Words of Radiance (2014) by Brandon Sanderson is the monumental second volume in The Stormlight Archive, an epic fantasy masterpiece that expands the richly imagined world of Roshar with staggering depth. Clocking in at 1,087 pages, this Tor Books publication follows three primary narratives: Shallan Davar’s dangerous pursuit of forgotten knowledge through scholarship and deception, Kaladin Stormblessed’s struggle to reconcile his Windrunner powers with past trauma, and Dalinar Kholin’s desperate political maneuvering to prepare for the apocalyptic Everstorm. Sanderson’s signature “hard magic” system reaches new heights here, with detailed rules governing Stormlight-infused Shardplate armor and sentient Shardblades that scream when wielded.
The 2014 first edition, featuring Michael Whelan’s breathtaking cover art of Shallan standing before the Shattered Plains, remains the most coveted version among collectors – particularly the rare signed copies distributed during Sanderson’s whirlwind release tour. What sets this installment apart is its structural brilliance: alternating between present-day crises and Shallan’s haunting flashbacks, all building toward the now-legendary “Sanderson Avalanche” – a final 200-page sequence of revelations and battles that redefines the entire series. The original printing includes the vibrant endpaper maps of Roshar and the invaluable Ars Arcanum appendix explaining the magic system’s scientific principles.
For fans of epic fantasy:
- The Way of Kings (Sanderson) – Stormlight Book 1
- The Name of the Wind (Rothfuss) – Another character-driven fantasy
- The Fifth Season (Jemisin) – Innovative worldbuilding
