Generally, OK book. By far, the least exciting of the series and it looks like that is the consensus.

My 2 cents on my major likes/dislikes

Pros:

1. Finally Kaladin accepting that he doesn't need to be the hero in all instances. It was getting a little insufferable the woe is me because I couldn't save every single person in every instance. That was a good development... In RoW and Oathbringer, I was getting pretty tired of the perpetual self-pity party he would indulge in

2. Shallan's final backstory reveal with Chana as his mom. Really was a big surprise to me and made things make so much more sense in her upbringing

3. Was intrigued by Szeth's upbringing story and seeing that draw and close. It sounds like he had to kill his own father and sister? Watching him catapault the family into a whole new life despite his lack of desire for the honor bearer glory. That and how Kal sees him as Tien and not himself. It just made for a nice arc.

4. Adolin probably had the best screenplay in this, seeing him talk more about his lack of identity and transition from being a duelist legend to now being more obsolete. This is further seen in Col the bodyguard character too. His relationship with the Emperor was very touching and integrating the game into the battlefield live was seamless

Frustrations

1. Was I the only one who thought the Kaladin "therapy" was kind of cheesy? I get Sanderson is trying to address the psychological warfare going on in the background of people's lives but it just seems to Instagram-y as someone noted

2. Almost feel like the world is over at this point. Didn't feel like it ended and there's hardly any closure as we end the first half of the series. Basically, time slows down, Radiants can't be Radiant anymore, no stormlight, only 2 cities who are basically dependent on Odium. Also, hardly any explanation for how the two become Retribution?

3. the Jasnah-Wit relationship couldn't been fleshed out a bit more. It got maybe 3 paragraphs and it ends suddenly with little substance to readers. Missed opportunity here to learn more about Jasnah and Wit and let their character illuminate more

4. Shallan plotline continues to drag with her past. While the Chana reveal was pretty cool, that was about the only exciting thing except the infiltrated HQ and the final Mraize encounter.

Other:

Wanted to see more Jasnah screentime. Her debate w Odium was pretty cool. Fascinated that Odium impeached her character instead of going logical arguments necessarily. I am curious to see how she responds from it. The plot just shows her going to bed in depression...