Hold onto your seats, it’s two reviews for the price of one!  Which is to say, still free.

Verdict: The first two installments of a modern must-read fantasy series

In preparation for my review of Oathbringer, I’ll be reviewing the first two installments of Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series.  Sanderson starts things off with The Way of Kings, where we are introduced to the land of Roshar.  The Knights of Radiance, who once protected Roshar, abandoned their oaths thousands of years prior to the start of the series.  Highstorms sweep across the land, destroying everything but rock while infusing gemstones with magical energy.  Most kingdoms in Roshar have a rigid class system, where nobility is based on eye color.  One kingdom, Alethkar, wages an endless war against the Parshendi for assassinating the Alethi king.

The slave Kaladin recalls his past as a surgeon’s son while serving as human cannon fodder in an Alethi war camp.  In another war camp, the dead Alethi king’s brother, Dalinar, experiences strange visions about Alethkar, the war, and the whole of Roshar.  Across the world, Shallan, the youngest daughter of a distressed noble family, throws herself on the mercy of an Alethi noblewoman.  Shallan hopes to save her family, at any cost.  But bigger problems may be brewing, and the Knights of Radiance may return.

Without giving too much away, Word of Radiance continues where The Way of Kings left off.  Some of the Alethi people begin to question the war against the Parshendi.  Though no longer a slave, Kaladin must contend with his anger toward the oppressive Alethi noble class.  Dalinar publically proclaims his visions and is subject to scorn.  We also get a glimpse into Shallan’s past as the sheltered daughter of a dysfunctional family as she struggles to deal with the world on her own.

The books are tons of fun.  Sanderson excels at writing action sequences, and there are several edge-of-your-seat fights.  Both novels build to thrilling, hundred page long final crises and resolutions.  The climaxes are the result of thoughtful pacing.  Neither drags or outstays its welcome.

One main draw of the Stormlight Archive series is the careful, exhaustively comprehensive worldbuilding—now an expectation for modern fantasy fans.  Sanderson doesn’t disappoint.  The plausibility of the ecosystem is charming in its detail.  The plants and crustacean-like animals evolved to withstand highstorms.  Many activities in Roshar revolve around or are facilitated by the highstorms.

But perhaps the most interesting aspect of the worldbuilding is how Sanderson has created different cultures in Roshar.  Many of the countries of Roshar, including Alethkar, require women to cover their left hands as a sign of modesty.  The sight of a woman’s (and only a woman’s) left hand is considered intimate.  It’s completely arbitrary, a point which Sanderson makes several times.  While common women can wear a glove, noblewomen are required to button a sleeve over their left hands.  Imagine being a left-handed noblewoman!  Sanderson is engaged in a long-running commentary on our own world.

Sanderson has created an ambitiously large and diverse cast.  He manages the large number of characters well by breaking up and mixing together the storylines.  The character development of his leads is another highlight.  Kaladin would be considered depressed, if Roshar had the mental health professionals to diagnose them.  He’s left coping with depression on his own.  Shallan excels at lying to herself, a skill that has carried her through trying circumstances, but threatens her sense of self.  Dalinar must contend with his past as a brutal general as he tries to determine what kind of man he is.

The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance are great reads for fans of epic fantasy.  Stay tuned for my review of Oathbringer. Updated 11/12/18: you can read my review of Oathbringer here.