Brandon Sanderson - Tumblr Posts

If Gavilar Had Survived a Little Longer

Gavilar: Tell Thaidakar he's too late!

Szeth: I don't know who that is

Gavilar: Restares? Sadeas?

Szeth: My masters are...

Gavilar: Don't tell me, I want to guess. Was it Nale?

Szeth: You mean Nin? No.

Gavilar: Taln is mad that I want to take his place?

Szeth: Stop guessing Heralds

Gavilar: I've got it! The stormfather! I knew he was lying!

Szeth: You're insane.

Gavilar: Elhokar or Dalinar making a play for the throne?

Szeth: No

Gavilar: Navani's really mad that I yelled at her?

Szeth: Is there anyone in your family you don't suspect of killing you? It wasn't them.

Gavilar: I don't suspect Jasnah. Was it Taravingian? He seems to be up to more than he lets on.

Szeth: Don't be silly, I would never work for him.

Gavilar: Is the king of Jah Keved so scared of our alliance with the Parshendi that he’d have me killed?

Szeth: How do you have so many enemies but still have more than you think? My masters are the Parshendi.

Gavilar: That doesn't make any sense!?

Szeth: RAFO

Gavilar: ...Take this sphere and tell my brother he must find the most important words a man can say.

Szeth: Dying requests are sacred in my culture, I will do as you ask.

Gavilar: Wait! As my dying request can you instead kill everyone else I guessed except my family members?

Szeth: ...Okay not that sacred.

This is one of my favorite things about the cosmere; it's so science-y while also being fantasy (mostly).

My brain doesn't work when maths and science and that kinda of stuff, but at the same time it's like fucking attracted to the idea of knowing how the Universe itself works but I know myself and would never be capable of studying those subjects deeply, so Brandon Sanderson's books are literally made for me, like fuck yeah explain to me why the weird light thingy spirits actually affects the fiscal world in ways beyond our comprehension, oh you are attacking whit metal that warps reality? Yeah that makes sense it's just energy changing all the three states of being, oh yeah the magic it's actually something able to be energy and matter at the same time, oh yeah don't have these two weird metals collide whit each other,why? Oh they are just divine opposites that will destroy everything around you if they have friction, like I understand my girl Kriss I too would spend centuries trying to understand all the ways Investiture manifest it's so fucking fun to think about

Thank you Sanderson for giving me a different way to see and comprehend the Universe

Like I think oh a Black hole maybe they are weird as fuck because they are just points of Investiture so accumulated the mass collapses on itself

Being able to comprehend the rules that bend the Universe just by saying oh it's magic duh it's so freaking fun

The more I think about it the more fun it is

personally, I think Hoid is the actual main character of the Cosmere. we just don’t know it yet

I wish I could add more options (I would add my girl Rysn at the very least) but yeah I'm just curious. Like Kaladin is my favorite but Shallan is the most interesting to me

Just thinking about the fact that Shallan had bonded a spren BEFORE she ever killed her mother... what kind of childhood did that poor girl have that she was already admiting hard enough truths as such a small child to be able to reach (at least) the third ideal?

Started reading Mistborn and immediatly fell in love with this mass murder.

~ January's Books Reviewed ~

January was a good month in regards to reading. Due to a lack of other obligations I read a lot, including completing a series that I had started the previous year.

Oathbringer pt 1 & 2 by Brandon Sanderson

(635 & 756 pages)

I am absolutely obsessed with this series. I read it under recommendation from a friend actually here on tumblr and I'm so happy I did. Sanderson's world is incredible, his characters are beautiful and the plot is intriguing and captivating. I genuinely would go as far as to say that Sanderson might be one of (if not the) best fantasy writers I have ever read. I did enjoy the first book in this series (The Way Of The Kings) the most I think, however I loved the character development of Shallan in this book. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy or found family books. They are a big commitment and can be a little heavy getting into since it's a lot of world building, but I would say entirely worth it.

I gave both these books 4 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The Last Smile in Sunderland City by Luke Arnold

(316 pages)

I confess that I read this while waiting for the last Sanderson books to come so I was perhaps not in the head space to read something else, however I was a little disappointed by it. It wasn't bad by any stretch, however it was not what I was expecting. It was still a fairly light hearted mystery, however it was not as humorous as I was anticipating, and the mystery plot was strangely almost not the main focus, instead it became more of a character study, or political commentary. It was a really quick read however (I completed it in a day) and I'm glad I did read it. I'd recommend it to anyone who is maybe looking for a quick, easy first try at a fantasy book. The world building isn't as heavy as other fantasy novels and as it is a stand alone it's an easier first step into the genre than some other tombs of books!

I gave this book 3 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Rhythm of War part 1 & 2 by Brandon Sanderson

(659 & 742 pages)

I am not a crier generally, so when I say that the start of this book made me actually fully sob I hope that that acts as a stronger review than any words I could say. It was emotional and so well written, especially the depiction of ptsd and depression. I really appreciated how fresh the story still felt. This is the fourth book in this series and it would have been so easy to just keep working in a formula that Sanderson knew had worked with the big battle scenes etc, instead (despite the name: Rhythm of War), this story moved away slightly for the war and fighting and instead showed a different form of tension. This kept the story exciting in my opinion, especially as I am much more inclined towards reading more subtle/undercover style fights than big battles. Some story lines were more interesting than others, but overall I felt this was an emotionally draining and addictive finale to the series.... that is until I realised that apparently their might still be more to come?! Either way, my comments from the previous book remain - I would highly highly recommend this series.

I gave both these books 4 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe

(167 pages)

I know this is a classic. I know it is probably the original psychological horror. And I have so much respect for Radcliffe for that, however I did not find this book that enjoyable to read. It was simultaneously dreadfully slow and dull; and horribly complex. In theory, the idea behind it and the plot intrigued me but the characters were annoying and the style of writing was not engaging enough for me. If you like psychological horror books, I would recommend this, since it is where the genre started. It's a quick read for anyone who's wanting to tick classics off their list too.

I gave this book 2 stars ⭐ ⭐

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

(506 pages)

SOOO good! I loved the premise, and the characters are all so interesting and compelling. Some of them I despise with a burning passion, but in a good way! An incredible start to a trilogy as I finished filled with a desperate excitement to find out what happens next. I genuinely cannot reiterate how much I loved this book and how I would recommend it to everyone who in anyway feels inclined to reading anything in the realms of fantasy, mystery or general magic. I repeat: so so good!

I gave this book 5 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The Atlas Paradox by Olive Blake

(399 pages [hardback vers.])

Funnily enough, still so so good! I am obsessed with this trilogy and honestly the only bad thing about it might be the fact that I'm going to have to wait for the final book as it isn't published yet! I will say that I think I probably preferred the first one, but that is likely in part due to the fact that I read it a little quicker. In general, I find it is unusual to find a sequel that lives up to its predecessor so well like this. Again, I cannot recommend this enough.

I gave this book 5 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

~July's Books Reviewed~

*everyone please just ignore the fact that June was skipped... shhhhhhh! 🙈*

A slow month for reading again (but better than the previous 😬) however all three were thoroughly enjoyed. That's it for this months intro, not going to lie to you, I have nothing else to say 😅

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

(304 pages)

I read this book in a single day right at the start of the month when I still had good intentions of reading more... while my intentions led to little, it is a testament to the book that it was finished so quick. There is something comforting about an Agatha Christie novel, especially a Poirot one, and I really enjoyed reading the very first Poirot one for the first time and seeing just where the character started. As always, the pacing was good, the characters were intriguing, and the mystery was, well, mysterious! I especially loved that in this edition of the book they had printed both the official ending, as well as the original ending Agatha Christie wrote before she changed her mind. I thought it was a really interesting insight into her as an editor as well as a writer. I will say that I definitely preferred the official ending so was glad to see that was the one chosen by the printers! Overall, an engaging and fun read, a classic whodunit and should rightfully be included on any mystery lovers tbr list.

I gave this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beyond the Story: 10 Year Record of BTS by BTS & Myeongseok Kang

(496 pages)

Am I biased? Probably. Do I care? No. This is for my personal record of the books I've loved this year and I loved every single second of this. I cried, laughed, reminisced, missed all of them more than is healthy probably, and felt indescribably proud of them and myself. I don't tend to read biographies, or nonfiction at all, but I have been listening to BTS since the end of 2015 and they have taught me so many important lessons, as well as offered me comfort and joy in ways that they probably can't even imagine. Reading this book felt not only like a window into a section of their past that we hadn't been able to see before, but also like a portal right back to my own past. As ridiculous as it may sound, they are all so relatable and it makes me so happy to remember how far they've come, as well as filled with hope for my own future. I genuinely don't think it's an exaggeration to say that they reminded me how to just be happy. Yes they're not solely responsible for it, nor do they miraculously solve everything, but they definitely have improved my life with their music and unwavering (if remote and one sided!) presence. For that, I will never be able to thank them enough.

I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

(643 pages)

I really really enjoyed this! To be completely honest, I was nervous going in that it wouldn't live up to my expectations for Sanderson, but I had no need to be concerned. Sanderson is a masterful world builder, has incredible characterisation, and enthralling plots. I am obsessed with the almost espionage elements of this book and am so happy to see that once again Sanderson has prioritised a beautiful found family at the centre of the relationships. It is truly a unique and fun story with so many twists and misdirects, and yet it is all written so cleverly that it isn't once blunt or off putting. I would highly recommend!

I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ August's Books Reviewed ~

The month started out strong with me riding a Sanderson high, then I did a thing that I objectively hate and know will 9 times out of 10 have me reading less, which is started several books at once.... as of the end of August I was reading three books at once, yet none of them were finished so none of them get included in August's round up... look forward to that in September I guess!

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

(763 pages)

The stress I felt reading this was unreal... which is simply evidence of how good it is. It genuinely was pulling actual visceral reactions from me and I physically could not put it down at points. I know this is a shorter review than usual, but I can think of nothing else to say.

I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

(748 pages)

An amazing conclusion to a really really good trilogy. The twists and turns of this were so well executed and completely shocking in exactly the right way. The ending in particular I never could have seen coming. If this were a spoiler review I'd be able to go on more, but for now, I leave with simply the promise that if you love fantasy novels, Sanderson novels, epic twists and/or social/religious/political commentary then you should definitely give this series a try!

I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

(585 pages)

I was gifted this book and admit to being a little wary before committing to reading it, as a general rule books that blow up exclusively on social media tend to be a let down to me after the copious amounts of hype they've received. I'm pleased to say that was not the case with this book. If anything, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. It was extremely uniquely written; it was emotional, clever and beautiful. The characters were all so complex and felt genuinely so real. I would say that was the highlight of this book, the characterisation. Every character you could relate to a real person. You sympathised with their decisions, or at least understood them. Like real life, there was no villains and heroes. Bad people and good people and somewhere in the middle people, sure. But also like real life, the last group was the most prevalent, and the first two groups different to each individual's opinions. I would actually really recommend this book to almost everyone I know who reads, I'm pretty sure everyone could find something in it that keeps their focus, be it the mystery, the love story, the characters....

I gave this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The twist of a knife by Anthony Horowitz

(373 pages)

I am like 90% sure that this was not the first book in a series, however it stood well as a stand alone book too! Like the other Horowitz book I read earlier this year, I found this novel a little slow to pick up at first, however I did get into it in the end. I found it clever and quirky and I loved the meta elements. Ultimately, it was exactly what it was advertised as - a light, humorous murder mystery - and actually, I'm not mad about taking a break for something silly every so often!

I gave this book 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio

(422 pages)

After the success of The Seven Husbands, I felt brave enough to try another recent social media favourite book. I'd seen mixed reviews over this one, however my flatmate strongly recommended it and as usual, our tastes in books aligned and it was extremely good. Despite the predictability of the plot, I was fully engaged the entire way through which speaks to how well the characters were depicted that I was willing to look past the predictability of it all just to read more about the people. In fact, I would like to make this a formal call for more people to start writing fanfictions for this novel because I want to read even more about these characters and am being denied that currently based off the limited options on ao3 (if anyone has any good recommendations please let me know!) I think, if I had read this in another month it would have received five stars, however it was let down by the fact that it was read within the same weeks as Sanderson and The Seven Husbands which meant I could not in good conscience give it full marks when the plot was just a little too easy to see coming for me. Therefore....

I gave this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Welcome to the great Wheel of Time POV poll! Because of the enormous number of characters, this has been whittled down to the 16 most frequent POV characters (out of everyone with 12 POVs Morgase is the only one included as she had the greatest word count; sorry Padan Fain). I'll update this post with links to each poll as they're posted. Polls will last for a day. Remember to vote for your favourite POV which is not necessarily your favourite character! The brackets are as follows:

ROUND ONE (05/03/23, 6PM GMT):

A. Rand al'Thor versus Galadedrid Damodred (X)

B. Elayne Trakand versus Nyneave al'Meara (X)

C. Siuan Sanche versus Perrin Aybara (X)

D. Morgase Trakand versus Egwene al'Vere (X)

E. Moiraine Damodred versus Gawyn Trakand (X)

F. Lan Mandragoran versus Min Farshaw (X)

G. Aviendha versus Faile Bashere (X)

H. Cadsuane Melaidhrin versus Matrim Cauthon (X)

ROUND TWO (07/0/23, 6PM GMT):

I. Rand al'Thor versus Nyneave al'Meara (X)

J. Siuan Sanche versus Egwene al'Vere (X)

K. Moiraine Damodred versus Min Farshaw (X)

L. Aviendha versus Matrim Cauthon (X)

ROUND THREE (09/03/23, 6PM GMT):

M. Nyneave al'Meara verus Siuan Sanche (X)

N. Moiraine Damodred versus Matrim Cauthon (X)

LOSERS' FINAL (11/03/23, 6PM GMT):

Siuan Sanche versus Moiraine Damodred (X)

FINAL (13/03/23, 6PM GMT):

Nyneave al'Meara versus Matrim Cauthon (X)

Have fun!!

Round 1 winners are: Rand al'Thor, Nynaeve al'Meara, Egwene al'Vere, Siuan Sanche, Moiraine Damodred, Min Farshaw, Aviendha, and Mat Cauthon. Round 2 polls will launch 6pm GMT tomorrow!