We Need to Talk About Wind and Truth

[@lachlankidd6517]

I personally think the ending was one of the strongest aspects of the book. Spoilers for Wind and Truth (and some for Sunlit Man) below. . . . First, I disagree that their was a lack of resolution. Each of the character's arcs were (at least mostly) resolved before the end. Adolin's independence, Szeth dealing with his traumatic past, Dalinar's mission to unite, etc. I would even go as far as to say 3 primary viewpoints were fully resolved for the purposes of Stormlight: Dalinar, Szeth, and Sigzil (we know that he goes worldhopping after this with Aux). Second, the expectation that Sanderson has set up for the endings of his books - especially Stormlight - is that a crazy plot twist (or several) will occur that have massive implications for the following book. So going in to the final book of an arc, knowing that there will be a time jump, I expected the biggest example of that to happen, not for that to be subverted. It was never going to be like Mistborn Era 1/2 which had very few recurring characters between eras and a long time jump, we already knew that at least a significant portion of characters would be returning in the second arc. I also think it's important to note that each of the characters had very hopeful endings, even if they weren't happy, which is probably a part of why I'm satisfied by the end.

[@hammerandthewrench7924]

there was a major lack of resolution. the book was sloppy and overall a major trainwreck to what started of as a strong series. The book is just not good.

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

Incredible discussion! I was engaged with all the plotlines and didn’t even mind the open ended nature of the ending. The prose choices and overexplanation of character feelings continually took me out of my immersion though which would be my two biggest critiques of the book.

[@ainalove3492]

Exactly what I felt! Especially everyone being very aware of their mental struggles, like very very aware it felt too sudden for me!

[@senseweaver01]

I've got a bad feeling about this...

[@cynicalnoloc5122]

Appreciate your non-spoiler bit as I have not dug into the book myself yet but liked your thoughts, opinions, and critiques. You are great, Cronk

[@JakeTSloan]

Great video! I think there were valid criticisms of W&T, but overall I still loved it. It is in the lower half of Stormlight in my opinion, but a “bad” stormlight book is still a GREAT book.

[@TheValentino4600]

i loved the book, i went in blind without seeing any review or even watch or read any predictions and i love it, English is not my first language and it took me 15 days to read it. but again i loved rhythms of war and a lot people didn't like it.

[@hannahbrennan2131]

Overall, I enjoyed it, but it did drag more than a bit in places. I know one of the Knight's Radiant ideals is Journey Before Destination, but I think Sanderson took that one a bit too much to heart.

[@happycroissant2]

I am currently on chapter 121, and totally agree with Michael’s comments about jumping around POVs and binge reading it vs reading it over weeks. I have a hard time focusing on the plots and building an emotional connection, because as soon as I start to, we shift to another POV. Still loving being in the world and with the characters, but can’t help feeling a little frustration. I’m so glad Michael chose to share his thoughts! He always seems to articulate the same things I’m feeling in a much more comprehensible way. 😂 Love this channel.

[@M1cr0Man1a]

Probably my least favorite of the 5 but I still liked it. A lot of stuff didn’t really surprise me but it was satisfying to experience with a few switch ups here and there. There were a few times where it felt like Sanderson wanted to have his cake and eat it too and it feels a little cheap sometimes.

[@pixiestyx]

I also loved the book. I think Brandon has earned our trust by always being clear with his communication and timelines, and following through with what he says he will write. I'm just enjoying the ride.

[@LouiseXSparrow]

I agree the cliff hanger is a problem with this, it was really built up up as the end of an era and although it is, its also very much a middle book which left it as disappointing. There was q more satisfying ending to each of the first 4 books, and I think how people feel about this is going to depend a great deal on the next book in 8 years time. Another thing was that its really getting to the point where you need to have read the rest of the Cosmere books... I think it needed to be a satisfying series in its own right before we got to that point. With the pacing and length, I think it could have been two books because honestly with so many plotlines some of it felt rushed and underdeveloped. Personally I loved the R&R plotline, but for those characters it felt like it came out of nowhere, I think we needed to spend more time with them and their order and bring them to the fore earlier.

[@anoushkaps2164]

"i don't think we've got that kind of relationship yet." HAHAHA HELP THIS WAS SO FUNNY

[@GeekShiek]

There were some decent high parts, but it felt like all of my least favorite sanderson qualities came to the front here. It felt roughly handled compared to some of his other work. Im still on board, and im interested to see how WaT reads after all 10 books are out

[@lightningtiger7721]

I really disagree with the whole Sanderson didn’t earn his audience’s trust. I think he has done this with other series where we’ve reached satisfying conclusions, but it’s this one where he’s consistently asking his audience to go along with him. I think it’s because this is the /biggest/ series that we want that conclusion so badly and the fact he just doesn’t do that is a bit frustrating. I will say that I actually do like opening endings as much as satisfying conclusions. The fact that we have to just sit with this feeling for years, but we know we will eventually come back is a unique feeling that I’ve only ever gotten from the ending of the First Law and the Age of Madness by Joe Abercrombie. Great video, by the way! Really love how you broke down your feelings and thoughts even without a script.

[@s54b32i]

Thank you for a great review. I appreciate your thoughts on the book and its reception. I read through the book fast and still think it has some problems that I didn’t find in the other books. There are to many parts that I find boring. Mainly the Sigzil Shattered plains stuff and parts of the Kaladin stuff. For Kaladin it’s mainly that I feel his problems have been resolved in a more emotional manner in the earlier books. I loved the Seth stuff and also Nial. But as you’ve said I feel some of the our world/modern terminology pulls you out of the story. It feels YA.

[@fellopiantube7607]

i've just started book 1. at my reading pace there will be already book 6 by the time i finish book 5

[@TravellingGoof]

Your reaction has been my first view into what W&T has been like. I've seen zero review, reactions, or responses until this point, but I saw yours and trusted your voice. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book!

[@kurathchibicrystalkitty5146]

I've said it before to anyone who'll listen that the Stormlight Archive would've benefited immensely from only being 5 books. Still very long books, but "only" 5. In some ways I do get Brandon Sanderson's insistence on 10, since it's a number he seems to like, and there's nothing wrong with that. My favourite numbers [8, 13, and 22] show up in my stories over and over again, for instance. But there comes a point where practicality needs to come first. I had 13 divine primordial personfications for a time until I realized that some were more powerful than others and that I needed to simplify my magic system [which took months upon months to finally finalize]. I ended up with 8 instead, arranged in such a way that their powers compliment each other. Anyway, at this point I'm only following Brandon Sanderson's progress [such as it is] out of a slight not-quite morbid fascination. It's a bit like watching an avalanche in slow motion, pun intended. But I really enjoyed seeing what the Book Guy had to say. 😄

[@mgelliott1]

Ok, I will also say it appears 75%-80% of the book took place in actual flashbacks (Szeth), or "observed" events from the past in other realms. This was a clear exposition dump. I won't say the info wasn't relevant, it was but it was still exposition as if Brandon wrote himself into a corner and he had no time to resolve plot lines w/o the dump. Szeth's back story vs the one I read on Lift, could have been in the novella he wrote vs. hers.

[@samrainnie2104]

Having characters experience events from the past is actually a way to avoid exposition dumping, by embedding information in action, plot and character development. It might not have worked for you - it didn’t always work for me - but knowing how much Brandon plans his books before writing, I don’t think it’s fair to say that 80% of the book is a solution to him writing himself in a corner

[@mgelliott1]

@@samrainnie2104 Fair point. You may be correct. That said (and I am not an author nor publisher), I would not recommend an author write a series ending arc, that counts down 10 days, over 1300+ pages, to a major event that doesn't occur, ends the book, and during that book spend a huge % of the book in flashbacks and providing clues and historical background. I also wasn't sure when they were "acting" in the bodies of others, how they truly knew exactly what they should say and so (butterfly affect). Just because someone says I remember this, Bob supported Mary in that meeting, doesn't mean that is sufficient to ensure all characters respond 100% in the same way. Not sure about you, but I would have been completely ok with them just "viewing" the event and not taking part in it. Ok, some fake outs would not have occurred but those were minor points.

[@jakecarlstad6192]

I am glad you enjoyed this book! I read it in about a week or so and I really was not enjoying my time. I think I enjoyed two of the POVs and every other one annoyed me to no end. I also thought the writing was worse than anything I've seen him write. Metaphors were clunky and the dialogue stilted. I'm not the kind of person who can look past that so this book was a HUGE miss. I'm glad there will be a gap in releases because I definitely don't want to read another Sanderson book for several years at least. I hope the next one is better

[@mgelliott1]

Spoilers: I could state many reasons why I had issues with the book. That said I will simply say the book had no ending. The entire premise, teased in book 4, was this battle of champions. The battle did not occur, which was crime 1, but would have been ok if the book ended in a different way due to some subversion of expectations. However, Odium was just tricked. He SAID this was arc 1. You don't cliff hang the arc. Several characters went off to their "opposite corner". Some said we need to "return to Rosier", so some characters are returning maybe (but no time jump like Mistborn Era 1with all new characters, and an all new story). It feels after reading 7000 pages the story will continue in the next series with some of the same characters, but some aged due to time dilation. So essentially, this is the MCU. I have to give Mr. Sanderson the rest of my life (if he makes it) for him to complete a ton more books over the next 10-15 years? I didn't sign on for that. That said, I did love the Adolin sections, he had a true arc. However, I felt his foot issue was a rip off the Jamie Lannister hand issue. Both duelers, one gets gold, the other shard plate? I mean did Brandon send a check to George 🙂. I didn't dislike the book I was just very disappointed that it had no ending.

[@Echinder]

That's enlightening. I think that the initial conditions of each reader are important to how this book is being received. By the time I found Sanderson's books it was no secret that the Cosmere was the story and the individual books were parts of it. I actually was not bothered the lack of a more conclusive ending and instead got excited we finally were in Cosmere proper. I do wonder if eventually all the series converge and he's just writing the one Cosmere series. It would certainly make things a bit more focused. But completely understand the valid criticisms. Will be interesting to see what happens in a few years time. This feels like a major turning point in the future of Sanderson's endeavors

[@mgelliott1]

@@Echinder Gotcha. Great points. Sanderson, like Stephen King is very prolific, but he's a human being, he's not 23 and he's taking on new projects before he completes this one. I don't expect him to be GRR Martin, or Rothfuss, but he is quite aware his peers have made commitments, broken them and their fans are not happy. I would not care how long it took for arc 2 to come out if arc 1 ended definitely like Mistborn era 1. This way I was only waiting for a new series with new characters and I'd be happy to read other cosmere sequels to other books I've already read. So, I guess I am saying, bait and switch. I am not in his business, but these gaps also encourage readers to wait and binge the whole series/arc. This probably doesn't affect Sanderson, but Jane Doe may not get a 2nd book, or it won't be promoted properly if sales are low as folks are waiting for all 3-4 books to complete to ensure they get a finished series.

[@mgelliott1]

Everything you said is true (he's the creator, we don't own it), but the comment is irrelevant. I've heard similar comments on new Trek (2009+) vs old Trek (Enterprise and older), or canon violations in Trek. At the end of the day Trek and the Starlight Archive are revenue streams for businesses. If you want to create art in your bedroom for your family, have at it. But once you involve it in a business (his publisher, his company Dragonsteel) you then become subject to customer wishes. I could design a yellow men's business suit and claim men were too rigid or homophobic or myopic to purchase the suit, I could be right, but it is irrelevant. I am out of business if I own the company, or I'm fired if I'm an employed designer. I disagree folks can say hey that is artistic vision (like MCU), when in fact first and foremost it is a business. Brandon had a picture in the book with a crapload of his employees. I presume he is the millionaire and all of most of them are not. This is their livelihood. These decisions to be "creative" or "odd" are affecting others' lives.

[@dookieshoe2905]

I just think it's wild that so many people are seeing this book as an ending with no resolution. We knew we were getting a small time jump after this book and you should know that means there won't be a bunch of resolutions. Its just getting going now, theres still a LOT of Stormlight and Cosmere left. Yeah there were a few questionable decisions but I don't care what anyone says, I enjoyed this book.

[@Kentamarus]

Yeaaah! Thank you so much! Malazan month is a great idea! Can't wait for it!

[@Off.TheBook]

That G.R.R.M analogy had me rolling 😂! “Just the half way mark”

[@jonathannelson7584]

You've very quickly became my favourite book channel on KZbin and and you seem like a very nice and genuine guy. So it was really nice hearing your thoughts on this book! I was let down by it, I'm not going to lie, but it's not as "bad" as some people make it out to be

[@M1cr0Man1a]

Omg malazan month!!! I just finished all the side novels. Perfect timing!

[@robertross8091]

My thing is that, I enjoyed it but it wasn’t what I wanted. All of my favorite character interactions did not happen. Kaladin, Shallan, and adolin were all separated and that made it very hard for me. The plot itself was good and made sense though

[@zack-apsalar-rake]

Very very balanced review. Thanks And yay to Malazan month! 🎉

[@hrishere7202]

PLEASE REPLY Do I need to read mistborn era 2 before reading it to get every detail . i want to make out connections or look for worldhopper etc.

[@matthewmusgrave6673]

I've never read any of the Stormlight Archive series and shortly before Christmas I decided to try an ultra marathon reading challenge: space out the 5 books until book 6 comes out in 2031, or in other words only read 2 or 3 pages a day. Currently Kaladin is on his first bridge run and his shoulder is bleeding.

[@Talking_Story]

We are very much on the same page for sooo much of this my friend!

[@DasCracker]

for me it took from the 14th december to 16th january and Azimir is jsut needlessly long. really felt shrinking that down to the same length as shattered plains would main done this book a great deal of good.

[@smarbels]

I think the editing that was required here was more about tightening up the amount of words used to describe a scene, rather than cutting whole plot points. He could have significantly reduced the length of the book without having to remove any scenes just by being more economical with the writing, which an editor can help with

[@caleblikesbooks]

I generally agree with your thoughts. I can understand and even agree with a fair number of the criticisms, but I absolutely loved the book. Stormlight is my favorite series and Sanderson is my favorite author, so it’s fully possible there’s bias there, but I just love spending time in this world with these characters. My only major complaints are that it was a little slow to start, and I’d have liked to see more of some POVs and less of others-otherwise I adored it!

[@JAAAY62]

I disagree with the idea that all the open endings are bad. I like that they are not immediate life or death cliffhangers. But, having everybody be happy and wrapped up in a bow would feel wrong given what happened with the Contest. I do agree that some of the writing was a bit on the nose and using more modern day language like therapist can throw you out of it. *SPOILERS* The thing I hate probably the most though is that Taravangian pulls out an older version of Dalinar from the spiritual realm to serve as his Blackthorn. I hate that. I don't think Taravangian should have any access to Dalinar now that he is dead.

[@Avid_Reader]

Thank you for an honest, unapologetic review. It takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to constructively criticize such a popular author. There are a lot of boot lickers out there. While I enjoy some of Sanderson's work, I have a lot of the same criticisms. I'd add that I prefer my epic fantasy a little more grounded, literally in the case of SA. If everyone can fly and heal themselves, how do you keep up tension? Where do you go from there? Do you try to keep topping yourself, like Australian author Matthew Reilly? I love his early works, but his later stuff is a bit too silly.

[@Mjkll-b7s]

There are two people in this world creators and loser critics

[@sentient.ball.of.stardust]

I've been seeing this over criticism and nit-picking since Oathbringer and it just got worse with each release. And it's frustrating bc I want to watch breakdowns and support creators, but when people get so nit-picky to the point of complaining about 10 words in a 491.000 words book is just a tad ridiculous. And I don't see this level of hair splitting with other author's works, which I sadly pick up on cause I'm wired to. -The word therapy is not a modern word. Sure it changed since ancient greece or even modern latin, just like every other word in the english lexicon has, but it's not modern by any means, and Sanderson's works were never 'medieval' coded, it's part of what makes his works so accessible. -Absolutely disagree with Sanderson not having built trust with his audience, he is the author I most trust to actually do what he says and when he says he will. -I also disagree with him leaving too many open endings, I think we saw conclusions/change in direction of their arc for most characters, and we also need to remember this is not THE END, it wouldn't make sense to have actual conclusions? Like this is the middle of the story?! And we knew about this break since (at least I did) book 2. As for my take on the book, I absolutely loved it. It was packed with action and character development and lore. I got answers to burning questions I had since book 1 and it was so rewarding. I was heartbroken to be proven right about my theories but I really loved the direction for all character arcs, except maybe Jasnah's 👀 I am determined to live until the end of the series, and I think that's as good of a reason not to ... jump ship early as any.

[@jareds4619]

You mentioned fast readers enjoy the book, while slower readers did not. When reading quickly, you tend to skip over dialogue issues or odd modern phrases (particularly if you also happen to be reading at 1 am and your brain is mush). There is a huge difference in writing quality required for a book read leisurely and a book you speed through at full throttle -- the first one has to stand up to much closer inspection. I think if you reread some of the scenes more slowly, particularly where Kaladin is trying to do "therapy", and pause to really focus on what was said, you will see why some people were so upset. As a kid, I didn't notice The Phantom Menace had bad dialogue (because I ignored any scene with Anakin and Padme as "typical irrelevant lovey-dovey junk for adults") but when I thought about it more deeply later, I understood why people disliked it.

[@sleeplessbard2519]

havng just finished lost metal and finding it lacking i am weary now of anything sanderson post secret project

[@stviz87]

Yeah the quality is on par with the last metal, even the sanderlanch it was a miss

[@dannyjorde2677]

The book's awfully stupid

[@bugtrapper]

There's an entire study about who art "belongs" to once it's released. Sure while Sanderson owns the physical rights and copyright to his intellectual property, he doesn't own the way people interpret them. Once his product is released, which to be clear, he can't do without people consuming them, it's kind of out of his hands. The idea of, well you haven't read the perfect book because you haven't written it yet, is kind of dishonest. People are passionate about this because they spend a LOT of time with these books. When I first started reading I spent a month on Way of Kings, these books are a MASSIVE time sink. And with each release is feels like Sanderson isn't respecting his audience's time. We have a flashback to Gavilar being killed for the 32nd time, Syl talking about her vagina and Kaladin acting as a therapist. To want one of your favorite authors to grow (instead of the massive step back Wind and Truth is, especially in terms of writing) is fair when you have spent so much of your time and money supporting them. I also think it's important to note that while art is subjective and people will like/dislike what they will. Sanderson is not only asking for your time, he's asking for your money. Which is more of your time. Most people work for their money, and they give a portion of it to him so he can continue writing. And ultimately, if you don't like it, don't read it. Nobody is forcing you to. But if he's incapable of taking criticism from the people that are supporting him, he won't be able to continue writing. And in that case, everyone loses.

[@lachlankidd6517]

I really dislike this talking point. You are not the audience. You are a member of the audience. I assume you enjoyed the earlier books if you got to Wind and Truth, but there were thousands of people who bounced off or didn't like Way of Kings. Should Sanderson be criticised for not respecting their time? The same goes for every book since, each one had a portion of the audience that dislikes it (and also a portion of the audience that really liked it for its uniqueness). The truth is that a majority of readers really liked WaT. It has 4.55 stars on Goodreads with tens of thousands of ratings. I'm also just confused on your Gavilar criticism. Each Gavilar flashback foreshadows the plot, sets up a book-spanning question, establishes character and context and reveals new information, the Wind and Truth one probably being the most extreme example of this. "he's incapable of taking criticism" - what on earth gives that impression? He often talks about significant things he changed because of beta/gamma readers, even in his latest lecture he talks about one from Oathbringer.

[@bugtrapper]

​@@lachlankidd6517 Exactly. I'm a member of his audience. I consume his work (or did, this is as far as I go with him), I have criticisms. I never said Sanderson should ONLY be criticized for wasting people's time. If people stopped reading after Way of Kings, maybe they have other issues. Maybe Sanderson's prose isn't for them (very very fair criticism). Say they stopped after Words of Radiance, maybe their criticism is how poorly he handles mental health in treating Shallan's repressed memories like shes unlocking new characters. Maybe its outside of his novels, maybe people are tired of the amount of discourse he gets, all of these are fair points. My main issue, is what you said. I don't think he respects my time. When I'm able to sit down to read and I get chapters leading nowhere, yeah man, that sucks. My Gavilar point is subjective, like everything else I'm saying (I understand people have and feel differently and I think thats whats so cool about reading), I'm just tired of seeing it. I'm tired of re-reading the same night from a different POV just to reveal new information. It's lazy and tired. Do something else. I never said hes incapable of taking criticism. I said IF. IF hes incapable of taking criticism, then his fan base will shrink (I dont think it'll ever disappear, hes too big to fail at this point). I don't know how much negativity there was surrounding RoW so I can't say whether or not he took any of that to heart, but in the next 6 or 7 years when stormlight 6 comes out, if it shows no growth then people are going to be pissed. And rightfully so. And if thats the case then he can bask in his marvel cinematic universe where hes comfortable. Theres way too many great authors out there to waste so much time on what feels more and more like a novelization of a kidz bop record.

[@lachlankidd6517]

​@@bugtrapperI'm sorry, I worded my previous comment poorly. Sure anyone can criticise any of Sanderson's previous works for a ton of reasons, including wasting time, but it is you extending that to the entirety of the audience that is the problem. If his writing is enjoyed by 95% of the audience, he is not wasting the time of the audience. He might be wasting your time in your opinion, but extending that to all readers is dishonest, and if you believe your opinion is enough to levy that broad of a criticism, that same criticism can apply in equal merit to literally every piece of media that has been consumed by an audience. On the Gavilar flashbacks, I know we just have different opinions, but it is imo one of Sanderson's strongest creative decisions. It showcases his foreplanning/foreshadowing excellently and having done a recent re-read, all of the POVs are very distinct and very little is repeated except for establishing location. They also each have unique important plot information (Gavilars death/Surgebinding/Dalinars character, establishing Gavilar was dodgy/how Jasnah survives the ship, giving context to the Parshendi attack/herald involvement, setting up voidlight and the goals of the sons of honor (iirc), establishing the stormfather as an untrustworthy entity, etc.) Finally, I think your final point is unfairly negative for a theoretical future that is 7 years away, and also very subjective considering (as I mentioned earlier) that a majority of readers highly rated WaT. You have no obligation to continue reading Sanderson but generalising all/a significant portion of readers as being alike to yourself is my problem.

[@bugtrapper]

@ I understand what you're saying, my intention isn't to assign my gripes to other readers, I meant for them to be examples. But, again, I see what you mean, and I get it. I don't feel like responding to the rest because I feel like we'd just be nitpicking eachothers preferences and thats no fun. Idk how to put a handshake emoji while I'm using my laptop but *handshake*

[@ataridc]

all art belongs to me, except that banana taped to the wall that has probably spoiled by now

[@bernadmanny]

Any chance of reviewing some older pre-YA, category creation, YA? I nominate Tamora Pierce _The Song of the Lioness_ series.

[@rumi885]

You absolutely nailed what bothered me with the book 👍

[@kevinlehmann3364]

Tiktok is ripping this book apart. Just finished Oathbringer, and was feeling a bit uhhh, well there's a lack of motivation to finish RoW and WaT.

[@cazevans]

I DNF'd after Oathringer and have no regrets lol

[@hammerandthewrench7924]

i hate this book, unfortunately, even more than the rhythm of war. I'm sad, I really liked the 1st 3 but what strange shift. I will always respect an artist and will not tell them what the should have done but my feelings for the series has fallen to all time low. I hope everyone enjoys the second arc but I will not be reading that. I invested too much time into this series to disappointed, never again lol (no offense to anyone who LOVES this book, you are valid, this is just me.)

[@lucasshill8780]

This is where I jump off the Brando Sando train

[@stviz87]

I didn't mind the multiple plot lines, it's just those didn't matter. Venli was a dud, Mishram was a dud, Shinovar was so boring, even the flashbacks, Moash was a dud

[@anayan6596]

Just asking, Have you Read "Lord of The Mysteries*" ? I believe you Must've heard of it at least? If you haven't it's a Web Novel. Idk jf you'll gonna be Interested or not, cuz it starts Slow, but Depth of the characters, they put layers upon layers on the characters then Revealing some of the Darkest Turning point which is Is simply beyond Imagination, Plot Turners are Mind Boggling. That's what I love about LOTM actually, it's Unpredictable and it's pure Insanity. Cruelest it can get. You've never read a Fantasy Fiction like this, ever before Trust me. To me the Main Character Stands out the Most. It's just a recommendation from a Fan. It's Not related to Sanderson, and Way different than His form of writing Fantasy. I'm just reading it and Absolutely Loving it, so i thought i might wanna recommend it to people yk. I hope, you give ut a Try. I mean, i wish to see a video on it obviously, I wouldn't write a comment otherwise 😅.

[@ansh2771]

oh yeah i second this. LOTM is easily the best book ive read. ppl complain about the prose but i didnt mind it at all. i had over 500 bookmarks and it took me 2.5 months to read it

[@Alkemisti]

Authors shouldn't worry too much about what the audience wants _right now,_ for stories---especially fantasy epics---are usually meant to outlive their authors. Two centuries in the future, it does not really matter what the market wanted in the 2020s, if books written now are still a thing.

[@sweetlilhifi]

I disagree that this book didn’t make the reader wait. Its whole premise is a contest of champions.. which doesn’t begin until after page 1000

[@sleepyheads45]

thanks about your review, now i can decide to buy this book or not

[@edwinleskin3112]

Open ending? That critique makes no sense to me at all. Things seem quite clear cut to me. We got a new [redacted] and the conflict on roshar is done. The next steps begin.

[@No8Named8Shadow]

Appreciated the non-spoiler section!

[@Remeran]

I DNFed it. First time for a stormlight book and it’s simply because I don’t usually like short timespans like 10 days in my epic fantasy and especially don’t like it in a 1300+ page book. I just feel like 10 days isn’t enough time to move a characters arc forward enough. I got to 300 pages, the beginning of day 3 and felt like none of the characters grew yet. Makes sense cause it’s only been 2 days in Roshar, but 300 pages into a book I need a little more.

[@mooremiket]

It’s the final book of an arc. I can’t imagine not finishing it for any reason. I’m not going to run 85% of a marathon and stop because I got bored with it.

[@Remeran]

@@mooremiketI hear you. Trust me when I tell you I tried though. I wouldn’t have gotten past page 300 otherwise. I may one day go back and try again, but right now there are too many books that I want to read to waste time on one I’m not currently enjoying.

[@TheRoleplayer40k]

@@mooremiketif the road turns to jagged glass as I’m running I will for sure stop

[@mooremiket]

@@TheRoleplayer40kOkay. Finishing a book one doesn’t adore isn’t quite the same as running on glass. But whatever you need to tell yourself

[@jakecarlstad6192]

​@@mooremiketYou know what a metaphor is?

[@ReppavBooks-dt2gg]

Shocking, the book guy is positive

[@nazimelmardi]

5:04 Yeah well, that’s where some of us said he tried the multiple characters solution but to do what Malazan does you need great prose and exceptional dialogues. It’s missing. 6:21 Exploring the past could be great but not like that. It’s simply info dumping like 4th Wing’s first part: telling it to your face in one setting and here you go, learn it. He had 4 big books to hint everywhere and that’s why we said all the time: it’s not world building its scene building. We knew very little about Roshar and it seemed that a lot didn’t notice until now. Not even about the other parts of the land just of the focussed areas the characters were on. 9:15 what could have been cut? It’s full with over-explanations, info dumps on the level that “we get it, move on”, even the dialogues are info dumps, repetitive stuff that were said before, in this book or other books so it would be enough to refer to, and I read these years before so if I feel it than new readers… that’s why. You might read it too fast to notice nuances but I didn’t. I read it in 4 days yet I noticed how many times he uses the same bs about Adolin. 9:26 the writing is not YA but all over the place. It’s modern on one place, using even today’s medical terminology, then gen z kid wordings from USA, next it’s more serious then again back to it. And again: it’s preachy, more telling than showing. He tells us what’s the correct way. 11:27 that wasn’t an issue. The ending was ok… until he bought back to life. When he personally had issues with the same thing in Wheel of Time tv show and he knew we hate it that much. As for waiting now that’s an other thing. He already isn’t that popular in other languages. Without this big marketing device he has on social media he loses the interest fast when people don’t get the next book and they don’t know what’s going on. Not to mention the publishers have to sign on for his full universe to get this series now? They won’t be happy because the risk and cost to sell it in translation is very high (except Spanish and Portuguese of course). Not to mention that his original fans are not that young. They are not jumping on their seats for that. 20 years ago this started with us and now 8 for the next book and then 3-4 books for all.. 2045 to the final book approx? Plus translation if you are not reading in English. 19:54 yes the idea of Odium was genius. What wasn’t is no army could move in 1 day. No matter what. 21:29 again, yes, Shinovar was great the place but Kaladin’s become a “therapist”…….. in 1 day is cheap. Mental health doesn’t work that way. Nobody who ever had the smallest depression knows he could not handle it in a day and these are serious issues. So he is the Mary Sue of mental health. 32:11 too preachy and shallow theme for final fight of beliefs Dalinar as person after the books is not that complex to predict. Odium was correct in that.

[@Izzyzilreads]

You’re everywhere

[@nazimelmardi]

@ for more than a decade.

[@takaloy]

I too read the entire series in a few days, and the size of the book isn't an issue. I'm not too fussed about the ending. I guess I didn't know we'll only get the sixth book in 8 years but it was always going to be a 10 part series and Brandon probably would subvert expectations again and dump it out in shorter amount of time. The big issue I have with the book is actually all the weaknesses of Brandon's writing is put to the fore here. I've only recently found the channel and was watching your video on Starlight Archive giving all the praise around handling of trauma, and some of his other works talking about his tendency towards exposition. There were a lot of times I saw the video and went "haha, wait till you read Wind and Truth!". The entire Kaladin plot amounted to telling me how to feel as opposed to showing me (one of your praises in book 1). There's also another piece where you mentioned about some other author's tendency to get lost in the stake, where it is fairly relevant here. It's very jarring switch between Adolin fighting for survival and then we have the next scene on a fairly laid back benign moments of small bromance and romance. It can be done, but the execution here is not as smooth, again - mostly being told rather than show. The last piece I'd say is that it's trying to pull in the greater universe, which makes really confusing reading if you've not read the rest of Cosmere (why is this relevant for Stormlight?), I'm sure this is setup for Act 2 but it felt things are being shoehorned as foreshadowing prop. I feel most fans will read this book because they're already invested in the characters and story, the book doesn't stand on its own especially compared to the first four.

[@PreacherReads]

Just ordered hardcover of book one of your series 💪🏼

[@andrewwinkelmeyer6503]

I hated it. Absolutely hated it.

[@user-ly2ll5od1r]

Interesting, I wonder how some of you got past the first 4 books, because I personally don't see any difference in quality of the whole series. I think different entries prioritize different aspects and they are all good in unique ways.

[@andrewwinkelmeyer6503]

@ to be honest I had noticed myself starting to dislike all of his books more and more. I really don’t like the last Mistborn or almost any of the newer stand alone. Rhythm was an absolute beating for me so to be fair, I think I’ve just grown to dislike his writing style.

[@brandon8667]

The most shocking thing you said is that people don’t like the Jabba the Hut sequence in Star Wars. Seriously? I cannot imagine being more wrong about something.

[@jareds4619]

Well, the "slave Leia" thing *is* pretty creepy. Not to mention Jabba is just revolting and it is not clear how exactly he matters to the overall plot. I can see some people really not liking that.

[@brandon8667]

@ I completely forgot about slave Leia. I get that.

[@billyalarie929]

19:14 that’s my cue

[@TheNickcone]

It's a sloppy and inferior work. People know when a series turns bad. The last book was the warning, and this book is the result.

[@Henry-jp3mc]

Oooof this feels like the Last jedi moment.

[@ciarz_]

I genuinely can't think of any similarities except: less popular entry in the series. The reason why they are unpopular seems entirely different.

[@Henry-jp3mc]

@ciarz_ the last jedi was a watershed moment that killed starwars. This is similarly the moment the fan base of Sanderson has became devided by his creative choices. Many fans won't read future books.

[@ciarz_]

@@Henry-jp3mc so the similarity is just how it is perceived and not anything story related. Even so I have to disagree, the overall reaction to this book was either disappointment, but with a clear hope that the next books will be different. Or people who just loved it It seems like the fans dropping Sanderson entirely are few and far between. Though they do exist.

[@KAB-w7n]

Last Jedi was a disaster. The worst Star Wars of all. The beginning of the end for the saga.

[@user-ly2ll5od1r]

@@Henry-jp3mc " Many fans won't read future books." you mean the fascist ultra-nerd queerphobic chuds that don't even make up 1% of the actual fan-base? Because the book is great apart from a few legitemate gripes. Even book 2 isn't perfect. Book 2 is basically 20% boring overlong, long-winded interludes, 10% boring shallan flashbacks and 70% of the actual good stuff. Book 5 is basically 99% good stuff sometimes interrupted by a handful of cringe sentences.

[@alison-1921]

1:25 LOL poor Kit

[@rsshieldsii]

Personally, I loved Wind and Truth. And having such an open ending is one of the reasons I loved it so much. I hate when authors feel the need to tie up every little thread and explain every little detail. That's now how stories end in life. The idea of the hero riding off into the sunset is bland and uninspired. Did I find a few parts to be a bit slow? Sure. But again, I'm okay with that. I don't feel that Sanderson has a habit of telling us stuff just for a word count. I trusted that all these words would pay off, and I feel like they did. Did the word therapy feel a little bit jarring? Sure. But what storming word does everyone want him to use? If he'd have called it something like "storm talker," that would have been cheesy. And the people complaining that there are gay and trans characters in the book? Losers, every one of 'em.

[@pedroluiz8750]

The "jokes" are terrible, out of place. Lift is the jar jar binks of Sanderson

[@jareds4619]

Lift and Nightblood and Lopen all have Jar Jar Binks level humor (and in this book also Syl occasionally?)

[@user-ly2ll5od1r]

@@jareds4619 which racial steryotype is Lift, Nightblood and Lopen are supposed to represent though?

[@jareds4619]

@@user-ly2ll5od1r You jest, but Lopen always struck me as having strong Mexican stereotype vibes (fast talker, lots of relatives, etc.) "‘Ain’t nothing wrong with being a woman, gancho,’ Lopen said. ‘Some of my relatives are women.’" (Gancho translates to "hook" and "tener gancho" means to "have charm or sex appeal") Obviously the sword and Lift are only stereotypes of idiots and small annoying children, respectively.

[@jareds4619]

@@user-ly2ll5od1r You jest, but Lopen always struck me as a Mexican stereotype (he talks fast, his way of speaking is spanish, he has a huge family, and he uses a lot of spanish sounding words.) For example: “Ain’t nothing wrong with being a woman, gancho,” Lopen said. “Some of my relatives are women.” Gancho is spanish for "hook" and "tener gancho" means "to have s_x appeal"

[@Supaawesomeification]

That phantom menace analogy was PERFECT. It’s exactly how I felt. I loved the book and was genuinely shocked by how vitriolic the backlash has been

[@tithannisk7470]

There will always be people who don't like something, and thank god because the world would be boring if everyone loved the same things. But, it's among the ones who dislike something that you find the noisiest one. They can't just "don't like, and shut up", they feel entitled to tell the rest of the world that they don't like something. And then there are those who almost very deliberately make it a principle to not like what is popular. Pick something you like and that is very popular and beloved by the general public, I guarantee it'll take less than 2 minutes to find a generally unfair and blatantly biased video on KZbin that tells you it's thrash (and that if you like it, you have bad taste, because at the end of the day it's not about shitting on something, it's about shitting on something that YOU like with your inferior and repugnant popular taste). When it comes to Wind and Truth, is it the best in the series ? I don't think so, but I still enjoyed it a lot, I liked the reveals and twists, and I loved how it ends and where it leaves the main characters. Is it bad ? Certainly and objectively, no it isn't bad. Edited to add a commentary in response to something said by The Book Guy : I seem to be part of the exception in that I enjoyed the book very much, and because I know we won't come back to Roshar before 2033, I very purposefully chose to not binge the book and take my time to read it (5 weeks) and appreciate it.

[@edwinleskin3112]

Loved it

[@jareds4619]

"I apologize for comparing it to the Phantom Menace, that's an unfortunate comparison." No, actually its a pretty apt comparison? I think Wind and Truth was mostly enjoyed by people who were just in it for the action, worldbuilding and cool sword fights. It was disliked mostly for its dialogue, poor plotting, and annoying characters.

[@moostermcmoosterpants817]

That’s not true. I read for plot and characters and it’s my second favorite in the series

[@jareds4619]

@@moostermcmoosterpants817 So? I'm saying most of the criticism is directed at the plot pacing, characters, and dialogue. Obviously some people disagree. Hence the word "mostly", not "universally".

[@moostermcmoosterpants817]

@ homie just “Henced” my ass

[@user-ly2ll5od1r]

@@jareds4619 nah, it's mostly just directed at like 3 or 4 paragraphs that don't even make up 75% of a standard hardback page and "prose". I pretty much have heard heard nothing negative of plot, pacing and characters. This has the best and fastest pacing of any stormlight book, also probably the strongest plot too.

[@jareds4619]

@ "heard nothing negative" Then maybe you are only listening to ultra fans? This if from the top rated goodreads review currently (857 likes) and there are plenty like it: plot "Journey before destination, Brandon says, then proceeds to trample on that principle. Everything that happens in these books feels like a plot contrivance. Brandon wanted to get to point X, so he made up a million excuses to get there. Why can't the God you're fighting simply destroy you all with a snap of his fingers? Well he made a promise, and he's a god so he can't break it. Why did he make that promise? He didn't want to get destroyed in a fight with another God. Would that God have fought him? Not really, if he did the planet would have been destroyed. So why does the promise exist? Mumbles. The flashbacks are utterly frustrating as well. Show, don't tell, is the basic principle of storytelling, so Brandon shows nothing and spends 1/4 of each book in flashbacks where every plot point and character trait is revealed." prose - "I know, I know, everyone and their mother has already criticized Brandon for his prose. But it really is deserved. One moment you're reading a nice sentence, the next you're reading a TikTok comment. It is jarring, and I know Brandon can do better. It seems he isn't even trying most of the time and just churns out each sentence as it first comes to him, which is astonishing considering he has a whole company and scores of beta readers helping him, as well as (allegedly) preparing several drafts of every book and them being extensively edited. For his world, any world, to have an inner consistency of reality, there has to be a unified tone both in the prose and in the dialogue. Here we have it in neither. I get Brandon wants to complete 874 books before he dies, but maybe writing 20 books and making them the best they can be instead is preferable. And for the love of God someone stop him from attempting to write humor, or at least force him to make it a tad more sophisticated than poop and fart jokes. " Characters - "However, to me the character work is spoiled by looking at characters' psychology as a pampered kid from a wealthy area of California in the 21st century would. Every single character has a mental disability, be it depression, multiple personality disorder, autism, sociopathy, etc. And they're all hyper focused on it! The world is literally burning down beneath their feet, but instead we have to read about Shallan switching personalities every 5 minutes and obsessing about it. I promise you Brandon, as someone that has struggled with some of these issues, we do not hyperfixate on them, especially not if important things are happening in our lives that otherwise need our attention. The paths they take are also frustrating to me. The great warrior Kaladin become a therapist? Is this a joke? " I also particularly love this review, which is short and sweet "If contract law and sitting in on other people’s therapy sessions gets you horny, then you’ll love this one."

[@ryanseemungal7054]

I think you've articulated something that other channels are not - it is Brandon's vision. We are observers in the grand journey he wants to tell. It is very difficult to write what he has written. I think Wind and Truth is a book that tries to do many things and I think it is an excellent book. The exploring the past aspect of it helps the characters deeply - I say no more Lol.

[@oswinhull4203]

I have a theory about the people being very negative on the book. It seems the majority of it is OG Sanderson fans who have been fans for a long time that are somehow thinking Sanderson has changed. This is phenomenon you see in art a lot with people who are early adopters and tend to like more obscure things. Kind of like people that enjoy obscure music but then when the band goes mainstream they all of a sudden don't like it anymore. The main critiques are as follows. -The book is too long and should have been cut down by an editor but Sanderson is too big now and he has an editor that is afraid to criticize him. The Stormlight books have always been long. This is the longest one but they are long for fantasy fiction and this is the 5th book in a planned 10 book series. The idea that you have read 4 long books in a series that you know will be 10 books long and are just now thinking the story is too long is honestly weird. It is an long epic fantasy story. That is what it has always been. Maybe you just don't like long stories? In my opinion that is kind of the draw of epic fantasy but to each their own I guess. - There are modernisms that were not present in the other books that take you out of the book. Every medieval type fantasy has some modernisms. A key feature of the Cosmere is that it blends some science fiction elements into what is primarily a medieval fantasy backdrop. This has always been the case. There are other places in the Cosmere that are further along in technological development. Roshar is becoming more exposed to these other worlds. Expect more modernisms. Even books like LoTRs have modernisms. In fact it has way more modernisms than Stormlight and I have never heard anybody complain about it. It is impossible to tell a story in a way that modern audiences will understand it without using any modern terms. The only people who will understand your book are people who research medieval literature. - The book has sophomoric humor. Every Sanderson book has sophomoric humor. This is not new. Sometimes it lands with people, sometimes it doesn't. It is really just a matter of taste and it's silly to get hung up on it. - The book has too much exposition. As a fan of the series I have really been wanting explanations for all the big events that happened in the past. I actually think this is a strength of the book. The way he did it was awesome. Having chapters from the perspective of a God was super cool and original. - Kaladin is mopey/depressed and not the hero you want him to be. A major theme of the story from the very first pages is the cost of heroism. We open up with the heralds breaking under the pressure. We are promised a story with heroes doing hero stuff but they are going to pay for it.

[@ReadingAfterDark1]

I agree 100% I was really shocked at seeing so many criticisms that were of things that have been present the whole time. I loved the book and understand that it's not perfect but with some of these complaints I'm like 'what books have you been reading?' Sometimes I wonder if it's his literal use of the word therapist. Like if he didn't use that word at all but kept things the same would people be as pissed? I feel like Kaladin has spent a lot of time in the other books caring about people's mental health as well. Like caring about bridge four's will to live. So this isn't a crazy character arc to me.

[@jareds4619]

Defending this by complaining "but these problems were in the other books" is so odd to me. Is it not possible that pre-existing problems were magnified to the point people now find them intolerable? George Lucas was never the king of dialogue, but when he lost *his* equivalent of a script editor, his flaws become worse. Case in point: “How?” Ishar repeated. “What are you?” He gestured toward Szeth. “Are you … are you his spren? His god?” “No,” Kaladin said. “I’m his therapist.” Ishar blinked. “… What is that?” “I honestly have no idea,” Kaladin admitted.

[@jareds4619]

Also, Lord of The Rings (the books) do not have more modernisms than Stormlight? I don't know how anyone could read it and honestly conclude that. Tolkien was a philologist who could read and speak latin, gothic, and old english, among other languages, and extensively read and studied ancient works. Of course he is better at mimicking historically accurate language.

[@oswinhull4203]

@@jareds4619 When the firework dragon passes over he uses the analogy that it passed "like an express train". That sticks out more than the word therapy in my opinion. At least with the word therapy we get an explanation for why it is appropriate. While Tolkien does use a lot of germanic rather than latinate words there are a ton of aspects of the culture that clearly tell you this is not a medieval setting. Tolkien was an expert in language but he wasn't an expert in medieval society and customs. The hobbits are having clocks, growing potatoes, and smoking tobacco. Very little about the society or cultures of middle earth resemble medieval England.

[@oswinhull4203]

@@jareds4619 The comparison with the prequel trilogies is not apt. There is no equivalent of Jar Jar Binks in WaT. Are you seriously going to compare that dialogue with Anakin's monologue about sand? It is meant to be a joke. I think it's funny. Kaladin doesn't really know what a therapist is. He just knows that Wit mentioned it and that is was basically part of his mission. You are totally hung up on the use of the word therapy. Kaladin forms a therapy group in RoW. It isn't called that but we all know what it is. You might is well call it that. Having a guy like Wit who has lived entire lives in more advanced societies which do have therapy gives the license. For me, it doesn't take me out of the story as much as expands on the world building by introducing you to the greater Cosmere.

[@ansh2771]

the main 2 criticisms i saw on goodreads as someone who hasnt read TSA yet were - 1. BAD BAD editing and feels YA ( feels boring & modern language) 2. 10 pages of gay romance and pandering to the "woke". i recently bought the first 3 books, so i hope the worldbuilding and story remains solid. dont prefer lot of romance (gay or straight) or modern language, but it wont affect my experience too much.

[@elliel4736]

As a gay person who loves seeing queer rep in books... yeah it wasn't great. It kind of felt like je just paired up the two gay characters without actually giving them much chemistry, and then held your hand through saying "these people are gay. Some people don't understand that, so sometimes it's hard for them to express their feelings."

[@mooremiket]

@@elliel4736The part I liked the least was Shallan jumping and squealing when she saw them together. Rlain and Renarin’s relationship doesn’t bother me since it did begin in previous books, but the little girl squealing reaction made me roll my eyes.

[@ansh2771]

@@mooremiket how would you two say the book was story wise? Is TSA heading in the right direction? And what would ur book rankings be? I’ve heard very good things about the first three books.

[@whitneydavis5196]

It was a Fandom thing. I'm the the Fandom renarin/rlain is a thing. I wasn't surprised by it because if that. I'm more surprised you're surprised. I guess I that deep in the fandom.

[@mooremiket]

@@ansh2771Story-wise? Its good. He’s wrapping up a 5 book arc with a dozen plot points that needed ironed out. He does that quite well. Want to nitpick the writing or the characterizations? That’s fair. I think it’s undeniable that the quality of the series dropped in the last two books. But… is that because they’re objectively bad, or is it because the first 3 books were just THAT good? That’s the issue. The beginning of the series is wonderful and engaging. Then it grows a little beyond Sanderson’s reach for him to reel in with his best prose. There are minor (in my eyes) quibbles, but I’m not gonna slam the entire book/series and his skills as an author for making lame jokes or whatever. It’s not a perfect book. It’s good. The series is satisfying. It should be read.

[@Hanktank96]

First

[@senseweaver01]

Good for you...

[@Hanktank96]

@senseweaver01 should have said shut up meg

[@rabbadabba7428]

@@Hanktank96 I will be very surprised if you're not 14 years old

[@Hanktank96]

@@rabbadabba7428 nope just old habits from early KZbin that I haven't broken yet

[@whitneydavis5196]

I liked the book. There were issues, but I'm reserving judgment until we get the completed series.

[@moostermcmoosterpants817]

I’m so glad you made this video. Like for reals! You’ve made points similar to how I feel on almost all the points with this book. And now I feel vindicated! The haters are so loud about everything from editing to wokeness. But I think the book is amazing and it had a real positive impact on me. So seeing almost all hate isn’t fun