Rhythm of War: Book Four of the Stormlight Archive

Is it even possible to give these books less than five stars? Is it even allowed? Every time we are blessed with a new book in the Stormlight Archive, it becomes one of the best books I've ever read. Plain and simple. They're just that fun. They reach those heights, that level of epic.A forewarning, this review will be unfettered praise.I somehow seem to forget just how much I love this series between installments. It's only natural I suppose, to need to immerse yourself in something again to remember just how much it grips you, but still, I seem to forget. It's just such a good story. Every little piece of it. The more we learn the more fun it is, and it is already a massive, interwoven, deliciously complex story. I can't get enough. And so when a new installment appears, I am consumed. Not just in the story itself, but the universe of which it is part. The story, the Coppermind entries, the WoB, all of it. Consumed.Rhythm of War starts extremely strong. The one year time-jump makes catching up to the new norm a very fun experience. Our favorite characters are challenged in new and distinct ways: by forcing them to re-examine what it means to uphold their Oaths, by requiring them to face truths at the risk of losing the love around them, by pushing them to shed doubt in the face of danger, by challenging them to seek freedom when it would be so much easier to give up. In a series known for upping the ante with each new book, this installments still feels fresh; like an important piece of the puzzle, and a natural extension of the story. One gets the sense that Brandon knows exactly what he's doing...And so I was enthralled. Having just finished it, I still am. There's nothing like the last stretch of a Sanderson book. He may be the only author who leaves you with more questions than you had when you began, but I thank him for it. He takes you up to the highest highs, and let's you ponder the future, marinating in the experience. His books are just so cool. And that sounds trite, but it's really not. No other books make me sit back and think "Damn, that is so cool" as often as Sanderson's. It's just a fact. And no they aren't literary masterworks or Pulitzer Prize winners, but the complaints that I used to see--hell, the complaints that I used to have--about his books are hard to apply these days. His skills have grown in noticeable and appreciated ways as things like character development and emotionally charged scenes become a major strong point in his work.I go on and on about Brandon's worldbuilding, everyone does. But there's a damn good reason for that. Because as much as he is growing in other areas, worldbuilding and plotting remain his major strengths. He builds the kinds of worlds that are so interesting you stay up thinking about one little piece of them when you should be sleeping. Roshar--and the greater cosmere in general--is an incredible place to visit, and one that grows more enticing by the page. It is science-fiction flavored fantasy in the same way that something like Dune is fantasy flavored science-fiction. And for someone like me, that's a homerun.No review of this book could even come close to summarizing all my thoughts on it. Installments of the Stormlight Archive are massive, and each one is a lengthy experience. A lot runs through your head during a thousand pages; more than a thousand. Plus, to truly review this book I would need to delve into the most massive of massive spoilers. But I will say this...There is no doubt that the Stormlight Archive is Brandon's best series; he admits this himself. 'Magnum Opus' may be the term thrown around down the line. As such, this is the series where he's really starting to open things up, as far as the greater cosmere is concerned. It’s still on a small enough scale that you don’t have to have any idea what I’m talking about, but the connections are flowing. He is no longer being coy about the existence of other planets, and the ability to travel to and from said planets. It’s right there in the text, and it’s all starting to come out. So what that does is get readers who may have never read any of his books other than Stormlight really excited for the cool things they’ve yet to discover. And it also offers a hugely rewarding reading experience for those who have read the other cosmere books, as we piece things together and notice all the "hidden" gems. The balance Brandon has achieved in this is nothing short of remarkable.I won't pretend his books are for everyone. Sometimes people want something more, and what's more subjective than one's reading material? But if you're looking for a fun world to immerse yourself in, with a master storyteller at the helm, pick up a book by Brandon Sanderson. Maybe I'll see you on the other end of the rabbit hole.

I'm reading a lot of negativity around the lack of action in ROW. I think the type of reader you are might influence how you feel about it. This book is about character development through and through, and doesn't really advance the story at all. Honestly the story is at the same place it was after SA3. But you know what, that's ok by me because the character development was so incredible.Now even on the subject of character development I see lots of complaints. People are sick of Shallan dealing with mental illness, or Kaladin dealing with his father. If you want a standard fantasy trope of the "good guy" growing up and beating the "bad guy," I'm not so sure this series is for you. The characters are painted in all sorts of grey shades and have a lot of negatives about them, just like you and me, it makes them feel so much more real. The struggles they go through has put a tear to my eye more than once, and I can't say that about a lot of characters I've come across in any medium! Brandon's attention to detail even extends to the "bad guys," with some really good development and backstory of some, and even the main "bad guy" is painted in shades of grey and has a development arc.Otherwise the writing was superb, but again short on action. The biggest action was at the end, those few chapters were well worth the read, especially because that character development brought those characters so much closer to me. But I get it, on some level Brandon may be falling to the same sickness Robert Jordan had, that of writing books just to milk the series. But if that's the case I really don't care, because I know one day (like with WOT) I will have to say goodbye to these characters forever.If you like SA, especially if you love the characters, don't hesitate to pick up this book. Just appreciate it for what it is, one long character development study with not much action or story progression.

Taking Tolkien out of the equation, as someone who read all of wheel of time and all of the current 5 game of thrones( my with a clash of kings in game of thrones ranking as my favorite), I understand this to be a bold claim.This book is a payout on the investment of the prior 3 books and reveals that no detail no character in the first 3 books was wasted. All of the characters, the events are leading up to something-an epic world, with a story worth re-reading.Warning, this book starts off slow. It took 300 to 400 pages for it to get going. When I arrived at the thought " the pacing is too slow in this one", the narrative takes off and doesn't slow till the end.Brandon Sanderson does such a great job of writing characters as humans, addressing depression, trauma, and dementia in his characters in a human and compassionate way. He ties up almost every lose end in this book whole still keeping the reader invested in what happens next. This book made me consider rereading the first 3 because it points to how the events in the first book continues to have echoes in this expansive rich universe Brandon Sanderson has created.In fantasy, its a book that made me feel all of the emotions, exuberance, despair, sadness, and hope. There's a scene in the book that made me tear up, something I never expected a book would make me do. He treats the characters with amazing tenderness and provides closure to many character arches..If you want action, complex characters, fantasy, and rich story telling, this book has it and this series is for you.