If it weren’t for how much I liked the first book this would probably be my favorite–there’s so much character development and arc payoff in this book, and genuine surprise at some of the twists and conclusions. It took me about a week to read The Way of Kings whilst also working, and I assumed this would be similar so I started it while on the way to Brussels for a work trip. Somehow, despite having to go into an office and do work there and talk to people (and find a gift for my boss, a whole other story), I finished all of this in a few days. So started a new tradition, of starting these Sanderbricks and not being able to do anything else until I was finished.
We’re still mainly focused on the smaller battle in this book–although Dalinar has a sense that there’s Big Things afoot, the main goal is to defeat the Parshendi once and for all and stop the endless back and forth that marks every classic war of attrition. With all of our main characters in the same place (hi Shallan! or Shallans!) we can have them bounce off of one another in interesting/humorous/tension-filled ways. Knowing what I know now of characters from later books, it’s fun to remember how they got to where they are now (f*** one of them, you know who you are).
But at the end of this book, we’re in a weird place–it seems like we’ve moved into a larger realm, but it’s UTTERLY unclear what that means and how it’ll play out. Reflecting now, I have more compassion for Oathbringer, although I maintain that the pacing could be better.