“We could just skip the boring part.”
“Skip?” Wit said, aghast. “Skip part of a story?”… “You wound me.”
I’ve said before and I still believe that Wit/Hoid is Sanderson in his works. This particular quote comes at a point in Oathbringer (Tor 2017) where I was starting to get over the story – I just wanted to be done. Dare I say, I was bored, and I really wanted to skip some parts. Then Wit steps in to call me out. Get out of my head, Sanderson.
2025 is my year of Sanderson. To date, I have read five Sanderson novels. Oathbringer is my least favorite. That doesn’t mean it’s bad by any stretch of the imagination, it just didn’t hit the same. I am extremely glad I read Edgedancer and Warbreaker before because Lift and Azure give me such joy in Oathbringer when they show up.
Our main players are still there. Kal and Bridge Four take a bit of a back seat to Shallan (and Veil and Radiant) as she struggles with her identity. Bridge Four will gut you though – with Moash, Teft, and Rock breaking your heart. (I really thought I was going to see Moash’s redemption arc in this one. Color me heartbroken.) We get to visit Shadesmar, which is a terrifying and intriguing place. And we get a lot of Dalinar’s past – and it’s not a pretty past. More evident than in the first two of the series, all our leading ladies and gentlemen have to confront their pasts – and there are some wicked skeletons in those closets. (Why won’t he say the words?!?!!) And folks die. Unexpectedly. Oh and the moment between Renarin and Jasnah? What does it mean for Renarin? Will Jasnah keep those secrets? Oh yeah, Jasnah is back. And back in a BIG way. Meet your queen.
I do not regret going on this journey. And even though I found Oathbringer a bit more of a slug, I would 100% recommend embarking on this journey.
A Girl Named Tommi 