Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson

This is the long-awaited finale to Sanderson's 5-book epic Stormlight Archive series. I've been hooked to this series since my friend gave me a hardcover copy of the first book, The Way of Kings. It's been hands-down the best Fantasy series I've ever read. Hence, I had high expectations when I finally held Book 5 in my hands after an interminable 4-year wait.

Wind and Truth picks up where Book 4 (Rhythm of War) left off: Dalinar Kholin had finally made the deal with Odium to a duel between champions. The book has a unique structure, almost like a Fantasy version of the TV show 24. It takes place over the 10 days leading up to the big day of the duel. We experience the viewpoints of all of the main characters (Kaladin, Dalinar, and Shallan) as well as a host of secondary characters, including Szeth.

If Sanderson were to follow a Shakespearean 5-act story structure, we would expect this book to contain the climactic confrontation, the revelation of truths, and some kind of resolution. I have to admit, before reading the book, there were just so many secrets and unknowns I wasn't sure if Sanderson could fit them all into this novel—even with its ridiculous page count.

THE GOOD:

• In general, the plot makes sense and the revelations are interesting. I kept turning page after page and wanted to know what happened next! I never felt bored.
• Sanderson finally answers all the major questions! What happened when the humans first arrived on Roshar, at the founding of the Oathpact, Aharietiam, and the Recreance? It's all here! It all makes sense and the reveals are really interesting.
• We finally get to learn Szeth's story. It turns out that he's a baddass!
• We finally see Shinovar and learn a bit more of its history and culture. Although, I'm left with a lot of questions, such as: given that the Heralds abandoned most of the honorblades here, why did Odium essentially leave this place alone for so long? Shouldn't he have scooped up those precious artifacts after killing Honor? Or was Ishar really that dangerous, even in his impaired state?
• We get to see the Spritual Realm in all its strange glory, for the first time in such detail in any Sanderson Cosmere novel.
• The many desperate battles in the book fill it with a sense of tension and foreboding.
• Adolin's story arc is my favourite in this book! Wow! His amazing friendliness and sense of honour finally pay off.
• We get a conclusion or transformation for each main character (Kaladin, Shallan, and Dalinar), and many secondary characters: Adolin, Renarin, Rlain, Szeth, Navani, Lift, Yanagawn, Zahel, Sigzil, Gavinor, and even Nightblood!
• The conclusion sets up Sigzil nicely for his future role in The Sunlit Man.
• I found the romance between Renarin and Rlain very cute!

THE BAD:

• I found the ending frustrating. I expected the ending of the 5-book series to feel final. However, it feels like a cliffhanger.
• The book is fairly past-oriented. Most of the content is dedicated to answering questions and revealing past events.
• Kaladin had already completed the lion's share of his character arc in previous novels. Hence, his role in the book feels like an extended epilogue. There are some touching moments, but the stakes feel a lot lower for him than they did in Book 4. I did like his final transformation, though!
• I found Dalinar's transformation at the end very disappointing. He ascends as Honor (as I predicted, yay!), but then throws it away immediately to get out of having to murder his grandson. Plus, we never get to see his final sacrifice on-screen. I felt kind of cheated to learn from other characters that he had died. On top of which, Odium snatches a copy of the Blackthorn. Is Dalinar dead or not? Will we end up seeing some Evil Dalinar in future books? Ugh. So his ending felt triply disappointing to me.
• A final frustration: Moash pretty much only exists to be an asshole. Why won't he die?!?