📖 Dawnshard
By Brandon Sanderson.
When Rysn, a young woman navigating physical disability and growing leadership responsibility, is sent on a mysterious voyage to Akinah, she’s thrust into an ancient secret with cosmere-wide implications. Alongside her crew — including a certain Herdazian and her adorable larkin companion, Chiri-Chiri — Rysn must uncover what the Dawnshard is and why it’s so dangerous.
Trigger Warnings: Fantasy Violence, Chronic disability, References to injury, Themes of responsibility and fear of failure
- Vibes: Adventurous, hopeful, a bit mysterious, and full of heart.
- Plot & Pacing: Tightly woven and surprisingly rich for a novella — a short, self-contained adventure that still adds meaningfully to the larger world.
- Characters: Rysn shines as a complex, thoughtful protagonist. Chiri-Chiri is an icon. Also features a fan-favourite Herdazian (yes, that one).
- Writing Style: Classic Sanderson – Accessible, immersive, and deeply thoughtful — even in a short format.
- Emotional Impact: More touching than expected. A quieter story with some big ideas and personal growth moments.
- Continue series/ read more from this author? I feel this is not an applicable section of my Sanderson reviews lol
I really enjoyed Dawnshard — honestly, I liked it even more than Edgedancer. That might be the general consensus (since people have mixed feelings about Lift), but I’ve always adored Rysn, and I was thrilled to find out this novella centred on her. It was so rewarding to watch her take centre stage after following her in various interludes.
I absolutely loved seeing her growth: learning to navigate a world that’s not always built for her, gaining confidence, and stepping into leadership. It felt personal and empowering, but still wrapped in the excitement and mystery you’d expect from a Cosmere story. And I don’t even care how ridiculous this sounds — Chiri-Chiri is one of my favourite characters in the entire Cosmere. She adds warmth and joy to every scene she’s in. Also she’s basically a dragon, and you all know how I feel about them. Yes I am a cliche girly 🤷🏼♀️
It was also a delight to see everyone’s favourite Herdazian back, adding humour and heart in equal measure. It was great to see him grow as well and to become more self-aware. Despite being a novella, it felt like a fully developed story that also hinted at larger cosmere mysteries (particularly with the Dawnshard itself). The pacing was perfect — nothing dragged, and I never felt short-changed.
I’d absolutely recommend this to fans of The Stormlight Archive or the Cosmere in general. Like Edgedancer, it shouldn’t be read as a standalone, but it’s a gem of a novella that adds depth to the series and to Rysn’s character.
Summary:
✨ Uplifting, heartfelt, rich with character and cosmere lore.
✨ Rysn’s development is a highlight. Chiri-Chiri steals the show.
✨ Balanced, meaningful, and immersive.
Let me know your thoughts…
Have you read this book? Let me know what you thought about it!
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