Words of Radiance

February 24, 2014
Trapped in an interminable war with the Parshendi, the kingdom of Alethkar is further handicapped by quarreling aristocrats and the racial divisions between the elite lighteyes and downtrodden darkeyes. Against this background, Sanderson's sequel to The Way of Kings has several intertwined storylines. The scholar Jasnah seeks proof for dark suspicions, while her apprentice Shallan struggles to find an identity in a world determined to define it for her. Dalinar, uncle to hapless King Elhokar, strives to reform Alethkar despite the opposition of the self-consciously corrupt aristocrat Sadeas and the much-betrayed darkeyed Kaladin who is forced to choose between personal vengeance and the greater good. Urgency is heightened by the approach of a long forgotten menace, one a divided world may not survive. Kaladin's situation echoes the Parable of the Faithful Servant and while most readers will miss the significance, both the myth behind the ascension of the lighteyes and certain aspects of the Parshendi recall the Curse of Lamanites, a now obscure bit of American folklore. Those elements aside, the novel is weighty without being ponderous, and delivers a satisfactory story despite being part of an episodic secondary world fantasy series.

Narrators Michael Kramer and Kate Reading share the latest in the Stormlight Archive series with well-practiced familiarity. The book is of epic proportions, not only in length (which is formidable) but also in scope and tone. This is a character-driven book, and Kramer's and Reading's portrayals will help listeners settle in for the intertwined plotlines as the protagonists carry out their separate but connected stories. Each narrator draws on a deep reserve of voices and accents while maintaining a quick pace. Equally adept with dialogue, rumination, and long narrative passages, they make the hours fly by. J.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

June 1, 2014

In the second of Sanderson's projected ten-book "Stormlight Archive" series (after The Way of Kings), a storm is brewing on the world of Roshar, and the Kholin family is at its center. Dalinar Kholin has been told by prophetic dreams to "unite them," but struggles with his own dictatorial impulses. The new captain of Dalinar's guard, Kaladin, works to learn and control the powers granted him by stormlight. But the real star of the book is Shallan Davar, a young woman struggling to reconcile the secrets of her past with her burgeoning abilities. Shallan could be the key to saving the humanity of Roshar in the rapidly approaching conflict, provided she can untangle the threads of history in time. VERDICT This audiobook is quite a commitment at 38 CDs, but the high ratio of thrilling revelation to descriptive prose makes it well worth the investment. Sanderson deftly weaves multiple viewpoints together--some familiar, some new--answering many of the questions posed by the first book and prompting many more. Kate Reading and Michael Kramer team up once more to provide vibrant narration. VERDICT Recommended for all epic fantasy fans. ["Sanderson's skill at worldbuilding is unmatched, and...he has developed an innovative magical system and combined it with rich, complex characters to create a compelling story. This developing epic series is a must-read for all fantasy fans," read the starred review of the Tor hc, LJ 3/15/14.]--Anna Mickelsen, Springfield City Lib., MA

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