Ryan Azzaro

The book felt less dynamic and focused as what I have come to expect from one of my all-time favorite authors. There’s quite a bit of moral pontification and you can absolutely feel Sanderson’s strong desire to make important discussions more prominent in a work of fiction. I’m all for that, but not when it threatens the narrative. I felt that both the pacing and engagement of the book suffered from vast sections being dedicated to philosophizing and introspection. The characters are bogged down by their lack of growth and advancement. The lightheartedness that is so signature with Sanderson’s work is almost non existent, and his rules for the universe are becoming increasingly cumbersome paired with a delivery that feels overly instructional.