Book Review: Edgedancer by Brandon Sanderson
An awesome peek at a different part of Roshar and an intro to some new characters.
I didn't realize that this was part of the Stormlight Archive until I opened up Oathbringer and the preface literally states "hey, go read Edgedancer before you pick this one up - you don't have to, buuuuut you should." So I figure I should listen to the author and read Edgedancer first. And I'm so glad I did!
"Pity can be a powerful tool. Anytime you can make someone else feel something, you've got power over them."
I really enjoyed learning about Lift, her backstory, and her motivations. She provides something fresh to the story, which is a younger, less polished voice (though Kaladin isn't super polished, I suppose). Lift is someone who is literally just trying to get by, and I liked getting that perspective within this universe.
I also really enjoyed getting a look at a different part of their world, and how different Radiants start to come into their own powers (often unintentionally). This book really psyched me up to read Oathbringer to see how things develop since the events from Words of Radiance.
"What if everybody is frightened, and nobody has the answers?"
I loved this book. I thought this was a sweet little story that added some nice background and context to a character that we were just introduced to. Lift is just a great, fresh voice within the Stormlight Archive books and I can't wait to read more about her in the future.
In all - this book was awesome.
Rating: ★★★★★
Book Summary
- Title: Edgedancer
- Author: Brandon Sanderson
- Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
- Who Should Read It? This book provides some really necessary background to some of the characters and story in The Stormlight Archive series. I recommend it to anyone between Words of Radiance and Oathbringer.
Synopsis: Three years ago, Lift asked a goddess to stop her from growing older--a wish she believed was granted. Now, in Edgedancer, the barely teenage nascent Knight Radiant finds that time stands still for no one. Although the young Azish emperor granted her safe haven from an executioner she knows only as Darkness, court life is suffocating the free-spirited Lift, who can't help heading to Yeddaw when she hears the relentless Darkness is there hunting people like her with budding powers. The downtrodden in Yeddaw have no champion, and Lift knows she must seize this awesome responsibility.
