Title: Dawnshard
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: The Stormlight Archive #3.5
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 171
Published: 2020, Tor Books
My Grade: 5 out of 5
Review Summary: If you’ve read Oathbringer and like me, wanted to know more about the mysterious island of Akinah – this one is definitely for you!

GOODREAD’S DESCRIPTION

When a ghost ship is discovered, its crew presumed dead after trying to reach the storm-shrouded island Akina, Navani Kholin must send an expedition to make sure the island hasn’t fallen into enemy hands. Knights Radiant who fly too near find their Stormlight suddenly drained, so the voyage must be by sea.

Shipowner Rysn Ftori lost the use of her legs but gained the companionship of Chiri-Chiri, a Stormlight-ingesting winged larkin, a species once thought extinct. Now Rysn’s pet is ill, and any hope for Chiri-Chiri’s recovery can be found only at the ancestral home of the larkin: Akinah. With the help of Lopen, the formerly one-armed Windrunner, Rysn must accept Navani’s quest and sail into the perilous storm from which no one has returned alive. If the crew cannot uncover the secrets of the hidden island city before the wrath of its ancient guardians falls upon them, the fate of Roshar and the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.

MY REVIEW

This was such a treat! There was one chapter in Oathbringer that left me wanting to know more. But more never came. And I kept wondering when the mysteries around Akinah would be revealed. I am so happy that thirst was quenched so soon. I don’t see how this was not part of the original story, how it can’t be, as it revealed so much about the Cosmere and changed the characters in a 180 degree turn.

And in that sense, this short novella was very different from Edgedancer, where you as a reader just got a little bit more understanding of Lift and how she thinks and acts and why. Whereas in Dawnshard, the full Stormlight story really continues. You need to read this right after Oathbringer.

The more from Sanderson you read, the more you understand about the Cosmere, but it always feel like it isn’t enough, there are always more questions being raised after something has been revealed. But he gives enough to satisfy partially and always wanting more. The beautiful part is that there always is more.

I find it beautiful that Brandon manages to be inclusive in his writing, it is inspiring and he does it so well. Secondary to the main story plot of trying to figure out the mysteries of Akinah, there is the story of a recently injured person who is battling her emotions revolving around her sudden inability to walk and how to keep up hope of finding a sense of freedom again. I really hope to see more of Rysn after this glimpse. Amazing character!

5 out of 5 for a very well-written, and important part of the Stormlight story. More than recommend reading straight after Oathbringer.