The Stormlight Archive is an epic fantasy book series by Brandon Sanderson, highly revered among fantasy readers and claimed to be a potential classic in the fantasy genre.
This read is about
- Is The Stormlight Archive your must story?
- Is The Stormlight Archive a must-read fantasy, and why?
Average rating for the book one ” The Way of Kings “.
is The Stormlight Archive your must story?
The Stormlight Archive is a must-read
- If you’re familiar with fantasy or at least have read some medieval fantasy books.
- If you want to read one of the best in modern fantasy (new concepts, not much of typical archetypes, i.e. characters are more human, and a story with a blend of fantasy and workings relatable to our world).
- If you’re looking for a complex type of magic system (workings of the magic).
is The Stormlight Archive a must-read fantasy, and why?
If it’s your must story, then definitely a must-read fantasy. The Series is ongoing, so book one “The Way of Kings” is considered for this quick insights.
Diving deep into the prose and plot is extensive in such an epic fantasy and can end up rather long. To keep it short, we can pick the 3 prime ingredients of fantasy to answer the Why of the question.
Spoiler Alert, spoilers here are not regarding the plot but the content and structure of the narrative.
Worldbuilding:
Worldbuilding is the process of creating a fictional world and the entirety of that world. It’s the setting up of the world where the story takes place.
Sanderson is known for his worldbuilding. The Stormlight Archive is the best example to represent the power of worldbuilding.
The world in this story is called Roshar, with an extensive and diverse landscape. What makes it remarkable is its history and culture across the continent, which is intertwined with the plot, making it meaningful to attend to every detail for the readers.
The mystical lands, varied races, and fantastic beasts are not just made for the sense of wonder, but they pave the way for the story to unfold.
There is a balanced ambiance and theme to the world which at times can tip towards either side, becoming dark and mysterious or colorful and vibrant, making it fit for most types of readers.
Characters:
When we talk about characters, their point of view or perspective plays an important role in believability. The main characters seem to be extraordinary in their point of view, personality, and skills which is a slight throwback to the classical fantasy where the characters don’t tend to have a middle ground, unlike an ordinary person, but it works best with this plot.
Sometimes the characters contradict their personality, but it’s quite trivial compared to the grand scheme of things.
Considering the number of volumes to come for the series, what is planned to be 10 books, the overall story is at its best pace. Individual character arcs get a bit slow at times but eventually pick the pace.
Interactions:
Interactions here mean the interactions between the characters or characters and the world. It can be verbal, physical, or maybe magical interaction, especially in fantasy.
Novels are a form of storytelling where your only medium is words. It all comes down to the interactions to make it a real page-turner.
The author does a phenomenal job by creating demanding circumstances and framing the right roles to fill those demands. Making it more immersive and engaging to think along with the characters and keep anticipating the possible interactions.
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