#BookTok books I've read - Hit or Miss, prt 3
- Dan
- 59 minutes ago
- 2 min read
More controversial takes on hits from the #Booktok world. More in this series:
If you've been around #BookTok lately, you've probably noticed many posts referencing Brandon Sanderson's new book in The Stormlight Archives, Wind and Truth. This book is on my TBR because I'm an aficionado of this absolutely epic high fantasy series.
Honestly, I didn't think I would be a fan of The Stormlight Archives. I didn't particularly enjoy Sanderson's books concluding The Wheel of Time, and I had tried reading The Way of Kings at least twice before I finally got through it. I couldn't get into the highly detailed secondary world. I was further jaded because I had read Mistborn: The Final Empire without much enjoyment. To this day, I don't know how I finished that book without DNFing it. The third time, however, was a charm for The Stormlight Archives.
Everything about The Stormlight Archives is solid—world-building, characters, and plot. I think most devotees of the series are blown away by the world-building, which includes a well-thought-out magic system. The world-building is out-of-this-world good, don't get me wrong, but I'm more dazzled by the characters and plot. First, I never felt lost or cheated when hopping among the numerous characters. Each character has a compelling story, and I could see how their tales fit into the larger tale. As for the plot, Sanderson keeps it moving, even with all the characters to introduce and the monumental world-building. Every time the pace slows in one of these books, it quickly picks back up.
The bottom line is that The Stormlight Archives is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy.
As stated above, I was jaded against The Stormlight Archives because I did not enjoy Mistborn. If you believe #BookTok, this book and the series it kicks off are fantastic, almost beyond belief. I have no doubt this is true for many fantasy readers.
I struggled to appreciate the number of words dedicated to the magic system, which involves burning different metals to unleash various magical properties. I found the writing regarding the magic system repetitious. Also, the characters weren't particularly sympathetic, likable, or relatable. If I had read this book as a teenager instead of an adult, I might have enjoyed it more.
Interested in dipping your toes into Sanderson's many worlds? I suggest starting with The Stormlight Archives—it's amazing. If you love that, you can always read Mistborn later. Although the series share the same metaverse, they are independent enough to be read in any order.