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
1275 Views
As someone who could not finish Misborn through multiple tries I have to say...
- 24/08/2010 02:57:01 AM
626 Views
I didn't quite have such a positive reaction to the book
- 24/08/2010 04:55:04 AM
686 Views
You know...
- 24/08/2010 02:07:04 PM
614 Views
Re: You know...
- 24/08/2010 02:46:16 PM
751 Views
Okay, that makes better sense.
- 24/08/2010 05:07:56 PM
561 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
658 Views
- 24/08/2010 05:22:10 PM
658 Views
The only Sanderson I've read is Elantris
- 24/08/2010 11:56:28 AM
620 Views
Elantris is a very poor example of Sanderson's work.
- 24/08/2010 01:59:05 PM
595 Views
A very good review, and thank you.
- 24/08/2010 02:01:05 PM
558 Views
My WoK reaction
- 24/08/2010 03:14:58 PM
697 Views
I call bullshit on the Erickson comments! 
- 24/08/2010 03:34:20 PM
618 Views
- 24/08/2010 03:34:20 PM
618 Views
Yes there is a very big difference between the two...
- 24/08/2010 04:58:55 PM
537 Views
And I think that books 5, 6, and 8 are among Erikson's better novels
- 24/08/2010 05:06:43 PM
568 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
532 Views