“Brightness,” the man said as she stepped up to him, “we aren’t what you think we are.” “No,” Shallan replied. “You aren’t what you think yourselves to be.”

This is a superb, massive, sweeping work of majesty. The size didn't put me off in the least, and I found myself devouring every bit with unparalleled relish. The structure is familiar from previous works, although I did feel that we learn a lot more of Shallan than of Kaladin in this installment. I grew to respect her more in this book too, and partly that's to do with narrative style.

"The woman was poised, in control, but also obviously exhausted. The mask was cracked, and Shallan could see the truth."

There's a huge sense of something brewing in this book, and the climax, when it comes, feels comparatively short because Sanderson so deftly juggles a huge cast of complex and nuanced characters throughout. Some subplots plateau and, if they don't resolve they at least fall into alignment as we expect, but others are clearly there for the future of the series and that's amazing to anticipate, too.

"Vines withdrew, rockbuds closed. Grass hid in its holes. They knew, somehow. They all knew."

I must say, the one really impressive thing I got from this book was the way in which the whole novel builds toward the conflict and discovery at the end without tying everything else down. The overarching theme is that "something is coming" but the characters still flair, brilliantly, whilst awaiting it.

"They might idolize him, but they did not isolate him. It was good enough."

Kaladin's scenes are not, by any means, neglected. The bridgmen are well and thriving, and the variety of spren keep the links between the characters fresh. There's a great section with Kaladin and Shallan both in a chasm, and any other author would have surely exploited the confluence with the powers as they were. Not Sanderson, he really knows how to play a long game.

I didn't enjoy Wit so much, and at times, I felt the comedic flirtation was too strong. On the other hand, the interleaving of viewpoints mid-chapter, especially as the pace of the action increased, was literary ambrosia, and the whole world is so well painted that it's an absolute pleasure to be in it. Even characters like Ym made me want to read on and on, that's no small thing.
The books no small thing either: Just looking back at this year, This marvelous, huge novel is larger than 8 books I've already read with some pages left over! I would happily pick up book 3 in the series right here and now if it was available, and I really cannot wait to see where the the series goes next.