Rhythm of War
2011
- nyt:combined-print-and-e-book-fiction=2020-12-06
- fiction, fantasy, epic
- fiction, fantasy, action and adventure
- american literature
- fiction, fantasy, action & adventure
The story
The eagerly awaited sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Oathbringer, from epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson 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. At the same time that Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with his changing role within the Knights Radiant, his Windrunners face their own problem: As more and more deadly enemy Fused awaken to wage war, no more honorspren are willing to bond with humans to increase the number of Radiants. Adolin and Shallan must lead the coalition’s envoy to the honorspren stronghold of Lasting Integrity and either convince the spren to join the cause against the evil god Odium, or personally face the storm of failure.
What it’s like
Long, layered passages of wind-scoured stone, storm-dark skies, and cold morning light over military camps, with the bright flicker of glowing spren and the heft of enormous blades. The prose is clean and propulsive rather than ornate, moving between sweeping battlefield set pieces, quiet tent-side conversations, and short interludes that pull the lens back across the whole world. The sensory world leans on weather and scale: rain that slicks armor, the rumble of approaching storms, the stillness of ruined towers. Reading it feels like settling into a big, immersive map, with the pleasure of tracking many threads at once. Its tone is weighty but hopeful, with a steady current of grief, strategy, and loyalty running under the action. Violence is frequent and often brutal: battles bring deaths, wounds, and harrowing war scenes, with some cruelty and grim moments, though the gore stays on the page rather than lingering in shock. Romance and sexual content are minimal. It suits long evenings, multi-day reading stretches, and a patient reader ready for a dense, talky epic. It is for people who love deep worldbuilding, political maneuvering, and character arcs that unfold over hundreds of pages.
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