Book of the Month Preview: ‘Words of Radiance’ by Brandon Sanderson
Maude Garrett has been such a fan of Brandon Sanderson over the years. MBC has even covered the Mistborn trilogy. Sanderson has such a strong wit and writes his adventures beautifully. They are fully formed characters with motivations and more importantly dreams. They all overcome obstacles that help improve their perspective about themselves and how they live.
After taking on the first book in the Stormlight Archive, The Way of Kings it was necessary to follow up with the second book in the series!
Our BOOK OF THE MONTH for March is Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson.
MBC has had such wonderful discussions about this series so far. With each book she has read by Sanderson, her admiration grows for him so much more.
The MBC community always has fun discussions in our discord and an in-depth analysis during our live book chat on Twitch!
Brandon Sanderson was born in December 1975 in Lincoln, Nebraska. As a child Brandon enjoyed reading, but he lost interest in the types of titles often suggested for him, and by junior high he never cracked a book if he could help it. This all changed in eighth grade when an astute teacher, Mrs. Reeder, gave Brandon Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly. Brandon thoroughly enjoyed this book, and went in search of anything similar. He discovered such authors as Robert Jordan, Melanie Rawn, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, and Orson Scott Card. Brandon continued to be an avid reader through junior high and high school. He liked epic fantasy so much that he even tried his hand at writing some. His first attempts, he says, were dreadful.
He went to school full time during the day, worked nights to pay for his schooling, and wrote as much as he could. He says it made for a rather dismal social life, but he finished seven novels during his undergraduate years. Brandon submitted many manuscripts for publication . . . and accumulated quite a pile of rejection letters. In spite of this he continued to be a dedicated writer.
Book Chat: ‘The Way of Kings’
‘Words of Radiance’
by Brandon Sanderson
Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status "darkeyes." Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl.
The Assassin, Szeth, is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin's master has much deeper motives.
Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined.
Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.
Book Chat: The Way of Kings
What Words of Radiance Offers
recognizing the complexity of others
forgiveness
redemption
caste system
medieval elitism
protection
morality
Join Our Book Chat
Maude and our community will have THREE streams to discuss this massive book on Thursday, March 13th, Thursday, March 20th, and Thursday, March 27th! Join us on Twitch from 5-7 p.m. PT.
What did you think about Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson? Let us know in the comments below or join our discord today!
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