Wind and Truth and Disappointment
i am just deeply disappointed in this book. When he was writing at his best, and really conveying the emotions of his characters, he did brilliant work. But so much felt flat, and forced, and upended so much of what I would expect the characters we knew to do in this sort of scenario.
Kaladin disappointed me most.
He seemed like an entirely different person. I understand that his 4th ideal freed him from some of his trauma around feeling responsible for everyone else's safety. But he just seemed so removed from his friends and family. Like leaving right before a potential world ending conflict while his loved ones are at the epicenter of the fight is no big deal.
I just can't see this as the same character. If he had to leave, he would have been riddled with worry for his brother and parents. Wondered about Bridge Four and whether they were safe. Struggled with all of this.
It just didn't feel like him. And the ending he had severs most of the bonds he had permanently.
The whole reason I loved this series was the connection between characters, found family, emotions as a form of strength. Wind and Truth had so little of this, outside of Adolin's chapters.
I am going to try to accept all of this, but it will take some time. I just don't think I will enjoy the series nearly as much without these aspects.
Kaladin died for me, sometime after RoW. The character he was was just so profoundly different. Not the suffering and depression, but the intensity of his love and loyalty. Now, he seems fine, but hollow.