Oathbringer Book Review

Major Spoilers are included in this book review. Please read with caution.

From May 2020 to July 20, 2020, I read Brandon Sanderson’s Oathbringer—the third book in the Stormlight Archive. Unlike Words of Radiance—which took me roughly two weeks to read—this 1,300-page novel took about two to three months. Now I’m officially caught up with the Stormlight Archive series, waiting for the fourth book coming out at some point in November 2020. Let’s talk about what made this novel better than The Way of Kings but not as epic as Words of Radiance.

Published in 2017, Oathbringer picks up where Words of Radiance left off with the Everstorm destroying the world and awakening the docile parshmen—freeing them from their human enslavement. As a result, the Knights Radiant—Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Renarin, Lift, etc.—must speak the oaths and protect humankind from Odium—the main antagonist of the series. In this novel, every character—big and small—had a role to play.

Kaladin flew—having gained the ability at the end of Words of Radiance—home to check on his parents in addition to finding any information about the awakened parshmen and what their plans were for Roshar. Shallan had a thought-provoking character arc when she created different personas—split personalities named Veil and Radiant—using her Lightweaving (illusionary) abilities. Dalinar Kholin—the centric character in this novel—burdened himself with uniting the world peacefully.

Lift and Renarin—the other Knights Radiant on Dalinar’s team—were treated as side-characters in this novel. After reading and finishing Oathbringer, I strongly suggest reading Edgedancer—a Stormlight Archive novella—first in order to understand certain plot points, Lift’s awesome character, and her funny interactions with Dalinar.

Speaking of Dalinar Kholin, Sanderson had peeled this character’s layers back, as this novel was dedicated to unearthing his backstory. The reader and Dalinar experienced this backstory together because Dalinar started to remember his forgotten past and the wife—mother of Adolin and Renarin—he couldn’t recall since The Way of Kings. These memories gradually return until the end of the novel, giving Dalinar torment and uncertainty for the man he used to be and the man he wished to become.

What was the most important step a man can take? Dalinar asked himself throughout this novel. He didn’t have the answer until we reached the Epilogue. There were other thought-provoking questions that were addressed: When enslaved people are finally free, how do you tell them to go back? Is there a path forward when the oppressed are free? How do you deal with your guilt for participating in an oppressive system? Whenever Brandon Sanderson brings up these types of questions in his novels, you know you’re about to have a mind-blowing time.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel more than The Way of Kings but not quite as much as Words of Radiance. I would recommend this novel and anything Brandon Sanderson related. While the destination may not seem always clear in his fantasy stories, the payoffs were always worth the ride. Thanks for reading this book review, everyone! Let’s keep it reading!