Book Review: Words of Radiance

A worthy successor that introduces one of my favorite characters of all time.

Book cover: "Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. Book Two of The Stormlight Archive"

Sanderson does it again with Words of Radiance. His well-drawn characters, who all struggled in the first book, are coming into their own, and in their own ways. The character conflicts are clear, varied, and intertwined, driven by personal goals and an inexorable doomsday deadline.

Voidbringers, the harbingers so ancient that current society has little record of who or what they really are, are prophesied to return, and not Kalidin, Shallan, or even the exalted Dalinar have a clue how to stop them. This book focuses on not only 3 separate hero journeys, but discovery and further world building. New factions with questionable intent are pulling strings, but to what end, only a few know.

One of the most memorable and surprising parts was an interlude with a new character, Lift, who I found charming and endearing. Lift is tweenager with a tragic backstory and indominable spirit who made me feel alive through her sheer exuberance. When I learned that the side novel, Edgedancer, focused on her, I was overjoyed, and will certainly be reading that next.

If you enjoyed The Way of Kings, then you'll love Words of Radiance.

Other Stormlight Archive reviews

Book Review: The Way of Kings
A slow-to-start but worthwhile epic fantasy read.
Book Review: Edgedancer
Edgedancer is a side novel (#2.5) that follows the Peter-Pan-like Lift and her Captain Hook nemesis, Darkness, through a new part of Sanderson’s world, adding color to the vastness and variety that we’ve had only small glimpses of until now through interludes. Though significantly shorter than the main novels,
Book Review: Oathbringer
Oathbringer is, in a word, epic. So much happens in this book, with so many plots interweaving, especially toward the end, that it’s like 5 intense movies vying for your attention at the same time. There’s so much, in fact, that it read like a series finale rather
Book Review: Rhythm of War
An amazing sequel that took me 2+ years to finish because it has all the excitement—and the long buildup—of 4 books combined.
Book Review: Wind and Truth
A golden nugget of epic fantasy that includes current, hard topics everyone needs to hear.