What's up with Words of Radiance?

I've FINALLY read Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson! Let's talk about it!

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0:00 - Spoiler-free section
3:49 - SPOILERS

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Michael Whelan

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[esmayrosalyne]

Not gonna lie, I kinda like this slightly less structured and more gushy type of video. It's just so fun to see someone get SO excited about a book they loved. Bring on all the rambling, I love it!
Anyway, I totally agree with everything you said. There are soooo many iconic moments in this instalment, it's just absolutely insane. I never thought I would wish for a chunker of this size to be even longer, but I could honestly have read hundreds upon hundreds more pages of this greatness. As you said, it's probably not the best book ever, but it was certainly one of the most engrossing reading experiences I have ever had.
Great video, loved hearing your thoughts! 🤩

[jonbelakio]

Words of radiance is so good. Best book in the series so far for sure imo

[RobbieLee]

Stormlight will stand the test of time and be our generations big fantasy series

[akellerhouse]

I don't hate Shallan. I really like her character. I've read all the books and I still don't know why people hate her.

[caspianrobins]

I'm 200 pages into it, and I already love it so much.

[OhMyJoshy]

I just finished Words of Radiance as well! Looking to start Oathbringer sometime in 2023.

I still can’t decide if I enjoyed Way of Kings or Words of Radiance more. Both were fantastic in their own right. I also wasn’t too stoked with the Jasnah resurrection. I hope something seriously impactful happens to the main crew by book 3.

[JeffSpurlock]

I’ve only read through Words of Radiance, you touched on two things separately that I think are related. I believe

1) Soren a spiritual manifestations of ideas. Some of those ideas are divinely inspired, honor being one, sin or dishonor (in the form of lies), etc vs ideas like wind and pain. Crucially, Spren do not create things, but are drawn to instances of those ideas. Wind Spren appear when it is windy, pain Spren appear when someone is in pain, honorspren are drawn to the a strong example of honor; kaladin. Cryptics are drawn to lies, or those using / living a lie; Shallan.

2) being a Radiant is not a “role” or an ancient character being reborn. Radiants are people who these more “divine” Spren have bonded with, because they best exemplify the ideas that the Spren represent.

That’s my take anyway. Hoping to learn more as I get into oathbreaker

[lesliegordon]

I just paid £100 for a brand new single volume hardback of this book on ebay. I didn't think I'd ever get one. It was worth every penny. Great review.

[crisnice]

Do you think you would've enjoyed The Lost Metal more after having a few more cosmere books under your belt?
Btw, congrats on 15k! You're growing like crazy

[tordurhansen]

"You. Will. Not. Have. Him!"

Amazing book. Oathbringer is also spectacular, Rythm of War is somewhat disliked by some but I loved it just as much as the others. Youre in for several treats, my friend!

[seanhalpin]

Oathbringer is my favorite, you're in for a treat. IMHO Oathbringer is the best stormlight book by far. The sanderlanche is the most intense out of them all

[Andrew.Downing]

Words of Radiance was the book I was in the middle of when my daughter was born so it's going to be unforgettable... And it happens to be my favorite book of all time!

[readbykyle]

People already tend to hate Shallan by this point if they do. It's not a specific thing she does, just her general personality. I don't hate her, but she's my least favorite of the three mains. Glad you loved WoR! It's my second favorite book of all time. Pattern is the funniest Sando character I think. So hilarious. The interludes in WoK are pretty random, but I think all of the interludes in WoR are pretty relevant and directly impact the story going further.

[parkthoven]

How about skipping book 1 and go to Words of radiance first? Wouldn't be a problem to understand the whole story?

[bentheoverlord]

Fantastic review man ! I think I like Rhythmn of War more however Words of Radiance is definitely the best written and paced of the stormlight books. I binged through the first 3 in a week but WoR still sticks out fully in my mind (still think about the Honor is dead scene often), its a book Im looking forward to reading again. Glad you liked Shallan, shes easily my fav of the series.

[GraendalGMS]

Way of Kings is the best Stormlight book for me by a fairly large margin. While all following books are amazing, they just dont have that level of impact.

P.S. I cant stand Shallan in WoR, maybe that contributes

[arlenakholin]

That boots scene is my most hated scene in the whole Stormlight series...closely followed by "And for MY boon...".
I'm happy you loved it so much :D

[hectatereads]

Shallan is one of my favourite characters too! She has so much depth, she feels human. But I’ve only read up to Oathbringer, so I’m not sure if she changes after that.

[willwright]

What edition of the book is that at the beginning with Urithiru? Its beautiful

[seanhalpin]

All thst being radiant means is thst you have a nahel bond with a spren and can use stormlight, essentially