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Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
Book 3 of the Stormlight Archive series
Page count: 1233
Genre: fantasy
***SPOILERS CONTAINED BEYOND THIS POINT***
Wow. What a ride. This book was not only so exciting that I stayed up past midnight three nights in a row reading it, but also incredibly meaningful.
I was upset by Elhokar's death because I had hopes for Moash and Elhokar was close to redemption. And by upset I mean I was throwing my pillow down the stairs. That scene where Kaladin had his breakdown and the humans and parshmen he cared about started fighting really got to me. Poor Kal has gone through so much and he just needs love. (Not necessarily romantic, just love in general)
This book really addresses the meanings of right and wrong, after getting to know the parshmen with Kaladin and finding out that the humans we're the voidbringers.
I think there's a lot of representation of different human problems and mental illnesses in this book: split/multiple personality with Shallan, depression with Kaladin, epilepsy with Renarin, amnesia and alcohol addiction with Dalinar. As Brandon Sanderson himself said, character's limitations are more interesting than their strengths, and the realism of these characters is one of the amazing things about these books, as well as the detailed worlds and cultures he created. And, of course, the crossover with Warbreaker and the mention of Vivenna.
I loved this book. So much. I'm glad Shallan and Adolin ended up together, because I don't think I could imagine Kaladin and Shallan. Also, Dalinar fighting off Odium was the coolest thing ever. I'm so happy that Jasnah became queen.
I think it's awesome that Dalinar learned to read at the end because as he said, the men claimed battle and the women claimed literature, and now with Jasnah, Shallan, Lift, Lyn, etc, learning to fight and Dalinar and Renarin learning to read, they're reclaiming what used to be closed to them. It's so cool.
Thank you, Brandon, for this amazing new update on Roshar, and I can't wait for the next one.