"Dawnshard" review
Overview
Title: Dawnshard
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Subgenre: High fantasy
Stars: 5/5
Review
Unlike Edgedancer, I don’t think Dawnshard can be read on its own; it’s too tightly embedded into the overall story arc of the Stormlight Archive. But I wanted to write a review of it anyway, because it deals with physical disability so incredibly well, something pretty rare in fantasy. Major spoilers for all Stormlight content up to and through Oathbringer (but not Dawnshard itself) follow.
Most characters in Stormlight Archive are able to do things ordinary people can’t. In fact, there’s a “Words of Brandon” in which he discusses making his characters something “more” than real-life humans. This approach makes sense; fantasy is escapism, and if we didn’t want escapism, we’d be reading non-fantasy classics. At the same time, what makes fantasy compelling is that it’s not entirely escapism. Actions have consequences, characters have flaws, antagonists affect the plot, and life is far from perfect. Just ask Kaladin.
So when Lopen, who had previously been an example of a man with a huge physical disability - lacking an entire arm - still making do in life, magically regrows that arm and loses his disability completely, it’s in keeping with what’s expected from a character on Roshar. And when Kaladin avoids being crippled by Szeth’s Shardblade (or any of his other injuries), same thing. We fully expect most injuries to heal, and characters to either be in peak fighting condition, or dead. There’s space to explore Shallan and Kaladin’s severe PTSD and emotional traumas, but not that much for physical disability.
Enter Rysn.
Back in Words of Radiance, Rysn fell off a giant living island and became paralyzed from the waist down. In Oathbringer, we get confirmation that her injuries can’t be magically healed. She herself doesn’t have magic. What she does have is a hell of a lot of talent as a trademaster - in essence, the ability to get what she wants by communicating with people. So what does she do? She joins a support group for paraplegic women.
Talking with them was exciting and invigorating. They felt so many of her own emotions, and were eager to share with her things they’d learned. Mura, an Azish woman, had designed several interesting devices to help in daily life, demonstrating marvelous creativity. Hooks and rings—with items hanging on pegs—to allow for ready access. Specialized hoops, wires, and curved rods to aid in dressing herself.
She also has a ship called the Wandersail, given to her by her former babsk Vstim, and Dawnshard is the story of Rysn using her ship, and her tradmaster talent, to travel on a mission critical to the overall Stormlight plot, which is why unfortunately this heartwarming and very, very real story about overcoming physical disability - but not magically losing it, because in this story there is no such thing as a magical cure-all - must be read in order within the context of the series.
Rysn’s personal struggles are for dignity. She’s nonmagical, collaborating with monarchs who increasingly see the value primarily of magical Radiants. She’s a junior trademaster who was gifted her ship and has to earn the respect of its crew, who have no evidence yet of her abilities. And she is learning how to accept help for her disability in both public and private settings, drawing boundaries where she needs to, while making sure that the help she receives doesn’t diminish her authority among others.
At the same time, there’s a lovely science fantasy plot involving the perpetually-distracted Ardent Rushu, who sees Rysn’s disability as a challenge to create novel assistive technology. This plot also becomes a challenge for Rysn, as she has to balance newfound optimism for progress with realism about her situation - and establish herself as a person, not a tool of Rushu’s research (even if Rushu is just a delightfully awkward academic who means no rudeness).
In fact, the entire thing is so well done that I would almost accuse Dawnshard of being heavy-handed in its treatment - if I could name to you a single other fantasy novel or novella I’d read that handled the issue of life-changing physical disability in a protagonist literally at all (it’s not something I’ve specifically sought out, but I’ve read a lot of fantasy novels). When disabilities do occur to protagonists, they inevitably either present the protagonists with magical ways to overcome the disabilities; phase out the protagonists; or ignore the disability for the rest of the story. Instead, all I can do here is applaud Brandon Sanderson for taking the time to research and understand physical disability and write a story this well thought-out (while still having a kick-ass Cosmere plot).
