Quick-take: 10 books is going to be too much.

Dan's Review

Once again, Brandon Sanderson managed to conclude this epic tome with absolutely nothing substantial happening.

I think I will need to give up on this series, at least until it gets concluded. At this rate the story is never going to end. Each entry is massive, and we are only on book 3 out of 10.

The content is good. Dalinar is a compelling fully developed character. Kaladin struggles with his own demons. Chalahn suffers from Impostor Syndrome. Aidelon has a dark secret. Even Moash got fleshed out and started feeling regrets.

Nobody in these books are single dimensional. Nobody is pure good nor pure evil. It is all shades of grey. Each character has a full backstory and personal motivations for what they do.

My complaint: Nothing ever substantial happens. There is a big boss fight, a city is destroyed, and everybody walks away and sets up camp at an adjacent city. A couple of minor story arcs get closed, but there is nothing that dramatically changes the story-line.

When this book concluded, I had a familiar feeling. It was the same one I had after book 2. I finally figured it out: These book are like watching Dragon Ball Z.

They are fighting for the lives of the entire planet. They have a big fight that stops the immediate threat, but overall the planet is still in danger. They only thing that happened is they go from Super Saiyan 1 to Super Saiyan 2 in preparation for the next fight with a stronger boss. After the next fight, the cycle continues as they grow from Super Saiyan 2 to Super Saiyan 3.

The plot drags and cycles until everybody's power levels are simply too ludicrous for the story to support it. Either the story finally ends or some kind of reset mechanism is triggered. I'm guessing there will be a reset. All the heroes can then spend a book reflecting on how they have become too dependent on their powers.

I feel that is what is happening here. I am reading Dragon Ball Z stretched out 10 seasons though at least this story is being told with far better storytelling skills.

Score: 3/5. I like the story. I do not plan to immediately pick up book 4 when it is released. I may be waiting 5 years, but I want The Stormlight Archive to be concluded before resuming. Then I can burn through the remaining books. I already have too many unfinished series in my queue.