Oathbringer is another spectacular installment in one of my all time favorite epic fantasy series. The Stormlight Archive starts with The Way of Kings, which you need to have read (along with the second book, Words of Radiance) before you pick up Oathbringer.

I love this series. It’s got excellent ideas, world building, characters, and it’s all exciting enough to keep my flipping the pages in this gigantic book. A lot of times, I’ve found the third volume in an epic fantasy series is where I tend to quit. I start realizing that the plot’s moving super slow, the characters are basically treading water, and then I start asking myself why I’m reading. I was a bit nervous the same would happen with Oathbringer, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything, Oathbringer left me even more invested in this series and willing to follow it to the end, however many decades that’ll take.

At the end of Words of Radiance, the Parshendi summoned the Everstorm and became possessed, losing the independence they’d so craved. Dalinar and the Alethi armies have retreated to the city of Urithiru, an ancient stronghold above the force of the storm. Dalinar still has to fulfill his god’s last command: “Unite them.” But the nations of Roshar don’t trust him, seeing all his diplomatic outreaches as pretenses that will lead to an Alethi army on their doorsteps. Meanwhile, the Everstorm has awakened the parshmen, a species the humans have kept enslaved for millennia. The parshmen are angry, and their anger is not unreserved. What looks to have been a simple battle between good and evil grows a lot more complicated. Are the humans of Roshar really in the right?

Where The Way of Kings focused on Kaladin and Words of Radiance on Shallen, Oathbringer focuses in on Dalinar. I’ll be honest, when I first started reading, I thought Dalinar was kind of annoying, and I started questioning how I’d liked him in previous books. He felt like such a stereotypical character, you know, the super honorable older warrior. It was boring. But then Sanderson completely flips that on its head. Dalinar has gaps in his memory, something we’ve known about since book one. In Oathbringer, those gaps start to disappear, and Dalinar remembers just what sort of man he used to be and what he’s done.

<blockquote>“Sometimes a hypocrite is nothing more than a man in the process of changing.”</blockquote>

Of course, other characters have their own arcs. Shallen’s admitted to herself what she’s done, and it’s growing increasingly hard for her to hide from that knowledge. She’s started constructing alternate personas and losing herself in them. She hates herself and would rather be someone else. Obviously, this isn’t exactly a healthy cooping mechanism.

Kaladin’s in a much better place than he was in The Way of Kings, but his mental health issues (which I read as being depression) don’t just magically go away. I think this is something he’ll be dealing with for the rest of the series. I hope he finds a way to manage it. I’m really happy Sanderson’s addressing mental health issues, as it’s something that really interests me, especially in a fantasy or historic setting. When the modern combination of drugs and therapy isn’t available, how do you learn to live with your mental health issues and still function?

I’m noticing that the Stormlight Archives contains more disabled characters than I normally see in fantasy. Depression, healing from trauma, addiction and other mental health issues are all notable, but there’s characters with physical abilities as well, such as Renarian and Rysn, an apprentice merchant who appears in some of the interludes. She actually has an incredibly badass scene in Oathbringer that’s one of my favorite parts of the whole book.

I’ve decided to stop quibbling over the size of these books. Yeah, you could probably find stuff to cut here or there (some of the bridgemen chapters for instance), but this story is suited for a large size. I got an ebook copy so I didn’t have to haul a honking 1200+ page monstrosity around with me, but I do sort of want a hardback copy. The book design looks so gorgeous.

Back to the topic of characters, I wish there was more explanation for why Szeth made the major decision he did. That’s probably my main complaint about Oathbringer. Oh, and Eshoni continues to give me so many feels! I mean, they all do, but Eshoni especially.

Oathbringer is another installment in a truly great epic fantasy series that’s becoming surprisingly subversive. If you at all like fantasy, please do yourself a favor and read The Stormlight Archives. I love this world and love these characters. My only problem is now I’ve got to wait years for another book, blast it. Still, I’m sure whatever Sanderson writes next will be worth the wait.

Oathbringer is the third installment of The Stormlight Archive, Brandon Sanderson’s highly-acclaimed series set in the Cosmere. The story has major middle-book vibes, which makes sense considering this is a 5-book series. While it may not have the panache of the first two books in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed Oathbringer. READER BE WARNED, SPOILERS FOR THE WAY OF KINGS AND WORDS OF RADIANCE ARE BELOW. If you have not read my reviews for the first two books, I recommend doing that first as there are continuing themes.

When I say “panache” I mean that books 1 and 2 of the series came through like a highstorm, with so much power as to be destructive and restorative at the same time. They were wall-to-wall action, almost never allowing the reader to come up for air, finishing in fabulous style with the way everything culminated at the end of Words of Radiance. And to that I say: take my breath away. I do not need it, for the stormlight will sustain me. Oathbringer, by contrast, is a very typical middle book (if anything Sanderson writes can be called “typical”), more gambit than check chase.

With the coming of the Everstorm and many secrets unlocked, Dalinar, Kaladin, et al are resetting and learning a new way of life. The main protagonists have all evolved and are occupying the ancient city of Urithiru, and the Parshmen have been freed. All of the players are moving pieces around the board, searching for an opportunity to put their opponent into zugzswang. This is a long series, and as a reader I enjoyed the break from the constant war, death, and destruction of the first two installments. The way Oathbringer is written, it gives the reader many opportunities to survey the scene, learn more about Roshar, its people and history. One way Sanderson accomplishes this is with flashback narratives, which is an underrated aspect of this series.

I do not believe I mentioned this in my previous reviews, so this is a great time to do so. From a writing perspective, flashbacks are hard. If they are going to take my interest away from the main storyline, they should not overwhelm, but at the same time need to be relevant and interesting. This type of narrative can be a detriment to a book if not done well, but when an author finds a balance it can be a boon. That is exactly what Sanderson has accomplished with this seres, as the flashbacks were phenomenal in providing supplementary information, focusing on first on Kaladin and Shallan in the first two books and now Dalinar and the Parshmen in Oathbringer. To me, this provides even more depth to a series that is already overflowing with it. I think that is a good thing, as a story can never be too deep (watch Sanderson take that comment and run with it – not that the encouragement is all that necessary).

Another great aspect of Oathbringer is that it really ups the ante for the rest of the series. In the first two books there is a lot of standard warfare, introducing the reader to many of the players and how their powers work. It was a really exciting start, but Oathbringer has a different feeling. The Big Bang at the end of Words of Radiance put the pieces in place to rebuild sections of the story. It is much slower than the first two books, working to a longer crescendo. At the same time, the world is entirely different now. Because the it has changed so much, and because everything is going through a bit of reset, the reader is able to learn so much about this new-age right along with the characters. And that really is the brilliance of Sanderson’s writing overall (as I have come to find), which is that is feels so interactive as the reader is able to experience every event right along with the characters. That feeling of immersion has often been what has made this series so unputdownable, and Oathbringer taking a different narrative path than the first two books in the series is helped by this immersive atmosphere.

Here is the thing about the ending: I cannot talk about it. In typical Sanderson style that crescendo that has been building culminates in an unbelievable way. It is easily the best ending of the first three books, and that saying something because I felt that way about each subsequent book in the series. The fact that Sanderson continues to up the ante is impressive, and I left this book with my jaw dropped.

While Oathbringer is incredibly well-done, there was one detraction I want to mention. Certain events (small[ish] ones, none of the big reveals) felt rushed to me. There is a scene at the beginning of the book that felt that way to me (if you read it you will know what I am talking about), and a few others like it along the way. I know it is hard to say in a 1,000+-page book, but I would have preferred to ruminate on certain events for a bit. It is a bit of a weird thought because Sanderson at times can be the King of Rumination, so take those words with a grain of salt.

This Stormlight Archive continues to be absolutely fabulous. Oathbringer is another phenomenal entry into the series, and yet again gets my highest recommendation. It has set things up for what I expect to be an amazing second half to the series, and I am very much looking forward to Rhythm of War.

If humans still exist when Sol finally burns out and the last few stragglers leave this system for a new home among the stars, clutching a few treasured possessions to begin a new life with, this book would be one of them.

Ever wonder what it would have been like to attend the opening night of a Verdi opera? Or walk into a small Italian village and see some lucky violinist buy a brand new Stradivarius? I think we yearn to witness some true high art, to experience firsthand a masterpiece that will set a new bar for excellence in its field. Now is your chance. A hundred years from now, people will still be reading Tolkien and Lewis… and Sanderson. Some fresh young kid will finish the Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia for the first time and ask their parent or teacher… “What should I read next.” Then with an appraising look, they reach up to the top shelf, grab a huge volume with flowing storm clouds, and say “I think you might be ready for this…”

Think I’m overselling it? I’m willing to plant my flag and wait for time to prove the point. Oathbringer was the #1 pre-order of all time on Audible. That means that more people across the world have been paying good money to (digitally anyway) wait in line to listen to this book than any other in history! I personally love the gorgeous cover and end materials, but that’s just me. Regardless, if you don’t want to take my word for it, listen to the thousands of (possible more) that voted with their feet… umm dollars?... and paid for this book up front, sight unseen.

What is it about this book, and the Stormlight Archive (the series that Oathbringer is a part of) that has so many fans craving more? I thought you’d never ask… The art of our era is full of moral relativism. Our pop music, films, and books rarely, if ever, take the time to dive into the deep and meaningful questions of life. To ask the hard questions about faith, character, life, and death. Brandon’s books do just that. His characters don’t just walk through highstorms, they walk through hearts. Their journeys are epic, and mythical. There is more than a dash of magic and monsters, but the primary journey is a moral one. The narrative is fascinating because the characters are grappling with demons within and without, with huge world-crushing forces and the great moral questions that philosophers and priests have been asking since the beginning of time. “Is there a God, or anything truly Divine? What is a truly moral life? How should I treat others? Is it right for the oppressed to hate the oppressor? Is vengeance justified? Why do we fear and hate those who are different? How do we find hope and strength when the world is falling apart around us?”

I really enjoy Brandon’s worldbuilding, and am highly intrigued by his innovative magic systems. But I love his characters for how they grapple with real moral dilemmas and find the strength to overcome them and carry on. This is no cookie cutter quest or easy jaunt into fairyland. Roshar is a land where Gods die, men’s hearts fail them, and civilizations reel about searching for some hope to cling to. And where heroes are born. I was there at Brandon’s first book signing, back when Elantris was an undiscovered rookie, and will be here for the duration of the journey. Thanks Brandon for an amazing story! I can’t wait to see where you take us next!

No, I’m not going to give you major plot lines, spoilers, or hints. I love these books too much to ruin it for you. Go read The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, and Oathbringer. Then comment below on whether you think I was over-selling this. You won’t be disappointed!

I'll give 4 stars since I feel a book this size deserves a decent rating, and since there were many parts of the book I really enjoyed reading. Throughout the prose felt well done, and clearly a great deal of time and effort went into this book.

That said...

This book falls into the same trap all three of Sanderson books in the series have fallen into, they are huge and the move at a truly glacial pace. That does frustrate me. Technically this book is broken into 5 sub books, and while Sanderson does an excellent job of everything building towards a huge really cool conclusion, it spends most of the book slogging it's way there. Probably 85% of the book your thinking, I hope this gets interesting later because this is taking forever and is pretty depressing. It's actually similar to The Way of Kings, where there's a cool start then for a lot of the rest of the books its 'bridges... running... feeling bad... spear training' until the last 15% or so there's a really neat climax that leaves you feeling like something did happen.

The weird thing is that stuff does happen in the sense that people fight, stormlight is used etc, but it doesn't feel particularly interesting, more like Sanderson was afraid of being boring and decided to throw in some generic action. He does do a good job of edging the plot along, consistintitly if very slowly in each chapter and I think that actually, counter-intuitively makes the problem a bit worse. The book is basically too large for the story being told, but because Sanderson wrote the book big and kept all the parts linked together, it becomes difficult to trim it down. In a sense he's written a very good story, but it would be much better if he had written it several hundred pages shorter, and maybe trimmed out some stuff entirely. Unfortunately though, that's like building a tower and then deciding you used too many bricks, not much you can do about it at that point. It just feels too long and there are stretches where just enough happens to keep the book interesting, but not enough for it to be satisfying and that leaves a book that plods for a long time and gets good at the end. The strength of a long book is that if it's a joy to read you don't want it to end, but here it felt more like a chore, not entirely unpleasant, but most of the time not supremely rewarding either.

The one other thing that bugs me is the ending (no spoilers) previous books have an ending that makes you feel like you've taken a step forward, at the end of book 1 Kalidan fianlly earns his freedom and at the end of book 2 they discover the Knights Radiant Fortress, but at the end of Oathbringer I couldn't help thinking... that was it? If anything it feels like they've taken some huge steps back overall even if certain characters have seen a lot of development. I'm still unsure how it really helped things. Jasnah was cool though... as always.

Overall, it was a cool book, I don't intend to read it again, because most of it is a slog, but I did enjoy it. That said, I think if Sanderson was willing to be a bit more brief and focused he could have easily had us through the whole 5 book story arc by now, but instead we're 3600 pages in with no end remotely in sight and 4 years to wait for parts 4 and 5. That's frustrating, and I can't help but feel the series is starting to morph into a never ending Wheel of Time spren.

Also, there are a lot of freaking spren in this book. Perhaps it should have been titled, 'Spren-bringer, the Forever Adventure'

I continue to love this series and have consumed roughly 4000 pages of it in about a month. It’s well-written, full of action, laden with character development, and overflowing with interesting ideas about magic and mythology. For any sheltered fans of the fantasy genre who have not heard of this series or this author, I give it the hugest possible recommendation. I’m just sorry that I finished book #3 in the series a few months before book #4 is set to be released.

The third book in the Stormlight Archive series finds the main characters all facing crises: of conscience, of memory, of their personal relationships, and, most importantly, of what they want their lives to become. Kaladin, increasing in his power as a Windrunner (one of the orders of Knights Radiant, reborn after thousands of years), faces one of his periodic bouts of self-doubt, the darkness nearly consuming him into giving up. Dalinar, King of Urithiru (the rediscovered City of Knights Radiant) and uncle to the King of Alethkar, tries to understand his role in the Radiants as a Bondsmith, facing the fracturing of the alliance of nations he formed in the last book. Shallan, betrothed to Dalinar’s son, Adolin, and a Lightweaver Radiant in her own right with the abilities to project illusions and become other people, faces difficulties in deciding which of her alter egos is really her. The supporting cast (Kaladin’s Bridge Four teammates, now Windrunners themselves; Dalinar’s former sister-in-law (and now wife), Navani; Navani’s daughter, Jasnah, seemingly returned from the dead; the Assassin in White, Szeth, somehow still alive and serving as a Skybreaker Radiant trainee; and a host of others from previous books) all face similar crises of faith. Meanwhile, the army of once-Parshendi (many of whom have been transformed into Fused, a sort of counterpart on their side to the Radiants) marches towards a confrontation with the allied forces of man, just when that alliance is crumbling and many of the alliance’s strongest supporters have disappeared into a parallel plane of existence. And along the way, the world discovers a shocking secret about the nature of the conflict that shakes the very foundations of everyone’s beliefs.

The plot is incredibly intricate, with dozens of interweaving storylines that all support each other in a grand whole. With so many pages in each novel (each one ranges just above or below 1300 pages), there’s ample space to have complex arcs for every character, even the minor ones, while making sure there’s plenty of plot movement and action. There’s political intrigue, soul-searching inner conflict, pledges to higher ideals, conversations with deities, loads of fighting, and a good bit of humor (thanks to Rock, Lopen, Shallan, and Lift in particular). Even the undercurrent of racism I noted in previous reviews in this series seems to be addressed as one of the main plot points (as I thought it might), and the solution to that problem will likely be central to the later books in this series. It really is one of those books that has so much going on that it’s hard to put down.

As for the mechanics, it’s incredibly tight in its editing, a few split infinitives or pronoun errors aside. Page-for-page, it’s one of the cleanest series of books I’ve read in a long time, so kudos to Sanderson and his editorial team for presenting a well-written final product.

I can’t say enough good things about this series. Go read it.

While I didn't enjoy Oathbringer quite as much as the first two books in the series, I still feel it's worthy of a 5-star rating. Each of these books has specific characters at the forefront, and in this novel they are Shallan Davar and Dalinar Kholin.

There are some aspects of Shallan's character that are fascinating, such as her multiple "personalities" or illusions that she adopts to explore and find out who she really is. However, her romance with Adolin felt very awkward, and Shallan spent so much time fretting over her different personalities that it became tedious to me. Dalinar's flashback sequences were jarring to me as well, and although they did provide some insight to his past, I felt they could have been fewer in number. I did enjoy the focus on Dalinar more than I thought I would, however.

Where The Stormlight Archive really shines as a series for me, is in two areas, and that's why I'm firm on my 5-star rating here. First is the world-building and magic system. In its cohesiveness and expansiveness, the Cosmere feels almost like Tokien-esque. There seems to be an ever-expanding mythos that is both wondrous and fascinating. Many questions are answered in Oathbringer, but as Sanderson pulls back from his focus on the nation of Alethkar to look at the world in full in this new novel, numerous new possibilities unfold. It is indeed an amazing world to explore.

Second, I find the character development really interesting and satisfying, and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters really serve to propel the story forward, with glorious and sometimes tragic consequences.The Dalinar flashback sequences paint the Alethi people as bloodthirsty, immoral savages, a "Ghengis Khan" like marauding horde that kills for sport, without mercy or conscience. This presents quite a problem as Dalinar finds himself faced with the return of the Voidbringers. Dalinar needs to use diplomacy to form an alliance to defend their world, but who would believe him? Every nation-state in the world of Roshar seems suspicious, distrusting its neighbors. Some wonder if the Alethi people are worse than the Voidbringers who have come to conquer the world. In a "Game of Thrones" way, the Alethi resemble the rulers of Westeros, who all appear corrupt, conniving and treacherous.

Dalinar has bonded himself to Honor in the previous book, which requires him to keep his Oaths and integrity. Watching him change as he struggles mightily with this, makes his arc worthwhile. Other characters' moral choices shape them as well. As the parshmen are released by the tens of thousands from their lives of slavery by all the nation-states of Roshar, how will they treat those of Roshar who have enslaved them for thousands of years? Are the parshmen the rightful rulers of Roshar? Many of the main characters in the Stormlight Archive seem have little to no moral center at the beginning. What is interesting is seeing how catastrophic and extreme events are shaping them, and some make sacrificial choices of great integrity, such as the men of Bridge Four who seek to become Knights Radiant, while others sink low and take a path that dooms themselves and others (avoiding spoilers here. .).

Some characters who have some transformative moments:

-Kaladin as he spends time observing the newly freed parshmen

-Venli the Parshendi who paved the way for the Voidbringers' return

-Taravangian who is alternately a fool or a genius, an empath or a sociopath, deciding what path to take.

-Odium, the enemy, who comes portraying himself as an "angel of light" with a golden tongue but a heart filled with ruin and death.

-Jasnah Kholin, the great historian and thinker of the Alethi, racing against time to crack the technology of the past to save their future.

-Renarin, who has bonded with a void-spren, the forgotten member of Alethi royalty who may be the wild card that can tip the balance.

-Lift, with the exuberance of a child, but with powers that rival any of the other Radiants.

-Szeth, the Assassin in White, who is no longer forced to kill, but can now make his own choice about the direction of his life.

-the men of Bridge Four, who have a new lease on life and who share a bond that has enabled them to achieve great things.

All of these characters have time in Oathbringer, some a lot more than others, but watching their choices shape them has been delightful and satisfying. Some of the characters in Oathbringer don't end well- they are not cookie cutter stories. Some crash and burn, some betray their friends and the ones they love. Others reconsider their hate, and choose love instead. While I would have wished for more time for some of my favorite characters like Kaladin, and even Lift, who had the main role in the Edgedancer book that I looked forward to seeing her story continue in Oathbringer (which it didn't), I relished every bit of Oathbringer. This is what sets it apart from most other novels of this and other genres, and I can't give it less than 5 stars with a clear conscience.

Sanderson hits another homer with this, the third book in the Starlight Archive.

This book centers more around Dalinar and his quest to "Unite them". There are some serious twists in this part of the story that really settle some of the questions that the earlier books bring out. Not all questions are answered, by far, but the answers provided are satisfying and do lead to more, even bigger questions. It keeps things engaging and interesting.

The major characters are Dalinar, Shallan, and Kaladin still. This book doesn't suffer from Kaladin's floundering like the previous book -- not that it had a major impact in Words Of Radiance -- but it was a bit annoying. Sanderson seems to have found better ways of dealing with the internal conflicts in characters so it's more natural and less painful for the all-knowing reader to read.

I won't go into the storyline, but I will say that all the characters progress satisfactorily. The story moves along at a very good clip, which is amazing considering how long the book is. There is one section that gets a little slow and I am still unsure why it was needed the way it was, but there's always certain things that are going to be a bit slow. Overall, the story and plot makes big strides in this book. It's not like a George RR book where he makes some advances, then takes it all back at the end of the book,

The ending is fairly epic and moves along at a very rapid-fire rate. This apex is almost as long as some other authors complete books.

Sanderson simply keeps getting better and better. He is, in my opinion, the best fantasy writer on the market today. Nobody else can touch the epic nature of his stories and nobody else has even close to the level of world building that he has save for Steven Erickson in the Book of the Fallen series.

Get this series and read it. If you like fantasy, you will love this series. It's super long and for me, that is a good thing. It's deeply engaging and allows you to totally immerse yourself in the world and the story.

Fun read! Liked the entire series.

I’ll start this review by assuming you haven’t read the first two novels in this series. Why? Because if you have, then you don’t need me to tell you how awesome this series is and you should be either reading book three now or already have finished it. So, if you haven’t start the series the question becomes: should you invest the hundred or so hours of reading required to get through the first three in what is planned to be a ten book series? The answer is yes, yes you definitely should.

The Stormlight Archives is a series with a grand vision. Written by prolific American author, Brandon Sanderson, there is so much to love about these books. The world he has created is something truly unique, which you don’t see very much of these days. The whole premise is that there are is a constant barrage of predictable storms that hammer across the world, all in the same direction. This leads the world to develop in areas protected from the buffeting winds, such as leeward sides of mountains. As well as this, the closer the land is to the storm’s origin, the more devastating the effects are. As such, most of the land is unable to support the plants and animals that we know. Instead, the author has created a new, believable, ecosystem. Trust me, this in itself is an amazing feat.

But it doesn’t stop there. Fans of Brandon Sanderson will be familiar with his love of magic systems. The Stormlight Archives features its own system that, honestly, I cannot do justice to in the space of a whole article, let alone as a component of one. It involves Gods, spirits, an entire other world. And again, it works! Now, all this just covers a small part of the world building that goes into this series. There is so much depth to it all that it’s easy to immerse yourself in what is basically an incredibly alien world without thinking anything is overly strange.

As if that wasn’t enough, world building isn’t even the most impressive part of this series. The absolute icing on the cake is the characters. There are a handful of POV characters, each fully fleshed out into real people. They each have their own desires, their own goals, their own character arcs. They have their own strengths and, importantly, their weaknesses. I haven’t read a book in a long time that made me care as much about the characters as this series. As a very unemotional man, even I felt my eyes getting a little watery at each character’s conflicts and actions during the climax. Personally, I believe this stems from their flaws. With a few thousand pages to work with, you get to know each character so intimately that you can relate to their desires and understand why they fail when they do. This, in turns, makes their successes so much more meaningful and emotionally satisfying.

So, I realise I sound like quite the fanboy over this. It’s actually hard to pinpoint anything wrong with it but… There is one thing that really bugs me. It stems from the writing concept “show, don’t tell”, something I’ve heard Brandon Sanderson himself espouse on many podcasts. Instead of telling the reader “Sam was sad”, you show them with something like “Sam wept quietly, tears turning to mud on the dirt floor.” Yes, they both convey that the character is sad, but the second one does it in a way that includes the reader, making them associate with the feeling rather than just knowing what they’re feeling. This series kind of breaks that rule, as part of the magic system involves these spirits, called spren. There are spirits of just about everything, including emotions. So, whenever a character has a strong feeling, like pain for instance, the line “He was surrounded by painspren” appears. It just felt a little cheap to me, especially when everything else is so well written.

After all that, you can probably guess that I highly recommend getting into this series. Don’t be put off by the size of the books, each one being around 1,000 pages. In fact, if you get it in ebook format you don’t even notice it. Instead, just dive in and get immersed in an amazing world filled with intriguing people.

Un 3e volume où Sanderson montre encore une fois qu'il est le maître absolu de l'Epic Fantasy.

Ce 3e tome est beaucoup plus sombre que les précédents mais fait la part belle aux personnages secondaires futurs principaux des tomes à venir ( Venli et Eshonai pour le tome 4 et Szeth pour le 5, Jasnah, Renarin, Lift, Ash et Taln pour le 2e arc de 5 volumes) qui ont tous droit à leur POV. Tous les protagonistes principaux sont donc présents et ont droit à un minimum de "lignes de gloire"... ce qui signifie aussi que certains personnages prennent moins de place. C'est bien normal, c'est une saga et si l'on couvrir tous les persos proprement certains sont obligés de prendre moins de place.

Kaladin notamment est relégué en 3e position... ce qui peut déplaire quand il s'agit de votre personnage préféré ( KALADIIIIIIIIIIN)... mais qui scénaristiquement se tient très bien. Pas d'inquiétude, l'histoire n'en devient que plus riche, et le fait que certains personnages soient moins mis en avant ne signifie pas pour autant qu'ils soient négligés.

Le début commence avec révélations sur révélations et la dernière partie du roman est du classique Sanderson: ça virevolte de tous les côtés et il est juste impossible de reprendre son souffle avant la fin.

Une petite recommandation cependant: Mieux vaux relire minimum Words of Radiance avant de se lancer. Pour ma part, j'avais relu The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance et lu Edgedancer juste avant d'entamer Oathbringer et bien m'en a pris... Car même en ayant lu The Way of Kings 3 fois, et Words of Radiance 2 fois, et bien... j'ai été surprise du nombre de sous-intrigues et de personnages que j'avais oubliés d'autant que certains personnages que nous suivons dans les interludes depuis le 1er tome se retrouve dans ce troisième tome, dans des interludes juste essentiels à la bonne compréhension de l'intrigue. Autant dire que si l'on a oublié l'existence de personnages tel que Rysn, ça diminue grandement le plaisir de la redécouvrir dans un autre interlude où l'on voit comment sa petite vie "ordinaire" se retrouve elle-même impactée par les événements sur Roshar voir quand elle même se retrouve au milieu d’événements clés à l'intrigue.

Lire Edgedancer n'est pas obligatoire... mais fortement recommandé car certains personnages clés jouent des rôles importants ici... l'intrigue se comprend très bien sans, mais c'est une valeur ajoutée non négligeable... comme la lecture de Warbreaker est une forte valeur ajoutée mais pas indispensable à l'appréciation de la série ( mais alors... c'est tellement jouissif que sincèrement ce serait domage de ne pas l'avoir lu d'autant que le roman est excellent).

Bref c'est E.P.I.C.

Encore Bravo à l'auteur pour un volume juste flamboyant et pour sa capacité à se transcender à chaque volume.

With "Oathbringer", the beauty of the "Stormlight Archive" is in full bloom. The scope of the series is here unveiled and delivered to the reader in the most perfect way.

In this thirds installment, we finally get to know more about Roshar and its different peoples, whereas the mysteries surrounding the past are deepened way more then the previous two books. Per se, maintaining the attention of the reader throughout a 1200-page book is extremely difficult, but Sanderson succeeds masterfully in doing so by capturing your interest and giving you something new every single chapter.

If you read my reviews of "The Way of Kings" and "Words of Radiance", you will see that they are not enthusiastic with the warning that, maybe, I did not read them in the right moment. "Oathbringer" changed completely my perception of the series with its fantasy perfection and, now, I am really looking forward to the rest of it.

Excellent book. The story doesn't let down, the revelations, the mythology and the philosophy in Roshar and its characters keeps getting richer. Loved it.

Very good quality, delivered with prime the next day. Happy purchase