This is an amazing book with incredible characters and a description of the world that is so vivid that it’s impossible for the reader not to feel immersed. It’s the first book in The Stormlight Archive series, the most ambitious project from Brandon Sanderson. At the moment I’m writing this, it has four incredible books, each more than a thousand pages long. I loved each of these books so much that it doesn’t feel like they are that long.
My favorite character from these books is Shallan. Every chapter of hers is so fun that I even take notes on her jokes.
On the other hand, Kaladin’s story is so sad that it’s impossible not to understand his hatred for the lighteyes.
Syl is another great character who evolves in each chapter and provides a contrast to Kaladin’s sadness.
To sum up, this is a great first book in the series.
I would recommend reading this book after the first Mistborn trilogy because it is a long book, and if you don’t actually understand how good this universe is, you will probably drop it.
Journey before destination
“Journey before destination” is the first ideal of the Knights Radiant, the main idea of the book and the way I try to live my life. It’s about loving the process and enjoying the experience rather than obsessing over the outcome.
Everyone wants to be a rockstar, play in stadiums, have tons of money and fame. But only the ones who enjoy practicing scales alone in their rooms for hours, dealing with rejection from record labels, and playing in empty bars for years, actually achieve that goal. They want the result, not the process.
You can go a little deeper on this philosophy by reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.
Always remember to be present in the moment and enjoy the subtle moments of this life. Next time you feel impatient, just remember: journey before destination.