elzbethmrgn's Reviews (667)

The first half of this was very slow, and slogging through Kaladin's back story got old very fast. But all the build up paid off massively in the second half of the book. Very keen to see what happens in [b:Words of Radiance|11543195|Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2)|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391535250s/11543195.jpg|16482835].

2017 re-read: pleased to report this held up to a reread, especially now I can see the hints (anvils) laid at my feet, knowing what's coming further in the story. Clunky writing and description in some parts, but that's Sanderson's style, as is the slow first half and the rollercoaster second that I noted in my initial review. Now that I've read his back catalogue I can see his style is maturing, but it's still not a delicious wallow in the taste of words, but it's a solid epic fantasy with nary a hint of grimdark, which is why I stick around.

I really enjoyed this until the plot train began bearing down heavily and driving everyone into the unpleasant-and-predictable corner, but then surprise! Penultimate twistage saved the day. I am very pleased with this turn of events (pun intended), and will be pressing on.

I love the idea of this novel. The execution was patchy in terms of character development and pacing, although shows signs of the typical Sanderson style that clearly has matured throughout his writing career. For a first novel, it's completely acceptable, but I wouldn't recommend you start out here if you want to give Sanderson or the Cosmere universe a go.

Don't misinterpret my two stars. It really is an ok book: uneven in parts with skipped scenes that should have been written and plenty of scenes that could have been trimmed. But, in the end, a fast and readable amateur detective story. As with the first, ([b:The Lifers' Club|18245888|The Lifers' Club|Francis Pryor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407163458s/18245888.jpg|25696339]), give it a miss if you are not at all interested in archaeology (as horses are to [a:Dick Francis|5561|Dick Francis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1208830270p2/5561.jpg], so digging is to Francis Pryor).

Underwhelming. Or, I entirely missed the point? It certainly has a reputation for being a life-changer, and maybe it is, in its simplicity. Maybe it reflects my own worldview so neatly the message is lost on me, and I can only see the over-simplified story rather than having a revelatory experience about journeys versus destinations?

Maybe this is a good one for an early secondary school English class on fables or parables, in an easily-consumed package.