White Sand Volume 2
The world of the Cosmere expands in the latest volume of Brandon Sanderson’s White Sand graphic novel. In White Sand volume 2, we follow Kenton as he tries to save the sand masters by making political deals. Does he succeed despite the assassins that are set against him?
TL;DR
Fun adventure set in the Cosmere world of Taldain. This readable work of political deal making is recommended for Sanderson fans. For all else, start with volume 1 to join the party.
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From the Publisher
Following the loss of most of his colleagues in a violent ambush, Kenton has become Lord Mastrell of the few remaining Sand Masters, magicians who can manipulate sand to do their bidding. With the ruling council poised against him, the hot-headed Kenton must become a diplomat to have any hope of preventing the eradication of his people forever. However, there’s another complication: assassins are coming for him from all directions, and Kenton’s only true ally is Khriss, a visitor from the other side of the planet who has an agenda of her own to pursue.
Story
White Sand volume 2 is a straight forward story. At the beginning, Kenton wants to save the Diem, and that is what he attempts to do. But his straight-to-the-point personality he is not the best negotiator. Thankfully, the duchess Khrissalla is determined to help him in order to learn of her lost Prince Gevalden. Khriss has greater people skills than Kenton, and she will need them all to help Kenton.
Characters
Kenton is an action man. He likes to do first and think later. But this doesn’t mean he doesn’t learn. During fights, he’ll adjust his tactics in clever ways. The man has family issues that he doesn’t really deal with; they get tossed aside pretty easily. It’s his determination, his lofty goals, that we love.
My favorite character is Khrissalla. She feels the most developed of all the characters. This might be because I know more of her larger, overarching story. She is the real politician in this story, and she applies those skills to Kenton. For some reason, her and Kenton have an antagonistic relationship.
His journey to build alliances displays the variety that is the city of Lossand. The various factions arrayed against the Diem are interesting. They border on the cliche but each gets a slight twist that keeps them away from stock characters. The admiral who is a drunk clearly has more going on under the surface. The aristocrat on the hunt holds more of a grudge than nobility would dictate. The religious dogmatic, the assasins, the surly bodyguard, all these tropes get twists of their own to avoid cliche. Each character gets enough development in this short tale to be satisfying.
Art
The art of White Sand volume 2 is excellent. The creatures, the sand magic, the setting all look great. It’s fun to see the fantastic elements of the story brought to life. The panels flowed well and easily. Battle scenes look dynamic and fierce. The art is pretty standard style and technique wise, which allows the story to be the focus of attention.
Conclusion
White Sand volume 2 is a fantastic addition to the Cosmere universe. It contains all the hallmarks of Brandon Sanderson fiction: creative magic system, political intrigue, and innovative world building. Khriss’s investigations into sand magic were fun, and I look forward to her success. That sequence made me wonder where this fits into the Cosmere timeline, which is part of the fun of reading the Cosmere itself. Dynamite Entertainment has delivered another graphic novel that deepens Brandon Sanderson’s mythology. If you’ve ever wondered about the worlds that Brandon Sanderson creates but are put off by the size of his books, the White Sand graphic novels are an excellent place to start.
7 out of 10
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