Dawnshard by: Brandon Sanderson

 

Sometimes I am convinced that Brandon Sanderson picks a book to write based on the trope archetype that he really wants to see written and Dawnshard is one of those moments.  It’s a novella for The Stormlight Archive written for The Way of Kings Leatherbound Kickstarter as a special release for backers in 2020 before being released to the general public in 2022.  2020 saw the release of Rhythm of War and Sanderson quickly despite the length of the novel, there are still plot points that deserve explorations for supporting and more minor characters than is possible in the traditional novels.  Rysn and Lopen are both characters who have appeared in the main installments of The Stormlight Archive, but Rysn’s story was limited to the interludes while Lopen only has a few point of view chapters to himself, and even those are under the Bridge Four banner.  Dawnshard’s narrative is told essentially through their points of view exclusively, though not alternating by chapters nor is it pairing the characters up as a double act, Sanderson instead telling a story that both of them just feature which is a departure from Sanderson’s normal use of dual points of view.  This also allows an exploration of a part of Roshar away from where the main action of The Stormlight Archive has generally occurred, Navani Kholin sending Rysn with Lopen for protection (and Rysn’s own ulterior motives) to the Oathgate in Aimia while Rysn’s queen is concerned for a disappearing crew.  Dawnshard is Brandon Sanderson’s attempt at a nautical mystery, though not quite an attempt at writing a pirate narrative.

 

The title for Dawnshard is actually slightly a spoiler, the climax of the novel revealing the titular Dawnshard is the cause of the troubles that need to be solved which is kind of a shame as despite the title this isn’t really a book about the Dawnshard.  Sure it’s the McGuffin that drives the plot and the climax of the novella, but really it’s a character examination for Rysn and Lopen.  Both characters are disabled characters, Rysn being a wheelchair user while Lopen has only recently grown back a missing arm.  Disability plays an interesting role in Dawnshard as Sanderson has set up Roshar to reflect modern day attitudes towards disabilities with the interesting bigotries that come with it, however, Dawnshard never becomes completely about the disability.  Lopen for instance has a character arc that examines his extroverted nature and how it is essentially a coping mechanism for feeling lost has he has integrated into a new family in a completely different society while still keeping his large Herdazian family.  Much of his arc is feeling inadequate as he builds to swearing the third ideal of the Windrunners, something that he eventually does swear yet it surprises him with its acceptance, reflecting Lopen’s need to go with the flow.  Rysn on the other hand as a wheelchair user reflects the nuanced perspectives of someone with a disability, never not capable, but held back in several ways by a world that is inaccessible while also believing certain accessible aspects are actually inaccessible and vice versa.  Rysn’s point of view throughout is one of an intelligent woman in a world that has to learn to value her specifically.  Unlike other disabled characters, her disability is something she is always aware of and partially defines what she is able to do, something that feels refreshing as disabled characters are often portrayed as not letting their disability define them.

 

Overall, Dawnshard as a novella is generally great for its character study, but like Edgedancer it is a side step in a much larger story meaning that it doesn’t stand on its own nor does it extend the main thrust of The Stormlight Archive.  The character work and worldbuilding are something that Sanderson excels at however and you’ll especially love it if you’re already invested in the Cosmere.  8/10.