Kaladin murmuring: “I couldn’t save them!”
Shallan sobbing: “I can’t! It’s too dark!”
Navani moping: “I’m not worthy. Not a scholar.”
Venli whining: “How could they forgive me?”
..Timbre Pulsed.
This book was a weepy, uneventful sob fest, as each character could only weep or sob or whine or cry about anything and everything in their past and present. I was so utterly disappointed with this one!
I normally love these characters! I love this series! I love most of Sanderson’s writing. But this book was unlike anything of his that I have read before. It seems that Sanderson was trying to make a statement and raise awareness about mental health in this book. I do truly think this is a worthy cause, and I appreciate him giving homage to the community who struggles with mental health and their loved ones.
However, when nearly every character (literally) in a book is dealing with mental health issues, it doesn’t exactly make for an enjoyable read..
My other problem was simply how incredibly slow this novel was. The first few hundred pages of the book were mildly entertaining (- although not much was happening in the full scope of the story, and the common characters story arch’s were just starting to falter back toward their old issues from the first book or two.) However, from about 500 pages in, to 1100 pages, nothing.. literally nothing, happened for 600 pages (except almost every character wrestling in their thought lives with depression and their past or present regrets). It was frankly a massive psychological pity party to rival all pity parties. If I was not so invested already in the series I would have dropped it.
[Some readers may consider this paragraph to have some extremely mild – very minute spoilers]
The last 100 pages of the book finally pick up (at last!!!), and are a somewhat enjoyable read, although they are interspersed with some psychological whimpers and finally some long overdue bursts through the big emotional walls that Sanderson erected all book long. However I disliked that Lopen, and especially Teft didn’t get more ‘air time’ in the book. We just didn’t see much of either of them throughout (not to mention Rock not having any, and even Dalinar not having much space in the book as a whole). Also – why O why was the character Venli given so much of the real-estate in the book? I think half of this entire book is about Venli (who is honestly a mopy, annoying character – the worst character in the book IMO). Then also, I hated the scenario near the end with Odium & Taravangian. It was just bizarre. I thought it happened way too quick and weirdly alters the storyline in huge ways. The plasticity of godhood in the book I also just find weird.
Although I do ultimately like the series, I didn’t enjoy this book at all. So this one unfortunately I’m giving just 2 stars.
Though I will read the final volume in the series, I really hope Sanderson goes back to his previous writing and story style for the next one. Maybe he was just doing too much to really focus on this book in the year it was released. I’m amazed at how much he is able to release each year – and maybe he just went too big too fast alongside this one. Hoping the next is better! (And that I never have to read about Venli moping… or Timbre Pulsing, again.)
Stumblingstone Press 