Title: Words of Radiance
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy
Audience: Adult
Series/Stand Alone: Series, The Stormlight Archive #2, Cosmere
Format read: eBook
Publisher: Tor
Date read: 14 November 2020 (reread)
First published: 4 March 2014
Content Warning: death, violence, hunting, war, PTSD, depression, slavery
Mini Review:
Book 2 of the Stormlight Archive was just as amazing as I remembered it being, in fact probably more amazing as there are a couple of connections I didn’t realize in my first read through. The character growth in this book was splendid. The story centered mostly around Shallan, but our other main characters also have their own arcs and development. The story is delightfully complex and ends on a high note making me want to start the next book immediately. If you’re looking for epic fantasy complete with political and religious intrigue, legends and conquest, look no further!
Full thoughts:
Please note this review contains some spoilers for book 1, The Way of Kings. To learn more about the series I recommend reading my review for The Way of Kings.
As I reread the Stormlight Archive I have a very hard time deciding on my favorite book. Right now, Words of Radiance is winning simply because of everything established in Way of Kings and then all the growth that happens during WoR.
There are a lot of good moments in this book and we start to seem some details hinted at in earlier books come together which is always rewarding. Rereading of course makes it easier to catch some of those and everything makes so much more sense upon a reread. Specifically, some of my favorite chapters were “Santhid,” “Boots,” “Palona,” “Lift,” and “The Four.”
The organization from the first book is the same, with 5 major parts and interludes in between. It’s basically like we get 5 books in one. Words of Radiance, as was The Way of Kings, is a book within the story itself.
“Alight, winds approach deadly approaching winds alight.”
Words of Radiance, page 1081
This book continues the pattern of the book part titles forming a ketek. This is a complex form of holy Vorin poetry which is the same backwards and forwards with flexibility to verb tense. I really appreciate how this is woven into the structure of the story. It’s so well done!
The main Point of Views (POV)s in the story are Shallan Davar, Kaladin Stormblessed, Dalinar Kholin and Adolin Kholin. The main difference here is that eventually our main characters end up mostly in the same general location and interact with one another, which is simply delightful.
Kaladin Stormblessed – When Way of Kings ended, Kaladin and Bridge Four had rescued Dalinar and in turn were rescued, moving to his warcamp to join his army. No matter what happens, things are looking up for Kaladin and Bridge Four, but it is still storming difficult for Kaladin to trust a light-eyes, but he wants to trust Dalinar. He also needs to learn about his abilities, but he fears they will be taken from him as have most good things in his life.
“Honor is dead, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Words of Radiance, page 664
Dalinar Kholin – Dalinar has been having visions which make him question his sanity, and towards the end of Way of Kings he’s told that Almighty is dead making him question a whole lot of other things. His charge of “unite them,” sounds simple, but who all is he to unite and how to accomplish that? Grateful to be alive, he gave up his Shardblade to free all the bridge crews from Sadeas.
“‘As I fear not a child with a weapon he cannot lift, I will never fear the mind of a man who does not think.’”
Words of Radiance, page 795
Adolin Kholin – Adolin is shocked that his father would give up his Shardblade for the bridgemen, but he also knows they wouldn’t have survived the the Tower if not for Bridge Four. He has made his dislike for Sadeas clear throughout the Way of Kings and this betrayal can only intensify those feelings.
“Wait. Are you wearing cologne? In prison?”
Words of Radiance, page 779
“Well, there was no need to be barbaric, just because I was incarcerated.”
“I seek the truth,” Shallan said. “Wherever it may be, whoever may hold it. That’s who I am.”
Words of Radiance, Page 770
Shallan Davar – After failing her mission to steal from Jasnah, Shallan’s world changes yet again as Jasnah agrees to still keep her as a ward. Bonded by their abilities, Shallan has much to learn from Jasnah in all areas and much to research regarding voidbringers and the ghost bloods. All signs point to her family being heavily involved.
“It frightens me,” Shallan said, “because we all see the world by some kind of light personal to us, and that light changes our perception. I don’t see clearly. I want to, but I don’t know if I ever truly can.”
Words of Radiance, page 947
Many of the smaller POVs are also from the previous book, but some new characters are introduced in the interludes. These POVs include Torol Sadeas, Jasnah Kholin, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Wit, Navani, Esohnai, Ym, Rsyn, Zahel, Taln, Lift, Szeth, Lhan, Taravangian, Moash and Lopen.
Lift gets her own additional pages in Edgedancer, a novella set between Words of Radiance and Oathbringer. It’s available as a standalone but also as part of Arcanum Unbounded.
While the main characters all have big roles in the story, there’s always one that is sort of the key main character. The Way of Kings has the Windrunner Glyph on the cover as it is considered Kaladin’s book and for Words of Radiance we have the Lightweaver Glyph on the cover.
I mentioned in my other review how robust and wonderful the world-building is in this series, and it keeps getting better with each book. From the fauna and flora, to the food and culture tidbits, it’s just a wonderfully made and properly complex society. It’s unmanly to be able to read and the common form of writing is women’s script. There’s separate men’s and women’s food. There are masculine and feminine arts. I love learning more about Roshar and the different cultures found in this world.
Do you like stories with robust world building? Or do you prefer stories that mostly build off of our world as it is? If it’s the first, I strongly encourage you to try this series if you haven’t already! Please let me know your thoughts.
The Stormlight Archive – Reviewed:
PalmKD - Books and Other Nerdy Ramblings 
3 thoughts on “Book Review: Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson”