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A review by spootilious
Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Read: January 5, 2025
Title: Wind and Truth
Series: Stormlight Archive #5
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Rating: 2.5/5
Review:
I’m very frustrated with this review… With this book…
Perhaps, it was the reread… or maybe the anticipatory release . Regardless I feel that this is the weakest book of the series hands down.
First off let's talk about its strengths. Sanderson’s imagery and writing is beautiful, as always, and his characters are unique and loveable. His representation of non-binary, trans, and/or gay characters was masterfully done in this book. (I will say that the romance in this one felt as flat as the straight romance from the previous books which I find respectable since they are being treated the same and does not feel tokenized… in my opinion.) I also enjoyed the focus on mental health just as I did the previous book though I feel like it was taken a bit too far in this one. I prefer the subject to be addressed, not to have it feel like I’m being run over by it (and then reversed over again).
To be honest, I think my biggest complaint is that the entirety of the book felt like Sanderson was just… tired. Like he had lived in the story of Roshar so long that he was just ready to be done with it, which is soul crushing.
The ‘twists’ throughout the books were gut wrenchingly predictable (with the exception of (maybe) 2 minor ones).
Some of the characters that have really made the series felt warped with a sense of indifference or lack of intensity. Their entire basis of personality having been shifted.
The book was also unnecessarily long, with many (large) portions being repetitive or simply unneeded in the long run, making the journey that much more of a slog and causing me as a reader to lose much of my enthusiasm.
After such a hard journey I felt like this book was simply a let down. The only real light in the otherwise mediocrity of the book was really getting to see Adolin’s redemption arc.
I will not be giving up on this series, I don’t think I ever could but I am a bit heartbroken.
TLDR: Good LGBT rep, predictable, too long, Adolin is the bestest of boys.
QUOTES:
Even in failure, it is often not the tool, but the wielder, who is at fault.
It was the artist's way to paint a picture of someone the moment she saw them - but art was locked to the page, and a person was always so much more than any image could contain.
if someone you deeply respected disagreed with you, perhaps it was worth reconsidering.
two sides delineated simply. One who can just be 'the enemy'. People can be wonderful or terrible; an enemy, though, can only be something to fight.
The thing is the deepest truths always sound a little trite. Because we all know them, and feel foolish being reminded.
Understanding has never led to hatred.
Few combatants win on board or battlefield without first having won the fight against their own minds.
This place had never been home. But home had been here.
War was being forced to step on another man's entrails, hearing him wail as you pushed them out farther, because you had to keep fighting.
Because if you could do it all yourself you wouldn't need a sword at your side.
The dirty secret is that all governments are quietly republics - the voting is simply done with the sword or the coin. Everyone conveniently neglects to tell the lower class that it's their coin, and their lack of swords.
There is no need to trust someone who couldn't hurt you.
A virtue is something that is valuable even if it gives you nothing. A virtue persists without payment or compensation. Positive thinking is great. Vital. Useful. But it has to remain so even if it gets you nothing. Belief, truth, honor... if these exist only to get you something, you've missed the storming point.
Would that any of us... could protect ourselves from the costs heroism often requires. But again, if there were no cost, no sacrifice, then would it be heroism at all?
If we never had the power to do terrible things, then what heroism would it be to resist?
Title: Wind and Truth
Series: Stormlight Archive #5
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Rating: 2.5/5
Review:
I’m very frustrated with this review… With this book…
Perhaps, it was the reread… or maybe the anticipatory release . Regardless I feel that this is the weakest book of the series hands down.
First off let's talk about its strengths. Sanderson’s imagery and writing is beautiful, as always, and his characters are unique and loveable. His representation of non-binary, trans, and/or gay characters was masterfully done in this book. (I will say that the romance in this one felt as flat as the straight romance from the previous books which I find respectable since they are being treated the same and does not feel tokenized… in my opinion.) I also enjoyed the focus on mental health just as I did the previous book though I feel like it was taken a bit too far in this one. I prefer the subject to be addressed, not to have it feel like I’m being run over by it (and then reversed over again).
To be honest, I think my biggest complaint is that the entirety of the book felt like Sanderson was just… tired. Like he had lived in the story of Roshar so long that he was just ready to be done with it, which is soul crushing.
The ‘twists’ throughout the books were gut wrenchingly predictable (with the exception of (maybe) 2 minor ones).
Some of the characters that have really made the series felt warped with a sense of indifference or lack of intensity. Their entire basis of personality having been shifted.
The book was also unnecessarily long, with many (large) portions being repetitive or simply unneeded in the long run, making the journey that much more of a slog and causing me as a reader to lose much of my enthusiasm.
After such a hard journey I felt like this book was simply a let down. The only real light in the otherwise mediocrity of the book was really getting to see Adolin’s redemption arc.
I will not be giving up on this series, I don’t think I ever could but I am a bit heartbroken.
TLDR: Good LGBT rep, predictable, too long, Adolin is the bestest of boys.
QUOTES:
Even in failure, it is often not the tool, but the wielder, who is at fault.
It was the artist's way to paint a picture of someone the moment she saw them - but art was locked to the page, and a person was always so much more than any image could contain.
if someone you deeply respected disagreed with you, perhaps it was worth reconsidering.
two sides delineated simply. One who can just be 'the enemy'. People can be wonderful or terrible; an enemy, though, can only be something to fight.
The thing is the deepest truths always sound a little trite. Because we all know them, and feel foolish being reminded.
Understanding has never led to hatred.
Few combatants win on board or battlefield without first having won the fight against their own minds.
This place had never been home. But home had been here.
War was being forced to step on another man's entrails, hearing him wail as you pushed them out farther, because you had to keep fighting.
Because if you could do it all yourself you wouldn't need a sword at your side.
The dirty secret is that all governments are quietly republics - the voting is simply done with the sword or the coin. Everyone conveniently neglects to tell the lower class that it's their coin, and their lack of swords.
There is no need to trust someone who couldn't hurt you.
A virtue is something that is valuable even if it gives you nothing. A virtue persists without payment or compensation. Positive thinking is great. Vital. Useful. But it has to remain so even if it gets you nothing. Belief, truth, honor... if these exist only to get you something, you've missed the storming point.
Would that any of us... could protect ourselves from the costs heroism often requires. But again, if there were no cost, no sacrifice, then would it be heroism at all?
If we never had the power to do terrible things, then what heroism would it be to resist?