It seems to be a general consensus among Cosmere readers that RoW is the slowest of the SA books, it doesn't have the new fascinating world and characters of WoK, nor the exciting build up and climax of WoR, and it certainly isn't as exciting as the Blackthorns backstory in OB. But after re-reading SA again I found a new appreciation for Book 4, one that upon previous reads I had glazed over.

Book 4 is, in my opinion, the second best SA book we've seen so far. Listening to the struggles and eventual success of Dalinar Kholin, The Black Thorn still beats it out in my eyes though it's close. Which I think is due to Navani. I've always wanted to like Navani but never really knew where to put her, yes she is Dalinars wife and she was married to Gavilar, but I never really knew where she belonged among the cast. I liked her, she always tried hard for the things she wanted and has always kept a eye on Dailnars sons and The Blackthorn himself but she never really clicked anywhere else. That was until I realized all of the little tidbits I hadn't put together yet.

Book 4 is to Navani as Book 3 is to Dalinar, or at least in my opinion. It's the trials and tribulations Navani has to go through In order to earn her spot amongst the cast. Which at least in my opinion she does through the lack of support she has for most of the book. While she does get help from Kaladin, Dabbid and even Raboniel, she has to deal with the invasion on her own mostly. Namely she has no help from her family, Dalinar and Jesnah took little Gav to go fight in Emul, and her only son was killed by some passionless storming traitor who's name I'm not going to say. She has no help from family. And while things go fairly well for her and people of Urithiru, once the Sanderlanche starts things begin to fall apart.

But, prior to that we start to see, not only is she terrific artifabrian but she's an amazing scholar. Navani isn't just some pompous queen who rides in a palanquin all day, ordering servants about, she's actually very scholarly and enjoys being so. While she does have some bumps along the way it's all character growth. Each interaction with the sibling, each discovery made with Raboniel, playing the game of cat and mouse with the siblings nodes. It's all proving further and further than Navani is capable of repelling the invasion using only her wits. She does of course get some major physical help from Kaladin but without her, there's a good chance the sibling would've been fully corrupted.

And then the Sanderlanhce hits, the fourth node is found and all damination breaks loose. It's at this point we, as readers, are forced to realize some things. There is no happy ending with Raboniel, The sibling is going to be corrupted, and no amount of mental chess from Navani is going to stop it. But that doesn't stop Navani, with limited information from the rest of the tower she throws herself into making a plan. Which she does well, even after the emotionless Tratior shows up and openly says he's been sent to kill her. But she still manages to to set her trap and spring it, turning on her research partner and saving not only the sibling, but the entirty of Urithiru and even bringing a second bondsmith to Roshar.

While I missed some points I didn't want this to drag on more than it does. Book 4 is a tremendous addition to SA, and one that does get overlooked I think, espically compared to Book 3 but despite not seeing it before I'm glad I've re-read it again as it has given me a chance to see it for what it is.

Have others had this same or similar revalation? What are your thoughts on Book 4? Is Moash a passionless storming bastard who you also hate for what he's done to our friends? Does it make a voidbringer and servant of Odium if you like him? I think it does.