ICanDream Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 What is the best Stormlight book? Explain why they are the best ( these explanations can include spoilers ). Let the discussion begin!
Ammanas Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 I expect that Oathbringer will be better than the two already out bc it finally feels like most of the pieces are on the board and everything is set for big events to happen. I liked Words of Radiance more bc in WoK it feels like many of the main characters were going through a really dark time and spent time lamenting their problems or at least stewing over them. In Words of Radiance the characters still had a lot of problems, but they had more power to fix them and it felt more optimistic.
Toaster Retribution he/him Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 (edited) More things happened in WoR, we got more from interesting secret society characters like Amaram, Taravangian and Mraize, as well as much better fight scenes, a major death, and the best spren yet (Pattern). Words of Radiant is better, even though Way of Kings has the cooler title, and an Axies POV. EDIT: Another high point of WoK worth mentioning is the awesome prelude. I dont know why, I just love that one. Edited July 5, 2017 by Toaster Retribution Insertion of awesome prelude mention
Azul he/him Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 Book 8 is by far the best! When Lift eats both Odium and Cultivation and becomes the new shard Indigestion was by far the best part of the series! 9
ICanDream Posted July 5, 2017 Author Posted July 5, 2017 (edited) No idea why Azul's post made me laugh so much Edited July 5, 2017 by ICanDream
Azul he/him Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 Glad to be of service :). But seriously its a rather hard question to answer with just 2 books, If i was just considering my first read through I would have a hard time picking, since WoK introduced me to a world i completely fell in love with but WoR just expanded on that and took me for a emotional roller coaster ride. On re reading the books I do find i enjoy WoR more. No matter how many times I re read it I find myself unable to put it down even though I know whats going to happen.
Calderis he/him Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 2 minutes ago, Azul said: Glad to be of service :). But seriously its a rather hard question to answer with just 2 books, If i was just considering my first read through I would have a hard time picking, since WoK introduced me to a world i completely fell in love with but WoR just expanded on that and took me for a emotional roller coaster ride. On re reading the books I do find i enjoy WoR more. No matter how many times I re read it I find myself unable to put it down even though I know whats going to happen. Yeah. There's not enough to really answer with two books. I agree with your choice though. I blame Shallan. Her viewpoints were just so slow in the first book, that by contrast, even though the book as a whole is slightly more action packed, it seems vastly better paced, because Shallan's PoV's have more doing while they don't sacrifice the thinking.
Azul he/him Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 I had several friends say similar things Calderis but I've never had a issue with Shallan in the first book. But as long as I enjoy the characters I could be fine with reading about them sitting around and having tea for an entire book and be fairly happy. The first book of the Robin Hobb's newest Fitz and Fool series is a great example of this if you have read it.
Toaster Retribution he/him Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 The Shallan-Kabsal scenes were very enjoyable to read actually.
gbazz4 he/him Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 (edited) The obvious answer is they all are the best because this is a trick question. Its like picking between which of your kids you love more, and you just can't do it. Also this is like reading only the first two Harry Potter books before we got the rest and asking the same question. For me the first two were great, but then I read and found Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire the best of the books. I think we can anticipate Oathbringer will get even better, mainly because the more Brandon writes the better at writing he becomes. I agree with the others that this is hard to do with only 2 books and one Novella. They are all excellent in their own way. As stated WOK introduced me to this whole new world that just felt fresh and unlike anything i had ever read. So it was amazing for that. Though it was a lot slower to me because it was setting up the world, the characters, and the plot for this massive 10 book series. I had several friends who normally love fantasy who just couldn't get into the series because of the slower pace or the weird unearth like world that was being created. However, i did get a couple of other friends and i am glad because i have folks to theorize with. WOR was great because it had a lot more action and it left us with even more questions to answer and more theorizing to do. I loved the dueling scenes and seeing characters start to embrace their powers was awesome. I would lean a little more towards this one so far, even if you include Edgedancer into the question. I did like Edgedancer, it was a short read but entertaining and helped us delve more into the world and what is going on. Also it gave us more Lift and i like her character. So again, everything is the best! Edited July 5, 2017 by gbazz4 1
Andy92 Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 I like the first book better overall. Words of Radiance has a larger scope, but I think the main story in The Way of Kings with Kaladin and Bridge Four has the best payoff/ending. Love both books though, it's really splitting hairs to choose one over the other.
kiapet Posted July 5, 2017 Posted July 5, 2017 I think Words of Radiance was slightly better because of its improved pacing. While I prefer Kaladin's plot in Way of Kings to his plot in Words of Radiance, when reading Way of Kings I kind of feel like I'm reading to get from Kaladin chapter to Kaladin chapter, especially in the beginning. Words of Radiance is more integrated, with each character more or less contributing to a central plot, and Dalinar and Shallan have a bit more happening in their chapters so you don't get Way of Kings' occasional slow points. Also, you can just do more with the characters once you have a book's worth of plot under your belt. 1
Price_McKinney Posted July 6, 2017 Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) These are the best books ever, and choosing between them is like choosing between between cake and pie - it just can't be done. I loved almost everything about Words of Radiance, but the story about Bridge Four in The Way of Kings was just soooooo good. When re-reading I found I enjoyed TWoK more, but in my first go through, I preferred WoR. So in conclusion, this is an impossible choice and I have a headache. Edited July 6, 2017 by Price_McKinney
Kered he/him Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 (edited) I'll try to make it simplify it. Usually what makes a book really good for me is the amount of scenes that resonates with me in the book. A scene that I can go back and read/listen to over and over again without getting sick of it. I've never actually listed em out, so whichever book has the best scenes for me is the winner lol. Serious WoK and WoR spoilers? Spoiler WoK Kelek prologue. Though it truth it only became great for me after I finished the book and got some context. Something about seeing a "man" that people worship as God up close and personal is oddly satisfying. Like taking a sneak peek behind the current. Shallan and Jasnah's first meeting. Any Szeth interlude. Kal saving Hopper. Kaladin getting strung up, then the scene where Teft finds him and Kal snaps his eyes open(in my opinion this is where Kal won over Bridge 4 whole heartedly). Kal's first meeting with Wit. Arrows to the shield. Kal ordering around lighteyes and Adolin, then fighting Eshonai. Pretty much all the conversations Dalinar and Kaladin have until the end of the book. Giving away Oathbringer. Dalinar spartan kicking the King. Dalinar seeing Tannavast. WoR Tatto's All of Adolins duels. Jasnah trying to explain the realms to Shallan. Kaladin sparring with Zyle. Any scene with Wit. Kaladin and Adolin becoming friends. Szeth's first attack on Dalinar. 4 on 3 duel. Kal giving Shen a spear. Kaladin overseeing the training of the bridge crews in the chasms. Any chapter from Kaladins POV when he interacts with Shallan. Dalinar running to see Kaladin after his fall with Shallan. Amaram's apology to Kal. The King's confession to Kal. Kal pulling of a final clap. Kal lashing down Dalinar and he himself landing like a comet. Dalinar being bound to the storm father. My 2nd favorite scene in all of Brandon's books (1st being Kelsier meeting Vin after she dies in Secret History) the "Your will matters not!". And of course finding out Jasnah wasn't dead and the conversation she has with Wit. Edited July 7, 2017 by Kered
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