A review by aprilthebookqueen
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I am so beyond blown away by this book that I'm not even sure what to talk about in my review. There were so many amazing factors, especially when it came to the characters. I was so beyond invested. I say this a lot, and will continue to do so, but the characters Sanderson writes are amazing. Full of so much depth. 

Shallan's sassiness is one of my favourite things. One of my favourite parts was: “The last thing I’d want to do is accidentally insult you, Vathah,” Shallah said. “To think that I couldn’t manage it on purpose if I wanted!”

The reveal of so many things that I had been waiting for, Amaram getting found out by Dalinar was one of them. I knew Dalinar would figure it out, but I was so impatient waiting for it to happen and then it finally did and I was so stoked. Dalinar and his honour are one of my favourite things about the books. And how that translates to his relationship with Kaladin is so interesting. 

Adolin really grew on me in this one. I didn't care for him as much in the last book, but the character development he went through between that book and this one was amazing. 

From the beginning, I was hoping for some sort of budding friendship between him and Kaladin and it seems like I am getting that! His duel that ended up being 4 on 1 was really well done. I was worried it would be a "he takes them all by surprise and beats them all" moment, but it wasn't. He needed help, but in the end, he still looked like an absolute bad ass. 

Getting to see the king have his vulnerable moment at the end with Kaladin was another great one for me. Seeing how that affected Kaladin and his decision on what to do. And I got so many feelings when he realized what the king was to Dalinar. His Tien. It was a character moment that I was impatiently waiting for, and when it delivered, it delivered. 

Amazing worldbuilding. Amazing plotting. So many ties coming together. I couldn't put this down. I spent my entire day off just reading this book, and it is taking a lot of self control to not go into the next one immediately.