Really enjoyed this as the beginning to a massive series. Sanderson's world building is great, as always. I particularly like how he manages to create a sense of the fantastical and strange for the characters even when they live in a world that, to the reader, is entirely alien and magical. Of course I'm most drawn to Shallan as the character who is explicitly researching the strange elements of that world.

The common complaints I see about this book — the pacing is too slow, and Kaladin is too depressed — didn't really bother me. I guess I just trust Sanderson to ramp up when the story is ready and to make the emotional character development land, and I think he largely succeeds with both here.