Words of Radiance

Where Way of Kings was more focused on Kaladin, Words of Radiance goes deeper on Shallan. The plot quickens, which is a nice change of pace from the first book. Our cast of characters who were isolated in the first book are now meeting in this one, and just in time too, because the stakes are much higher than what was previously believed.

The book opens with Kaladin and the bridge crew adjusting to their new roles as the king’s guard. Shallan is making her way to the camps to present herself, and runs into trouble along the way. Dalinar and Adolin put a scheme together to duel high princes that hold shards and strip them away.

Throughout the novel we get to see more growth from each of the characters, main and side. It’s also where we start to see the stakes of the fight with the Parshendi grow. What was thought to be a series of skirmishes and battles over a long period of time is now understood as both sides being manipulated into creating the perfect storm. We’re still only given bits and clues as to the mystery behind the Knights Radiant, the history of Roshar, a conspiracy surrounding ‘The Diagram’, and tons of unanswered questions. However, just like Way of Kings the pay off is worth it, and you’ll be quite interested in the follow up.

We get more of glimpse into the magical system in place on Roshar, as well as the Shards. The hero’s internal struggles and emotional growth are tied directly to their ‘surges’ and how those unlock, as well as with their ‘spren’ (like a spirit that follows them and gives them power). We see how much the humans rely on shards for power, and that they are tied to the spren in some way. These open up new mysteries around spren, surgebinding, shards, and even how these are related to the cosmic entities surrounding Roshar.

Ultimately, Word of Radiance is everything you want in a fantasy sequel, it fills the cravings for answers you might have from the first book, but you’ll be left with questions for the third book. All the characters grow significantly in this book and face bigger and grander challenges. You get to see the humans bond with spren, but also bond with humans, like when Kaladin and Shallan have to ride out a high storm and survive together on their path to meet the Alethi army. Highly recommended, and obviously only after reading Way of Kings, but still think you shoudl read the Mistborn and other series first.