Dive into an imaginative world where magical birds grant powers, deadly islands hide secrets, and danger lurks at every turn. Sanderson packs a ton of inventive worldbuilding and a fascinating magic system into a novella-sized adventure. If you love sharp, concise fantasy with a dash of sci-fi and are curious about stories that explore the clash between tradition and advancing technology, you'll find this bite-sized tale compelling - especially if you're a fan of Sanderson or want a quick entry into his famous Cosmere universe.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Some readers found the prose a bit clunky and wished for smoother writing. If you crave deep character development or sprawling plots, the short length may leave you wanting more. Those unfamiliar with Sanderson's broader universe might find the shared world references a little confusing or feel like they're missing inside connections. If you're not big on novellas or want a meatier epic, you might be disappointed by how quickly it all wraps up.

A bold, inventive fantasy adventure brimming with cool ideas and worldbuilding - perfect for a quick read, but not as deep or character-driven as Sanderson's full-length novels.

About:

'Sixth of the Dusk' by Brandon Sanderson is a Cosmere novella set in a world with unique world-building elements. The story follows Dusk, a trapper specializing in catching magical birds that grant powers, as he navigates dangerous islands filled with deadly creatures. The plot delves into the complexities of the fading native trapping culture, the advances of civilization, and the arrival of an advanced alien race known as The Ones Above.

The writing style of 'Sixth of the Dusk' is praised for its originality, intricate world-building, and engaging storytelling. The novella explores themes of mystery, adventure, and the clash between traditional practices and technological advancements in a captivating manner.

Characters:

The story primarily revolves around Dusk and one other character, with limited development due to its brevity, although Dusk is depicted as a stoic figure.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features moments of clunky prose but becomes immersive as the story progresses, with expectations of unobtrusive narration not always met.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot explores a declining native culture grappling with advances from an alien race, highlighting unique magic tied to birds in a vividly described oceanic setting.

Setting:

The setting is described as a dangerous archipelago inhabited by trappers and advanced aliens, with an emphasis on a unique ecological and magical system.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast as the story evolves, but the short length restricts deeper narrative development.

Death hunted beneath the waves. Dusk saw it approach, an enormous blackness within the deep blue, a shadowed form as wide as six narrowboats tied together. Dusk’s hands tensed on his paddle, his heart...

Notes:

The story features a magic system based on birds that grant abilities to their owners.

The novella is set in a low-tech world contacted by an advanced alien race called the Ones Above.

Worldbuilding is extensive despite the novella's short length of only 65 pages.

The main character, Dusk, is a trapper responsible for navigating dangerous islands filled with deadly flora and fauna.

This novella takes place furthest in the future of any of Sanderson's Cosmere stories.

The narrative explores themes of fading native cultures in the face of advancing technology and globalization.

Sanderson's prose received mixed reviews, with some finding it clunky at parts.

The relationship between Dusk's culture and technology is central to the story's conflict.

Character development is limited due to the novella's brief format.

Readers noted that the world feels original and intriguing, prompting interest in future stories set in this universe.

From The Publisher:

A fascinating new novella in Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, the universe shared by his Mistborn series and the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive.

Sixth of the Dusk, set in a never-before-seen world, showcases a society on the brink of technological change. On the deadly island of Patji, where birds grant people magical talents and predators can sense the thoughts of their prey, a solitary trapper discovers that the island is not the only thing out to kill him.

When he begins to see his own corpse at every turn, does this spell danger for his entire culture? -------------------- A note from the publisher: For a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this novella, including brainstorming and workshopping session transcripts, the first draft, line-by-line edits, and an essay by Brandon, please see Shadows Beneath: The Writing Excuses Anthology.

October 2014

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62 pages

Ratings (58)

Incredible (11)
Loved It (24)
Liked It (19)
It Was OK (4)

Reader Stats (95):

Read It (61)
Want To Read (28)
Not Interested (6)

1 comment(s)

madhukaraphatak

Incredible

1 year

Really cool cosmere Novella.

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Sixth of the Dusk

Brandon Sanderson

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