Just Arrived: “Words Of Radiance, The Stormlight Archive Book Two” by Brandon Sanderson
Can you tell I’ve just finished a manuscript with the “Just Arrived’s” coming in thick and fast? 😉
This one, Words Of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson is one I have been keenly awaiting because his The Way Of Kings, the first (published in two parts) in the Stormlight Archive series, was one of my top reads of 2011 and quite possibly my favourite new epic fantasy series of recent years.
To check out my report back on the read click on: The Way Of Kings
So I am very pleased to have all 1080 pages of Words Of Radiance ready and waiting on the TBR table now that I have a few spare moments for fat Fantasy reads. In the meantime, I shall content myself with what the back cover says:
“It began with The Way Of Kings…
And Roshar, a world both alien and magical, where gigantic hurricane-like storms scour the surface every few days and life has adapted accordingly. Roshar is shared by humans and the enigmatic, humanoid Parshendi, with whom they are at war. Among those caught up in the conflict are Highprince Dalinar Kholin, who leads the human armies; his neice Jasnah, a renowned scholar; her student Shallan, a brilliant but troubled young woman; and Kaladin, a military slave who, by the book’s end, was becoming the first magically endowed Knight Radiant in centuries.
In Words of Radiance their intertwined stories will continue and, as Sanderson fans have come to expect, develop in unexpected, wonderfully surprising directions. The war with the Parshendi will move into a new, dangerous phase, as Dalinar leads the human armies deep into the heart of the Shattered Plains in a bold attempt to finally end it. Shallan will come along, hoping to find the legendary, perhaps mythical, city of Urithuru, which Jasnah believes holds a secret vital to mankind’s survival on Roshar. The Parshendi take a dangerous step to strengthen themselves for the human challenge, risking the return of the fearsome Voidbringers of old. To deal with it all, Kaladin must learn how to fulfill his new role, while mastering the powers of a Windrunner.”
In terms of the ever-important cover treatment, Words Of Radiance continues the same black-white-red, somewhat ‘flat’ visual treatment of the previous Gollancz editions, which I must admit I am not keen on.
Having said that, it is not a treatment that repels me either, which is a good thing since I am rarin’ to read! However, I shall have to bide a wee, because I have several reading commitments ahead of this in the queue, but definitely “don’t wanna wait!”
And my partner, taking ruthless advantage of those commitments, has already jumped ahead of me in the queue—and advises that I shall not be disappointed!
It’s also useful against invading insects, spiders, velociraptors… 🙂
I prefer the US cover, myself.
You forgot ‘as a doorstop’, Paul… 😉
I hope you enjoy reading Words of Radiance. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but it’s on my reading list.
I agree with you on what you wrote about the cover art. I also don’t like it very much, because the cover image looks flat and uninspiring.
I have “all digits crossed” that I will enjoy it as much as The Way Of Kings.