Title: Rhythm of War
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: The Stormlight Archive #4
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 1232
Published: 2020, Tor Books
My Grade: 5 out of 5
Review Summary: A new focus and pace in RoW keeps the story interesting, the reader hungry for more, while taking new cosmic directions.

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

After forming a coalition of human resistance against the enemy invasion, Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant have spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. Neither side has gained an advantage, and the threat of a betrayal by Dalinar’s crafty ally Taravangian looms over every strategic move.

Now, as new technological discoveries by Navani Kholin’s scholars begin to change the face of the war, the enemy prepares a bold and dangerous operation. The arms race that follows will challenge the very core of the Radiant ideals, and potentially reveal the secrets of the ancient tower that was once the heart of their strength.

MY REVIEW

As for Sanderson’s previous two Mistborn series, I’ve come to understand that he enjoys switching it up in his long epic stories. Which makes perfect sense. Reading thousands of pages with the same thing happening in every single book just doesn’t make it epic. There needs to be a change in pace and focus to keep my interest. If any of these Stormlight books would be the journey book (like The Two Towers), I would like to say that this is it. This is the instalment where things are starting to be properly explained. And when saying that, there are still many questions still left unanswered which is what keeps you going into the next book. I can understand why some would find Rhythm of War more boring, but I found it fascinating when science was relied on so heavily to progress the story. Without the deeper understanding and further development of fabrials as well as new findings, this wouldn’t really go anywhere.

I can agree that it was a little bit slower than previous ones, as it was taking place over fewer days, but there were still epic scenes. So much hopelessness, so much hope for everything to turn out well. Which it kinda does, but still doesn’t. All characters had great stories as usual. Not one stood out but I really did feel like the break in Shallan and Adollin’s story there in the middle was left on an extreme cliffhanger and took way too long to be revisited. But wow, it was worth that wait! Even though it still didn’t really say anything because there are still things left unanswered. Sanderson is such a teaser. He gives just enough to keep one on their toes.

On another note, the underlying theme of mental health issues really accelerated. It was definitely there in all the previous books, but it felt like this is where it climaxed. I find it great that a fantasy author manages to incorporate such important topics into epic fantasy. Usually it’s just good vs evil, the chosen one defeats the antagonist against all odds and everyone lives happily ever after. But when the hero’s have severe depression and schizophrenia, and still manages to overcome and grow, I find that incredible that that is part of the story. And in Dawnshard (#3.5), where Sanderson managed to focus on the mentality around being differently abled compared to the “normal”, and makes a great story around it is just amazing. That person wasn’t included in this book, unfortunately. That made me really sad. I would have loved to see where that was going. But I strongly believe that will be a big part of Wind and Truth next.

Rhythm of War was different, as is necessary in my opinion, and it was as great as the other ones. It truly built up for the final ending to this story arc. I know there will be a second series on Roshar, and not as far between as with Mistborn Era 1 and 2 (300 years), but they will be two separate stories. I am also happy that I waited with reading this series that so many people have recommended throughout the years, until all five books had been published, so I could get straight into the next.

I won’t surprise anyone this time around. I will give it a 5 out of 5. But maybe not as big of a five as the previous ones which were phenomenal and in fact more than fives.