Brb...crying.

2nd Read, 2/25: This book is really really important to the general canon of fantasy fiction. The preface of the anniversary of this edition of this book goes into it really well, but Sanderson says it himself. This is the story of how you create a new kingdom after you overthrow the old one. The development of the characters and how they solve problems and face the leadership that they have given themselves is pertinent. Society glamorizes the idea of overthrowing, but what happens when the stability is gone and we're back to square one, fending away the people that want to take away this new fledgling country. What happens when we're trying to make laws and procedures that are equitable? 

While this book is a bit slower and dryer than the first, it is more important in every single way.