I liked it OK for what it is and it'll get a mostly-positive review when I write and post it a week from now, but I wouldn't go so far as to claim that it is the "epic fantasy of this generation" or the other hyperbolic bits at the end. Sanderson still has some weaknesses in regards to dialogue and the occasional burp in the plot development, after all.
I think Sanderson's dialogue, especially in this novel, is at par or better than many of the rest of the 'good' fantasy authors working today. It's certainly not at the level of a masterpiece of literature, though those are extremely rare.
It is no longer poor (Elantris) or serviceable (Mistborn, Warbreaker), but certainly not memorable.
Is your comparison based on his peers, or is it a continuation of your general assessment and not specifically comparative to work falling in the same type and category? I'm rather interested in your subjective filter on this one because I saw a marked improvement in the dialogue in this one. I would say better than most of the dialogues in Erikson, Hobb, and about par with Martin, and not quite on level with the best of Bakker.
A bit of both. Don't want to write a précis of my review right now, to be honest, but the comparison will be mostly between his works, while noting that there are certain touches that could have possibly made certain scenes better. I wouldn't go so far as to say it matches Martin or Bakker, much less a Peter Beagle, but noting that the dialogue has improved only to the point where it doesn't drag down the rest of the narrative is damning with faint praise almost, isn't it?
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.
The Way of Kings - Brief Review
24/08/2010 12:54:39 AM
- 1355 Views
As someone who could not finish Misborn through multiple tries I have to say...
24/08/2010 02:57:01 AM
- 716 Views
I didn't quite have such a positive reaction to the book
24/08/2010 04:55:04 AM
- 777 Views
You know...
24/08/2010 02:07:04 PM
- 702 Views
Re: You know...
24/08/2010 02:46:16 PM
- 846 Views
Okay, that makes better sense.
24/08/2010 05:07:56 PM
- 644 Views
Well, you've seen the books I tend to read and those are unusual in regards to dialogue quality
24/08/2010 05:22:10 PM
- 745 Views
The only Sanderson I've read is Elantris
24/08/2010 11:56:28 AM
- 704 Views
Elantris is a very poor example of Sanderson's work.
24/08/2010 01:59:05 PM
- 682 Views
A very good review, and thank you.
24/08/2010 02:01:05 PM
- 643 Views
My WoK reaction
24/08/2010 03:14:58 PM
- 786 Views
I call bullshit on the Erickson comments!
24/08/2010 03:34:20 PM
- 703 Views
Yes there is a very big difference between the two...
24/08/2010 04:58:55 PM
- 616 Views
And I think that books 5, 6, and 8 are among Erikson's better novels
24/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
- 659 Views
Yes, I wondered why you stopped doing those... you've only posted up to HoC, I believe.
24/08/2010 05:22:17 PM
- 621 Views