Agreed, I just would never recommend it as the first book to read
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Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere |OT| Journey Before Destination
- Thread starter ExMachina
- Start date
Elantris was really good until the end when it had a quarter of a book's worth of plot in the last 50 pages.
I think the best book to start out with is Warbreaker. Single book story, one of the best books, shows off a lot of different aspects/strengths of Cosmere (witty characters, good action, mysteries, political world building, supernatural mythos). I've been recommending Warbreaker to a lot of friends.
I think after that I'd recommend The Emperor's Soul & Sixth of Dusk.
I wish I could recommend Edgedancer as a starting point if it didn't have some heavy spoilers for WoR. As the days go back I'm starting to feel Edgedancer is my favorite Cosmere story. I already want to re-read it haha.
Yeah, same order I went in. Mistborn trilogy -> Elantris -> release order.
No idea, really. I don't think I know who most of them are in the books, but usually have at least a guess. Part 1 so far a couple hundred pages in is so brief and vague I can't even guess yet.
I think the best book to start out with is Warbreaker. Single book story, one of the best books, shows off a lot of different aspects/strengths of Cosmere (witty characters, good action, mysteries, political world building, supernatural mythos). I've been recommending Warbreaker to a lot of friends.
I think after that I'd recommend The Emperor's Soul & Sixth of Dusk.
I wish I could recommend Edgedancer as a starting point if it didn't have some heavy spoilers for WoR. As the days go back I'm starting to feel Edgedancer is my favorite Cosmere story. I already want to re-read it haha.
Yeah, same order I went in. Mistborn trilogy -> Elantris -> release order.
No idea, really. I don't think I know who most of them are in the books, but usually have at least a guess. Part 1 so far a couple hundred pages in is so brief and vague I can't even guess yet.
Mistborn book 2 spoilers
There's a part that confused me when Vin and Sazed are talking about the logbook
""These are quotes from the logbook," Vin said. She pointed at a paragraph. "Here the Lord Ruler talks about how armies were useless against the Deepness."
Vin refers to the writer of the logbook as the lord ruler, but we know (please no spoilers if there's more to this) that Alendi wrote it, and Sazed even refers to the writer as the hero, which we know wasn't Rashek but Alendi
Vin knows Rashek didn't write the logbook, so why did she refer to him as the writer?
""These are quotes from the logbook," Vin said. She pointed at a paragraph. "Here the Lord Ruler talks about how armies were useless against the Deepness."
Vin refers to the writer of the logbook as the lord ruler, but we know (please no spoilers if there's more to this) that Alendi wrote it, and Sazed even refers to the writer as the hero, which we know wasn't Rashek but Alendi
Vin knows Rashek didn't write the logbook, so why did she refer to him as the writer?
I have recommended it first and would again. I generally do recommend release order. But generally with the caveat on Elantris that it is definitely one of his weaker, if not weakest, works. Sanderson posted a video yesterday oddly enough about where to start with his books and that's basically what he says too regarding Elantris, noting that Mistborn or Stormlight (or even Warbreaker) may be better depending on the reader and what they like.
Generally, for me, if a person is of the type to give an author at least a few books, by all means, start with Elantris knowing it's the weakest and not most representative. If not, it's safe to skip it for now and start with something else that might pull them in quicker.
it's also not a novel which I think is what we are really talking about here. I get the feeling even Sanderson isn't happy with the way that worked out in the end.
White Sand is an odd duck. Canon to the Cosmere, but based on an unpublished novel, and the published graphic novel is a "Story by" for Brandon with the script going to Rik Hoskin.
I'm not gonna argue with anyone who wants to call it the weakest story but it's also not entirely his and as a GN written and drawn by other people doesn't fit neatly in the discussion at hand.
Yeah, idk what to make of White Sands. I've only read the GNs, but it wasn't that bad. Still if you directly compare it to the other Cosmere books, yeah it's not as good. But on its own it has characters and politics and magic and mystery and it's a solid book 1 of a trilogy. It's hard to judge a larger overarching story by the first story entry that doesn't get too much into the bigger picture.
Elantris is a very well written book imo. The main characters are great, the side characters are great, the antagonist is great, the magic is really interesting. I have issues with the pacing, and I'd need to give it a re-read but I think it's a very good book.
For me I'd put Shadows of Self below both Elantris and White Sands. For various reasons that book didn't click with me at all and was just too dry.
Elantris is a very well written book imo. The main characters are great, the side characters are great, the antagonist is great, the magic is really interesting. I have issues with the pacing, and I'd need to give it a re-read but I think it's a very good book.
For me I'd put Shadows of Self below both Elantris and White Sands. For various reasons that book didn't click with me at all and was just too dry.
I thought White Sands was pretty dreadful. I've read a lot of comics, and I've read a lot of Cosmere, and this was neither a good comic nor a good Cosmere story.
Elantris is a slow starter but otherwise pretty good. Certainly better than White Sands.
Elantris is a slow starter but otherwise pretty good. Certainly better than White Sands.
TBH I think that it's the best of 'em. I really enjoyed Shallan's madness, tense though it may be. The end of the 4th act is a bit of a lurch, but man, that whole ending - what a rush.
Put me in Team Shallan. I think she's great and I love she's basically on the brink of constant madness secretly.
Shallan so far is like those Alethi mirror poems with the added twist that the second half is a warped version of the first:
WoK - Fun enough as a character but stuck in dull plotline with insufficient payoff.
WoR - Absolute highlight of the book and probably even of the whole series. Fun chara arc and consistently good and entertaining story bits.
Oathbringer - Bad and dull chara issues* but involved in decent enough plot.
* This is to some degree my personal bias but I really hate this separate personalites/tulpa war schtick and hope it gets dropped as soon as possible.
WoK - Fun enough as a character but stuck in dull plotline with insufficient payoff.
WoR - Absolute highlight of the book and probably even of the whole series. Fun chara arc and consistently good and entertaining story bits.
Oathbringer - Bad and dull chara issues* but involved in decent enough plot.
* This is to some degree my personal bias but I really hate this separate personalites/tulpa war schtick and hope it gets dropped as soon as possible.
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Oathbringer
I don't mind Shallan so far in Part 1. I can see how she could be the least interesting PoV character in all 3 books, but honestly I love pattern, best spren, so I usually enjoy her chapters even if her character can be a little frustrating. I mean Kaladin is frustrating af in a lot of WoR. I feel like all the PoV characters in Stormlight are complicated compared to other Cosmere leads. Except Lift. Lift is Lift.
Just read the Dalinar flashback scene where he's drunkenly stumbling around looking for a knife and then sees one with an assassin and kills him and rinses it off and final gets his pork "Good pork"
lol
lol
I don't mind Shallan so far in Part 1. I can see how she could be the least interesting PoV character in all 3 books, but honestly I love pattern, best spren, so I usually enjoy her chapters even if her character can be a little frustrating. I mean Kaladin is frustrating af in a lot of WoR. I feel like all the PoV characters in Stormlight are complicated compared to other Cosmere leads. Except Lift. Lift is Lift.
I do wanna add that the Spren duo dynamic is really the best part of Stormlight for me. The interactions between people and their spren are always great and each set's dynamic is pretty different. I'd say that most of these characters would be boring or annoying without their spren to support conversation with them.
I really hope the novel is the next "Sanderson Curio" for the next Kickstarter campaign. It was in the list at least.
what else was on the list of most likely to be released? I remember him talking about it but forget
OMG KALADIN!
The second half of WoR is better than TWoK. I still need to finish it tho, 7% left.
I thought it was really cool when he saved the king, but my God the moment he saved Dalinar is so fucking cool I got goosebumps.
Book is redeemed.
Shallan is redeemed.
Book is redeemed.
Shallan is redeemed.
The second half of WoR is better than TWoK. I still need to finish it tho, 7% left.
And now you know why its probably my favorite novel. Glad you came around on this :)
IT'S SO STUPIDLY HYPED!!! Like the entire lead up to this is amazing! The entire fight that proceeds this is so fucking fun. Like its basically anime but that's kinda what I read Sanderson for tbh.
It's like the AVENGERS ASEMBLE moment!
First half Shallan is so annoying tho :(
dang, I actually like Shallan a lot in WoR. That's the one book where I find her storyline to be very good.
If you think she's annoying in WoR, not sure what to tell you about Oathbringer...
im glad people get something out of these I just... honestly I'm baffled.
I don't really listen to audiobooks but YT just recommended me that video so I found it appropiate to post lol
Only first half tho. After that she was better.
Reading Edgedancer now. Oathbringer soon.
not sure where the progress bars were before today but dawnshard is at 100% now and skyward 3 15 already.
Sanderson is a freaking machinenot sure where the progress bars were before today but dawnshard is at 100% now and skyward 3 15 already.
Yeah he sent out a kickstarter update saying that the final draft was done and that he handed it off to his editorial team for all that stuff and hopefully next week start sending out files for Dawnshard.
Also 15% already on Skyward 3 is incredible. Dude is just incredibly self disciplined to sit down and write every day or almost every day.
Also 15% already on Skyward 3 is incredible. Dude is just incredibly self disciplined to sit down and write every day or almost every day.
There being a pandemic probably helps as well as it limits distractions I am guessing.
Dude was a god damn writing machine long before COVID too. He talked about how sometimes questions and theories he gets from fans at conventions give him ideas and he writes late into the night in his hotel.
IIRC he's stated that he basically feels a need to write, so he doesn't really have to "make" himself write. He just does it. It really works out in everyone's favor.
Do we know if Dawnshard is going to be a pre-requisite for reading Rhythm of War like Edgedancer was for Oathbringer? I think I only ordered the physical Dawnshard, so unless I want to double dip probably won't get it until way after Book #4. If it ties in like Edgedancer, I'll just double dip on the digital edition so I can read it first.
Yeah, one of the reasons I got into Cosmere was the idea of a series where I wouldn't have to wait 5-10 years between books. It's cool that he writes so much. Since I enjoy his style and stories it means each year there'll be something new to read from him once I catch up.
Yeah, one of the reasons I got into Cosmere was the idea of a series where I wouldn't have to wait 5-10 years between books. It's cool that he writes so much. Since I enjoy his style and stories it means each year there'll be something new to read from him once I catch up.
Oathbringer - Man, part 1 is pretty long. 25% through the book at this point a bit over 300 pages and still have no idea what it is building towards. Figuring by the end of part 1 I'll have a better idea of what the book is doing.
It's definitely interesting though, and entertaining. Reminds me of an interlude book like AFFC/ADWD in ASOIAF where the starting story is done (WoK/WoR) and now it's moving pieces around to setup the next story arc. Some interesting things so far, I like how with Sanderson's stuff I think I know where he's going with things and then it's almost never where he goes and the twists and turns are pretty unexpected. He keeps me surprised for sure.
Just past the part where
It's definitely interesting though, and entertaining. Reminds me of an interlude book like AFFC/ADWD in ASOIAF where the starting story is done (WoK/WoR) and now it's moving pieces around to setup the next story arc. Some interesting things so far, I like how with Sanderson's stuff I think I know where he's going with things and then it's almost never where he goes and the twists and turns are pretty unexpected. He keeps me surprised for sure.
Just past the part where
Shallan fights the Unmade in the Tower and Kaladin takes off from the Parshman city and splits the storm (which was pretty cool, I like the conversation he has with Syl about how whether actions are "correct/morally just/righteous" are less definitive right or wrong and more just a biased implication of what one side ie. Honor's spren thinks is right/wrong.
Makes me think maybe Kaladin is being setup to be a 3rd side that's neither Honor or Odium. Which could be cool. We've seen before with Preservation that the "good gods" aren't necessarily good, so if Honor's side isn't necessarily the good guys and it's more complicated than that...definitely makes it more interesting.
Also Dalinar flashbacks are weird and I have no idea where they're going with this. You think Dalinar is like Obiwan true hero and good & just guy for 2 books and then you find out he was a terrible person in the past. I guess they're doing this to make the reader wonder if Dalinar might fall back to the monster/terrible person he was, especially if manipulated by Taragarvian. It's definitely making me a little anxious. Dalinar was my favorite guy in the first two books and don't want to see him character assassinated in this one!
And I really like Adolin in this one. His stuff with Shallan is really charming. I want to like Renarin but without a PoV he's still too much of a wildcard and I have no idea where they are going with him.
Makes me think maybe Kaladin is being setup to be a 3rd side that's neither Honor or Odium. Which could be cool. We've seen before with Preservation that the "good gods" aren't necessarily good, so if Honor's side isn't necessarily the good guys and it's more complicated than that...definitely makes it more interesting.
Also Dalinar flashbacks are weird and I have no idea where they're going with this. You think Dalinar is like Obiwan true hero and good & just guy for 2 books and then you find out he was a terrible person in the past. I guess they're doing this to make the reader wonder if Dalinar might fall back to the monster/terrible person he was, especially if manipulated by Taragarvian. It's definitely making me a little anxious. Dalinar was my favorite guy in the first two books and don't want to see him character assassinated in this one!
And I really like Adolin in this one. His stuff with Shallan is really charming. I want to like Renarin but without a PoV he's still too much of a wildcard and I have no idea where they are going with him.
I think it kinda will be. I've been reading RoW chapters on Tor and they mention something about that journey. It didn't feel super important at that point, but it might be in later parts of the book.
I was imagining this in my mind and I think someone who is good with visuals would make a sweet movie out of this.
Like Kaladin visualized coming down through the tranquiline halls amid the storm like a knight, the vision fading to show him in his bridge uniform with the slave brand, and then saying that line. Whew.
Personally I don't see how this series could be adapted to a live action movie unless they really lower the scope of the fights, both in the number of combatants in the shattered plains and the powers of the Knight Radiants and strenght that the Shardplates and Shardblades give.
Animation would be really cool though.
Yea there is a lot of detail it would have to be a series. I was just imagining a single scene with great visuals, to get that feeling of awe.
