Synopsis:
Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status “darkeyes.” Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl.
The Assassin, Szeth, is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin’s master has much deeper motives.
Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined.
Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.
Review:
I will start this review off by saying I finished this book in the last week of April but was too busy/preoccupied to write the review then, so this counts as the second book of April.
I absolutely loved that while there was so much plot going on, everyone also had their individual turmoil to go through and things to overcome. There were serious risks in this book, and one of the stakes had me absolutely furious and worried and upset and I had to read more, more, more! I loved how much Kaladin learned and grew in this particular book. I also like how Dalinar is shown as being more human than most think of the high princes. In many ways the high princes almost seem to be like the sins; unapproachable, uncondemnable. Sebarial becomes a favourite through his realness, saying things such as hating everyone equally, and making it clear he wants a cushy life.
This book has a multitude of good lessons throughout, but a resounding thought that will connect with everyone is the need or desire to have a purpose. It might seem that there are simple pleasures wrought from another’s work that you don’t find particularly glamourous, but a large part of life is finding something that makes you feel. As said in “A Hand with the Tower” “Expectation wasn’t just about what people expected of you. It was about what you expected of yourself.”
Szeth and Kaladin make an interesting dynamic and you are left wondering what exactly is going on. Whilst I know a large portion of this book is about Shallan, I find she is not one of my favourite characters, though she certainly does begin to come into herself throughout this novel. Seeing the voidbringers become makes one wonder if that is what ALL Parshendi desire, which will of course not be answered in this particular novel.
I quite enjoyed this book, but as always, it is hard to properly review a book of this caliber. As I am already deep within the realms of the next book, Oathbringer, I will merely end this by saying that most of the characters grow, and I look forward to seeing what else happens in the Stormlight Archive.
Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Amy S. Brown 