original hot take Okay fine I’ll give it a 5 although I have to go back and rebase across the works.
In other news, 3am reading indicates lessons of adulthood never learned.
Longer review I don’t think this actually is a five star for me, I think if I had to go back and think through the books it would be:
Way of Kings 4*
Words of Radiance 5*
Oathbringer 4*
Rhythm of War 5*
Wind and Truth 4*
There’s too much that went on in this book to warrant any sort of summary of what’s going on. If you’re like me, and your brain is a greedy little dragon that grabs plot strands like handfuls of sand, then you’ll be well suited to grab a recap (or five) when the next book comes out half a decade (!) from now. I’ll note that it’s been barely two months and I’m having some trouble remembering the details of how we ended up, although I do have flashes of a handful of endings and how they stuck with me.
So maybe worth a note as to why I pushed this back down to a four after some further thought–basically, it boils down to my dislike of the way everything shakes out here. Todium makes for a good villain, but set up as he was with almost no real flaws, it made it hard to see a way out that felt earned. And so the ending we did get, while sensible, felt like the wrong ending emotionally speaking. Although this is really just the first half of a longer story, and maybe I’ll feel differently the second time around.
I’m also incredibly sad about the splitting up of our main characters, even though it’s only logical that they would pursue their individual journeys. Keeping Kaladin away from the main actions seems almost cruel, even though I understand that it’s part of his journey and he needs time to heal (and, in fact, one could argue that TSA has been only long iteration of one my favorite meta-ur-tropes, the Chosen One who is, in fact, not the Chosen One) (that’s absolutely right, isn’t it) (well, no one ever said I was the sharpest tool in the shed).
But getting more Adolin/Shallan goodness, along with Pattern, almost makes up for it. Nothing has been as good as the development of Adolin from a pretty himbo to a himbo who cares, and I am here for every minute of it. I hope one day Shallan meets Steris, and they both enjoy their characterization by Sanderson–strong, flawed women who develop and grow as humans and not just as +1s to their lead men. In my mind they have a great time chilling together.
So end of day, the change in rating is not me saying I disliked this book! Hearing the Windrunner ideals spoken, in ways that work for the Knight, always gets to me. To hear self-care be thus elevated brings literal tears to my eyes, still. The entire series is a work of art, and I cannot be happier to have finally dived in and finished it (for now).