Hmm okay this can be a four star review, except that I do think that it dragged a bit in the middle and put it down (!!!) a handful of times, including once quite near the end to see whether I could get my hands on the next book in short order (as it turns out yes, I can) (thank you public libraries!).
I noted this in my recent White Sands review, but this book has the turn towards the “okay, diplomacy and talking might be as if not more important than poking at things with pointy sticks” part of the epic. And honestly, it’s all very realistic but compared to Kaladin’s hero’s redemption arc there’s only so much emotional wringing one can get out of watching someone go through artificially enhanced PTSD, right? And not one, not two, but maybe three(?) or four(?) councils of monarchs? Whenever a book or series does this, I’m always reminded of Attack of the Clones, wherein the main plot conflict is over trade regulations and federations, but as an adult it actually is quite earth shaking to watch separatists pull away from the experiment that is democracy and know that it’s a lot more damaging than it appears.
There’s a funny back and forth between obscure, high magic and the banal in these books that I enjoy as well. Heralds are these immortal beings of great power…but some of them are just loitering around Roshar, or at least people suspect they are? The highstorms are destructive hurricanes and also have strong sulking teenager spren vibes? It works well, don’t get me wrong, but every so often I end up feeling like a Big Reveal couldn’t possibly be what I think it is because it just…happened. One Herald (Naln) has just been bopping around for the past 4500 years, getting writs of execution to deal with criminals? (view spoiler)
As noted above, I did immediately go to the library and check out both Dawnshard and Rhythm of War, so I’m not complaining too much. And peeking through my fingers at chatter online, it seems like this book does have the unenviable task of setting up the last two, which form the first five-book part of the eventual ten-book Stormlight series. It seems like I waited off until the fifth of the five were out before starting, but truly I did not–if any author has my confidence in finishing off a series, it’s Sanderson, and now that I’m on this train I’m excited to have some books slotted away through…2035, say? When who knows if paper from trees will even exist anymore!