Excellent. Plenty of adventure, and adventure always carries some risks. Writing was superb and the whole victorian thing worked excellently. I was loExcellent. Plenty of adventure, and adventure always carries some risks. Writing was superb and the whole victorian thing worked excellently. I was looking for a fun light adventure after working on multiple 1,000 page books and stumbled upon this. I was captivated by the first paragraph of this first book, where she is describing small insect dragons, the garden at her house and the forest behind it. Very well descriptive and not cliche or obvious. My only complaint was that the travels were not expounded on but rushed over. The sailing and the walking and the riding ARE part of the adventure, though add a lot of pages without much activity, and so maybe it was better this way. Strongly recommend....more
It was NOT slow like everyone said. It was just more than your typical brainless fight scenes. There were a lot of things that happened that felt finaIt was NOT slow like everyone said. It was just more than your typical brainless fight scenes. There were a lot of things that happened that felt final, and I didn't like that. Characters changing and developing, sometimes in ways you like, sometimes in ways you don't like. Definitely set up for book 5. Very anxious to see where this goes, but man there were some things I didn't want to happen. Still, this series continues to evolve and grow, and rather than being stale you can feel the change of atmosphere from the first book. Things have gotten very complicated and intense, and a lot bigger than they seemed at first....more
These books, although building, each have a conclusion of the major events of that book. I hate when there is a series when none of the books have conThese books, although building, each have a conclusion of the major events of that book. I hate when there is a series when none of the books have conclusions. This one does. So many twists and turns. Gave me legits anxiety. I felt with the characters, and in the end, what more can you ask from a book, even if there are things you don't like?...more
**spoiler alert** This is an extremely enjoyable read. The world is exceptionally well built and described. The characters are genuine, and you find y**spoiler alert** This is an extremely enjoyable read. The world is exceptionally well built and described. The characters are genuine, and you find yourself really relating. I cried multiple times because the characters said and felt things that I feel no one else understands in me, and I don't care if Chuck knows it either. The reveals are shattering, and when the characters do something you really care. The story arc with Shallan caused me a lot of anxiety, and Kaladin's struggle of caring is one you want him to overcome, yet you know it's never that easy when you are completely exhausted. Dalinar's naivete is almost frustrating, as is his son's lack of support. When Dalinar did what he did for Kaladin, I found myself saying NO! but then glad that he did, and just... ugh. I can't even form a coherent review.
Yes, it is long. No, it is not non-stop action. The great thing about a song is when it isn't the same monotonous thing all the way through. The quiet parts of a loud song are all the more meaningful. In the same way, people want short, no thinking books that are nothing but thrill after thrill, and it's tiring and poor development to do something like that. Action sells Transformer movies, but a book series has to have greater depth than that, and the action would be so muted if it was a constant factor.
1,000 pages later and none of the characters are boring, never was there a page that felt as if it was written just to fill pages, the plot has not bored me yet. The author doesn't preach at you, but he does say meaningful things. He is a mormon, yet his writing is not an attempt to persuade you as many religious authors do. It is an entertaining book that doesn't have a bunch of sexuality disgusting nonsense like Game of thrones with its overly graphic brother-sister relationships. The action is very balanced, with good description without glorifying it, unique actions scenes with creative world building elements like the stormlight, and neither pacifist or overly gory. In a world that relies on nothing more than sex and blood, this was extremely refreshing. Not overly predictable, although some parts could be guessed if you had been paying close attention.
It never felt tedious though you feel the character's frustrations. Sanderson had me second and third guessing whether Dalinar is crazy or sane.
I fully intend to continue with this series, and I already have volume two purchased. This series has also helped me to deal with Robert Jordan's leisurely "wheel" series, which I am reading. Although you get an ok look at the world, it leaves you wanting more. I'm ready for book 2, I don't feel like I need a break.
He occassionally repeats stuff, as many as 3 times, but in a 1,000 page book with so much stuff to remember, it hit a lot different than Stephanie Meyer's continual repetition of the same basic information. Onward!...more
Chand at his best. Gives a totally new perspective on dealing with tension and the outlook on tension. One of the better books I've read this year.Chand at his best. Gives a totally new perspective on dealing with tension and the outlook on tension. One of the better books I've read this year....more
One of the best books I've read. Gave a better look at day-to-day things in the paksworld. A lot of the deed of paksennarion was rushed, like most of One of the best books I've read. Gave a better look at day-to-day things in the paksworld. A lot of the deed of paksennarion was rushed, like most of sheepfarmer's daughter. But this is better than I hoped....more
I used to work for Sara Lee stocking bread in grocery stores. While there, one of the other vendors who I was friends with gave me this book for me toI used to work for Sara Lee stocking bread in grocery stores. While there, one of the other vendors who I was friends with gave me this book for me to read when he heard I was getting married. It sat on my bookshelf because I did not need it. After all, I knew all the pre-marital counseling stuff: we talked about finances and settled that we needed to make group decisions, that all major decisions we had to discuss, that we both wanted kids and how to discipline them... Plus I knew all the counseling stuff about resolving conflicts, I knew about the honeymoon phase, I knew about the way we would think foundationally different. But this book made me realize thing that the infinite genius who is myself did not realize. I thought I knew everything, but this book showed me how I was wrong in ways I didn't even realize I was wrong. I thought my wife was so dumb and obviously I was so superior to her, but wow. This book is not an introductory book. Get pre-marital counseling, learn the basics of marital counseling, and then definitely read this book. The first couple of chapters will just piss you off, but if you just stick with it and BE READY TO LEARN AND CHANGE, then you'll be glad you did. Your wife is worth the effort. So much of my unchristlike behavior to my wife was hidden behind misused verses while I ignored those that supported my beliefs. I pride myself on my good theology and great exegesis, and yet... wow. I realize ways that I hurt my wife without even realizing it just because of my own naivete. Even my relationship with my mom and other women, I have noticed now, is less than Christlike. ...more
Excellent book. Should be mandatory reading for Christians - especially charismatics and Bill Johnson followers. Great philosophical discussion at theExcellent book. Should be mandatory reading for Christians - especially charismatics and Bill Johnson followers. Great philosophical discussion at the end too....more
Just phenomenal. Last chapter directly addresses multiple scholars. Actually knows what he's talking about and understands how history and archeology Just phenomenal. Last chapter directly addresses multiple scholars. Actually knows what he's talking about and understands how history and archeology works, surprisingly hard to come by. Hard to understand in some parts, definitely not meant for average Joe's....more
As a writer, I appreciate Susan's summation of history, expounding on those things which were important and keeping everything else to the point. A loAs a writer, I appreciate Susan's summation of history, expounding on those things which were important and keeping everything else to the point. A lot has happened since the beginning of written records, but she covered over 3,000 years in just under 800 pages. It was an easy to read history, and she did very well in simplifying complicated details. I also GREATLY appreciated her letting history be history and not excluding things simply because of her worldview. She mentioned key religious factors, political factors, and popular theories. Most of the time I've read history books, it starts somewhere around the big bang, and then goes through millions of years of assumption with no real civilization clarity. Susan briefly mentioned that, but then went to actual history (written records) and used vague data and more precise archaeology to shed light rather than run the show. Evolution and all that is great and all, but in a history book, I want to learn about actual history, not speculation from years after the fact. To that end, she begins her history (after the initial chapters) closer to 4,000/3,000 BC. I appreciate historians who don't waste my time with their bias, or religious/political world views. Sadly, too many historians just want to prove/disprove their opinions, rather than detail history....more
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