Those of you who regularly stop by the reviews section of Amazing Stories and my own personal blog may remember the write-ups I completed on Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Series, a rather engaging set of adventures stretching over 300 years that detail the exploits of Allomancers on the world of Scadrial.
Remember, Allomancers are people with the ability to ingest certain metals, from which they gain enhanced speed, strength, and other powers. Those powers exist, thanks to the existence of two opposing gods, Preservation and Ruin, who strive to counter each other in a never-ending struggle for dominance.
I mention this, because that series also reveals Preservation and Ruin are, in fact, only 2 of 16 opposing creational forces or intents – Shards – which came into existence with the shattering of Adonalsium, the original Supreme Being. Those shards are bound in pairs, and though they bear an aspect of Adonalsium’s original nature, each pair stand divorced from their opposite number while vying for control within the greater Cosmere.
In a nutshell, what this means is that each fantasy series Sanderson has created is not only an adventure within itself, buuut, it’s also part of a much greater whole. There are eight worlds out there, just waiting to be explored, and many of which haven’t had their story told yet.
Therefore, having enjoyed Mistborn so much, I thought I’d dip my toe into the Stormlight Archive, and the opposing Shards contesting for domination of the world of Roshar: Odium and Honor.
So far, I’ve only delved into the first three of ten proposed books: The Way of Kings; Words of Radiance, and a short novella – Edgedancer). So, I’ll précis each of those in turn.
And remember, though I may divulge certain aspects of the story, I’ll try not to spoil anything major, The Stormlight Archives are a real treat you’ll want to get your teeth into.
The Way of Kings.
This novel is a worthy tome of more than 1200 pages – just the thing for an epic fantasy enthusiast – which presents an ambitious story arc through a leapfrogging series of preludes, parts, and prologues. A clever idea, as the foundations to thousands of years of history are laid out for us in a manner that helps us appreciate the scope of what Sanderson is trying to achieve, as well as introducing us to one of the key players: Szeth-son-son-Vallano. An assassin blessed with uncanny powers, Szeth is sent to take the life of one of the most influential kings of Roshar, Gavilar Kholin.
Once those opening chapters conclude, we find ourselves straight into the ‘here-and-now’ and begin meeting our main protagonists. Kalidan, a young soldier with an uncanny knack for staying alive; Dalinar, a High Price and brother to a murdered king; and Shallan, an insecure young woman with a secret who is desperately trying to become the ward of Jasnah Kholin.
Their back-stories are seeded throughout the narrative, allowing you to gain a better understanding of just who they are, and why each feels driven to succeed.
Along the way, we also gain a deeper insight of the unsettled and conflicting religious and political situation, and discover more about the magic system employed in different ways by the various nations of Roshar. A system based on stormlight trapped in gems that are replenished during each highstorm.
We also find out a little bit about shardblades, shardplate and surgebinding, along with ethereal spirits of the higher and lower planes – spren – who seem drawn to the emotions given off by people as they contend with the ups and downs of their daily lives.
Through this, we begin to get a better understanding of what Szeth-son-son-Vallano might be, and just who it is that sent him.
All in all, a somewhat slow-ish and methodical start. Nonetheless, be grateful for that, as there’s a lot to contend with. Regardless, you don’t lose track of those developments and begin to build a better picture in your mind of what’s going on.
For example, we find out that the kingdom of Alethkar – of which the Kholin’s are the royal family – are at war with the Parshendi, a reclusive tribespeople who live in the shattered hills. A place filled with uncut gems, coveted by the people of Roshar and their magic users.
In itself, that seems a bit of a contradiction, as the ‘cousins’ of the Parshendi – the parshmen – are used by the various nations of Roshar as slaves, for they are a slow and subservient race . . .
Or at least, they should be?
If that wasn’t enough to tweak your suspicions, we discover that both Shallan and Kaladin begin to suffer from sporadic outbreaks, during which they display uncanny abilities. Abilities that haven’t existed since the time of the Heralds and Radiants, thousands of years ago.
For his part, Dalinar, starts seeing things every time there’s a highstorm. But is he just crazy, or do those visions have a defined origin?
It is as the complex relationship between the various nations and factions come to light, that we begin to get a sense of the two opposing forces maneuvering events behind the scenes, though at this stage, it’s not clear as to what, exactly, they are hoping to achieve or how.
Regardless, the trials and tribulations our heroes, heroines and villains face as they follow their individual paths reveal a pattern. That pattern is intriguing enough to hook your interest and keep you guessing.
Sanderson plays to that, ensuring to vary the pace and action – dependent upon the situation – which nigh-on guarantees you’ll stay ‘for just one more chapter.’ He also put a great deal of thought into the flora and fauna you might find in a world ravaged by highstorms. Another clever ploy, as adding such a subtle sense of realism allows you to better connect to Roshar in your mind. Additionally, Sanderson isn’t afraid to sprinkle breadcrumbs throughout the narrative, none of which are too obvious, but which nevertheless help you to glimpse the ever-evolving bigger picture.
(CLUE: The hints he gives regarding the shardblades, spren, and Shattered Plains are particularly worth remembering).
They, together with a good-old dose of bittersweet upheaval at the end of the first book, create an overall sense of anticipation for what’s coming. So much so, that The Way of Kings never gets to feel laborious, despite its length.
Words of Radiance
The action really ramps up in this second, 1087-page offering.
***Possible spoiler alerts***
You have been warned!
I DO enjoy stories where everything doesn’t go ‘according to plan’, and in this book, some of the most distinctive – and I must say, jaw dropping – scenes take place at the beginning. For one thing, the ship carrying Shallan to the Shattered Plains is attacked early on, resulting in the death of everyone aboard except for Shallan herself.
With Jasnah out of the way, Shallan is forced to rely on her own ingenuity and fortitude, and continue alone. She does so with surprising alacrity, no doubt spurred on by the profound belief that the only way she might be able to prevent the return of the Voidbringers and the foretold Desolation is by discovering the location of the ancient city of Urithiru. The trouble is, she stumbles into a kingdom-spanning conspiracy, manipulated by a secret society called the Ghostbloods. A society, it transpires, who have had their eye on her family for years. . .
In the meantime, Kaladin has become commander of the royal bodyguards. Tasked, initially, with protecting Highprince Dalinar and his two sons Adolin and Renarin, he faces an uphill struggle, for Dalinar is now a prime target of none other than Szeth-son-son-Vallano, the infamous Assassin in White. And Szeth has been a busy boy, slaying kings from one end of Roshar to the other with apparent ease. Kaladin also battles to overcome his own inner demons, which, in turn, hampers the development of his own emerging powers. Powers that he endeavors to keep under wraps . . . for now.
Dalinar, meanwhile, struggles to interpret increasingly intrusive, and disturbingly detailed and realistic visions. Visions that seem to be urging him to unite the divided nations of Roshar under one banner. Little wonder that people think him crazy, especially among the court, where his credibility begins to suffer.
And then there’s the King’s jester, Wit. A clown as deliciously unfiltered as he is profoundly cryptic. But who is this fearlessly outspoken man, who seems to carry the weight – and wisdom – of ages behind such a brash façade, and who delights in taking just about everyone he meets, Highprince and pauper alike, down a peg or two. . .
Everyone that is, except for Dalinar Kholin, Kalidan and Shallan. Coincidence or clue?
While you ponder on that, the story progresses, and Shallan, Kaladin and Dalinar eventually come together on the shattered plains.
Shallan catches the eye of Dalinar’s son, Adolin, and the two become engaged. That leads to some very entertaining exchanges between the couple – and Kaladin – which Sanderson capitalizes on when Shallan and Kaladin are faced with a life threatening situation, yet put most of their efforts into concealing their emerging abilities from one another.
In the meantime, Dalinar manages to broker a fragile peace between the warring factions and the Parshendi, whose society, it transpires, is far more complex than anyone could imagine. So complex, in fact, that the truth has been right under their noses all along. The Parshendi are capable of adopting different forms to suit their environment: warform; workerform; slaveform; mateform, etc.
And they’ve recently rediscovered how to adopt their most powerful guise, that of the Voidbringer, minions of Odium, the dark and hateful Shard of Adonalsium.
And if this revelation isn’t enough to make you catch your breath, then Sanderson ensures to end this particular book with a flourish. The Parshendi, as Voidbringers, seek to bring back the Everstorm, a tempest that makes highstorms feel like a stiff breeze in comparison, and which flow contrary to the world’s natural weather systems. Worse still, the Everstorm heralds the advent of a desolation that could end all life, so, needless to say, the Parshendi initiate one hell of a battle, trying to get a head start in bringing on Armageddon.
It’s as this battle is underway that Dalinar uncovers one of the ancient Oathgates – portals connecting each of the major cities of Roshar and used by the Knights Radiant of old – which paves the way to the celestial city of Urithiru, the only place on Roshar from where mankind might be able to fight back against the coming calamity.
If that wasn’t enough to keep you riveted, we’re also presented with the inevitable clash between Kaladin and Szeth-son-son-Vallano. And what a fight it is.
And then, just when you think it’s all over, Sanderson hits us with a major twist. (But you’ll have to find that particular nugget out for yourselves when you read the book). Rest assured, it’s a corker!
All in all, Words of Radiance is an absolutely superb adventure. The pace really gets going in this second volume, with plenty of swords and sorcery, politicking, action, ups & downs, revelations & misdirection. A great read, especially with that spicy twist I mentioned at the end. . .
Bringing us to the novella: Edgedancer.
Edgedancer
Fans of Brandon Sanderson will have no doubt noticed the detail he goes into when creating his characters, and of the fundamental attribute that motivates them. With Kalidan, it’s the trials and tribulations he’s endured, along with an overwhelming hatred of lighteyes. Dalinar is an over-thinker, while his eldest son, Adolin, is impulsive. Shallan has a tendency to vacillate, or resort to sarcasm as a defensive measure, and Szeth-son-son-Vallano is haunted by his past.
Even the sub-characters seem to get an impressive history, as evidenced by our main protagonist and antagonist in this separate story, Lift and Nale.
Nevertheless, I was still a little confused as to why they were introduced in their own novella, until I read the postscript at the end of Edgedancer, in which Sanderson gives a little explanation. Basically, Lift and Nale are set to be major players. Buuut, with an overall story arc so impressively huge, he thought it important to show you the people they once were, so to speak, before we see them as they appear in Oathbringer, the third main novel (Which I’m halfway through at the moment).
Get the point? Both Lift and Nale have complicated backgrounds. So much so, that Sanderson devised their own back-story – in context with the larger Archives – to show you how they used to be; what it was that put them on the path to enlightenment; and how they’re prompted to remain focused on their individual goals as they grow.
As I mentioned above, I’ve just started to ‘meet’ their characters again in Oathbringer. And because I already knew something of their history and motivations, they immediately ‘slotted’ into the framework of the story itself. So kudos to Sanderson for doing that, as he’s thought ahead and taken steps to ensure everything fits as snugly as possible into such an immense orchestration.
While I won’t go into the contents of Edgedancer itself, I will reveal the most interesting facets on that story. Lift gets to meet Szeth-son-son-Vallano, (and no, he’s not dead), where they become familiar with each other’s abilities. We get to meet an actual Herald too, and one of the Sleepless, all of whom I have no doubt will play much greater roles as the Archives develop.
Better still, we get to see how Lift engages with her spren, Wyndle, and just how versatile such a bonding can be.
So, to sum up. . .
The opening books of the Stormlight Archive are epic in every sense of the word. Ambitious, too, with a world full of bizarre plants and animals that have adapted to endure the freakish weather that makes Roshar such a compelling place to try and conjure in your mind. Swords and sorcery. Spirits and demons. A thoroughly believable magic system. Forgotten histories that hold the key to surviving the future. Smokescreens and red-herrings to keep you guessing. It has them all, and serves as an excellent example of what high fantasy is all about.
I look forward to bringing you more news as I complete the next two books in the series: Oathbringer, and Rhythm of War.
Until then, do yourselves a favor. Buy these books, and most of all. . .
happy reading.
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