#kaladin herald of second chances

[capricandoitall]

Can't breath for laughing.

They can compare notes about Wit/Hoid. Kelsier will be deeply offended.

Kelsier: "I am the survivor of Hathsin! I returned when none thought I would! I will become more than a sliver of adonalsium and become corporeal again! And I will bend this Cosmere to my will!"

Kaladin: "Seems like a lot of work. Have you tried having supportive friends?"

Kelsier:"...what?"

Kaladin: "I mean, I just refused to die each time that something tried to kill me. And then I found inner peace and I'm helping others to find theirs."

Kelsier: "..."

Kaladin: "And I keep coming back from the dead, man. And I mean, this time I literally died. There's a body and everything. And you can bet that Bridge 4 is 100% certain I'm still coming back. They're definitely going to start a religion or something anticipating my return. Those guys have way too much faith in me."

Kelsier: "..."

Kaladin: "Anyway, I've found that working through my own issues and helping other work through theirs is much more fulfilling work than trying to amass power. So I'm gonna be hanging with some quasi-dieties doing group therapy for a while. If you're not busy with anything...?"

Kelsier: "..."

Kaladin: *waits hopefully*

Kelsier: "Get bent"

Syl: "I like him!"

[wellwhatnowlove]

The longer I sit with the ending of Wind and Truth, the more I think it’s really funny that

🚨WIND AND TRUTH SPOILER RAMBLING BELOW🚨

Kaladin is just hanging out with Chana, with absolutely no idea that she is Shallan’s mother. Because like… he has a weird amount of information about the Davars…. Like about Shallan’s dad and the abuse in their home and also he killed Helaran… who is apparently a bastard… but still viewed Chana as his mother…. And also if Chana was at Shallan and Adolin’s wedding.. do we think she knows how close Kal is with her daughter?? I keep imagining Kal putting the pieces together during a therapy session with Chana and the dawning realization of just how INSANE Shallan’s secrets are or even wondering if Shallan KNOWS that her mom is a herald and also like NALE TOLD CHANA THAT IF SHE DIDNT KILL SHALLAN THEN HE WOULD and that’s not completely related but like HOLY SHIT. and okay fine I could sit on this for 7 years and still not have time to unpack all of this.

THE MORE YOU SIT WITH IT….. THE WILDER IT GETS.

Or MAYBE ITLL NEVER COME UP. AND ITLL ONLY COME OUT WHEN THEY ALL HEAD BACK FOR THE DESOLATION AND SHALLAN WILL LOOK AT CHANA AND BE LIKE “hey mom:)” and Kaladin will be like “😶” …. Assuming Shallan somehow gets out of Shadesmar or like idek who has what information or if anyone has any information? I have no clue but i am sure having fun with it.

Gosh THIS IS GOOD SOUP.

[capricandoitall]

STORMLIGHT/WaT SPOILER

Rereading Rhythm of War and realizing that Kaladin did go to Braize ala Odium nightmares. So he can relate directly, at least in a tiny way, to the Heralds' oathpact trauma. Wonder when in the group therapy someone will put that together???

Just, Ash asking, "Uh, Kal, can you describe those nightmares again...?"

Also, do you think he had any clue THAT was what he was risking if sunshine Spiritual Realm uber-fix didn't work?

[mintmentos]

Literally can’t stop crying oh my god pls help

[mrmeeps3654]

And for all the heralds to be like “HOW DARE YOU, HE IS A HERALD” and for kal to be like “nah we chill he pestered me into not committing suicide”

I, for one, can't wait for Adolin to call a Herald "bridgeboy"

[gooseisamenace]

Kaladin Stormblessed, Herald of Second Chances

[ariesize]

fave thing is when people draw kaladin with perfect hair. curtain bangs and face framing layers and the perfect blowout. captain handsome reporting for duty always. herald of kings, wind, second chances, and fresh blowouts.

[chetney-pockopea]

Herald of Second Chances // “Kaladin…your eyes”

.

Screaming and crying and throwing up about this still.

[capricandoitall]

STORMLIGHT/WaT SPOILERS

I'm very curious if The Wind and Stone will be busy during the next 10 years. Because The Wind is the third witness to what happened in Shinovar - and she knows what happened to Kal.

Like, are the Wind and Stone Spren-Spren? Because they both predate Honor and Cultivation and are more like little bits of Adolnasium. They couldn't be eaten up/claimed by Retribution as some regathering of Honor's splinters like was going to happen to the rest of the spren.

But also, how the eff did THIS oathpact work in re the spren/Retribution? Is it just that Honor won't let Retribution break such a powerful oath?

The other Wind and Truth thing that won't stop rotating in my mind is that

No one knows Kaladin is fine, actually.

There's only 1 source for what happened in Shinovar - Szeth. Who doesn't know about the reforging of the Oathpact to protect the spren. He thinks Kaladin is dead. I mean, he BURIED the guy!

I can guess at some point communication gets restored, because the in-universe Knights of Wind and Truth book was written 6 years later AND references its part of a multi-author work and that Jasnah provided information about Kaladin.

When word gets out about what happened, literally everyone who ever cared about him or looked up to him is going to be distraught. On top of everything that's happened - you've lost one of the biggest inspirations for those that resisted Odium. One of the first Radiants. The mythical Stormblessed. Dead.

Meanwhile he's actually just leading a beach therapy retreat and might turn up again one day.....

[honuofhawaii]

Okay I’ve heard some people talking about Kaladin herald of second chances leading Moash down the path of redemption.

I don’t like it. While Stormlight Archives heavily emphasizes redemption there’s also a focus on mental health, and I don’t think it’s Kaladin’s job to be one of his abusers’ therapist and walk him down a redemption path. Kal deserves better than that and I think after WaT he’s realized that. He might try, but if that happens, I want him to fail, and realize that he doesn’t deserve to go through the pain of trying to save someone who betrayed him.

It’s not about whether Moash is any worse or better, more justified or less justified than any other character. I’m fine with him getting a redemption arc. But he tormented Kaladin, deliberately trying to drive him to suicide, and almost succeeded. That is not a person who is good for Kaladin’s mental health. If Moash gets a redemption arc it is one he will need to seek out, and even when he’s at the end of it, I don’t think Kal needs to forgive him. Or he could forgive him but have no desire for any kind of contact with him, but I don’t want to see them be friends.

[venomatemychocolate]

So...just finished wind and truth. I'm still reeling but the only thing i can honestly think about right now is that i CANNOT wait for Stormlight 6 and Kaladin "i'll see what i can do" Herald of second chances's dramatic entrance, i know he will not disappoint us

[luchibelle-throughthecosmere]

W&T

REVIEW WITH SPOILERS

Kal.- Such a beatiful journey for my boy. Ever since leaving his hometown he unwittingly became a legend. Only a few actually got to see the mortal (Kaladin) behind that inmortal mask of determination (Stormblessed). His journey resounds in so many of us because beyond his inhuman abbilities he is a human just like us. The ultimate protector. The last remnant of Honor. Kaladin. Herald. Herald of Kings. Herald of the Wind. Herald of Second Chances.

Shallan.- Always wanted her to be a worldhopper but couldn't really see how that might happen once she married Adolin. Now she is trapped in Shadesmar among other worldhoppers. Yay. Also, she got on well with Thaidakar (whose motivations and needs don't disturbe Shallan's unlike Mraize and Iyatil's did). And- CHARANACH IS HER MOM.

Taln did NOT break. Ever. It was Shallan who triggered it all (poor thing has no fault really). Love the fact that Taln never broke, it always felt wrong. Reminds me of Dabbid a little -although his lack of words is trully caused by trauma not pretended-. Gotta make him tells us why he tried to kill Cultivation.

Jasnah.- Never liked her morality. It always felt wrong. Never liked her character because of it. That night at Karbranth, the assassins she hired, considering the extermination of the singers, stabbing a highprince... And then Brandon used the reverse card and actually confronted her about her actions and intentions. That is exactly what she needed. She will grow so much in the coming books! We still don't know why exactly she was confined as a kid but she kind of hinted that her mother was not okay with it, rescued her as soon as she got back from her travels. Hopefully, she will be the one to take Navani out of her self-induced coma.

Lift will finally let herself grow up and Vasher will help her about it! Will Cultivation's absence affect her powers? Since she never used Stormlight (or Towerlight) creating Lifelight out of food instead, will anything change for her now that Cultivation flee? Maybe Lift's presence lures her back to Roshar someday.

Sezth.- Never liked the idea of him becoming an Herald, even if it thematically worked since he won Jezrien's Shardblade. Glad how it turned out, he deserves a quiet life with the sheeps. Also, him being a Skybreaker finally clicked for me, it was about gainning agency and deciding for yourself. And we got to learn Aux's backstory as well!

Adolin not becoming a surgebinder was perfect. After how disappointing Wayne holding up a gun was, it was refreshing how Adolin stood by his decision not to become a Radiant. Really beautiful to see how despite the unoathed not being broken they can form an attachment to the spren. Now he is learning how to read which is fulfilling in itself, just like he was okay with women holding weapons he needs to be okay with men reading. Times are changing and they have to change as well, otherwise they will be left behind. Change can be good, both Lift and Adolin got to learn that finally.

Dalinar.- He understood Honor but didn't fit in. There was always something about him becoming the vessel of Honor that didn't work out for me. Now we have another vessel having trouble with the two Shards and their conflicting interests. Wished we could have seen a little bit more of what it meant to be the Stormfather's Bondsmith, now we will never get a chance unless we get new flashbacks. Syl, as the Ancient Daughter, is currently the oldest honorspren we have. Will she eventually take his place? The storm in her eyes... Also, really liked how Dalinar didn't have to fight Gav and found the answers where he always did, in Nohadon's pressence.

Rlain and Renarin paralleling Windrunner Garith and the Regal femalen singer was genius. Proof that both races can coexist and any conflict between them is each individual's fault, not the race they belong to. Both of them grow up a lot in this book and grow away from what their people want them to be, they become who THEY want to be. Agency. Individuality. Self-worth.

[capricandoitall]

Stormlight Archive brain mush. SPOILER THOUGHTS.

Adolin. Just. Do you think he will ever know that he's secretly the ultimate hero of Roshar???

No Adolin, no Herald of Second Chances. Kaladin would have been dead already. And wouldn't have had a role model on just *being* with someone when they're in a dark place. And this means no Adolin, no Oathpact and no (hopefully) functional and healed/healing Heralds for the next return.

No Adolin, no Renarin as we know him, no chance of humans surviving Ba Ado Mishram. He kept his brother safe and sane and modeled honor and love and even a loving relationship, all of which gave Renarin the bravery to become someone who would free Mishram and love Rlain.

No Adolin, no sufficiently sane to survive the Spiritual Realm Shallan. Like, that's just facts. Adolin was Roshar's pre-therapist and the next generation will have him to thank for all their heroes being functional for Round 2.

No Adolin, no Maya, no healing Deadeyes, no Unoathed. Azimir would be Odium's/Retribution's without him. How perfect that Adolin is (pretty much) solely responsible for Azimir having SUNLIGHT.

I love him so much, that insanely insecure, sweet child.

[crowsintheforest]

it's been a few weeks, by the time I post this, since I finished wind and truth. mostly I wanted to write out my thoughts as best I can, think on it some more, because for the first 48h after I finished I mostly was just laying around like

this got out of control so putting my thoughts behind a cut. tl;dr, book good, I have lots of thoughts, can't wait for 2031 or whenever we get book 6 (and also the next mistborn trilogy, ghostblood trilogy, my guy)

overall, I really liked it! sanderson makes very breezy high fantasy books: characters who are easy to love, big world-shaking plots with strong small-scale interpersonal stuff, themes of love despite the horrors, and some of the most fascinating magic systems around. we got to see a bunch of that last one all tossed together, with all the world hopping going on.

it's been really neat seeing sanderson improve as a writer. while I don't think this is necessarily my favorite sanderson book (or my favorite stormlight, for that matter), WaT shows off how much he's grown as a writer and a storyteller. using 1400 pages to maximally show 10 days of story, across multiple perspectives, nations, and worlds, gives him a lot of room to expand to a breaking point, and he manages to hold it all together, even weaving themes of the power of collaboration and interpersonal responsibility, the false promise of acceptance without responsibility, the value of redemption through choosing over and over again to change, and how kaladin stormblessed is able to be exactly where he's needed at just the right time.

(extremely minor nitpick, but I do wish he'd lay off of using literally so often)

the plot was fine, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to keep track, even with fifteen billion things going on (if you're reading this far, you probably know what this book is about, but here's my best shot: over the course of 10 days before the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny of dalinar v odium, dalinar and navani try to figure out why Honor died and end up with the worst babysitting gig; shallan tries to do a stabby and gets sucked into said history along with rlain and renarin, who are just figuring themselves out a bit; kaladin and szeth go on a murder road trip to szeth's home of shinovar; adolin tries his best to keep azir from falling to odium's forces; and venli desperately tries to find a home for her people and herself).

that was long. so I think the easiest way for me to do this is go character by character. so let's start.

I wrote so much I'm sorry

kaladin stormblessed: my emotional support bridgeboy going out there emotionally supporting the most mentally unwell people in this book. his dance with syl was a bright spot (even as szeth got kidnapped for murdering), and he's grown so much. I called him taking the herald position pretty much from the moment it opened for szeth, but that didn't make the journey he's on any less glorious. he's finally going to get a fucking break and hopefully help himself and the others heal. herald of second chances indeed.

also kudos to kal for getting tf out of the line of succession dalinar tried to en-dad him with by fucking off to a completely separate planet. maximum avoidance of lighteyed-ness through maximum acceptance of responsibility. I love him so much.

shallan davar: comparatively, not quite the depth I would have liked for shallan? but like kaladin, a lot of her emotional growth and development was in oathbringer/RoW, so getting to see her cut loose and accept herself, and use that acceptance for maximum output/knife was great. she and kelsier are going to fuck each other up and I am going to giggle with glee.

adolin kholin: I loved adolin before this book, I loved adolin during this book, and I will love adolin forever. his journey in this book is an interesting parallel to dalinar's and kaladin's, accepting his relative lack of supernatural power but also embracing his role as a leader and a helper. he helped maya! he helped his armor spren! he helped yanagawn!!! he used a candelabra in a duel!!!!! finally, he made the leap about oaths v promises before dalinar did, which strikes me as very adolin and also deeply sad because dalinar's dead and adolin never got to tell his dad about his realizations.

quick ot3 aside: I'm not okay that it's kaladin's gifts to shallan (boots to ground her) and adolin (a sword to support him) that got them both through their wedding. I'm not okay that kaladin is the first person they think about to improve themselves, after their spouse. I'm not okay that kaladin thinks of them as inspiration, and hope, and the drink with friends he's never going to get because his body's fuckin buried in shinovar and no one knows he helped to reforge the oathpact. I'm not okay about any of this.

dalinar kholin: so that oaths v promises thing? that dalinar has to accept because, as navani told him halfway through, he's gotta listen before he jumps, even when they're in agreement? yeah. breaking his oath to force a cosmere-level intervention, and make the other shards deal with odium. trading his life, his soul, his freedom, and his legacy, so that others might survive. and he dies protecting his grand-nephew. one of my favorite war criminals in fiction. I'll miss him very much.

szeth-son-neturo: did not expect him to give up his oaths in his apotheosis. in retrospect, very well foreshadowed, and I love that it is a decision that he took into himself, with hope for a future he never thought he deserved. his pokemon trainer journey through shinovar had some great fights in it, but idk, for all that he was the flashback character this time around, I don't feel like I learned anything new about him. maybe this is the end of his story, and I'm okay with that. hey sando can we meet his wife in the next books, she seems cool (and helped him bury kaladin's body for their first interaction, that's wild).

navani kholin: needed more of her. not sure how, and what we got was good, but...agh. I think she suffers the most from the condensed timescale post-RoW.

gavinor kholin: lol sanderson pulled an angel-and-conner on us. I had to put the book down for this one, I was giggling so hard for the wrong reasons. goofy ass twist my guy. based on a rugpull of navani losing the kid that I didn't entirely accept. can't wait for adolin to run into him in the future

sigzil: reading this book after reading the sunlit man was an exercise in emotional devastation and I will never get over sigzil finding himself, finally, and then willingly giving it up to save his spren and his comrades. fuck moash, seriously.

lift and vasher: what a duo. good luck with this one, vasher, you're going to train up a terror. you deserve it, after, what, Mad Sciencing your way to anti-light? for someone so smart, you're a dumbass.

hey btw where is vivenna, can't wait for that reunion (aka vivenna trying to gut vasher, which he deserves, what the fuck were you doing with gavilar my dude)

renarin kholin and rlain: much like navani, I feel like they kind of got the short shrift, although theirs feels less bad I think? navani felt like her continuation got cut short, but renarin and rlain both feel like their story is just beginning. which is probably the point? anyways, I like them both very much, more please. gay love saved the planet.

venli: really liked where we ended up with venli, who not only came to terms somewhat with her past devastation against her own people, but made the call to reach out to her enemies in order to forge peace. something about renarin and rlain's decision for a chance for the future via freedom of the imprisoned over continued oppression in the name of stability; paralleling venli and the singers' choice to reach out to jasnah, their oppressors and enemies, to mark their own space and nation? it's so good. I'm probably the most excited about this particular plot/nation-building moving forward.

thaidakar: kelsier what the fuck are you doing and why did you inquisitor one of your eyes, you know what happened to your brother (oh no now I'm sad about mistborn series 1 again)

jasnah kholin: you know what I realized, writing all this up, that led to jasnah's downfall? she hasn't really changed this whole series so far. journey before destination, you know? unlike pretty much everyone else, she thought she'd already finished her journey. she's the fourth ideal pretty much before the series even starts (maybe? I might be wrong), she's the smartest person in the world, she's taken steps to fill what she thinks is her weakness (strength on the front lines). but she never acknowledged that she could be fatally flawed, that she made terrible mistakes in what she thought was good, and never reconsidered her position as potentially hypocritical. I know we're getting jasnah flashbacks late in the series, so I'm excited to see where she goes in the future, but boy her shit got rocked by fen and odium.

hoid: lol. lololol. looooooooool.

[rathalthisass]

Now thinking about the plot of sa6 (presumably, they get stormlight back as the main *big win* moment- this is the Stormlight Archives after all)

ANYWAY thinking about that and the implications of Kaladin Stormblessed disappearing when stormlight does and returning when it does. Like Herald of Second Chances and "here's your second chance with stormlight. Here's your second chance at being Radiant". Or something.

[twicetolivetwicetodie]

Kaladin Stormblessed. Herald of Kings. Herald of the Wind. Herald of Second Chances