Honestly, I am still digesting this.

Annotating Words of Radiance is absolutely worth the effort. There are so many hints sprinkled throughout that pay off later in the book (and likely in future instalments?). I did feel a little disappointed that some revelations didn’t occur in this volume, but knowing I still have three more books ahead makes that easier to accept.

Where the book truly shines is in its characters and worldbuilding. The world of Roshar feels massive and immersive, and the characters feel fleshed out and real. Shallan, in particular, is much more compelling than she was in The Way of Kings, and she now feels like a true part of the central story. Kaladin is still my favourite (love me a depressed boy), and his slow growth, especially in starting to learn to trust again, was satisfying. Dalinar’s support and Adolin’s ongoing development also stood out this time around.

The writing style is more intricate than in Mistborn, though still not my favourite. It leans functional at times, but Sanderson delivers plenty of memorable, quotable lines. The included artwork is a wonderful bonus — Shallan’s drawings especially add a unique flavour and help immerse you even more.

The plot accelerates compared to book one, but still maintains a thoughtful, character-driven pace that I personally love. The Cosmere connections make me both excited and a little scared to see what’s coming next.


Things my brain still thinks about:

– The Nightwatcher seems to be pushing people toward Radiant-like abilities. Multiple characters who visited her are showing these powers. What is her bigger role in all of this?
– Speaking of the Nightwatcher: Will we only find out what happened with Dalinar’s visit and his forgotten wife once we get his flashback arc?
– Szeth wasn’t bonded to a spren but wielded an Honorblade. Now that Kaladin has that blade, and with the rest supposedly in Shinovar… that’s going to be a problem, right?
– Speaking of Honorblades: Where is Talenel’s Honorblade? Dalinar mentions taking Talenel’s blade, but he doesn’t exhibit any Honorblade powers. Later on, he also hears the scream when picking it back up. Something doesn’t add up. Where is it??
– Gavilar’s motivations remain a mystery. He wanted to bring back the Parshendi gods. But why? Was it to restore the Knights Radiant and Heralds? And by this return to the philosophy of The Way of Kings? I hope there’s more depth to it than just nostalgia for the “old ways.”
– Please no love triangle. The chemistry and connection from shared trauma is believable, but I hope the story doesn’t lean too far into romantic tropes.
– Another worldhopper appears! I love these moments, but also feel like I need a Cosmere detective board.
– Did someone tamper with the Diagram translations? Some epigraphs are garbled while others seem oddly specific and clear (like the one about the Blackthorn).
– Does Urithiru follow different rules than the rest of Roshar since it isn’t really in the physical realm? (Given the presence of multiple portals to Urithiru, I thought Shallan would notice earlier that the city isn’t physically fixed on a typical map.) Also, why is it important to the Knight Radiants?
– With the Everstorm now released, I wonder how many beings, not just Parshendi, will be affected and become Voidbringers.


Quotes to come.