as rich this time.
We know he's depressed and has been dealing with not being able to save everyone after losing his brother for three books now. This time, I'm just tired of hearing how sad he is. I think that might sound a little callous, but after hearing this man say the same 3-4 things about his mental state for 4 books, it gets a bit old.
I think by books end Sanderson pulls it out but it was a slog to get there.
I could stay here all day typing about how the characters in this book frustrated me this time around. I could write 1000 words on Shallan ALONE, but I'll just say this.
I think Sando set Shallan up in the last book really well. It makes sense that she spends this whole book running from and pushing down her feeling to the point that it all explodes.
BUT
It's another case of it just going on for too long. We keep hearing about Formless, we keep seeing Shallan sink back into herself after one whiff of having to deal with something hard and by the time Formless makes an appearance. I didn't care. (I also thought the fact Formless was only around for like 2 chapters after being built up as something really dark inside her waiting to be released to be frustrating as well.)
I just wanted it to be over and I wanted everyone around her to stop enabling this multiple personality thing, I wanted her to tell someone about the Ghostbloods and her past, it was more frustrating than compelling throughout.
Her sections have never been my favorite to read in this series, but this time around I genuinely considered skipping some portions because I was so sick of it.
Finally, I think Sanderson finds Venli and the singers to be more compelling then they are. He had a lot to do after revealing that the humans are the actual Voidbringers in the last book and I don't think he was successful.
The flashbacks to Venli and Eshonai's childhood had some intriguing moments.
I love how almost every major character was in the palace for Gavilar's assassination. He does also need to explain how all this destruction and transformation was brought into the world.
I think the fact Venli caused it and wants redemption for it could be interesting.
I just never connected to the Parshendi ever. I was interested with the flashes to Eshonai in Word of Radiance, but once we got full chapters in these characters POV, seeing how they world and society worked, I just didn't care.
This could definitely be a me problem, I fully accept that, but when a good portion of the book is meant to focus on characters you're not connected to or you're genuinely starting to hate a bit, it can make for a frustrating read.
It's the first time I've felt the drag of the length, it's the first time I didn't want to read every POV, every plot point.
There's been so much good in this series though, I will give this one a pass. I think everything set up in this book is going to pay off in some insane way Wind and Truth, but I'd say Rhythm of War is a bit of a miss. Not bad, I could never call something this dense and rich bad, but not his best by a long shot.
That's okay. When you're writing a 10 book series some are going to miss, but some are going to hit with a punch like Oathbringer and that's why I'm along for this ride. There have been so many incredible payoffs and moments in this series that I'm in until the end.
Now, my wait for Wind and Truth begins. I don't know how ya'll have done this for four years. I'm already sad I have to wait two months before I can see what happens.
(Also very intrigued that Wind and Truth might just take place over TEN DAYS. That alone has me hyped.)
One other thing.
When I started this series in November of last year, I honestly thought I wouldn't make it to this point. It took me years to get through three of the Game of Thrones books and I still haven't finished the last two.
So getting to this point, finishing 4 gigantic TOMES, has me feeling very proud.
This year took a hard turn on me in June and has taken me to some dark places mentally. So there were times when escaping to Roshar was helpful. Seeing these characters try to beat their own demons and protect those they love has been inspiring.
I know they're all fictional, but seeing them push past what life throws at them has made me feel like I can also push past what life has thrown at me. I know Sando ain't reading my Goodreads review, but I hope he knows how much his characters have meant to me this year. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who have told him these exact things.
So thank you Sanderson. I'm so glad I started reading Mistborn in 2023.
"Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts