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A review by mayajoelle
Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
Had many thoughts. Will reread someday.
POSITIVES
➼ KALADIN. His arc in this book was perfection. Seriously. I don't have depression (at least not diagnosed) but I 100% struggle with... being okay. Around other people. Trusting that it's worth it. And so Kaladin's arc and struggles in this book were so relatable, so realistic, and I just loved it. He wasn't nearly as major in ROW as in previous books, but I was okay with that. It was enough, to see him growing and failing and getting back up. Also, the scene with Wit?? the story!? I cannot explain how much I love it.
➼ SHALLAN. For the first two thirds of the book I did *not* like Shallan's sections, just because I find it hard to follow her constantly switching personalities, but it worked out. She retains her spot as my official second favorite Stormlight charrie. The choices she makes... the lies she has to confront... I thought it was crazy in book two, but that was normal compared to the things she deals with here. And she is STRONG and LOVED. *squeals*
➼ VENLI. I didn't expect her to be such a major character -- in fact I rather hated her when she was in the earlier books -- but her growth here was such a delight to read, and there were multiple "I knew it!!" moments. (I also quite liked Leshwi and Raboniel. Though it did get confusing with so many singer/Fused women who were simultaneously plotting against the humans yet still liking them and hoping they succeeded.)
➼ NAVANI (+ the Sibling). Okay. From the prologue I knew I would love Navani in this book, but she just kept getting better and better, stronger, more awesome, everything. And I predicted a certain thing happening pretty early on. My family is used to me by now but I think they were a bit annoyed when I screeched "yess!!! I predicted that! oh my oh my it's so amazing!" xD
➼ WIT. How could I not love Wit. He's so funny, so wise, so unpredictable. Him and Jasnah's relationship was... interesting, but other than that, I have nothing bad to say about him. The scene with Kaladin and Design in the storm was absolutely so Wit and so incredible. And I love how all these characters (probably mostly worldhoppers?) hear of/about Wit and they're like "oh. That dude. The annoying guy who refused to be a god... ugh..." And so I need Wit's story now, please. Also the epilogue? Anyone else so, so scared now? (The quote I chose for him ↓ is one of the reasons I can't help but imagine Tom Hiddleston playing him now.)
➼ TARAVANGIAN. Is it weird that I still like him? I feel so, so sorry for him. Please let him have a redemption arc...
➼ MAYA!! She has the same name as me and she does some very helpful things. I don't want to say anything else because it's all seriously spoilery.
➼ THE MUSIC/MATH/LIGHT... stuff. I'm not sure the proper word for this but I love how the magic in this world makes sense in an almost scientific way. Like, it wouldn't work in our world, but if I lived there it would make sense to me and be measurable, whereas most fantasy books just say "it's magic, duh" and there's no other explanation.
➼ I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD SOME OF THE WORLD!! This was a truly great thing, friends. I started to keep the Voidbringers, Fused, Regals, singers, and listeners (somewhat) straight in my head. I started to understand Shadesmar and the spren (Shallan's drawings helped). I understood so, so much more than before, and it was very helpful.
➼ THE ENDING. Sure, it was terrible, and I can't wait for the next book, but goodness it was so good.
NEGATIVES
➼ THE WHOLE MIDDLE SECTION. Part three is basically devoid of Shallan and Adolin, and that was not all right. I missed them so much. Everything continued to get more confusing and more terrible, with no end in sight, no good things, and I had a very hard time reading.
➼ THE "BREATHS" (and other references to different cosmere books). After reading the other 3 books, I found out that Wit uses Allomancy at one point, and I had to reread them very carefully to find it. I had no clue. In this one, though, the other-book references were much more blatant -- Zahel and Wit kept talking about their Breaths, among other things -- and I realized that I maybe should have read some of said other books before tackling ROW. But oh well. I'll get to them before book 5 (I have plenty of time, after all).
➼ ALLL THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. I expected this, but I didn't like it.
➼ I honestly can't think of anything else?? This book was so good.
---
original reaction:
About halfway through I almost thought I wouldn't like it, but. That ending. I loved it.
I'm probably going to review this tomorrow when I'm less emotionally exhausted and exhilarated (yes, it's possible to be both at once), but if I don't, the short version is that it was very good, though the middle dragged, and I am internally screaming (well, sometimes externally) because VENLI!! And Kaladin! And Navani! And Shallan (oh my goodness SHALLAN you guyssss)!!
This book wrecked me in the best way and I don't know how I'm gonna wait for 2.5 years for the next one? Seriously. someone get me a time machine please.
Spoiler
POSITIVES
➼ KALADIN. His arc in this book was perfection. Seriously. I don't have depression (at least not diagnosed) but I 100% struggle with... being okay. Around other people. Trusting that it's worth it. And so Kaladin's arc and struggles in this book were so relatable, so realistic, and I just loved it. He wasn't nearly as major in ROW as in previous books, but I was okay with that. It was enough, to see him growing and failing and getting back up. Also, the scene with Wit?? the story!? I cannot explain how much I love it.
I accept it, Stormfather! I accept that there will be those I cannot protect!
➼ SHALLAN. For the first two thirds of the book I did *not* like Shallan's sections, just because I find it hard to follow her constantly switching personalities, but it worked out. She retains her spot as my official second favorite Stormlight charrie. The choices she makes... the lies she has to confront... I thought it was crazy in book two, but that was normal compared to the things she deals with here. And she is STRONG and LOVED. *squeals*
But that escape wasn't strength. This was strength. She closed her eyes, bearing the burden of those memories.
➼ VENLI. I didn't expect her to be such a major character -- in fact I rather hated her when she was in the earlier books -- but her growth here was such a delight to read, and there were multiple "I knew it!!" moments. (I also quite liked Leshwi and Raboniel. Though it did get confusing with so many singer/Fused women who were simultaneously plotting against the humans yet still liking them and hoping they succeeded.)
Your words, Venli, are now accepted.
➼ NAVANI (+ the Sibling). Okay. From the prologue I knew I would love Navani in this book, but she just kept getting better and better, stronger, more awesome, everything. And I predicted a certain thing happening pretty early on. My family is used to me by now but I think they were a bit annoyed when I screeched "yess!!! I predicted that! oh my oh my it's so amazing!" xD
Then, a pure song. Rising up from within her. Orderly, powerful. Had she done harm without realizing it? Possibly. Had she made mistakes? Certainly. But she'd been trying to help. That was her journey.
➼ WIT. How could I not love Wit. He's so funny, so wise, so unpredictable. Him and Jasnah's relationship was... interesting, but other than that, I have nothing bad to say about him. The scene with Kaladin and Design in the storm was absolutely so Wit and so incredible. And I love how all these characters (probably mostly worldhoppers?) hear of/about Wit and they're like "oh. That dude. The annoying guy who refused to be a god... ugh..." And so I need Wit's story now, please. Also the epilogue? Anyone else so, so scared now? (The quote I chose for him ↓ is one of the reasons I can't help but imagine Tom Hiddleston playing him now.)
It will [get worse], but then it will get better. Then it will get worse again. Then better. This is life, and I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. That is truth. I promise you...You will be warm again.
➼ TARAVANGIAN. Is it weird that I still like him? I feel so, so sorry for him. Please let him have a redemption arc...
➼ MAYA!! She has the same name as me and she does some very helpful things. I don't want to say anything else because it's all seriously spoilery.
We... We chose... We chose. Adolin, we chose. You. Cannot. Have. My. SACRIFICE! Mine. My sacrifice. Not yours. Not theirs. Not his. Mine. MY SACRIFICE. We chose. WE CHOSE.
➼ THE MUSIC/MATH/LIGHT... stuff. I'm not sure the proper word for this but I love how the magic in this world makes sense in an almost scientific way. Like, it wouldn't work in our world, but if I lived there it would make sense to me and be measurable, whereas most fantasy books just say "it's magic, duh" and there's no other explanation.
➼ I FINALLY UNDERSTOOD SOME OF THE WORLD!! This was a truly great thing, friends. I started to keep the Voidbringers, Fused, Regals, singers, and listeners (somewhat) straight in my head. I started to understand Shadesmar and the spren (Shallan's drawings helped). I understood so, so much more than before, and it was very helpful.
➼ THE ENDING. Sure, it was terrible, and I can't wait for the next book, but goodness it was so good.
NEGATIVES
➼ THE WHOLE MIDDLE SECTION. Part three is basically devoid of Shallan and Adolin, and that was not all right. I missed them so much. Everything continued to get more confusing and more terrible, with no end in sight, no good things, and I had a very hard time reading.
➼ THE "BREATHS" (and other references to different cosmere books). After reading the other 3 books, I found out that Wit uses Allomancy at one point, and I had to reread them very carefully to find it. I had no clue. In this one, though, the other-book references were much more blatant -- Zahel and Wit kept talking about their Breaths, among other things -- and I realized that I maybe should have read some of said other books before tackling ROW. But oh well. I'll get to them before book 5 (I have plenty of time, after all).
➼ ALLL THE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. I expected this, but I didn't like it.
➼ I honestly can't think of anything else?? This book was so good.
She attuned the rhythm. The Rhythm of War, the rhythm of victories and losses. The rhythm of a life at its end... Bursting with songs, Eshonai let herself pass into the eternities, excited to discover what lay on the other side.
---
original reaction:
About halfway through I almost thought I wouldn't like it, but. That ending. I loved it.
I'm probably going to review this tomorrow when I'm less emotionally exhausted and exhilarated (yes, it's possible to be both at once), but if I don't, the short version is that it was very good, though the middle dragged, and I am internally screaming (well, sometimes externally) because VENLI!! And Kaladin! And Navani! And Shallan (oh my goodness SHALLAN you guyssss)!!
This book wrecked me in the best way and I don't know how I'm gonna wait for 2.5 years for the next one? Seriously. someone get me a time machine please.