Title: Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, #3)
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Published by: Tor Books
Published on: November 14, 2017
Pages: 1306 (Paperback)
'You cannot have my pain.'
-- Chapter 118: The Weight of It All, Part 5: New Unity
I stayed up late for 3 nights in a row to finish Oathbringer and
It's a big baby, HUUGE, and boi will you need time to read it. It took me about a week, factoring in work and other daily activities, with the last 3 nights basically a read-a-thon and me telling off my entire family to leave me alone because I'm iN THE MIDST OF SANDERLANCHE PPL!!
Oathbringer is Dalinar's book, and boi what a book it is! But first, we are given the prologue of exactly the same thing for three books: the night of Gavilar's murder. This time, though, it is from Eshonai's POV. Remember her? The badass Parshendi we came to love and mourn in the previous book. What I find interesting in Eshonai's prologue is how it digs deeper into who Gavilar had been. I used to think of him as this wise old king -- I mean if Dalinar really idolised him that much, surely Gav had been such an exemplary person. What this prologue does is cast a different shade to his almost mythical figure.
In present day Urithiru, Dalinar was revisiting his visions with the help of Stormfather, whom he'd bonded, when he received a report that Sadeas was dead. Poor Dalinar was baffled, yet it was Palona, Sebarial's paramount, who pointed out the obvious: that Sadeas' death was actually very beneficial because he was wreaking havoc anyways. Being the honourable and responsible man that he was, Dalinar ordered Adolin to find out who murdered his ex-BFF.
Before we delve deep into Dalinar's arc, let's get sidetracked for a bit. Kaladin decided to pay a visit to his hometown, Hearthstone, and unsurprisingly was unrecognisable even to his parents. There was a certain satisfying moment when Kal finally met Roshone, this time as a Radiant. My petty heart treasures this moment, lol. On his way back to Urithiru, Kal was captured by a group of parshmen who gained the freedom of their minds, thanks to the Everstorm. Playing spy, Kal soon realised that these people only wanted peace -- no different than what his people wanted, too.
But what I was looking forward to the most was actually the reunion of Jasnah and Shallan. It was rather... anticlimactic, I daresay. Honestly this is Jasnah we're talking about, and the woman was anything but emotional. Jasnah wanted to continue Shallan's education, but the girl had been independent and become important all too sudden and too long, her ego got in the way. It was later decided to have Shallan, Kaladin (once he returned), Adolin, Elhokar, and a couple of other people to be part of a rescue team to Alethkar. See, the capital was under siege by the Voidbringer. With Dalinar's task of uniting the kingdoms, he couldn't very well let Elhokar's seat be lost.
And his wasn't an easy task. With Dalinar's bloodthirsty history, the other kings, queens, emperors thought twice in accepting his offer for a united kingdom. Their main question was, so what would Dalinar's position be in this coalition? Would he be their ultimate leader? What guaranteed he wouldn't go berserk like he did years ago?
Because Dalinar's past was tainted by the screams and blood of people he killed, burned, and looted. Honestly, even when reading it I was wondering how such despicable man could be the Dalinar we know and love? And the answer was clear: Evi, his late wife.
But what actually happened to Evi, though? Why did the memory of her leave Dalinar in such pain that he willingly went to Nightblood to have her very existence erased from his mind? The answer to this holds the key as to why Dalinar was so important in the battle against Odium.
Yes, Odium. That's our big bad, the one who splintered Honour and several other vessels in Cosmere. This very Odium made several appearance in Dalinar's vision, getting him acquainted. Something about him reminded me of Ruin in Mistborn -- only worse.
So once again our beloved characters were spread all over Roshar. Will Dalinar succeed in his mission of uniting the kingdoms? What about our gang of merry men on their way to Alethkar? And what ace card did Odium have up his sleeve?
EGGLYSIS
Dalinar's characterisation is out of this world.
Seriously. As soon as I put the book down, all I wanted was to run towards Brando and weep on his lap for the perfection that is Dalinar. Ask him forgiveness for thinking his characterisation wasn't on GRRM's level.
No, wait it doesn't. His was above GRRM's.
Oathbringer is a slow book. Unlike The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance that are more fast-paced and action-packed, Oathbringer takes its time in peeling layer by layer who Dalinar had been, was, and would be ever so patiently. The stark difference between the bloodthirsty rogue to the wise general couldn't be more contrast. How a man who had no shred of honour could become the embodiment of Alethi wisdom is such an exciting character journey, and Brando pulled it off perfectly. And the climactic moment couldn't have been more satisfying. THIS is the most satisfying Sanderlanche I've ever had the fortune to read.
Kaladin doesn't have his usual climactic moment, but it's a clever choice by Brando. As fan favourite, had Kal had his usual epic climax, it would've shadowed Dalinar's. And boi does Dalinar's climax deliver. I still have shivers and get teary eyed when reading that part.
On another note, there are 2 things I didn't expect coming into this book. The first was Lift and Szeth becoming all buddy-buddy.
Szeth settled down lightly beside her. "I have failed to carry this burden." "That's okay. Your weird face is burden enough for one man." "Your words are wise," he said nodding.
-- Chapter 120: The Spear That Would Not Break, Part 5: New Unity
The second was never in my wildest dream I thought I'd see Kaladin and Adolin going shopping in Shadesmar. Also, speaking of whom...
"What is this place?" Kaladin asked. "Well, I figured we'd want someplace safe," Adolin said. "We'd need to stay with someone I'd trust with my life, or more." He looked at Kaladin, then gestured toward the woman. "So I brought us to my tailor."
-- Chapter 61: Nightmare Made Manifest, Part 3: Defying Truth, Love Truth
If I have one complain, is that Shallan's arc got a little confusing to me. All this time I thought Veil was just her roleplaying. Then all of a sudden we got introduced to Radiant, another character she created. Then each has their own chapter. Is she having some sort of multiple personality disorder? She's still sharp and witty, but her chapters aren't as exciting and more confusing.
Don't forget to prepare some tissues. Towards the middle, there's a super heartbreaking scene that broke me all over. Talk about an incomplete arc that could have been. *sobs*
Overall, Oathbringer...
Oh, and fuck Moash.
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