The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive 1)

I went into The Way of Kings expecting something similar to Mistborn, just longer. I quickly discovered that this is a very different kind of book.

In fact, for the first 150 pages or so, I mostly read *words* with no sense of meaning. What is happening here? There are multiple prologues, an enormous amount of world-building, unfamiliar terminology and a seemingly endless number of characters and places to keep track of. I started to feel ready to ask, “When does the book start?”

Eventually, though, the pieces began to come together, and I started to appreciate what we were doing even if I didn’t know where we were going.

I had an interesting experience discussing the book with my 16-year-old son and his friends, all of whom are huge fans of the series. I casually mentioned that Kaladin wasn't my favorite character, and you would have thought I had insulted their cross country team. I DO understand why they love him (as teen guys), but I find him somewhat self-focused and, at times, a little too consumed by his own suffering. As a parent, I found myself much more drawn to Dalinar, whose sense of responsibility and concern for the people around him resonated with me more. Plus, bless his heart, he is the chaos commander which is what moms feel like all the time.

Adolin also grew on me. I wanted to dislike him, truly, I did, but his charm is irritatingly undeniable. What horrible taste we all have. Shallan is another complicated character—self-focused and often short-sighted, although she becomes more interesting as the story progresses. I enjoy the descriptions of her subconscious art.

This book requires patience, but the world Sanderson creates is impressive. By the end, I was invested enough to understand why my son and his friends were so passionate about the series.

This is a great start to something big.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty

I absolutely loved Here One Moment! I recommended it right away to several other people.

The premise is unusual, and I don't think I've read another book quite like it: can this woman tell the future, or not? A seemingly ordinary situation on a plane takes an unexpected turn, and from there, the story keeps raising questions about fate, choice, relationships and the stories we tell ourselves about our own lives.

What I enjoyed most was how often the book surprised me. I had so many questions as I was reading, and there were plenty of moments when I thought, “There is no way that is where this is going.” Just when I thought I understood what was happening, another piece of the story changed my perspective.

The characters are wonderful. I found myself genuinely invested in Cherry, Leo, Paula, and Ethan and rooting for things to work out. The relationships felt believable, which made the emotional moments much more powerful. Moriarty also does something I particularly appreciate: she allows humor and sadness to exist together. There are some genuinely funny moments alongside some very deep and emotional ones.

And then there is the ending!! YES. The threads of the story come together in a way that feels earned rather than forced, and her epilogue… (chef’s kiss) that is exactly the right kind of sweet and satisfying.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I am very late to Gone Girl. I knew the general reputation of the book and was familiar with the idea that it contained a major twist, but I had never actually read it.

I enjoyed the mystery and suspense. The book exists on controlling what the reader knows and when we know it. The shifting perspectives and gradual revelations kept me interested and made me continually reconsider what I thought was happening.

My biggest problem with the book, though, is that I disliked … everyone in it.

There is usually someone in a mystery or thriller that I find myself rooting for. Maybe it is the person trying to solve the crime, the innocent spouse, or simply the character who seems to be making reasonable decisions while everyone else is behaving badly.

That person does not really exist here.

Instead, I spent much of the book thinking about how awful these people are. They are manipulative, selfish, dishonest and generally unpleasant. Even when I was interested in what was happening to them, I wasn't necessarily hoping things would work out for them.

The twist is effective, even if some of the impact is lessened when you already know the book is famous for having one. Still, I appreciated how the story was constructed and how as the reader, my assumptions were questioned.

I think a book can be a good read even when you would prefer never to meet any of its characters in real life.

The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn 7)

The Lost Metal introduces the larger Cosmere connections. The Ghostbloods are particularly notable, especially if you've read (or will read) The Stormlight Archive.

This story had a positive emphasis on different kinds of abilities and the idea that value doesn't always come from being the most powerful person in the room. That is a theme I appreciate in fantasy, particularly when some characters are otherwise surrounded by people with extraordinary abilities.

There were some sad moments in this book, and I thought the ending handled them reasonably well. I was particularly pleased to see Steris find a role in which her particular strengths were genuinely appreciated. She has always been kind of a pitiable character, and I liked that her intelligence and organizational abilities were treated as meaningful rather than simply quirky personality traits.

And then there is Sazed. It was nice to see him again, but I am ready for something new.

And that something new will turn out to be The Stormlight Archive.

The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn 6)

By this point in the Wax and Wayne books, I was beginning to feel that the poor boys had been through quite enough. And then Sanderson decided that perhaps we should also wonder whether his sister might be the villain. At some point, I just wanted everyone to leave Wax alone. I’m as tired as he is.

I had a similar feeling about Wayne. He has his own collection of emotional baggage, and I found myself wishing Sanderson would occasionally allow these characters to experience something resembling peace.

That said, there are several things I enjoyed about The Bands of Mourning. The temple provides an interesting climax, and I liked how well it fits into the technological and steampunk-influenced setting of this era. The ship was also a fun addition, and the combination of technology and the established magic system continues to be one of the strongest aspects of these books.

Allik was another character I enjoyed. He brought some humor and a different perspective to the story, and I liked having him involved. A little quick to get over some major trauma, but he’s kind of written as a child.

At this point, however, I think I was becoming more interested in Sanderson's larger universe than in the immediate Wax and Wayne storyline. The original Mistborn trilogy had a sense of discovery that I found very compelling. By this stage, I was more aware of the larger Cosmere and increasingly interested in the connections between the different books, as I know I’m approaching Stormlight Archive, where the larger Cosmere will become much more relevant.

Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn 5)

Mistborn is still a better connection for me than this Wax and Wayne era. Sorry, steampunkers.

MeLaan the kandra is probably my favorite addition. She is genuinely funny, and her personality brings some levity to the story. Marasi also grew on me. I don't particularly love her, but I don't find her annoying, which is honestly enough to make me appreciate her presence.

I wasn't quite as enthusiastic about the twist involving Wax's past (Lessie). Wax has been through enough. I grow weary of the female who dies to strengthen the male story (OVERDONE) but this wasn’t better for me. Sigh.

That is one of the challenges I have with this series. I like the characters, but I don't always want to watch them endure another terrible thing simply because the story needs a source of conflict.

I did, however, continue to appreciate Sanderson's approach to the magic. He keeps finding new applications for the same basic rules, and that remains one of the most interesting aspects of these books for me.

Even when I am not completely invested in the plot, I am still interested in seeing what someone will do with the magic next.

Overall, this was another fine but solid entry in the series.