I have always been a huge epic/high fantasy nerd, mostly because the classic fantasy books like Harry Potter, Eragon, and Fablehaven were a big part of my childhood. Now that I’m getting older, it seems those mostly self-contained adventures don’t scratch that itch anymore.

Enter Brandon Sanderson, author of Mistborn, Elantris, and our book of discussion today. Most books Sanderson writes are a part of his “Cosmere,” a universe that was split into sixteen shards (kinda like deities). And each deity imparts different powers and abilities and values to the people on its planets. With each book comes new tidbits to clear up the mystery of it all, and there is a recurring character, Hoid, who is in all the Cosmere books (afaik).

Sanderson’s newest book, Oathbringer, is the third in his 10-book epic: “The Stormlight Archive.” It makes up almost 1250 pages and goes through a dozen different plot lines. The other books in the series, while not as long as the third, both consist of more than 1000 pages. If you don’t like long books, don’t try these. But if you do, and you want something that will keep you occupied for a while, read those books.

Now, the pros: The Stormlight archive is nothing less than epic. Each book is divided into different parts with interludes between, and each part and interlude are told from multiple perspectives. The characters, for the most part, are compelling. They are not as gritty as those of, say, Game of Thrones, but they are well-developed and round. There is clear progression of the characters in the books, and there is something to be said about its religious overtones, but the real strength of the books comes in the worldbuilding. Sanderson worldbuilds like no author since Tolkien (I know it’s high praise, but I believe it), and the world his characters are faced with is harsh, unrelenting, and incredibly foreign to us. The planet is ravaged by “Highstorms” every few weeks, and the ecosystem shows it. Instead of large mammals, you have crustacean-like “Chulls.” Instead of insects, crawdad-like “cremlings.” This world, which seems so fantastical at first, becomes more and more believable as time goes on. Moreover, the society if the books has a unique place in the technological time-span. They don’t have coal power, but can communicate over long distances. They can’t forge high-quality metals very easily, but can make stone out of literal thin air. And it’s all believable. You will fall in love with this world. And the more you find out, the more you will want to know.

The cons: As much as I am trying to read more advanced books, the Stormlight Archive is very accessible. There is not a large focus on the carnal delights of mankind—not graphically, at least, although prostitutes and orgies are referred to or implied—so again, if you liked Game of Throned for that part of it, you’ll find it sorely lacking in this book. That’s not necessarily a con, but it does sometimes make the books lack the realism. Yes, you have a morally-upstanding and generally celibate main character, but it can get unbelievable when he never, ever, even thinks about whoring when there are prostitutes all around. I’m fine with his not indulging—he’s flawed in many other ways—but it just seems odd. On a different note, the dialogue of some of the less refined characters doesn’t always fit their stature, although this is improved throughout the series. Moreover, I find the romance subplots lacking with the exception of Dalinar. Not a spoiler, dw.

So in total, if you like long epic/high fantasy books and are looking for something to read, choose The Stormlight Archive.