I’m so far outside the world of mainstream comics I’m not sure if the illustrator has done superhero comics before, but it didn’t have the easy transitioning between panels you’d expect from a more veteran illustrator. My problem wasn’t with the illustrations themselves – like I said some were eye-catching and the overall style is pleasing – but with the layout of the action and paneling. There was a disconnect for me between the two that made it hard for me to comprehend both at once.

Much of understanding what’s happening involved reading the panels, then going back and looking at the illustrations for each. While the “big” illustrations herein were eye-catching, the average panel distracted more then it helped to convey the story. WHITE SAND however relied on comprehension of the words while busy visuals were crowding around also trying to make their point. For a reader like me, who focuses on words not visuals, this is wonderful. Words on a page with more words and sometimes illustrations, but that’s it. The story suffered for two reasons – 1) if you’re a fan of Sanderson’s works you’re used to a more detailed introduction to the world and its particular blend of magic and political atmosphere. This is why people don’t try to break the rules you know. Plus GDI another instance where our clever, but socially considered useless hero breaks with tradition and in return he’s left orphaned and alone by the narrative. So of course when the meat of the story occurs very quickly – the attack on the Sand Masters and Kenton meeting Khriss – I was a little let down about the brevity of time we spent with Kenton and his fellow Sand Masters.

Review – In some ways I think this may be one of my favorite of Sanderson’s works – in a lot of ways I identified with Kenton (constantly seeking approval despite the array of odds against him, the frustrating knowledge that no matter what you do you’ll be judged for what you can’t do) and for the first part (when he’s undergoing the Master’s test) I was rooting for him the whole way. If you’d prefer to read the review minus the spoiler I suggest you check out my GR review, as the spoiler is hidden there. Spoiler – There’s a spoiler beneath in my review. With enemies closing in on all sides, Kenton forges an unlikely partnership with Khriss-a mysterious Darksider who hides secrets of her own. But when they are slaughtered in a sinister conspiracy, the weakest of their number, Kenton, believes himself to be the only survivor. On the planet of Taldain, the legendary Sand Masters harness arcane powers to manipulate sand in spectacular ways.

White sand volume 1