Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

 Another Cosmere novel by Brandon Sanderson and another one of his "Secret Projects." 

"Yumi comes from a land of gardens, meditation, and spirits, while Painter lives in a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. When their lives suddenly become intertwined in strange ways, can they put aside their differences and work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save each other’s communities from certain disaster?"

General Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It is right there under Tress of the Emerald Sea in favorites of Brandon Sanderson's books, well, books in general. The world is amazingly different, Hoid is the narrator again though he makes less actual appearances than before, and this is a love story. I almost always enjoy a good romance. 

<<Spoilers Ahead>>

Plot: I think the jumping between bodies is really intriguing. I loved watching Your Name (which I highly recommend) and it very  much had a bit of that in there. Yumi's magic is very different, who would ever think that stacking stones was a form of magic? Brandon I guess. And Painters' ability to fight nightmares through art is cool too. I particularly liked the ending when they figure out what is going on and how they both fight for what they want. I think the nightmares, and what the nightmares actually are is simplistic but it works in the creepy area well. I do wish Yumi's fight at the end was longer, but it ended well. 

Setting: OH! The crazy contrast between their worlds is amazing. I think the descriptions, which were needed to be blunt, they were well done and gave us the differences between where they come from and how Yumi and Painter actually work in their societies. So strikingly different, especially the dramatic Night and Days, light and darks. I like the neon lights that fill Painters world. It's all just so different. I also love the fact that when Yumi discovers what TV is she is hooked by the moving pictures. 

Characters: Yumi and Painter are so fun. I just love each of the characters presented here. Design particularly. I can't wait to read more about her and Hoid (#FMoash, the stupid jerk.) There is just too much to say about these characters, that I don't know what to say. They really pull through in this story, like many of Brandon's other books. 

Spice: 2/5 Spicy Chilis. It is a light romance where most of it is emotional. When they switch bodies, they don't see themselves as the other person, but themselves standing an as that person. So it's not perverted, which is nice. One or the other is almost always a ghost so it's not like they could even kiss or anything. 

Writing Style: I love the way Brandon writes in general and this is no exception. The fact that Hoid is our narrator, and the fanciful storyteller he is, just makes this so much better. I would love to have more books on this world, just to look at the magic system, but I doubt that will happen. Brandon has too much left on his plate. I am probably bias at this point, but I love the way he writes. It makes it easy to enjoy the story he is telling. 

Overall: I very much enjoy this book. It is one that I will most definitely be reading again and again. 

Tress of the Emerald Sea

Tress of the Emerald Sea has become one of it not my top favorite Brandon Sanderson book. This is one of his "Secret Projects" and is a standalone Cosmere book.

"The only life Tress has known on her island home in the emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and see the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a singe drop of water can mean instant death?"

General Thoughts: Brandon Sanderson has a way of creating the most amazing worlds. Spore oceans where you can instantly die just by breathing it in. Crazy! He always has a way of capturing the most amazing and extremely bazar ideas and making something entertaining and thought provoking. And the fact that he wrote this for his wife makes me so happy.

Plot: In the Postscript that he wrote at the end of Tress, he said he wrote this out of the question of "What if Buttercup went after Westley?" Speaking of The Princess Bride, Brandon takes us on a trip in a crazy Cosmere world where a girl goes to find the man she loves and becomes a pirate long the way. But because there is no hard magic system on this planet, we have a crazy planet (somewhat similar to Sixth of Dusk if I remember correctly). The story is told through the voice of Hoid who we see jumping worlds all throughout the Cosmere and sticking his fingers into all kinds of pies. 

Theme: Much of this book, I think is about standing up for yourself and not letting the world pass you by. So much of Tress' life has been hearing of everyone else's adventures and watching them as they leave, but now she gets the opportunity to go and do something for herself to save someone that she loves. Step out of your comfort zone and make it bigger. 

Setting: As said before, Brandon has a way with words and worlds. Each of the worlds I've read about have been so extremely different. Ash falling from the Sky, the sun killing everything every day, ghosts that will kill you in a Forest called Hell, a different forest that will kill you, sand that is magic, violent storms that cleanse the world and light it at the same time, and many others in the Cosmere let alone the others that aren't there (such as chalk drawings in a steampunk world that try to kill you, and where superheroes are the bad guys.) This is no different. Different colored spores that can blow up, kill you by breathing them in, and a menagerie of other things. It was fun to escape into this different world. 

Characters: Our narrator is Hoid and I loved having be so. He is also a character here, but not as prevalent as one might suppose. Tress and her new crewmates were fun and different. And they were all just a joy to be around. 

Spice: 1/5 because it's an adventure romance and I think they might kiss at the end. But I could be wrong about that. 

Writing Style: I love the way Brandon Sanderson writes. He is my favorite author and there are very few books of his that I don't like. They are easy to read, some might say too easy, and it flows so well. He isn't as eloquent and poetic as some might right, but when it really counts he pulls out all the stops. He writes a lot of words and not all of them are perfect, but they paint such amazing pictures in my head that I don't mind. 

Overall: It's one of my top three books of his. I will most definitely be reading it again soon. 

The Lost Metal

The last book in the Wax and Wayne series in the Misborn world of the Cosmere by Brandon Sanderson. 
 

It's now been six years since Elendel's world has been opened. Meeting the people from the south and trying to keep political schisms at bay has proved difficult, but somewhat doable. Wax and Steris have taken more control of the political sides of their lives and grown their family, while Wayne and Marsi work as constables as partners. But happenings happen and they find out that Wax's sister has big plans with her secret society which includes blowing up Elendel with equivocally a nuclear bomb. Why would Telsin want to do this? What would this "protect" the rest of the world from? And how much bigger is the cosmere than they think?

I can only be okay with the ending, because HE was okay with the ending. That is all I'm going to say about it. 

I loved that Brandon brought so many more worldhoppers into the series. They introduced so much more than we even have in the Cosmere books to begin with. Seeing some of my favorite characters, not just Hoid, in more of their glory than we ever had before makes me so happy. 

It was fast paced and constantly moving forward while still letting things be explained. It took me a while because I knew what was coming (stupid spoilers) and I didn't want it to happen, but it never felt like it was bogged down. 

I love the characters. All of them. They make me happy. I don't know how to say more. 

The books in this series are smaller comparatively so they are easier to binge and love over and over again. Which means I probably will do that sooner rather than later. 

Rhythm of War

 The fourth installment of the Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson was amazing. 

The world of Roshar has turned on it's head. The Desolation is here and the enemy is at their front door. Traitors have been found amongst their ranks and countries around the world are being taken over or willingly joining the enemy which can mean doom for Dalinar and his Knights Radiant. Queen Navani is sent to deal with the ever day of Urithiru and is constantly propelling the inventors forward to help end the war.  In a year of fighting, Kaladin and his Windrunners have found honor in the enemies they have been fighting and an old friend turned traitor causes a lot of havoc for the once Bridgeboy who suffers heavily with PTSD. Refugees flee including Kaladin's parents and war abounds. Adolin and Shallan must travel to Shadesmere and must convince the Honorspren to join their cause so there can be more Windrunners to defeat the constant stream of enemies. And not all of the enemies are what they appear. All want the war to be over and some of the enemy are will to help Dalinar's side instead of the Old Gods. 

This was a very exciting story and one that went in a direction that I didn't think it was going to. I read this book well after it came out and knew of some spoilers, so I was able to not cry at a certain point, but I was wholeheartedly unprepared for what came after and how touching it was that tears streamed down my face at the lakeside. So well written just like everything Brandon Sanderson does write. 

I love how Brandon isn't scared to touch some hot topics, specifically mental illness. He doesn't just skim this lake, he dives in and gives voice to people's legitimate troubles. It's not just a "happy" story of war and everyone is willing to kill everyone else to win. It's the after affects of so many hard situations that change us. It's the coming to terms with those circumstances. Brandon does what Kaladin does in bringing the sufferers into the light instead of hidden away in dark holes inside a mountain. He also shows us that not everyone is as black and white as they might appear on the outside. People have ulterier motives and will likely surprise you when they are given the chance. 

These character arches are amazing in that they are sticky, people slide into old habits, they think they are doing the right thing just to find out that it might not have been so right. It feels so real and makes me want to write like him. 

Warbreaker

 Rereading this one was one of the best ideas. 

Siri was the left over princess, but suddenly she is the most important person in two kingdoms. Instead of Vivenna, the important sister the perfect princesses, Siri is chosen to marry the Godking to stop a war. Thrown into unknown politics and told she isn't supposed to even talk to her new husband, Siri is extremely over her head. Vivenna knows how out of her depths Siri is and goes to to save her, but now her only contact is dying of a horrible sickness and she is now on her own. Vasher is also in town with his own reasons to get into people's business. 

The characters in this story are amazing. I think the growth that the main characters go through and how drastically they can change when circumstances require it, shows the reader that we can all do hard things, things we never believed we could ever do--I'm especially looking at you Vivenna. 

The magic system is unlike any I've seen anywhere else and there are so many possibilities. To have your magic powered by your Breath and the colors around you is ingenious. As for all of Brandon's magic systems, it is extremely well thought out and although it takes us a while to get a full description of what potentially could happen (as opposed to Mistborn which gives us the explanation right up front) we get the jist of it enough to not have us be totally lost. I very much appreciate the rules being laid out and having hard and fast rules as opposed to other books with magic where it takes a few nonsensical words of "Power," a wiggle of the fingers, and some form of intent and absolutely anything or nothing can happen. Those other kinds of magic systems seem cheaper to me and can get the writer out of situations they otherwise wouldn't be able to logically get themselves out of. For Breath and it's magic systems, there are rules that can't be broken and yet also many facets that help them to do amazing things. They are tools used for many ways but there are still impossibilities that must be worked around. It's good, thought-out worldbuilding which I very much enjoy. 

The first time I read the book (this is my second), I thought that the ending happened too quickly, that maybe there could have been another chapter or three to elongate the suspense. However, upon this second reading, I enjoyed it so much more and the ending, although somewhat abrupt, didn't feel like it wasn't warranted. Each of the characters got their moments of doing something great--Lightsong you will forever be in my heart--and empowering which end up changing what will be happening in the future for the world and off-world for the Cosmere as a whole. 

I know that Brandon is going to write a sequel to this story, and while he's had this one out for well over a decade, I believe he's "close" to starting this next project. Brandon writes fast and consistently so we won't be waiting for it never to happen (which happens for other writers where their series' go unfinished). It might take another few years, but all of Brandon's readers are eagerly await for the next Warbreaker book. 

Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds

 Brandon, can I call you Brandon? Brandon has done it again! 

Way to make me cry, dude... 

Stephen Leeds is... different. Not schizophrenic, doesn't have multiple personality disorder... He has something else. He knows his Aspects aren't real, many of them know they aren't real, too. But it doesn't mean they aren't there and they aren't helpful. Stephen is a detective of sorts who, with his Aspect's help, solves odd mysteries and tries to stay out of the press. Each of his Aspects are experts in their own fields. Historian, gunslinger, psychologist, photographer, crime scene investigator, computer tech, and 36-ish others who've helped him solve things in one way or another. They are how his brain processes the knowledge he gains. 

Brandon, at the beginning of the set of novellas, says that this was a very personal story for him to write and it hit in a squishy part in my heart for the writer part of me too.  This is a very interesting way to show what it's like to have so many "people" in your head, talking, knowing things you wouldn't know, or doing things you definitely wouldn't do. Brandon has put his own "People" who are in their own "worlds" and "influences" like I had very prominently in high school when I was writing many fiction and fantasy pieces and it was kind of a game with my friends--for me a game, for them (particularly certain people) maybe not so much. But it was fun and Brandon put a type of my world into words and got it published. Which is fantastic. 

For the story...ies, he has to find a guy, find a dead body, and find a girl. This three novellas in one was awesome and I'm glad I was able to listen them all together. The reader was great and he was really good at keeping me sucked into the book. It was well written as Brandon does. 

I am also BEYOND pleased with the ending, although I was crying as I was doing dishes, listening. It  made me sad, tender, and then happy. I love the characters so so so so so much. Well done, Brandon. This is one that I'm definitely going to be reading again.

Arcanum Unbounded

 Arcanum Unbounded is a compilation of short stories and novellas written by Brandon Sanderson about his Cosmere Universe.

Compiled by Khriss, a worldhopper from the Taldain System (White Sand graphic novel series), Arcanum Unbounded are some of the documents from the many Cosmere planets that give background, world building, character development. While they aren't dire, at this point in time to read them all alongside the major series, they are enlightening and a joy to read. 

Through reading these, I've discovered that my favorite story that Brandon has produced so far is Misborn: Secret History which has major spoilers for the Mistborn series (for both Era 1 and 2, read them first before you read Secret History otherwise you'll be vastly disappointed). But it is my favorite because Kelsier is amazing, Fuzz makes me cry, and Ruin is a major nasty piece of work but such an interesting character. 

As I said before, it is a compilation of stories of : 

The Selish System

• The Emperor's Soul, 
• The Hope of Elantris, 

The Scadrian System 

• The Eleventh Metal, 
• Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Elantia: Episodes  28-30, 
• Mistborn Secret History,

The Taldain System

• White Sand (an excerpt of the graphic novel and an excerpt from the written, rough draft version, which I like better than the graphic novel version)

The Threnodite System

• Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell

The Dominad System 

• Sixth of the Dusk

and The Rosharan System

• Edgedancer

These are very good books that I highly recommend reading. If you haven't read any of the Cosmere series (which I suggest you rectify quickly) many of these stores are good to read as a standalone, except Misborn Secret History and Hope of Elantris. The rest could be enjoyed on their own without any hiccups or misunderstandings. My only other suggestion would be to read White Sand completely with the other volumes in the series to help things make sense, though for the excepts you'd be fine as a jumping off point for further reading. (For the rest of the written story of White Sand you can go onto BrandonSanderson.org and become a part of their newsletter and be able to ask for the link for the whole story. I've yet to be able to do it myself as my life isn't always free of craziness, but it's something I plan to indeed do in the future.)  

Sixth of the Dusk

Sixth of the Dusk is another novella by Brandon Sanderson. This is another from the Arcanum Unbounded as part of the Cosmere.

On a world without a Shard, this world is different than the others in the Cosmere that we've been told up to this far. Dusk in a trapper of a very treacherous and deadly island that is more likely to kill you than give anything that one would consider helpful, except for the birds that grow up there have amazing abilities that no one on the outside and in the cities can explain. The world is a deadly one that would sooner kill you than look at you. Only with the help of his birds, through their visions of potential dangers where he sees himself dead in many many ways, is he able to stay safe. For the most part.

Dusk comes back to the island and finds that others have been here. Others who don't know what they're doing. Many bodies litter the ground and it seems like someone has been taking one of his trails to his sanctuaries. He finds a woman, who was part of the expedition force that died and finds out that she has not come alone and with reasons that will easily cause the end of his world, as deadly as it is, as he knows it.

This was a very interesting story that I was able to gobble up very quickly. It was fast paced and thrilling. And as ever the world that Brandon built here was different and engaging. A world that is constantly trying to kill you, where you should be deathly afraid of ants let alone the giant beasts the prowl and seek you out. Dusk, also, is an interesting character because he doesn't talk much. Not many of Brandon's characters do that.

It is a short story, less than 60 pages  that is deep into a new world to discover and be careful while treading into. I rather enjoyed it.

Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell

A strange title, don't you think?

Shadows of Silence in the Forests of Hell, is another short story by Brandon Sanderson in the Arcanum Unbounded and boy does it pack a punch.

Based in a Cosmere world called Threnody, ghosts called shades roam freely in the Forests. The Evil has taken over the Homeland and everyone who wasn't killed by it was forced to flee to this continent where the shades rule with shadowy hands. You follow the Simple rules and you'll be fine, don't and you will wither away to skeleton and clothes.

Silence is an innkeeper who secrets away as a bounty hunter in order to pay for all the silver she uses to keep her homestead safe from all the shades as well as the money to keep the in running. When a major bounty rolls into her inn she takes the chance to take him in, not alive of course. But killing in the Forests is bad and will set the shades into a rage that will kill anyone and everyone if they smell blood. Tricky business finding them, trickier business killing them, trickiest business getting out alive.

This was a very cool story. I very much had a "This is Halloween" vibe that would be good to read during that spooky time. I'm not normally very interested in "ghost ghost stories" but this was (written so well) one that pulled me in. It could have pulled on many cliches and troupes, but went an a different route which made it very much engaging.

It also has a very strong lead female characters who will survive. A mother and a daughter who have do to what they have to do. I think Brandon did a very good job with these characters, whereas he's been lightly criticized about his female characters in the past. It's fun to see him growing as a writer and making these people, all of them, so real.

I can't wait for more books in the Threnody world and see how it reaches into the Cosmere. Very excited.

Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Elantia

Allomancer Jak is another short story in the Arcanum Unbounded book by Brandon Sanderson.

When I first looked at it on Goodreads I thought it was going to be a graphic novel, but it's not. It is a obnoxious, humorous snippet that would have been found in a newspaper with lots of little episodes about adventures off in the Roughs of Mistborn Era 2.

Jak is the obnoxious one. The adventurer who can get himself out if any entrapment or snare by doing the most outlandish things. Whether his tales are "true" or not is for the "dear reader" to read and decide. Jak's story isn't the most thrilling or possibly or "well written" because that's not who Jak is. Brandon wrote it from Jak's point of view and in Jak's words, so they are off kilter--almost so much that I didn't want to read it.

The part that kept me going were the footnotes throughout the piece which were written by a Terris Steward who accompanies Jak on his adventures and transcribes Jak's letters for the public. They are very funny. The commentary is hilarious.

It's a very short story, but one that give a bit more insight to the world of Mistborn era 2. It can be read pretty much whenever after the original series, and doesn't give really anything away.

A short, interesting read if you can get past Jak's obnoxious ways.

The Eleventh Metal

The Eleventh Metal is another short story from Brandon Sanderson, though this one is centered around the Mistborn series. This is a prequel story about how and why Kelsier started to become the way that he did throughout Mistborn.

We follow Kelsier as he is new to his mistborn powers and still trying to learn how to think like a mistborn. He has a teacher named Gemmel, who is referenced in Mistborn: The Final Empire. Gemmel is a mistborn himself and very quirky. He talks to himself (though it's possibly Ruin with whom he's conversing) and acts rather crazy. Kelsier can't get much of a handle on the man, though he sticks around the loon to gain as much knowledge as he can from the miser. They invade a Keep, much like it often happens in the rest of the series, and try to find something--though what Gemmel is looking for isn't completely clear. Inside Kelsier finds a new drive after his again which then starts out the beginning of the rest of the series.

I love reading about Kelsier. He is one of my favorite characters and I will read anything that Brandon Sanderson produces of Kelsier or of the Mistborn world. I love it all.

Elantris

While Brandon Sanderson is probably my favorite author, Elantris is not my favorite book. Good book, especially towards the end, but not my favorite.

The city of Elantris was once a shining beacon to all the surrounding countries. The walls glowed. The people glowed. They had magnificent powers to heal, to teleport, to do anything it seemed. They were Gods! Until they weren't. Suddenly, one day, Elantris fell. It darkened and the Elantians seemed almost like zombies. Their hearts stopped beating, their hair fell out, their bodies covered with bruise-like abrasions, and they stopped glowing. The Gods fell.

Ten years later, people still enter Elantris but only those who have been touched by the Shoad. Those who would have turned into glowing Elantians now turn into bodies that have died who's minds haven't realized their dead. Prince Raoden wakes up on morning and finds that the Shoad has taken him and he is forced to go to Elantris where the dead walk. Princess Sarene travels from her home country to marry Prince Raoden only to find his funeral happening later that day with her marriage binding and complete. She is married to a dead man she's never met. (Hooray for her.) Hrathen also come to the city just outside Elantris with orders to convert all of the heathen and do so before three months or his home country will come to slaughter them all. Not happy prospects for anyone.

Between political intrigues, survival, and crazy priests the people of Kae have their hands full, whether or not they know it.

I found that buy the end of the book I really like all of the characters. Raoden was the one that got me through the slower parts toward the beginning. Hrathen was a very intriguing character because of the internal battles he ended up fighting and I did enjoy his playing with Sarene in their own verble chess matches.

This book was one where you had to jump into it and start treadding. Brandon is much better at this in Mistborn and is far more quick at it. Some people said that you can maybe skim through the first half and by the time you get to about 55% to 60% really start focusing, and I found that to be pretty much the case.

Especially toward the beginning, I was very confused to the whole bunch of characters that were thrown at me and I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be remembering. They seemed to be just names that flew past my eyes in a blur. It took a good portion of the time to get people fully impressed in my brain or even figure out who they were for the most part. Kiin was easy and Roial easier later on, but many of the others were hard.

I think Elantris, the place, is a very interesting one full of mystery. I think that is why I liked Raoden so much. The people he interacted with and the city itself drew me in very much. The Aeo's were interesting and as we went on they made far more sense, though they were still simple.

I did have some questions toward the end. It is part of the Cosmere so "There is always another secret." If you have more questions, check out coppermind.net and it should help you out a lot. Though Spoilers, you are warned.

This will be one that I'll reread again probably because I missed a lot and it took me forever to actually complete the read. (Life can suck at times.)

White Sand Volume 2

Reading White Sand Volume 2 was a fun adventure. Obviously you need to read the first volume (which I found was much more enjoyable my second time through).

This is the continuation of the "White Sand" series by Brandon Sanderson in the Cosmere universe.

Here Kenton is working with Khriss to keep the Diem going. On he verge of collapse and bring posted by the Dayside government, they work hard to negotiate with and persuade the probable to keep the Sand Masters running and a part of the city and culture. All the while defeating same creatures, visiting parties and government dignitaries, and killing assassins who want Kenton dead. He very much has a full plate to work on.

This graphic novel is done really well. It seems more artistic that the 1st Volume in some of its mirror-ment.  Though at least in the last chapter of my edition, the artwork style changed suddenly to something far more simplistic. It didn't give a reason and it didn't seem like it would be important thematically. Aside from that confusion, it worked well. 

This time through the series I enjoyed the story a lot more than simply reading one volume at a time. If you are going to read this series, do so with multiple volumes in hand. The flow is better, the plot makes more sense, and it the lack of climax at the end of the first volume can be overlooked.

I very much loved Khriss in this book. She is my favorite character here by far. The other characters do get their time to grow and become interesting, but I love her most.

I am far more interested at the end of Volume 2 than I was with 1 and can't wait for Volume 3 to be published though it has no publishing date as of yet.

Edgedancer

As a side story (novella) to Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series, as expected, it was a joy to read.

We were first introduced to Lift (one of Brandon's favorite characters) in the second book in the Stormlight Archive series, Words of Radiance, in the interludes between the normal chapters. As soon as I read about how "awesome" she was, I fell in love with her.

This is Lift's story starting with some interlude chapters from WoR, but then continues after she leaves the Azir palace. She heads to Yeddaw a very peculiar city dug into the ground. Why she is there, we don't really know until the end and she really figures it out herself. Not only is Lift there with her Voidbringer Wyndle, but Darkness is in the city for some reason and Lift sets herself on a mission to find out.

This is a very small book also found in the Arcanum Unbound compilation of stories. It was a quick, short read only really taking two in-story days. But when it comes to Brandon a short story always ends up turning into a small 200 page book *smiles* and we are happy to have so much.

Lift is one of Brandon's favorite characters (he says so at the end of this story) and she is one of mine too. I find her funny and childlike, deeming her radiant powers as "awesomeness" because she doesn't know anything else to call it. Some people, I know, get rubbed the wrong way by this, so it is up to you if you like her but I think she's a doll.

This world is a small part of Roshar and Brandon gave a chance to explore more of this world that we won't get while reading through the Stormlight Archive because of lack of screen time. Roshar is thought out and very well developed. Each culture is vastly different with their own pros and cons and quirks which makes it real.

I think the part that I enjoyed, almost, the most is that we get to see changes in the characters as they are working through their own internal struggles. Not just Lift as she's coping with growing older, but other important character to all of the series. This book covers a jump that happened to particular characters that were brushed over in Oathbringer, so this book gave more of an explanation.

It can be read on it's own, but there will be references to other important things that might fly over the readers head if unacquainted with the Stormlight Archive. It's possible, but you end up missing out on a lot. For those who don't want to read all 1100 pages each of the Stormlight Archive, if you wanted to read this and get a taste of Roshar, read it. Enjoy it. Then pick up The Way of Kings because you'll like that one too.

In the end, there was more screen time for Lift and Wyndle, whom I love and enjoy reading about.

Oathbringer

Oathbringer was a fantastic book. A big book, but (like all of Brandon Sanderson's books I've read) amazing.

The Everstorm is here and the Voidbringers have returned, and the lost city of Urithiru has been found. Urithiru is so large that it would take at least a decade to explore most of the rooms and life times trying to figure out how contraptions work. But being a few weeks into the lost city has brought about unexpected things: Oathgates, new fabrials, murder, and creepy shadows that haunt the halls. Dalinar and the high princes from the Shattered Planes aren't the only people to come to Urithiru, but the Ghostblade's had also made their appearance.

In Oathbringer we get not only the point of view of Kaladin (who has now learned to fly on the winds of the Stormfather), Shallan (who now has to find a way to deal with all the things she's so successfully kept down and out of her mind), Dalinar (who still needs to "unite them," defend Urithiru and Kholinar from the parishmen who are now taking over), and Wit (doing who knows what) every once in a while. But we get bits of point of view from many  members of Bridge Four! Teft and Rock and the Lopen and others. Aiya! I love them all. But there are many others you get to see, including Moash. I understand the hatred many people have for him and I agree. Stupid Moash. I gained a deeper love for Jasnah and Adolin. His sword is really cool. I like her.

This book is Dalinar's. We get to see his memories and we get to know his wife. Dalinar was not a very good person in his younger years. Like, I started getting sick because of the crap he did. Ugh. The "moral of the story" that each character learns, each learning something a bit different through the same experience, was very well thought out and well presented. Brandon Sanderson is really good as his character decision making moments. In Well of Ascension, where Vin has a decision to make with Zane is one of my favorite such moments. But Sanderson does this for multiple people here which was fantastic and again well done.

I really enjoyed this book. It did take me a long time, competitively, to read it and there were times, especially at the beginning, that went really slow. But if you can be through it, it's very, very much worth it. Read it and enjoy it. Reread it along with the others and find all the "awesomeness" that is inside.

I did find Shallan and her multiple personality thing very weird and I didn't much care for when many of her, especially early, sections. I enjoyed Kaladin's point of view. There actually seemed far fewer chapters for him, which made me sad. It is Dalinar's book so he can have a large part of it, which I was okay with. I just would have liked more from him.

This ends up being the problem with I don't want to say too much, but I feel like I'm not giving enough. So I'll just say, get through the first part and you'll love the book.

Words of Radiance

Words of Radiance is the second book in Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive. This is my second readthrough of it and found I enjoyed it even more.

"Now that Kaladin is working for Dalinar, Dalinar and Adolin are safe, Shallan has become Jasnah's ward, they've found out that the Almighty is dead as has been for quite a while, and so many other things, here is where they finally all get together. The book cover says: "Six years ago, the Assassin in while killed the Alethi king, and now his prime target is Highprince Dalinar. Kaladin is in command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial post for his low status, and must protect the king and Dalinar, while secretly mastering remarkable new powers linked to his honorspren, Syl. Shallan bears the burden of preventing the return of the Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that follows. The Shattered Plains holds the answer, where the Parshendi are convinced by their war leader to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled." (Blurb from goodreads.com) It is a much better way to sum up than I could without giving too much away. 

Ah, I enjoy this series so much. This book and Way of Kings, are books I go back to all the time in my head. The scenes and images are so lush and vibrant that they have stuck with me and made me want to read certain passages when I'm in the midst of reading other things. They creep up into my thoughts saying, "This is a great part. Let's play it over again. We should probably read the book again. Yes, it's big, but it's fantastic." The writing is beautiful, as always, where it is so easy to get sucked in and forget that you are reading a story instead of living it. 

I love the characters in here. All of them. Kaladin and Shallan progress so much throughout both of these books. Shallan is given her flash backs in this story and her background is so sad. Not only is her family secretly in dire straits because of the broken fabrial, but we learn it is also because of the tyranny which their father reigned over them. We learn far more about her brothers and their dealings than I expected we would. Shallan also grows very much in a way I didn't expect her to do making her appear very different from in the first book. I've heard reviews that they didn't like Shallan's character development and that Sanderson wrote her so than she is nothing like her self in the first book. I see their point, but I disagree. Which she is very much different and there is a definite point of shift I can see the logical trial of her actions. It isn't out of character so much as expanding a new ability we didn't know she had. As a Lightweaver, she is able to make illusions after she has drawn them. Which means she can change things around her as well as herself. She takes on different disguises throughout the story and impersonates others. Our shy little Shallan starts to take more control of herself and her surroundings and changes them as she needs. But then she still has the ability to be herself. Through these different people she becomes she finds herself a little more. She sees herself in many of the characters she portrays. Which this journey I don't believe is complete (there are still three more books in this particular series), she has found probably a first destination on her journey on truly facing the things of her past that honestly haunt her. 

Pattern, whom we are introduced to as Shallan's spren, is cool. I like him for his childish curiosity and trying to understand that things that are around him. He is very much like Syl though he is more calculative and loves Lies while Sly is a bit more flighty. (Pun intended.) I've seen costume portraying what Pattern would look like (such as here ) which are really phenomenal. 

I really enjoyed the progression of Adolin throughout the book too. While he's not making giant leaps and bounds, it was fun to see more of him and I can't wait for Oathbringer to really see how he gets out of his mess that he made at the very end of the book. When I read it the first time, I didn't like it at all. That fact that he did what he did made me very angry, but through this re-read I am more understanding to what he did. (I also started reading Oathbringer a little and have found that he is concerned about what he did and when if finally comes out, because of course it will, people will be angry but they will also be understanding.) 

There will be one part that makes every reader kring (you'll know it when you get to it) because of what Kaladin does in the moment. After a glorious fight defending Adolin, he does something very stupid to get back at Amaram and it backfires drastically. It was stupid and you will have to get over it. Sorry. But I think that shows Sanderson as a good writer. He knows and we, as the reader knows, that what he is about to do is stupid but he is willing to let his characters be stupid when they are blinded by one thing or another. We all do that because we are human and Kaladin does that because he is human too. 

All of the characters are amazing in their own right. Sabriel is one of my favorites and Lift is downright hysterical with her "awesomeness." Lift has her own short story, because she is so well loved and fantastic will be one of your favorites because of how funny she is. Her poor spren. 

The plot and flow of the story was different than Way of Kings because Dalinar gives us a count down. There are only sixty-something days until something bad happens. How do they prepare? How can they go about saving humanity? Can they even stop it? How do they get the princes to follow him before this Everstorm comes?  

As the characters start really meeting up with one another, connections are made and which means things move forward and they take steps back at points. One of my favorite chapters/scenes/developments was when Shallan and Kaladin are dropped into one of the chasms and they are forced to work together to find a way out. But of course nothing can go easily and awesomeness ensues. 

In the end, I love it all, even the kringy parts. It was well written and beautiful. I am going to step away from Roshar for a bit because this was such a big endeavor and will be reading something a bit more light before I try to tackle Oathbringer though it will be forthcoming. I hope you enjoy this book. 

Mistborn: Secret History

Second review: I've decided this is my favorite Brandon Sanderson story. Even beyond The Emperor's Soul. I don't often cry in books, but even though I knew it was coming, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed reading it so much, and it makes me want to reread the Mistborn series again with all the others Cosmetic books.  Brandon Sanderson writes so well that, for this one in particular, it strums my heart strings.

*****

Mistborn: Secret History made me cry. If you're read the other Mistborn books by Brandon Sanderson, it explains so much where there seemed to be holes. If you haven't read them DON'T READ THIS ONE YET!!!! This has so many spoilers. I'd suggest reading it after Bands of Mourning or at least Hero of Ages. There are too many awesome things that will just be spoiled if you get to far ahead of yourself.

So if you haven't read Mistborn yet, don't read this one. Stop your reading of this post right now, otherwise I'll call you a cheaterpants.

******

This is Kelsier's story after he dies in the first book. The Lord Ruler kills him and he finds himself talking to Preservation, the God of their world, as we find out throughout Hero of Ages. Kelsier is able to stop himself from going to the Beyond and ends up imprisoning himself at the Well of Ascension. There he comes to figure out who Ruin and Preservation are as well as the fact that he knows nothing of the world or the cosmere. He meets up with a certain "witty" man whom we've come to love and adore throughout all of Sanderson's books. And he actually kicks Kelsier's trash.

Kelsier, being a spirit-like person, gets to move through the world differently after he is released from the Well, alongside Ruin. He meets Khriss from White Sands and is able to find other people from Elantris (which I haven't read yet, my bad) in hopes that he can save Preservation from being killed by Ruin. But when Preservation dies he hopes to take His power to defeat Ruin. It doesn't work out so well. Ruin has been at this for too long and is able to speak to the people he is controlling. Kelsier can only speak to madmen or to people in their sleep, which makes things very difficult.

He ends up helping Vin and gives up his power to her so she can defeat Ruin, as Preservation had planned when his mind wasn't broken.

OOOOOH it made me cry. Revisiting Dox, Clubs, Vin and Elend! I just about died. Again. So sad, but so happy at different times. I continuely love Sazed and Spook. I feel for them all!

Read it. Enjoy it. Love it!

It is a fantastic novella that answers so many of the Cosmere questions as well as gives insight to Wax and Wayne in Mistborn Era 2. So many answers yet so many secrets.

Bands of Mourning

A breath of fresh air. I was really excited to read this book because I love Wax and Wayne, Steris and Marasi. They are fantastic and I can't wait for the next one, though it will be a longer time in coming than I want--Fall 2018.

Bands of Mourning in Mistborn: Era II starts with Steris' and Wax's wedding. Of course it goes awry, but Steris has prepared for that. She makes lists of everything and is well aware of whom she is trying to marry. I've grown to love her throughout the book, as many have through others reviews I've read and heard.

They get an assignment to go out to the outer provinces and find the spike of a kandra who was half blown up and has now gone slightly crazy. There are things out there with strange glyphs and carvings that lead them to believe this kandra found the Bands of Mourning, the Lord Rulers Metalminds where he stored all of his Feruchemy powers. They are some pretty powerful weapons that make you practically a God. But they also know Suit is looking for them and probably has the kandra spike as well. Wax is also aware that Suit has his sister, Telsin, and is holder her captive. If he can find Suits hideout, save his sister, brings Suit to justice, find the Bands of Mourning, and the Spike it'd be a really good day. Of course, because it is Wax's life, not all things go to plan like Steris would want. Murder happens, a lot, train robbery, new gadgets that have strange powers, and odd masked people appear. What are those things in the sky?! Awesomeness that's what's up there, not just Steelpushers.

It was a great book, written well, in a world that I've come to love so much. The Cosmere is an amazing universe full of so many ins and outs that it is hard to keep track of them all. Hooray for the coppermind.net  where you can keep things straight, at least for a while until more secrets are revealed. "There is always another secret."

Shadows of Self

Can I just say "Poor Wax, can't the guy get a break?" The things writers put their characters through--I'm guilty as well in this.

Shadows of Self is the sequel to Alloy of Law. In the Mistborn: Era II series by Brandon Sanderson, we follow Wax and Wayne, constables in the large city of Elendal as they hunt down a mysterious figure who killed many more than a handful of corrupt Lords and Ladies. But as they continue on in this investigation then kandra make their debut and change things dramatically in their hunt, though Wax feels more like the prey because their villain is always three steps ahead of them.

I loved this book. The characters are so well developed and Sanderson takes us back, in reference, to other characters that have long since died but were part of the first Mistborn series. Harmony is funny and I'm glad he's been able to stick around from the first series because I always enjoyed seeming him progress. If he can progress as Harmony too, I'd be really interested to see that. They are all so human. They have their quirks; they have their ticks; they have their faults. And I love them all. Well maybe not Steris at this point, but I've been told that I will love her. So we will happily go to book three as soon as I can get my hands on one. :D

It is so hard to go from reading a Brandon Sanderson novel to anything else. It all seems to so childish and unfinished, not quite as polished--even those authors who have written many books and have the experience.

Alloy of Law

Another Brandon Sanderson because his writing calls to me. Seriously!!

Alloy of Law is the first book in the Mistborn Era 2 (AKA Wax and Wayne novels). After the happenings of Hero of Ages, three hundred years of progress and change has happened. The metropolis Elendel is thriving, the original religion that Kelsier started has has fragmented into multiple religions with a plethora of believers, lords and ladies still reign (though who really "rules" is still unclear to me, I may have missed it though), and the Steel Inquisitors don't exist so there are official lawmen who patrol the city to keep the peace.

Enter Waxillium (Wax). Not liking the city scene, he stays in the Roughs for 20 years leaving his House to be run by his uncle. His uncle dies in an accident, but he just can't bring himself back to the city. When his girlfriend dies in front of him *cough cough*, the grief is too much and he returns. But the city isn't as easy going as it he remembered. Parties and appearances need to happen, the family name and reputation needs to be mended and he's finding the lawman in him isn't appreciated in the company of the elite of society around him.

Bad guys are still out there it seems  when he gets word of phantom railcars, hostages, and allomancy metals disappearing. He can't help but let the lawman in him out, but then he finds he's gotten himself into more trouble than he though--nearly getting killed 3+ times in one day is a lot for any man.

His deputy (equivalent) out in the Roughs, Wayne--a wiz with accents and can get anything from anyone--joins him in this hunt to save the hostages and figure out what is going on. Only by the end do they realize how much over their heads they are in.

It's been a great read. With a hint of seasonal depression on my hands, reading this was much needed. I smiled every time they mentioned Vin, Elend, Spook, Marsh, and especially Sazed. Oh, Sazed. The references made me happy because I knew those people! But the atmosphere was bright and , even though they almost died a bunch of times.

Wax was a good main character. We saw most of the novel through his eyes, but his little quirks were fun. Wayne is a riot. I almost expected him to be bouncier, though he was composed. The banter between Wax and Wayne game them a brotherly feel that was a lot of fun. Marasi (very similar to Mare--Kelsier's wife--to me; so I'm making believed she's named after Mare, though it's probably not) is the cousin of Wax's "fiance"--who gets herself kidnapped--and assists Wax and Wayne in their search for the badden's. The makeup of this little troupe brings me joy because they work so well with each other.

Allomancy is still a big thing in this book (series of books) and plays a vital role in the fights that happen. I love the way the Allomancy has progressed through time. Coinshots (which Wax is) and non-Steelburners can use rifles and guns. Now that more people have Allomancy and can marry most anyone they want, Feruchamy (like what Sazed had) abounds too. And the chance of having a child that does both is much more common too. There are so many different types of people that make this world rich.

It was a great read, short--comparatively--but the next two novels are out; we are simply waiting until next year (probably) for the last one. I'm very much excited to read Shadows of Self.

Edit for a Second Read through!!:

I love Ironeyes. I miss Breeze, I miss Kelsier and Dox and Vin and Elend!! I'll be reading Mistborn again soon. This world is amazing.