Dawnshard Unexpectedly Became One of My Favorite Sanderson Books

I absolutely loved Dawnshard. This was so unexpected. Personally, I didn’t like Edgedancer too much, since being constantly in Lift’s POV wasn’t really my cup of tea. I loved Lift in Oathbringer, however. Anyway, Dawnshard was INCREDIBLE.

This, with no shred of irony, became one of my all-time favorites. I enjoyed it as much as the main Stormlight Archive novels. The adventure, mystery, and smaller story all knitted perfectly into a greater story, with side characters I already loved and glimpses of main cast.

Rysn was developed really well through the interludes, and she skyrocketed here in Stormlight for me. She was written so well, especially as someone who had to go through what she went through.

"Sometimes you need to accept what you’ve lost, then move forward. Then you can instead realize what you’ve gained."

A simple line, but it hits, especially considering it's coming from her. Her arc isn’t about pretending she didn’t lose anything, or magically becoming “fixed.” It’s about accepting the loss, then realizing her life still has meaning, value, and even new things she gained. I loved that. I also loved that she didn't become Radiant or something which I was fearing she might become to fix her legs. This was very realistic and lovely.

“Radiant the Lopen,” Rysn said, “… um, what do you call a Thaylen who can’t walk?”
“Not sure, gancha.”
“Names. From afar.”
He grinned widely.
“Of course,” Rysn added. “I’d never stand for that sort of thing.”
The Lopen about died from laughing. He called to his cousin again, translating the jokes. This time Huio chuckled.

The Lopen is such a joy to read. This guy is easily one of my top 10 Cosmere characters. The comedy between him and Huio was top notch. Also, him accidentally swearing an Ideal right after the climax event is becoming a thing. PENHITO STORMFATHER!

Other characters like Cord, Rushu, the crew, and the Sleepless were all interesting on their own too. Huio being way smarter and more thoughtful than people assume because of the language barrier was a really nice touch too. And it seems like this Dawnshard thing is something from Adonalsium. There should be three others elsewhere in the Cosmere? I wonder if I’ll know where they are once I fully catch up.

Anyway, really, really great book. Now into Rhythm of War!

Some hilarious scenes:

“Ha!” she said. “You have been tricked, god! I am Hualinam’lunanaki’akilu, the daughter of Numuhukumakiaki’aialunamor, the Fal’ala’likin’or, he who drew the Bow of Hours at the dawn of the new millennium, heralding the years of change! If you were to kill me, you would be violating the ancient pact of the Seven Peaks, and so must now forfeit the battle!”
Nikli blinked in what seemed like a very human show of utter confusion. “I … have no idea what any of that means,” he said.
“… You don’t?” Cord asked.
“No.”
“Excuse me.” She hurried over to Rysn, each footstep clanking on the stone.

"Please, gods of the ancient Herdazians," Lopen whispered. "Don’t let me get killed by a monster that looks so stupid. Please."

His cousin didn’t even have the decency to look embarrassed as he dodged the next leg, then hefted his Shardhammer, which obligingly became a spear, and hurled it.

“So,” Lopen finally said. “Third Ideal, eh? Congratulations, older-cousin.”
“Thanks.”
“That’s … the ideal where you agree to protect people you hate. Least it was for Kaladin, Teft, and Sig.”
“Yeah,” Huio said.
“And you looked right at me,” Lopen said softly, “before you achieved it.”