eBook, 1220 pages
English language
Published Nov. 14, 2017 by Tor Books.
In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their thirst for vengeance.
Dalinar Kholin’s Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified.
Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And …
In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their thirst for vengeance.
Dalinar Kholin’s Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified.
Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar’s blood-soaked past and stand together—and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past—even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.
I thought the book dragged a bit, and I was planning to take a break from the series, but that ending went hard.
After pondering this for a while, I think I'm going to land on a soft 4 stars. I have had a complicated relationship so far with The Stormlight Archive, not because I dislike it at all (I really like it a lot!) but I feel there are so many technical components of Sanderson's writing that really hold this series back from its full potential. But I think a lot of my criticisms of the first two books were, in some part, addressed and changed for the better in the third book.
Firstly, the story moves as a much more consistently, engaging pace in this book. Action is dispersed throughout the story rather than being offloaded to the final 50 pages. There's a LOT of overarching story development taking place, making the reader feel a little less lost in where this big story is leading. The character development is really on …
After pondering this for a while, I think I'm going to land on a soft 4 stars. I have had a complicated relationship so far with The Stormlight Archive, not because I dislike it at all (I really like it a lot!) but I feel there are so many technical components of Sanderson's writing that really hold this series back from its full potential. But I think a lot of my criticisms of the first two books were, in some part, addressed and changed for the better in the third book.
Firstly, the story moves as a much more consistently, engaging pace in this book. Action is dispersed throughout the story rather than being offloaded to the final 50 pages. There's a LOT of overarching story development taking place, making the reader feel a little less lost in where this big story is leading. The character development is really on point for our main cast. We see strong development for characters who have "resolved" arcs and some strong and interesting development for characters who were previously much less important to the story. Sanderson's character writing has always been fantastic (dialogue could use some work), and this book really showed it off.
However, with some of these improvements came some new challenges. The sheer amount of lore in this book had me confused a lot of the time. Despite its length, I had to constantly re-read chapters to get a handle on what exactly was happening and what the implications were. And while better paced, the various action scenes in this book did make it feel like it had a few climaxes which wouldn't give my emotions a break. Also, and I have said this every time, the book is too long. I appreciate the interesting POVs, but there were several chapters that seemingly had no impact to the story from either a side side side character, or a chapter from our main cast where.. not a lot happened.. This is a persistent problem with many of Sanderson's works, but it's particularly apparent in Stormlight. More isn't always better, and I think the quality of these books could really improve with some strategic editing down.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It revitalized my interest in the series after taking a year break between book two and book three, and I am planning on catching up before the year is out. The story has me intrigued and its leading to a highly anticipated year of Sanderson in 2023!
On my second read (listen, actually -- the Graphic Audio version is good), this book is kind of a slog. Most of the first three-quarters of the book tends to draaaag on forever with lots of lame politicky stuff and people wandering aimlessly. Stuff happens, but it's not nearly as fun to read the second time as the previous books. At least the ending is good, which is always the case with Sanderson's books.
Now I can finally start the "new" book (from 9 months ago).
Just so god damn epic. It is still somehow that classic high fantasy but done in an entirely unique way.
I didn't know how you could top that Heavy-Metal-cover storm-surf ending of the previous book but somehow he took it to a whole other level.
The only upsetting thing is realising I have to add in the entire Mistborn series to my reading list, if it's anywhere near as good as these books and also ties in then I don't even have a choice.
October 2020 Reread:
But sometimes a hypocrite is nothing more than a person who is in the process of changing.
Oathbringer remains five stars on the re-read and may be my favorite of the Stormlight series, but yet I know so little about the larger world and universe. I was prepared for the scope of the story to expand drastically with this book but I was still overwhelmed. 1200 pages is a tome but it doesn't drag. Each chapter, story and character moves the tale forward.
But merely being tradition does not make something worthy...we can't just assume that because something is old it is right.
Unfortunately I still find Shadesmar to drag. Everything is so new, different and you learn as the characters do so it's a challenging place to understand. I expect the Cognitive Realm will continue to be a setting going forward and Sanderson intentionally told us …
October 2020 Reread:
But sometimes a hypocrite is nothing more than a person who is in the process of changing.
Oathbringer remains five stars on the re-read and may be my favorite of the Stormlight series, but yet I know so little about the larger world and universe. I was prepared for the scope of the story to expand drastically with this book but I was still overwhelmed. 1200 pages is a tome but it doesn't drag. Each chapter, story and character moves the tale forward.
But merely being tradition does not make something worthy...we can't just assume that because something is old it is right.
Unfortunately I still find Shadesmar to drag. Everything is so new, different and you learn as the characters do so it's a challenging place to understand. I expect the Cognitive Realm will continue to be a setting going forward and Sanderson intentionally told us what was necessary for the moment.
On my first read I felt that every other character was becoming Radiant or a part of a Squire, but now I'm good with it. Understanding the order of Heralds, Radiants and Squires helps and realizing how one influences the other makes it feel less like a power free for all and a natural awakening and return of power.
Together they carried the bridge on one final run - reverently, as if it were the brier of a king, being taken to his tomb for his eternal rest.
I remembered a few scenes very vividly from 2017 but for the most part I forgot everything about Oathbringer. Once the 60%/Dalinar/Evi/Rift chapters happened it felt like I was reading the chapters for the first time. I somehow blocked the last 40% of the book and had no memory of what was going to happen next...and a lot happens! I could probably re-read the last half of the book again and still feel like it's new and fresh.
Those most important step a man can take. It's not the first one, is it? It's the next one. Always the next step, Dalinar.
After I binged on the Cosmere books in 2017 I thought I had all of the pieces and players in line. That only lasts as long as it takes to read theories and explanations on a fan site like 17th Shard or Coppermind. I know who Odium is, and after a few minutes of research I wonder if I've read the same book as everyone else. This is frustrating but also what makes this series so amazing. There are numerous levels a reader can enjoy the book and Sanderson has built a universe that is accessible for casual to hard core readers alike.
Some days I feel like Taravangian and not fit to read or understand the Cosmere, and other days I feel like I can tackle it all.
Rhythm of War doesn't come out for a few weeks so now I will bide my time waiting for Dawnshard to be released, and after that I will start on the tor.com early release chapters in advance of November 17, 2020. What a great few months this re-read has been!
Original 2017 review
You mostly failed. That is life. The longer you live, the more you fail. Failure is the mark of a life well lived. In turn, the only way to live without failure is to be of no use to anyone.
Oathbringer is huge, both in page count and story. There are multiple story lines weaved in to this book that characters and events from Book One or Book Two of Oathbringer feel like they are from a different book entirely.
Oathbringer doesn’t focus on one location and each location comes with new characters, scribes, attendants and names that it can be a challenge to keep everyone in order. As I reached the end of the book I would come across a name and not remember if they were from earlier in Oathbringer or from an Interlude chapter in Way of Kings or Words of Radiance.
I am no god, Dalinar Kholin. No more than your shadow on the wall is you.
I had a similar problem with Way of Kings on my first read but the re-read kept everything in order, and I’m sure that will be the case this time on re-reading Oathbringer…but it may not matter because a lot happens in this story. The story explodes in all directions and as you work through Dalinar’s flashbacks you are accelerating the story in present time and the world opened up. I feel like Way of Kings and Words of Radiance are novella’s in comparison to the scope and scale that comes with Oathbringer.
Find the balance. Accept the pain, but don’t accept that you deserved it.
Because of the scale in the book it was a little difficult to keep everything in line. The book consumed my life for two weeks but I found that I wasn’t sure if I was missing a plot detail because Sanderson withheld it intentionally, a character was unfamiliar to me, or I was not absorbing the story correctly, or it was a combination of all three.
The next part of my review will contain spoilers...
He was not a man. He was judgement.
The biggest moment in the book for me can be summed up in three words: Daliner, Rift and Evi.
Those two back to back flashback chapters (around the 60% mark) were incredibly well done. I felt the Thrill with Daliner as he laid waste to the Rift and exacted his revenge. I cheered alongside him as the Blackthorn was an unstoppable force. Then, in a matter of pages, the story flipped over and I grieved alongside Daliner too. I had to stop my reading for the day after these chapters because of the emotional rollercoaster I was put through.
The pace at which Squires or Radiants were identified was a challenge to keep together. The scope moved beyond Bridge Four and covered all of Roshar, and this was demanding for me. You attracted a spren, you said your Words and you get to be a Surgebinder. Every few chapters it was like “oh, another one”.
“Welcome to war, Evi” Dalinar said, heading toward the door. “There are no unequivocal wins. Just victories that leave fewer of your friends dead than others.”
The story had great revelations and what I thought would happen in later books (ie: battling with Odium) happened now. I have no idea how the story can continue for seven more books, but if they keep expanding scope like it did in Oathbringer it will be a lot to stay on top of.
I liked how the Thrill has been a background topic for the previous books and then became more discussed in Oathbringer only to realize that it was controlled by Odium. The reveal of the humans being the Voidbringers was an exceptionally nice twist too and brings up a lot of questions about conquering or being conquered.
If stone met a man, stone might win – but if stone met humanity, then no force could preserve it.
Rating this book is a challenge because I felt that I was lost in the plot and I don’t know if that was my fault or intentionally done. The story is an excellent addition to the Stormlight series and is evidence that this is Sanderson's opus.
Yet, struggling to keep the story straight was a challenge. Making the story less complex would not benefit the series but it is frustrating not knowing if a missed details is my fault or intentional, and with years to wait for the next instalment I may not know that answer for a book or more.
The pacing was excellent and with multiple POV there was always a surprise or excitement around the corner. With respect to Cosmere you realize how complex the universe is and how much Sanderson has yet to reveal.
I will re-read this book multiple times and that's a sign of a good book so even with what gaps I have in understanding everything this deserves five stars because of what Sanderson is crafting and building towards.
Plot, people, timeline, worldbuilding, all come together in this book like teeth, and gobble down your time. Huge book, a delight to read, never felt slow, had me on the edge of my seat. Great use of expected, traditional fantasy tropes with fresh, interesting outcomes.
This book takes Dalinar Kholin from "a good character" to easily my favorite character in the series so far. Oathbringer reveals Dalinar's deepest flaws and delivers some gut wrenching, tear jerking scenes while doing it. Brandon doesn't pull any punches here in showing the people of Roshar living the human (and listener, I guess) condition, while keeping the action interesting and subverting some expectations along the way.
третя книжка серії тягнеться нескінченно. вже літають всі, вже ті чарівні мечі в кожного... а все ніяк ворожнеча не здається =) автора вистачило на дві книжки, третю висмоктано з пальця, нмсд.
This one's the best yet in the series, and while I still have some reservations about how interested I actually am in his larger Cosmere, I'm pretty pleased with his characters and worldbuilding. I'm looking forward to the next book.
Finally! It took a while to get back into it, but the last half was thrilling. Can't wait until the next one
Awmazing book, I hope Im still alive by the time the make these books into film with a GoT quality to the whole set, it will be an absolutely stunning visualisation ! Now time to go into hibernation awaiting the 4th book, I cant wait!
Superb. Sanderson forged this story like a sword: balanced. The "I knew that would happen" moments and the "I did not see that coming" moments fade and advance in perfect harmony. I still enjoy the characters. Now the wait begins for the next installment.
Look, I'm an emotional guy; especially as I've gotten older I cry at the drop of a hat at movies, shows, that They Lived Subaru commercial, a good song, memories, all of it.
But never until the Stormlight Archive have I understood--EXPERIENCED--why people cry over books. Never have I openly sobbed at the beauty of redemption, and forgiveness, and grace, and honor.
This book is the most important step a man can take, and that is all I can say about it.
It's still great. Some parts are super fantastic.
The first two books had excellent structure: they weaved multiple stories together in great harmony, each chapter building up toward some overall goal. I think Oathbringer has less of a structure like that. There is of course a lot of plot and a lot of character development. But we also get a letter of a huge info-dump at some point, and there are long treks through relatively familiar territory that lack the intensity I got used to in the first two volumes.
And the trek through Shadesmar? I was dying to know more about Shadesmar! When we finally spend more than a few seconds there, it's all just a long hike with a bit of hitting some guys with sticks.
I think pacing issues and a weaker focus are acceptable in the 3rd volume of a 10-book epic. The plot is still …
It's still great. Some parts are super fantastic.
The first two books had excellent structure: they weaved multiple stories together in great harmony, each chapter building up toward some overall goal. I think Oathbringer has less of a structure like that. There is of course a lot of plot and a lot of character development. But we also get a letter of a huge info-dump at some point, and there are long treks through relatively familiar territory that lack the intensity I got used to in the first two volumes.
And the trek through Shadesmar? I was dying to know more about Shadesmar! When we finally spend more than a few seconds there, it's all just a long hike with a bit of hitting some guys with sticks.
I think pacing issues and a weaker focus are acceptable in the 3rd volume of a 10-book epic. The plot is still moving fast and there are a lot of surprising reveals. If you compare the real world to the world of these books, the real world seems to have barely anything happening in it. Sure, human history has had some twists and turns, but nothing like what goes on in here. Sanderson's vision is far from being realized in full, but already true fans can easily have more information on the Cosmere than on reality. Lose yourself in coppermind.net/ if you like.
Being a third volume, Sanderson can rightly assume that everybody already loves all the characters. This means he can have some fun with them. I'm surprised how well the humor works. It's like he can just think "let's add a joke here to lighten the mood" and come up with a joke that actually works.
Anyway, when is the next book coming out? Oh right, I have to read [b:Elantris|68427|Elantris (Elantris, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475740953s/68427.jpg|2908871], [b:Warbreaker|1268479|Warbreaker (Warbreaker, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1240256182s/1268479.jpg|1257385], [b:The Emperor's Soul|13578175|The Emperor's Soul|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1343059311s/13578175.jpg|19161502], and [b:Edgedancer|34703445|Edgedancer (The Stormlight Archive #2.5)|Brandon Sanderson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499706661s/34703445.jpg|54097500] in the meanwhile, right? Seriously this guy writes faster than I can read. (Not complaining.)
An amazing book, and unquestionably epic. OB had everything: character growth, worldbuilding, heartbreak, spectacle. Once the plot geared itself into motion it hurdled towards the end. There's something special about the way Sanderson writes that the end product is so spectacularly satisfying. Everything just clicks together so well as if the story could only have concluded the way that it did. Despite that, it's not overly predictable.
I feel that, despite his huge success, Sanderson doesn't really get the credit due to him in some circles of fantasy readers compared to more "adult" writers with a grittier style. However, I think this is a disservice to the work he's done both to develop his characters and to evaluate and work with stereotypes of the genre. Despite building towards a war of mythic proportions, he's really undermined what I think of as the Dark Lord or Orc problem. There are no …
An amazing book, and unquestionably epic. OB had everything: character growth, worldbuilding, heartbreak, spectacle. Once the plot geared itself into motion it hurdled towards the end. There's something special about the way Sanderson writes that the end product is so spectacularly satisfying. Everything just clicks together so well as if the story could only have concluded the way that it did. Despite that, it's not overly predictable.
I feel that, despite his huge success, Sanderson doesn't really get the credit due to him in some circles of fantasy readers compared to more "adult" writers with a grittier style. However, I think this is a disservice to the work he's done both to develop his characters and to evaluate and work with stereotypes of the genre. Despite building towards a war of mythic proportions, he's really undermined what I think of as the Dark Lord or Orc problem. There are no fundamentally evil people, bar perhaps Odium or Amaram, but varying perspectives and narratives that we receive through the characters. Moreover, this variety of experience and emotional development has been translated into the developing stories of our main cast in SA (imo): Shallan, Kaladin, and Dalinar. I've found Shallan to be one of the more annoying characters, and did not look forward to reading another of her chapters in WoR (or a Veil chapter), but she really came into her own in OB. The long arc of her character has bent towards progress in a satisfying way, and it felt good for her to make the personal breakthroughs she needed. Similarly, as much as I wanted Kaladin to make breakthroughs of his own, it made sense that he was not emotionally ready to take the next step.
It was a little too long though (heresy, I know). It could have been shortened a little I think in the first half, around Urithiru, and the journey through Shadesmar. I still blitzed through the book over my Thanksgiving break, and it really did start to pick up and soar after the first half, but it could have been tighter. The dialogue scenes are still the weakest: characters with affected language (Rock, Lopen) are manageable, but it's the Shallan scenes that are more difficult. The jokes don't land - they're a little too wink wink nod nod, which is a shame because I think Sanderson could write more naturalistic dialogue (though he should probably stay away from the flirty). There were also some places were I felt that the dialogue was a little too loose or slangy and it drew me out a bit. Lift is one of the big culprits here.
