Raziere Reads: Rhythm Of War

[GrayDeath]

Jumping over all possible spoilers to ask this:

With a lot of delay I finally got the book.

QWhen oathbringer came out I didnt read Edgedancer before it, and after reading it later on, was OK with that.

How much is reading Dawnshard needed for Rythm of War?

Thats more or less my only question (if it helps, I am not a Super Completionist, but if it really offers DEEPER Understanding, isntead of jsut another view on things that will be explained anyway, I would see it as worth it. Also, I was not very much impressed by the main character in his chapters in the "big Books").

Thanks in advance!

[Dragonus45]

So, with one small spoiler from the very very very start of the book,

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there is a bit of a time skip between the last book and this one. Dawnshard covers just one particular event across that and the relevant parts of it get covered when a lot of the rest of the timeskip get's talked about so it doesn't even feel out of place. I didn't even know Dawnshard existed and the story flowed perfectly. Also, Dawnshard is still very much worth reading since it also has some important events in it not covered by the exposition.

[GrayDeath]

So it wont hurt the story flow at all if I get it later on, but is worth reading, check.

The Ideal, to be honest. :)

[JeenLeen]

I generally love all of Sanderson's works, but my thoughts on this one...

Spoiler: up to the end

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I enjoyed it at first. Some of the stuff felt a bit slower or dryer than earlier books, but still fun. Maybe it was that the depth of Kaladin's depression seemed out-of-place with where the last book ended, and that and the number of Knights formed during the timejump made things feel a bit off. Like, at the end of the last book, having a handful of Radiants was a big deal. Now there's a couple hundred?

After reading about a third of the way through, I just found it mostly boring and predictable. I just skimmed the rest. I'm sure I'll go back and read in detail eventually, but I just couldn't stay entertained or -- pun intended -- invested in reading with full attention.

It seemed pretty clear that, by the end, Kaladin would overcome his issues and grow, probably reaching the Fourth Ideal.
It seemed pretty clear that Shallan would likely heal in some way based on whatever she learns in Shadesmar.
It seemed pretty clear someone was going to be a new Bondsmith. I first thought Navani, then was leaning towards Rlain or Venli (despite her already having a spren), so that kept things a bit intermeshed.
It seemed pretty clear something would happen with the Heavenly Ones, though I admit I was surprised at how that ended.

I expected Adolin to be Radiant with a reborn Maya by the end, but what happened was close enough.
I was completely surprised by the last interaction between Taravagrian and Rayse.
I was really disappointed by the last interaction between Hoid and Odium. It was well-done, but I guess I just like Hoid being overpowered and snarky with no downsides. So I take this as not a real critique, but just something not playing to my expectations. Also, can anyone explain (in a spoiler please) what exactly happened? It sounded like something with a Coppermind and his Breaths, but that seems an odd mixture of two magic systems.

I'm also glad I reread part of Elantris recently, or I'd have no clue what a seon was.

But, I can see that, even if the destination is kinda clear, the journey is the fun part

[GrayDeath]

Aside from 2 specific things (readers will know^^) a rather predictable, but well done book.

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I found the kind of weirdly undetailed, yet often ang long writteen about, departure of Rock....unsatisfying.