So at last, here's my review. It took me a while to get to writing this and I am still not sure that this can express what I think about this book. Because it's just 1200 pages of epic.
I've rarely, if ever anticipated a book with such high hopes and such dread of being disappointed. So it could either end up being "Fellowship of the Ring"-awesome or "Phantom Menace"-WTF...
Then came the day or rather midnight and I clicked refresh on my reading device until the book started downloading. The next day, I realized how lucky I was when I heard that the book was coming out on different dates all over the world and that people were having trouble downloading--especially the audio version while others had to wait two days or more until the book was even out.
Reportedly, a big audiobook seller was brought down that day in the US (not here) (also that is a little strange considering they are part of one of the companies that invented cloud computing). But then Oathbringer was the most ever pre-ordered audiobook of all time. And it also hit #1 on the NYT best seller list immediately. Someone sure has a lot of fans. (We're totally not cultists)
So what about the book? All that anticipation and then...
This book made me laugh ("No mating!"), cry ("Awwww!") and scream ("Nonono!" in my head at least) like no other book I read in the past few years. And while reading this, I realized that I want all this to be in a book. I want drama, tears and light-hearted moments in balance. And Oathbringer delivers. It took me more than a week to finish and the whole time I felt like I was right there on Roshar. And then I had a week-long book hangover.
I loved it and I plan on re-reading it soon. This 3rd book in the series was truly holds its own, in some aspects better than the first two, in some maybe a little weaker (which is however what Germans call "Jammern auf hohem Niveau") and absolutely unique. Where Way of Kings gave me a feeling of mostly exposition, and Words of Radiance upped the stakes and the drama opening up into the truly epic nature of this, Oathbringer has a more even pacing. Here the drama begins unfolding and this book answers so many questions about the world, the history and even the Cosmere and yet it opens up just as many new questions... if the series continues like this... it'll be the most epic of all times.
Eshonai had always told her sister that she was certain something wonderful lay over the next hill. Then one day, she’d crested a hill and found humans.
So the rest is spoilers and comments on the details that I liked... go read the book first 😃
That first line somehow foreshadows that we find out, what some surely suspected, that the true Voidbringers are the humans and not the Parshendi. Looking back, it was all there.
The Meh
- Adolin's killing of Sadeas at the end of Words of Radiance was an incredibly tense moment and I looked forward to seeing consequences for this action. But I waited and waited and nothing really happened and then Adolin simply tells first Shallan then Dalinar? Not even someone undermining Dalinar with the facts? Not impressed.
- Adolin telling Shallan how Kaladin killed her brother. That was supposed to be a difficult moment between them...
- Jasnah's return was somehow underwhelming. Also the way she treats Shallan was a little overdone IMO. It makes her look bad or maybe it makes Shallan look bad because if there ever was an unreliable POV in these books it is Shallan.
- My favorite characters get to spend time together but somehow they end up in Shadesmar, largely unable to affect the plot in the physical realm in any way for about half the book.
The anxiety inducing "Oh noes"
Glowing gloryspren orbs burst around Elhokar . He grinned at them . “ I only seem to see those when I’m around you , Uncle . Funny . For all that I should resent you , I don’t . It’s hard to resent a man who is doing his best . I’ll do it . I’ll save Alethkar . I need one of your Radiants . The hero , preferably . ” “ The hero ? ” “ The bridgeman , ” Elhokar said . “ The soldier . He needs to go with me , so if I screw up and fail , someone will be there to save the city anyway . ”
- Elhokar slowly growing and his move of making Dalinar high-king--which back-fired badly--and then fucking Moash just comes a long and Elhokar says the words, nearly, nearly and I was finally--for the first time ever--rooting for him and suddenly he's dead!
- “ Your ego doesn’t count as a separate individual , Shallan .” Shallan, Veil and Radiant and the other personalities she very nearly splits into. I think by the end of the book she has confined herself to those three but that sure made for a few tense moments. Disturbing how Veil keeps drooling after Kaladin... that's like reserved for fan-fic please. I don't really want to read the two of them together in canon.
- We knew Dalinar had been the Blackthorn. We just didn't know what that meant. Now we know and this makes his journey all the more impressive culminating in this book. Some of those flashbacks were chilling.
“ Blackthorn ! ” Bah ! Dalinar spun toward the sound . A man stood nearby , wearing Kholin blue . Dalinar raised his Shard - blade . The man backed away , raising hands with no weapon , still shouting Dalinar’s name . I know him . He’s . . . Kadash ? One of the captains among his elites . Dalinar lowered his sword and shook his head , trying to get the buzzing sound out of his ears . Only then did he see — really see — what surrounded him .
- Taravangian. All of him. He should just go away. Bad diagram. "Ability to save humanity" - yeah right... but at what cost? I am not quite sure at the moment. Did Dalinar & Co figure out that King T was not quite what he seemed?
- The mysteries around Renarin's spren drove me crazy throughout the book.
- My early realization that Odium wanted Dalinar to be his champion and while reading his Blackthorn years I was fully convinced he would be unable to resist Odium that he would be overwhelmed by the Unmade and switch sides to become Dalinarth Vader...
The Funny
- The Spren trying to understand humans particularly their love life. “ Very well , you two , ” Pattern said . “ No mating . NO MATING . ” He hummed to himself , as if pleased , then sank down onto a plate . (and this really needs the audiobook, because the way Kate Reading reads Pattern's voice is just amazing)
- Pattern really came into his own in this book “ He came at me , ” Adolin said , “ in the training rooms , screaming that you’d found the killer . Said that if I didn’t come , you’d probably — and I quote — ‘ go do something stupid without letting me watch . ’ ” Pattern hummed . “ Stupidity . Very interesting . ” “ You should visit the Alethi court sometime , ” Adolin said.
- Shallan's wit was still there if a little less often “ We’re speaking of your mind ! Your wonderful , brilliant mind , so keen that it’s never been sharpened ! So quick , it’s still running when everyone else is done ! So dazzling , it’s never failed to leave everyone in awe at the things you say. ”
- Anything involving Nightblood but only because so far the blade seems like a good fit with Szeth and I loved how in the end he swore himself to Dalinar rather than any abstract interpretation of Justice. The sword replied. You? Szeth, I think you’re super trustworthy. And I’m a good judge of people. “I was not speaking to you, sword-nimi.” I know. But you were wrong, and so I had to tell you. Hey, the voices seem quiet today. That’s nice, isn’t it?
The Smiles and Tears
- Even though many complained there wasn't enough of Kaladin in this book, I really loved what we got to see. His meeting with his family was just the first of many beautiful moments he got. It feels like he has left behind the dark place he was in before and is growing into the hero others see in him. His struggle to find the fourth ideal is already making me look forward to the next book. Yes there could have been more of him and Bridge Four but they are mostly in a good place right now and that's a good thing, too.
- Shallan and Adolin: always. I was really happy that by the end she got her act together. Adolin offering to break of the engagement so she could be with Kaladin had me in tears though. “ I’m not good with relationships , Shallan . ” “ Is there anyone who actually is ? I mean , is there really someone out there who looks at relationships and thinks , ‘ You know what , I’ve got this ’ ? Personally , I rather think we’re all collectively idiots about it . ”
- Maya. When Adolin first says "She's my friend" in Shadesmar I was like "Yeah you would say that." and then slowly there are signs that he was onto something. And when he summons her and she appears at the 7th heartbeat. I am so looking forward to seeing further development on this.
- Pattern offering this: “ About dying ? ” Pattern asked . “ It may be the only way , Shallan . Mmm . . . You must speak truths to progress , but you will hate me for making it happen . So I can die , and once done you can — ” “ No . No , please don’t leave me . ” “ But you hate me . ” “ I hate myself too , ” she whispered . “ Just . . . please . Don’t go . Don’t die . ”
These are just a few glimpses into my thoughts on the book. It really is too large for me to write an encompassing review at this point. I think this book needs more than one read to be fully appreciated.
