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| Categories | Action & Adventure |
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Publisher | Tor Books; Reprint edition (October 26, 2021) |
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 1232 pages |
| Item Weight | 2.31 pounds |
| Dimensions |
6.1 x 2.05 x 9 inches |
I. Book introduction
Rhythm of War is an epic fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson and the fourth book in The Stormlight Archive series. It was published by Tor Books on November 17, 2020. Rhythm of War consists of one prologue, 117 chapters, 12 interludes and an epilogue. It is preceded by Oathbringer.
As with Kaladin in The Way of Kings, Shallan in Words of Radiance, and Dalinar in Oathbringer, Rhythm of War has a sequence of flashback chapters, this time for characters Eshonai and Venli.
The book features illustrations of four Heralds, as well as illustrations of all the True Spren who form Nahel Bonds save for the Bondsmith spren. As with its Stormlight Archive predecessors, the unabridged audiobook is read by narration team Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.
A sequel, Wind and Truth, was released on December 6th, 2024.
The Stormlight Archive saga continues in Rhythm of War, the eagerly awaited sequel to Brandon Sanderson’s #1 New York Times bestselling Oathbringer, from an epic fantasy writer at the top of his game.
After forming a coalition of human resistance against the enemy invasion, Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant have spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. Neither side has gained an advantage, and the threat of a betrayal by Dalinar’s crafty ally Taravangian looms over every strategic move.
Now, as new technological discoveries by Navani Kholin’s scholars begin to change the face of the war, the enemy prepares a bold and dangerous operation. The arms race that follows will challenge the very core of the Radiant ideals, and potentially reveal the secrets of the ancient tower that was once the heart of their strength.
At the same time that Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with his changing role within the Knights Radiant, his Windrunners face their own problem: As more and more deadly enemy Fused awaken to wage war, no more honorspren are willing to bond with humans to increase the number of Radiants. Adolin and Shallan must lead the coalition’s envoy to the honorspren stronghold of Lasting Integrity and either convince the spren to join the cause against the evil god Odium, or personally face the storm of failure.
About the Author (Brandon Sanderson)
Brandon Sanderson (Brandon Winn Sanderson, born December 19, 1975) is an American author of high fantasy, science fiction, and young adult books. He is best known for the Cosmere fictional universe, in which most of his fantasy novels, most notably the Mistborn series and The Stormlight Archive, are set. Outside of the Cosmere, he has written several young adult and juvenile series including The Reckoners, the Skyward series, and the Alcatraz series. He is also known for finishing Robert Jordan’s high fantasy series The Wheel of Time. Sanderson has created two graphic novels, including White Sand and Dark One.
A New York Times best-selling author, Sanderson created Sanderson’s Laws of Magic and popularized the idea of “hard magic” and “soft magic” systems. In 2008, Sanderson started a podcast with author Dan Wells and cartoonist Howard Tayler called Writing Excuses, involving topics about creating genre writing and webcomics. In 2016, the American media company DMG Entertainment licensed the movie rights to Sanderson’s entire Cosmere universe, but the rights have since reverted back to Sanderson. Sanderson’s March 2022 Kickstarter campaign became the most successful in history, finishing with 185,341 backers pledging $41,754,153.
II. Reviewer: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
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1. BRADLEY reviews Rhythm of War
Re-read 4/11/24:
It’s always a journey with these. Sometimes you never know why the author is taking us on these side-trips, but once you DO know, it tends to blow your mind.
I particularly enjoyed the mental-health focus of this particular book. Not just for Shallan, but for Kaladin, too. It’s almost as if Brandon knew we’d need so much of that during ’20. But truly, it’s just as welcome now.
That’s just a side note, however.
This novel is so much more than that, of course. It’s adventure, epic-scope and epic-stakes fantasy, and the characters keep on growing.
Of course, by now, we have learned SO much about how the worldbuilding works — and more importantly, how the Cosmere works. I’m loving it all.
I cannot WAIT until the next.
Original Review:
After reading this very long novel, there should be some kind of fatigue. I mean. I think it’s longer than SK’s The Stand. So a reader OUGHT to be drained by the attempt. But no. Not this time.
All these Stormlight Archives rage over me like the world-storms within the novel, recharge my heartstone, and make me utter all four oaths.
Seriously. There should be a warning label on this book. “Careless consumption will lead to fandom.”
Okay, to be fair, I was already a huge fan of Sanderson for, like, forever. But ever since reading the last three books of WoT, carefully managed under his hand, I’ve known that he had all the chops. After reading almost EVERYTHING of his, since, and slobbering all over the place to get my hands on his OWN epic masterpiece since book one, to get the fourth at this point is something of a…
Okay, let me say it.
We’re a cult. A completely mind-blown cult. We’re all so invested in this story, have drunk ALL the kool-aid, and we’re willing to walk off all the cliffs (or chasms, if you will,) to get the next one.
And it totally satisfied. Oh, not only that, but it twisted all our expectations (or at least mine) and tore me to shreds, and made me despair. And then it built me back up again, made me wonder how the hell they were going to get out of this for a long time before subverting all my new expectations yet again.
Let me just say this: Sanderson is a master storyteller. He knows what he’s doing every step of the way. He keeps tossing that coin and tells us it’s all a trick even while he’s pulling yet ANOTHER fast one on us and we not only enjoy it, but we beg for more of this strange covenant.
Or I might just say that we’re all addicts and the IDEA of Sanderson in our heads is on par with a huge bank. In our heads, we just know that it can never fail. And if it seems to, our confidence is so huge that we make SURE it doesn’t fail, and then, when our heads catch up to what’s actually going on, we realize, out of the blue, that it was ALL A RUSE and he played us all yet again.
Or maybe I’m just reading WAY TOO MUCH into this. 🙂
Suffice to say… WOW, WHAT A BOOK! 🙂
2. HOLLY reviews Rhythm of War
How do you even review a book that is 1,200+ pages long?! Especially when it’s the fourth book in a series and you don’t want to give spoilers for the book or the series in general. So here’s my very vague impressions/review:
- In the beginning I was getting a little bored at times with the war talks, ‘scientific’ developments, mental health issues, and flashbacks.
- But then by the end of this book I was seriously invested in every single one of those storylines (with the exception of the war stuff, but luckily there wasn’t much of that)
- Despite reading detailed recaps of all the previous books, I still had to google the heck out of some stuff. Once the whole series is complete I would like to reread all the books back to back so that I can fully absorb all the details.
- I legit cried at points in this book and I am generally not a book-crier.
- I don’t think I will ever read something this immersive and complex and captivating as this series.
3. GILLIAN reviews Rhythm of War
I loved this book so much! I fell in love with the story and the characters from the very beginning. This epic fantasy illustrates the importance of family and friendship, the cost of power, bravery, and resiliency. The writing is so descriptive and immersive that I forget that I’m reading. I loved that this book was able to combine amazing characters, an action-packed plot, awesome world building and great storytelling perfectly. The world building is one of the best I’ve seen in fantasy books; the history, the culture, the languages, the magic are all explained in so much detail. The characters are have a great deal of depth, and they are all relatable. I absolutely adore Kaladin, Syl, Shallan, and Adolin! I also really like Dalinar, Navani and the Bridge Four. I enjoying learning more about Navani and her past in this book while discovers her current path. Kal’s character development was excellent, by the end of the book he was much more confident in his abilities and realized that he is not a failure, he’s a hero. Shallan also had great character development, I enjoyed watching her come to terms with her past and realized that even though she made mistakes she came overcome them. There were many plot twists and revelations that shocked me. I felt many emotions while reading this book including happiness, sadness, shock and anger. The ending was action-packed engaging. I’m so excited to read the next book!
4. TOBY reviews Rhythm of War
The best modern work of fantasy I’ve ever read
Taking Tolkien out of the equation, as someone who read all of wheel of time and all of the current 5 game of thrones( my with a clash of kings in game of thrones ranking as my favorite), I understand this to be a bold claim.
This book is a payout on the investment of the prior 3 books and reveals that no detail no character in the first 3 books was wasted. All of the characters, the events are leading up to something-an epic world, with a story worth re-reading.
Warning, this book starts off slow. It took 300 to 400 pages for it to get going. When I arrived at the thought ” the pacing is too slow in this one”, the narrative takes off and doesn’t slow till the end.
Brandon Sanderson does such a great job of writing characters as humans, addressing depression, trauma, and dementia in his characters in a human and compassionate way. He ties up almost every lose end in this book whole still keeping the reader invested in what happens next. This book made me consider rereading the first 3 because it points to how the events in the first book continues to have echoes in this expansive rich universe Brandon Sanderson has created.
In fantasy, its a book that made me feel all of the emotions, exuberance, despair, sadness, and hope. There’s a scene in the book that made me tear up, something I never expected a book would make me do. He treats the characters with amazing tenderness and provides closure to many character arches..
If you want action, complex characters, fantasy, and rich story telling, this book has it and this series is for you.
5. HARRIS reviews Rhythm of War
There are books you can simply call masterpieces and this is certainly one of them.
Reading this you will doubt this can really be the work of a man, it’s far too well though, packed with so much information, so much story it’s feels impossible.
I read this book non stop, paused everything and just read. Anything else was a break, a distraction. Not many books give you this feeling, this necessity to go to the next page and the next after and you just can’t resist.
And I cried, not just once. The moments were powerful and not telegraphed. It was inspiring and the depth of ideas presented, sentiments was mindnumbling.
You will find heroes and enemies all masterfully shaped, a plethora of them and you won’t rush to your favorite because they all have something to give.
The story is good and the revelations plenty. You will be in shock and awe struggling to fit it all in the end. It was so much, how / what will fill the next books when we got so much here. To be honest we got so much more knowledge this book more than any other in the series. I hope this doesn’t kill the mystery from the future ones.
Now the pacing was very good. It started really strong and to be frank it slowed down at 50%. I expected the last 15% of the book to happen right at the 50% but the next 35% was theory and character building. A touch slower than the rest of the book but still fulfilling.
Usually, I feel sad when such a good book ends, but this one I know I will re-read for sure, hopefully at a slower pace and enjoy it again and again. If you are reading this anyway I’m sure you are already sold on the series! Enjoy it
6. STEVEN FREITAG reviews Rhythm of War
A catchy Rhythm
Another amazing collection to the Archive.
Starts off slow as one would expect, time passed, and the world needs to be rebuilt.
It was hard to get past the beginning, and it was mostly the Shallan chapters I struggled with. It got better, though, and the rest of the story captivated me.
It’s always enjoyable when our burning questions are answered, just to have more mysteries in their wake, especially if you’ve read up to TLM, Elantris, and Warbreaker.
The cosmere is getting smaller, and paths are crossing. It’s all extremely exciting. Buckle up it’s going to be one helluva ride!
7. STEVE reviews Rhythm of War
This novel is another Epic Fantasy masterpiece by Brandon Sanderson
Overall, I enjoyed reading Rhythm of War. I like the realistic characters, descriptions, dialogue, illustrations, and epigraphs in this novel. I like most of the storylines in Rhythm of War. I also like that some of Shallan’s dialogue in this novel is funny. I like the pace in this novel. I like the experiments that Navani did with gemstones such as to capture Void Light. I like that some gems were the currency on Roshar because that gem currency is original. I don’t like that Moash told Kaladin to commit suicide to stop feeling depressed. The part of a chapter in this novel when Shallan merged two of her personalities isn’t the right way to recover from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Overall, Rhythm of War is a fantasy masterpiece. Four out of five stars.
8. LIV reviews Rhythm of War
700 pages left on the reread, but now that I have Wind and Truth in my hands I have decided to forgo that and watch the 2.5 hour Daniel Green recap. This was my favorite book on the initial read, I’ll definitely return to it at some point but now is not that time.
here’s my bad recap: Adolin becomes my favorite character by talking to inanimate objects, Navani fixes the HVAC system, Kaladin invents therapy, Shallan is at war with himself (literally), the gods make plans that may or may not work, Wit gets serious for once, incredibly nuanced “villains” are introduced as we explore the difference between corruption and enlightenment. Honorable mentions to Pattern, Rabonial, Venli, Renarin, Sja-anat, and Jasnah for their nuance and strength.
Journey before destination, except when I’ve already read this and have a Daniel Green video I can watch instead.
9. SEAN GIBSON reviews Rhythm of War
First 25%: Ah, it’s good to be back in the Cosmere, hanging out with Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Venli, and all their wacky friends. I missed these cats. Sanderson, you magnificently detailed worldbuilding bastard! Yeah! Let’s do this!
Second 25%: Wow, we are getting an absolute crem-load of detail here. It’s good. I’m enjoying this. Lots of interesting insights. Kernels of truth. Plot things. Character things. Navani doing science stuff. Yeah. Cool cool cool.
Third 25%: I must be nearly done, there can’t be more than a few dozen pages or so left to…THERE ARE 600 PAGES LEFT?! This is like trying to eat 10 pizzas at once. I mean, I love pizza, and who doesn’t like to gorge, but jeez…c’mon. That’s a lot. Is there an editor on this book? What? He was tragically flattened when the draft manuscript fell on him and they decided to wing it without an editor on this one? Ah, THAT explains it. Yeah…
Final 25%: Holy motherforking shirtballs! Did Navini just…?! And Kaladin—he…?! Taravangian did WHAT?! Shallan killed WHOM?! Wit is…huh?! STORMS! I am peeing everywhere and for once it’s not just my incontinence! This is INSANE!
In sum: the experience of reading Rhythm of War is pretty much like reading the three prior volumes, only a lot more so—a lot more going on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and (you get the point)…and a lot more HOLY CREM moments. If you’d have told me how this book ended after I read Way of Kings, I would have assumed you were talking about two completely different series. I have no idea where this is going, but I am in. Though hopefully we can reinflate that poor editor before the next go-round.
10. JODY reviews Rhythm of War
“It’s not such a terrible thing, to be too weak. Makes us need one another.”
I believe the quote above says a lot about this book, and the series overall for that matter. We see these characters put into one dire situation after another. Some they overcome quickly, and others it takes time. They cannot truly put themselves back together without help, and believing that they deserve redemption from their failures.
Rhythm of War started out with a lot faster pace than I am used to in most Sanderson books. But, it didn’t last long and the story begins to settle into a normal pace that is customary for this series. Once the pace slowed down, it did take me a while to get really invested in the plot. It just felt like it was taking so long for anything memorable to transpire. I wasn’t understanding some of the terminology that was being used, and just felt a little lost at times. I decided to slow down my reading pace and really digest the book slowly, instead of seeing how fast I could speed through a 1,200 page behemoth. And that is when everything started to click. From this point on I was totally invested and loving every minute of it.
It was really fun seeing the growth of so many characters in one book. Weather it be something they had been trying to overcome for several books now, or just getting more page time and their chance to shine. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but it did seem that this installment was spread out over a larger number of characters than previous books. There were a two or three that took up more than all the others, and I felt it was time for their stories to be expanded on, but overall the story just felt broadened.
“No army, no matter how clean its reputation, walked away from war untainted. And no leader, no matter how noble, could help but sink into the crem when he stepped into the game of conquest.”
Speaking of broadened, Sanderson does expand on the Cosmere as a whole. I won’t go into detail, but this book really sets up an expansion, not only for The Stormlight Archive, but some of his other series as well. Not in any extended detail mind you! Although, if you are familiar with his other works, it is there for you to muse about in the back of your mind. I know I did, and can’t wait to see how all of this fits together.
I have heard that this series will be broken down into two separate phases. With the first 5 books being phase one, and the second 5 books being phase two. I can see that being the case after reading this. As I said above, there is some terminology that isn’t used in this series up until this point. Also, there are some major events that transpire near the end. Maybe I’m just reading too much into it, but I have a feeling book 5 is going to be the best book in the series so far.
And now the long wait begins for the next installment in this series. I am glad I decided to slow down my reading pace and really appreciate the minor details. It helped me to pick apart things I didn’t understand at first. I was able to focus on everything this book had to offer to the series and the Cosmere as a whole. Did I understand it all? I highly doubt it. But as the saying goes, “Journey before destination”.
“Honor is not dead as long as he lives in the hearts of men!”
Actual Rating: 5 stars *****
III. Rhythm of War Quotes by Brandon Sanderson
The best book quotes from Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
“Nalathis. Scadarial. Tal Dain. Do you recognize any of those?”
“I have begun searching for a pathway out of this conundrum by seeking the ideal person to act on my behalf. Someone who embodies both Preservation and Ruin. A … sword, you might say, who can both protect and kill.”
“There was a weakness here. In the division between the Vessel and the Shard.”
“This is life, and I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. That is truth.”
“It will,” Wit said, “but then it will get better. Then it will get worse again. Then better. This is life, and I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a very different thing to say. That is truth. I promise you, Kaladin: You will be warm again.”
“Our weakness doesn’t make us weak. Our weakness makes us strong. For we had to carry it all these years.”
“No one ever accomplished anything by being content with who they were, Shallan,” Adolin said. “We accomplish great things by reaching toward who we could become.” “As long as it’s what you want to become. Not what someone else thinks you should become.”
“Why do we fight, Kal? Why do we keep going?” “I don’t know,” Kaladin whispered. “I’ve forgotten.” “It’s so we can be with each other.” “They all die, Tien. Everyone dies.” “So they do, don’t they?” “That means it doesn’t matter,” Kaladin said. “None of it matters.” “See, that’s the wrong way of looking at it.” Tien held him tighter. “Since we all go to the same place in the end, the moments we spent with each other are the only things that do matter. The times we helped each other.”
“Some people charged toward the goal, running for all they had. Others stumbled. But it wasn’t the speed that mattered. It was the direction they were going.”
“Kaladin’s anxiety began to subside, and he pushed through the worst of the darkness. He always emerged on the other side. Why was that so difficult to remember while in the middle of it?”
“Who do you think is stronger?” Adolin asked. “The man who has walked easily his entire life, or the man with no legs? The man who must pull himself by his arms?”
“You just want to stop existing,” Kaladin said. “You don’t want to actually kill yourself, not on most days. But you figure it sure would be convenient if you weren’t around anymore.”
“Heroism is a myth you tell idealistic young people—specifically when you want them to go bleed for you.”
“You don’t have to smile. You don’t have to talk. But if you’re going to be miserable, you might as well do it with friends.”
“Adolin is right,” Veil said. “He’s always been right about you. Tell me. Who is the strongest of mind? The woman whose emotions are always on her side? Or the woman whose own thoughts betray her? You have fought this fight every day of your life, Shallan. And you are not weak.”
“If we can choose, we can change. If we can’t change, then choice means nothing. I’m glad I feel this way, to remind me that I haven’t always felt the same. Been the same.”
“I know what you are,” Shallan whispered. “You’re the blankness upon my memories. The part of me that looks away. The part of my mind that protects me from my past.”
“Of course I am,” Veil said. “I’m your veil, Shallan.”“I know how you feel. Dark, like there’s never been light in the world. Like everything in you is a void, and you wish you could just feel something. Anything. Pain would at least tell you you’re alive. Instead you feel nothing. And you wonder, how can a man breathe, but already be dead?”
“Aladar’s axehounds had puppies. I had no idea how much I needed to see puppies until I flew by them this morning. They are the grossest things on the planet, Kaladin. They’re somehow so gross that they’re cute. So cute I could have died! Except I can’t, because I’m an eternal sliver of God himself, and we have standards about things like that.”
“I don’t struggle with feelings of insecurity any longer.” “Good.” “I’d say I’m pretty good at them.”
“I’m not strong enough,” Kaladin whispered. “You’re strong enough for me.” “I’m not good enough.” “You’re good enough for me.” “I wasn’t there.” Tien smiled. “You are here for me, Kal. You’re here for all of us.”
“We need both heart and mind,” Lirin said. “The heart might provide the purpose, but the head provides the method, the path. Passion is nothing without a plan. Wanting something doesn’t make it happen.”
“You’re always willing to give others more charity than you extend yourself.”
“I am an artist,” Wit said. “I should thank you not to demean me by insisting my art must be trying to accomplish something. In fact, you shouldn’t enjoy art. You should simply admit that it exists, then move on. Anything else is patronizing.”
“Honor is not dead so long as he lives in the hearts of men!”
“For the men chatting together softly, the change was in being shown sunlight again. In being reminded that the darkness DID pass. But perhaps most important, the change was in not merely knowing that you weren’t alone — but in FEELING it. Realizing that no matter how isolated you thought you were, no matter how often your brain told you terrible things, there WERE others who understood.”
“His entire life had been a futile effort to stop a storm by yelling at it. The storm didn’t care.”
“That night, it rained on the other dogs, who slept outside in the cold barn, which leaked. But the little dog snuggled into a warm bed beside the fire, hugged by the farmer’s children, his belly full. And as he did, the dog sadly thought to himself, ‘I could not become a dragon. I am an utter and complete failure.’ The end.”
“Fine,” Navani said. “I hope when you die—knowing your homeland is doomed, your families enslaved, your queen executed—you feel satisfied knowing that at least you maintained a slight market advantage.”
“WATCH, the Rider said. YOU WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS BEYOND THE NEXT HILL. SEE THEM ALL.”
Excerpted from Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
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