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Rhythm of War: Book Four of the Stormlight Archive
The Stormlight Archive saga continues in Rhythm of War, the eagerly awaited sequel to Brandon Sanderson's #1 New York Times bestselling Oathbringer, from an epic fantasy writer at the top of his game.[Bokinfo].
- Release Date
- 2024
- Length
- 1232 pages
- Publisher
- Gollancz
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Our Review
About the book
The fourth Stormlight Archive novel picks up a year after the Battle of Thaylen Field, as the war against the forces of Odium settles into a grinding stalemate. While some Radiants pursue diplomacy and scientific breakthroughs in the nature of light, others are trapped in the tower city of Urithiru when it falls under enemy occupation.
Our review
Sanderson’s most introspective Stormlight book trades battlefield spectacle for science, trauma and a long siege, with mixed but often moving results.
This volume asks bigger questions than its predecessors. Kaladin’s struggle with depression is handled with real empathy, and Navani finally gets the spotlight she deserves, her experiments with fabrials giving the magic system a fascinating, almost scientific dimension. The flashbacks centered on Eshonai and Venli add depth to the singers, complicating a war that once looked simple. When the threads converge in the final section, Sanderson delivers the emotional and plotting fireworks fans expect.
Getting there takes time. The book is enormous, and the occupation storyline sometimes feels like a holding pattern, with long sections of hiding and planning before anything decisive happens. The humor, especially the quippy banter between characters and spren, can grate against the serious themes. Readers who come for epic battles may be impatient. But those invested in these characters will find this a rich, thoughtful bridge toward the series’ first arc finale.
What we loved
- A compassionate depiction of mental health struggles
- Navani’s scientific exploration of the magic system
- A powerful, well-earned final act
Keep in mind
- A slow middle during the tower occupation
- Banter-heavy humor sometimes undercuts serious moments
Read it if you like
Readers of The Wheel of Time, Steven Erikson’s Malazan series, or anyone who finished Oathbringer wanting more.
The verdict
A sprawling, thoughtful installment that tests patience before rewarding it; essential for Stormlight fans, not a place to start.
