#kaladin will never be good enough for him

[tintagliat]

Yes, Lirin, what a wonderful thing to say to your very much suicidal son! I'm sure this will have no horrible consequences 🙂

[candlewitches]

There’s truly no joy like a northern mix in snow up to their chest

I wanted to stay on the already trampled path around the meadow perimeter, Kal said we had to go through the middle so he could look for bunnies

[cosmerelists]

Cosmere Characters Read the Kaladin Chapters

As requested by anon. :)

I once did a post about Stormlight Archive characters reading the Stormlight Archive, which you can find here. This post is similar, except characters are only reading the Kaladin chapters.

(But if you're wondering WHERE Hesina & Lirin are, there're in the first post!)

[Stormlight Spoilers through Rhythm of War!]

1. Adolin

Adolin: So, uh, you and Shallan sure...had a time in those chasms, huh? Kaladin: W-We HAD to huddle together for warmth and stuff! Adolin: [eyes narrowing] Uh-huh. Kaladin: Are you mad? Adolin: Of course I'm mad! Adolin: We've been on TONS of adventures and you've NEVER cuddled ME for warmth! Kaladin: ... Kaladin: That's what you're mad about? Adolin: We are cuddling at the FIRST opportunity we get!

2. Shallan

Shallan: I know that you killed my brother. Shallan: But READING about you killing my brother... Shallan: That was a uniquely horrible experience. Kaladin: I-I had to though. He was killing everyone. Shallan (much too brightly): Oh I know! It's not like I haven't killed my own family members! Shallan: Just saying that if I could still successfully suppress memories, I'd be burying that one! [finger guns] Kaladin: ...This post is giving me whiplash.

3. Elhokar

Elhokar: Um, okay. Wow. Elhokar: So multiple of my guards--including Kaladin Stormin' Stormblessed--really did want to kill me! Elhokar: I was SUCH a bad king that even KALADIN STORMBLESSED wanted to kill me! Elhokar: I'd fall over dead if I hadn't already been MURDERED. Kaladin: I did save you, though. Kaladin: ...The first time, anyway. Kaladin: That has to count for something? Elhokar: Yes, and I was invested enough to see you completely lose it after my actual death so... Elhokar: Let bygones be bygones and all of that. Elhokar: But REALLY. Elhokar: So bad at kinging that even KALADIN STORMBLESSED was in the "kill him" party! Elhokar: Not good for my self-esteem, man. Elhokar: Not good.

4. Bridge 4

Teft: So, lad...that Honor Chasm scene, huh? Sigzil: We knew we were all miserable and angry; we did not know you came so close. Moash: Yeah, you idiot! That was the closest you ever came to dying--by your own hand! Probably the only way you COULD die! Lopen: And it would have meant you didn't meet me, the Lopen! That would have been a tragedy on top of a tragedy! Rock: And no stews either! Skar: What we're trying to say is that we're glad Syl stopped you. Drehy: Yeah. You saved all of us. Kaladin: Guys... Rlain: But also...maybe consider some of that therapy you invented. Lyn: Yeah, for real.

5. Thaidakar

Thaidakar: I should definitely recruit this guy for the Ghostbloods. Thaidakar: Always survives... Never gives up... Collects followers wherever he goes... Thaidakar: This guy could DOUBLE recruitment! Thaidakar: I just need a way to make the Ghostbloods seem honorable...

6. Taravangian

Taravangian: Wow, in a different life, you would have been in Kharbranth, studying medicine. Taravangian: Working at my hosptial. Taravangian: Where I killed people in the basement. Taravangian: ... Taravangian: Very glad that didn't happen.

7. Syl

Syl: I was there, of course. But getting to read it made my realize something... Syl: I literally saved you SO MANY times! Syl: Without me, you never would have made it! Syl: Like, repeatedly! Kaladin: It's true. I needed you. Syl: You may address me as "Syl, my lifesaving savior" forever now. Kaladin: I'm not doing that!

8. Dalinar

Dalinar: You never told me the full story. Kaladin: About what, sir? Dalinar: About how my sending Roshone to a "place where he couldn't do any harm" meant sending him to your actual hometown where he tormented your family and sent your brother to the army where he died. Kaladin: Seemed better not to bring it up. Dalinar: I wish that you had. Kaladin: ... Kaladin: I am surprised that this is your takeaway. Not the fact that I, you know, nearly killed your nephew... Dalinar: You did not kill him. You saved him. Dalinar: If we weighed your almost crimes against my actual crimes, there would be no comparison. I am not one to judge someone else's journey. Kaladin: ... Kaladin: This is where we're supposed to add in some humorous joke to end our dialogue, I think. Dalinar: I don't think that's going to happen. Kaladin: No, I guess not.

[radiantmists]

i didn't want to add this to the post because it would add a bit too much seriousness to a good meme, but i do think it raised an interesting point. because obviously kaladin didn't forget that racism existed in that moment, he was confronting one of his primary oppressors, the guy who betrayed him multiple times over specifically because he was darkeyed.

what kaladin does forget in that moment is the pervasiveness of racism, and the extent to which it's baked into his society's institutions. and i think it makes a lot of sense for kaladin specifically to forget that (even though he absolutely knows it intellectually)!

because kaladin has always been an 'exception'. his father was a doctor, much higher nahn than anyone else in the town. kaladin is as close to literate as an alethi man is allowed to be-- more literate than adolin, presumably than elhokar. marrying the child of the citylord and having lighteyed children-- theoretically 'escaping racism', though of course that wouldn't have worked out too well in practice-- was not only thinkable but likely, unlike the false hope of defeating a shardbearer that others cling to.

before roshone, kaladin did suffer from racism-- but less than others, and in a way where he was led to believe that it was escapable and conditional.

and many of the worst things that happened to him went against the rules of alethi society. roshone was corrupt, and should never have been promoted. kaladin was immune to the draft due to his apprenticeship, and tien was young enough that choosing him was taboo if not forbidden.

similarly, tien being sent to the front lines was the sort of tactic that 'honorable' alethi norms like the codes of war would have considered reprehensible.

and of course when he saved amaram and defeated the shardbearer, the rules of society dictated that he be rewarded; i imagine choosing to give the shard to amaram should, from an honorable man, have been rewarded with pay and retirement for his men or something similar.

kaladin's enslavement was not just dishonorable by alethi social norms, but illegal.

and the kholins, up to this point, have signaled commitment both to the law and to those alethi social honor codes. and while they (especially elhokar) have been casually prejudiced, they've also welcomed the idea of kaladin as the captain of the cobalt guard, suggesting that they aren't so racist that they can't sometimes see reason.

kaladin not realizing the boon was only for lighteyes was a little naive of him, but him expecting the legal system to work for him-- when he took the issue directly to someone who knew him, respected him, and owed him the lives of his whole family-- is very understandable in the light of his experiences.

kaladin is the kind of person from a minority who was raised genuinely thinking that if they behave well, they might experience some prejudice, but no door is truly, systemically closed to them. he's had some knocks to that belief (and is kind of a suspicious person), but in the first part of words of radiance the world seems to be trying to reassure him that not all lighteyes are (too) racist, that the system is not (inherently) unjust, that he's simply been the victim of some of the more prejudiced fringes of lighteyed society.

and then the rug gets pulled out from under him.

because no amount of familiarity or respect will make elhokar side with him over one of the good old boys, no accomplishment will allow a darkeyes to challenge a lighteyes, and no amount of good behavior or education will make kaladin white lighteyed.

but a shardblade would.

...right?

i think this and the immediate aftermath, with adolin giving kaladin a blade and him giving it to moash, could have been a really interesting examination of that idea, because i don't think that lighteyed society would have smoothly accepted either of them. even by rhythm of war, we get hints that kaladin occupies a weird social place where he technically has a lighteyed rank but he seems to have a complicated relationship with 'other' lighteyes (obviously made particularly weird by him being a radiant and because most of the lighteyes he interacts with heavily are also royalty, but he doesn't quite seem to be equals with most of them).

but i don't think sanderson quite understood the experience he was writing about with kaladin, and he set out to write a series about an apocalypse. and so kaladin's complicated-- but not unrealistic-- perspective on alethi casteism will go unexamined.

[davie-bullck]

So I finished Wind and Truth. Major spoilers for the cosmere.

Well, that went both so much better and so much worse than I ever could’ve expected. Not the quality of the writing or the story itself, those were so so so good.

The only prediction I made that came true was Herald Kaladin. I don’t think I ever posted about it but I have been preaching that gospel since Jezrien died. My favorite guy is immortal now!! So hopefully he’ll be around until the Cosmere comes to a close. And good lord Brandon did him so right. It’s a shame he didn’t get to spread therapy to the physical realm on Roshar very much but he’s putting those skills to extremely good use.

I never liked Szeth until this book. I love the direction he’s going in, especially the direction him and Nightblood are going. I AM NOT A THING. No talking sword has ever made me cry so much.

I never vibed with the theories that Gavinor would be Odium’s champion but I thought it was incredibly well done and I’m very excited to see what comes of him in the back half.

Rlainarin is everything I could’ve hoped for, and seeing Brandon’s growth as a writer in his representation of queer and neurodivergent characters has been so rewarding! I also love that Rlain has been given such a relevant role as Bridger of Minds. I was worried he might just become Renarin’s bf and not much more.

Adolin and Maya’s arc was so much more than I could’ve hoped for, I love the Unoathed, and hit fighting the thunderclast was one of my favorite action scenes in the cosmere.

I’m so glad Vasher is sticking around on Roshar AND training Lift??? I love Lift and can’t wait for her book in the back half.

I caught on to the Auxiliary “twist” as soon as he started calling Szeth his squire. I’m glad we got to see the beginning of Sigzil’s transition to Nomad. I’m not sure if I would recommend people reading Sunlit Man between Row and WaT or after, but I was glad I’d read Sunlit Man already. I love Sigzil so so much and really hope we get more of him than just Sunlit Man, fortunately the time dilation thing allows him time to travel the cosmere as Nomad then Zellion and still possibly come back for the back half!

Retribution, the perfect direction for this midpoint in the series. Taravangian wielding two shards that can work well together is such a huge insane threat and I can’t wait to see how the world responds to him.

Although they took a bit of a back seat I was very excited by where the Listeners ended up.

Dalinar. Good LORD Dalinar. If Kaladin didn’t exist he would easily be my favorite character, and as devastating as his death is, I’m so incredibly proud of him and his journey. Given what he was up against, he absolutely made the right decision, forcing the other shards into action. I LOOOOOOOVED him showing Honor that it’s not all about sticking to oaths, showing the power what it could be even in a dire moment like that.

The cosmere fandom is one of the only ones I actively engage with, due in no small part to the morality of its flagship series (I know I know, Mistborn’s cool too)

This is my favorite book series, I will love it until the day I die. I’m sad that there won’t be a new one for a couple years but it’s genuinely something that makes me want to be healthier so I live long enough to see the conclusion. The immortal words are etched into my heart and I will continue to do my best to live by them.

Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.

[cosmereplay]

Having just read the Tien scene in Rhythm of War, I'm having many feelings about this shitty stew in chapter 33 of WaT. From Rhythm of War chp 108 Moments:

"I'm not strong enough," Kaladin whispered.

"You're strong enough for me."

"I'm not good enough."

"You're good enough for me."

"I wasn't there."

Tien smiled. "You are here for me, Kal. You're here for all of us."

"And..." Kaladin said, tears on his cheeks, "if I fail again?"

"You can't. So long as you understand."

And now here's Kaladin strong enough to try making a stew for Szeth. It turns out not good enough for Kaladin, but it's good enough for Szeth. Kaladin reaffirms his dedication to be there for Szeth.

He's using every moment, even if it's embarrassing, even if he sucks at it, even if he doesn't see the fruits of his efforts right away. Kaladin, a man who was suicidal a few days ago, and still has dark thoughts saying it doesn't matter, they all die anyway, is purposefully planting seeds, knowing he may never see them bloom. He's willing to fuck it up. He's willing to do what feels to him like a half-assed job. And it's saving him!!! Aaaugh it's so poignant and so brave and so wonderful.

Tien would be proud.

[supgnomie]

While reading Wind and Truth I kept a list of reactions in my notes app gonna copy/paste them all below:

Day One:

28 - the wind talking to Kaladin is not making me feel better about the fact that the storm father lied

49 - idk man the thought of Kaladin learning to play music for “this last part” is already making me want to cry

50 - Wit definitely just said FUCK bootstrap ideology and I’m here for it

50 - “a virtue is something that is valuable even if it gives you nothing. A virtue persists without payment or compensation.”

52 - hey I’m actually crying a bit

68 - who is the author of the excerpts? Kal?? Or is Kal one of the witnesses??

- ok maybe Syl is the author

85 - DAMN SHALLAN THATS SICK

100 - HORSE GIRL ADOLIN HORSE GIRL ADOLIN

I never thought it was possible for Shallan to be even more of an unreliable narrator but HERE WE ARE

I’m sure there will be no horrifying consequences for Shallan-I-Make-My-Own-Reality-Kholin

Horse radiants! Horse radiants! Horse radiants!!!

110 - shardplate Shallan!!!!

Adolin’s hug is longer 😏😏😏😏

Day Two

- oh what? Jasnah and Wit aren’t working out? Who could have predicted this. (Me. Their chemistry is non existent.)

- Jasnah is so right. It is not fair that Dalinar literally is a mass murderer and it’s fine and she can’t do anything right.

- Honestly Adolin getting to experience a shower made me so happy because he must be SO. HAPPY and I love that for him.

- “He does it just to annoy me.” - Gaz suddenly highly relatable for pettiness

- Oh yeah no I do not trust the stormfather no more.

- Non-binary rep let’s goooooooo!!

- Lift checking out all the windrunners is taking me out

- GAY GAY GAY

- Really gotta admire navani’s faith given *gestures vaguely*

- SHIT FUCK MRAIZE

- “Right up until he looked up and found the Herald Ishar standing in front of him.” OH. OK.

Day Three:

- Syl and Kaladin talking about figuring out what they want for themselves is going to make me cry these babies have grown so much.

- MAYA JUST CALLED ADOLIN A SLUT 💀💀💀💀💀

- Baby Szeth ☹️ I knew math was dangerous

- Yuh I do NOT like or trust Szeth’s spren.

- Adolin winning over the Azish commander has my crying my sweet sweet boy 😭❤️

- “I want to be enough” 😭😭😭

- I’m so fucking worried Adolin is going to die in this ugh ugh ugh

- “I know the why.” - as a teacher I fucking FLINCHED

Day Four

- “the dogs will die”. The stormfather feeling sad watching the refugees pour through is rough.

- “Stormfather what lies have you been telling me!” “Only the ones that you deserve.” Damn damn damn!!

- Adolin is such a gem (visiting the wounded 🥺)

- Syl and Kaladin dancing 😩❤️

- “In that - at the edge of the world and the advent of the end of all things - Kaladin Stormblessed allowed himself to be happy. For what felt like the first time since Tien’s death.”

- Ok yes duh he is learning to play the flute because it’s a wind instrument Brando you have done it again

- “Tonight, he wrote a different story for himself. If a man who loved music. If a man who had time for music.” I’ll never stop crying.

- Adolin’s ideas about oaths I kind of super love and am here for

- Oh oh? We gonna get to see what a wimp ass bitch Szeth’s spren is?

- On this realm nightblood appeared the way it imagined itself 🥹🥹🥹

- Hey I am finally liking Szeth as a character.

Day Five:

- steel inquisitor moash so cool so cool so cool

- Szeth is so good. I am already mad at how everyone is going to wrong him. And I don’t trust this voice in his head at allllll who is itttttt

- TRANS REP AZISH TRANS REP

- “Chasmfiends could sing.” Giant crab puppy good bois I adore them.

- Omg Jasnah broke up with wit via text

- NO MORE GOOBERING 😭they gotta fight for their right to goober

- OOPS RLAIN

- I don’t trust Hmask at all and if he does anything to Adolin I fucking swear

- “I do my job. You always seem to be questioning yours. I find that aspect of you embarrassing.” FUCKING ROASTED BY A SAD BALDIE KALADIN

- Omg Szeth crying over his lamb ow owie ouch

- Szeth is Tien 😭😭😭😭

- “Neither truth nor answers are easy to find. We still have to try, rather than giving up that responsibility to someone else. Maybe someone has found the truth. I certainly hope so. But let’s talk about what you genuinely want and work from there.”

- “I don’t have a whimsical bone in my body.” Yeah ok sure Adolin 😒

- Kind of in love with Szeth’s dad and king of pissed at Szeth’s mom. Like… cannot fathom abandoning my child.

-

Day six:

- Sivi to Szeth, “how old is your dad? Obviously bee keeping age.”

- I’m getting real anxious about Gav.

Day seven:

- ADOLIN IS GETTING UP. TALN IS FIGHTING BACK. I AM SO ANXIOUS AHHHHHHH

- *attack on Titan music*

- The whiplash between Adolin nearly dying and renarin confessing to his crush.

- Adolin ☹️ hims poor leg

- Gav being noted as “an odd spren” in every vision is driving me crazy. What is it Brando?? What are you doing?? I know this is a hint of something!!

- “That was honestly kind of racist.” 💀💀💀

- ah fuck fuck fuck fuck ejdjwjdjsjdjwj

Day Eight

- these visions are not for Dalinar they are for Gav??? Maybe???

- fuck fuck fuck fuck

- SHALLAN IS THE DAUGHTER IF A HERALD DISBXJWJSKWJDJ

- Ok ok ok so Shallan on her wedding day is wearing boots that Kaladin gave her and Adolin on his wedding day is wearing a new sword that Kaladin gave him (when he ALSO got new swords from 46 other people including SHALLAN.)

- “Taravangian only saw destinations.” Fuck this book is so good.

Day Nine:

- I didn’t write many reactions because I was so fucking anxious.

- The whole fight with Nale and Kaladin I was ready to pass out.

- “Even if an emperor makes the laws, when we uphold them, the laws become ours. The responsibility ours.”

- holy shit I can’t believe Sig just did that to his spren codndjwkfjwjdj

- WAR NEVER UNITES

- Adolin smiling while thinking about Kaladin as he endures absolute hell is going to break me.

- fuxking djcnskcks d

Day ten:

- Every generation kicking the Odium problem to the next generation to deal with is hitting a lil close to home

- “We’re not sending a soldier up to hide steps we are sending a king.” Hello I’m crying already.

- Elhokar : (

- WHAT THE FUCK NOT ELHOKAR ITS GAV I FUCKING KNEW IT. I KNEW THE VISIONS WERE FOR HIM.

- Cry count: 1 - the deadeyes coming to Adolin’s aid.

- Cry count: 2 - idk the deadeyes just make me emotional

- Ishar just used that power of that pink haired girl from One Piece - Perona

- Cry count: 3 - “that was what it was to be mortal. Sometimes you succeeded anyway. Sometimes you failed.”

- “What are you? His god?” “No. I’m his therapist.” Brando stop FUCKING WITH ME FOENDJKDKEDKW

- Cry count: 4 - he said the words 😭❤️

- Cry count: broken

- HONOR IS DEAD.

- BUT ILL SEE WHAT I CAN DO

- RAHHHHHH

- The Herald of Kings and Wind and Second Chances 😭😭😭😭

- He dug through Kaladin’s pack and found a small woolen sheep and a little wooden toy horse 😭😭😭😭😭

[puddlejumper38]

Wind and Truth thoughts under the cut

Spoilers for the entire book.

-Oof. The ending. I will come back to that, but its first up because its overshadowing everything else like a giant storm cloud. - :( speaking of. Goddamn it, I liked the Stormfather.

-I want to note, right here, that I still do not trust Szeth to make a single good decision. I don't think he should be the law. I hope he goes back to sheep farming and has no power over anyone ever.

-Interestingly, I like Nale better after this book. He was just a terrifying figure before, but now he's interesting as a person too. (He's still scary)

-What The Fuck Was With Moash Getting Spiked? As a devoted Marsh fan, I am against spiking in general. I have no words about how much I do Not like Moash being crystal spiked.

(side note: I think I dislike Moash properly now. Yes, the guy has some points, but.... he continued even with his own emotions. Attacking bridge 4. That's.... thats too far for me. If he'd decided to fight anyone Except bridge 4 I could have dealt with that)

-Saw that Gav was being prepped to hate Dalinar. Was still as tricked as Navani.

-So. We meet Auxiliary and learn what the fuck with Sigzil. I still don't like the Sunlit Man as a book and it coloured how I viewed the Shattered Plains fight here. I do like Aux.

-I trust Ishar even less than Szeth, therapy or no

-I really enjoyed the flashbacks in the spiritual realm. I loved getting all the gaps filled in, finally. (Or most of them anyway.) Also it just felt like WoK in vibes in a way that I just really appreciated.

-Appreciated the trick with Venli on the Shattered Plains. Not... Hmm. Not sure it matters anymore though. We'll see.

-I particularly liked the Interludes here. I remember those took me a while to get used to back in WoK.

-Had seen enough theories to be unsurprised about Shallan's mother being Chana, but I doubt I'd have thought of it myself

-Formless wasn't there! I thought that was off, because Shallan never fully manifested her, but still didn't clock it. I do love that. There's always details in Sanderson's books that I just don't see coming.

-Jasnah's povs... I just didn't like them. Can't quite put my finger on why, but she shouldn't have played by Taravangian's rules in the first place. She lost, but I don't feel like she lost in the way she thinks she did. I hate her lack of flexible thinking and nuance from someone who is supposed to be a good scholar. I liked her better in WoK Prime. We'll see how her book is, years from now.

-Renarin and Rlain's pov's were another real highlight. I was worried about this one, because Branderson - bless his mormon socks - can be as hamhanded as Dalinar sometimes. But this was just very well handled in my opinion. In character, not forced, and remarkably relevant to the overall plot. Nice.

-I should have known as soon as Adolin wanted to see Dalinar again that he wouldn't. That was a major hint.

-Ah shit I should get to Dalinar.

-That could be its own post.

-Kaladin first then. I.... didn't want that for him. In any way. I could see it coming - because fuck knows it couldn't be Szeth and once these ideas are raised something has to happen. But still. Its not good for anyone and I can only hope its more temporary this time. Yes, he gets a bit of a break. No, he has no friends with him. Poor guy.

-All right. Dalinar.

-I have been angry at Dalinar since Oathbringer. I think he's a good character! But yikes. I mean all of the Blackthorn behaviour, not only Evi.

-I did not want him to be Honor.

(actually I don't think I want Anyone to pick up Shards)

-Hey, he's not Honor, though. Anymore.

-INSTEAD TARAVANGIAN IS!! HEY WHY IS THIS HAPPENING

-Cultivation can try to flee all she likes this is still her fault.

-Taravangian of all people.

-It was a Good Ending, its also terrifying for Roshar in the short term - but better in the long term! - and the cosmere in general

-Odium needed to be freed from Roshar, for all the reasons thrown at us readers with all the delicacy of a chull in a china shop in those last few chapters (read fond exasperation here, I Got It The First Few Times)(last few chapters of YatNP were similar)

-Retribution is a little More than just freeing Odium.

-That said; It could never be as simple as one side winning the contest and I'm glad it wasn't. That would've disappointed me.

-So no more Stormlight in the Stormlight Archives?? Well, we'll see.

-And Dalinar is gone. I am sorry for it. It was going to happen in some way or other (I'm not sure taking up a Shard counts as surviving)(I'm not sure being bound to serve Odium would count either). But... I am sorry for it. I'll miss him.

[ultrapoppet]

We all know kaladin has been through hell to get to freedom and personhood and some respect from lighteyes. It only took multiple feats of self sacrifice, inhuman will and literal supernatural powers and luck. Anyone can do it if they try hard enough.

So here's a list of things pissed me off about the good and not like other lighteyes characters which I think are underrated.

Adolin:

His reaction to Kaladin risking his life for him and his family and the men they led to their death is to have a racist/classist tantrum because Kaladin respect his authority while doing all that. And has the gal not to kiss his ass even though he is a lighteyes of high rank. So he goes around not so subtly reminding Kaladin of his place by calling him bridgeboy and making fun of him for not being able to ride a horse or fight a shardblade. Imagine not growing up with the best teachers teaching you how to fight, a magical weapon only you have access to for racist reasons, and hordes of men who die protecting you at battle while you wave said magic sword around in your magic impenetrable armor. Couldn't be him.

He is the only character who says out loud the natural order of the world is lighteyes ruling the darkeyes. Still post prison Adolin is the least racist of the bunch imo. At least to Kaladin. Everyone else is just more subtle about it.

Dalinar:

Being one of the good ones TM, he disagrees with Sadeas's method of send bridgmen to their death. Just not enough not to make use of it for tactical advantage. Or challenge Sadeas for saying they should be honored for the opportunity to die getting him rich. Or to judge Sadeas's character for this line of thinking. Because, as much as he thinks he's better than the other brightlords, he also sees this as the natural order of things.

He only starts seeing the bridgemen as worthy of being saved after Kaladin and co perform a suicide mission aided by supernatural strength to save him from certain death.

He tells Kaladin he trusts him and his men enough to die for his family again. And because he trusts him so much, he doesn't think he's lying about Amaram. Instead, he says he must be confused about being betrayed and his men being murdered. Just typical darkeyed getting confused about complicated lighteyes matters. Because surely a lighteyes he couldn't possibly abuse his power over darkeyes. And this only changed when Kaladin once again saves his sons and Amaram doesn't.

Speaking of saving his flop sons, Kaladin once again jumps to certain death and performs supernatural miracles. Because their highnesses can't plan for shit. And when Kaladin almost gets executed and then gets unjustly sentenced to solitary imprisonment in a windowless black hole after all that, his reaction is to chastize him for being petty and childish and ruining his plans because he didn't exit quietly after risking his life like a good lowly darkeyed soldier should. It's another not so subtle know your place. that also comes with being held to higher standards than the damn king. Just normal privilege things that means he can never be good enough in the eyes of people who see him as inherently less than.

It makes sense that Dalinar, a person with the power to do something to help, would be one getting visions. But he also gets to bind the biggest and baddest honor spren. Because apparently, he committed the most honorable act of :checks notes: stopped being a murdering warlord after 50 years. A feat that no one else has achieved.

Shallan:

Remember when Shallan had to make the most stupid plan of all time because her family couldn't possibly move and get jobs like normal people.

Speaking of, said stupid plan is only possible because although she does not enough education and her family has a relatively low rank, she still has lighteye privileges. Including knowing she will not be executed or enslaved for stealing.

The number of times she goes around calling darkeyes she meets dumb and smelly because she is just sooooo witty and funny. And they don't say anything back because they just can't keep with her clever wit.

Her confidence arc starts with her realizing she can boss people below her social status around by actively utilizing her privilege.

The number of darkeyes she gets killed by dumbassery and then forgets about after a oops I did it again.

The scene that made me sharpen my knives, is after all that, she has the gal to chastise Kaladin for not being nice to her. Let's recap their relationship up to this point shall we? They meet when Kaladin is on guard duty and Shalan, hilariously, uses her lighteyes status to take his boot and THREATENS TO FALSLY ACCUSE HIM OF RAPE as a prank. I can't with this girl she's just so quirky. Afterwards they meet because Kaladin is on bodyguard duty. Which involves risking his life for her fiance, and her, on the basis of being a lighteyes who is associated with his employee which he doesn't like because he was racist to him. After he saved his life. Now Shallan, who says maybe three sentences to him as a response, has made no effort whatsoever to know him or even nice to him, expects this man who she only interacts with as his finace's employee and calls bridgboy, to be nice and charmed by her in addition to dying for him. And don't be depressed in her presence because it bums her out. And no the fact that he was a slave until like last month is not a good excuse and he is the problem because look how nice his finance is to darkeyes who don't upset him by not knowing their place. And also why would Kaladin judge her like that and say she is privileged and a brat just because she could've owned him until last month and she acts like a privileged brat? She has a dark past people.

Anyways shenanigans ensue and thankfully Kaladin realizes that he shouldn't judge people for having privilege that they use while acting oblivious to because you never know if they have a dark past. And shallan in turn learns that ahhh you can like talk to darkeyes like people. And sometimes they're not dumb and lowkey hot despite being smelly. She doesn't bat an eye when he is wrongfully imprisoned but overall lots of growth.

Ok I'm being unfair. She frees a bunch of slaves. Well she doesn't free them exactly but she does make them work for her in exchange for money. And she even makes a good financial plan for them so they don't spend their money willy nilly because of course they cannot be trusted with their own money.

So it just occurred to me while she is telling Kaladin he shouldn’t judge her for being a lighteyes and should get over being enslaved, she is a literal owner! Her audacity is truly unmatched.

Ok this one is more a book thing. But Shallan meets a bunch of bandits who are really soldiers who have abandoned their post for seemingly good reasons. But they are still cowards for not wanting to die to make lighteyes rich so they're just full of guilt. And being left to their own devices, they have inevitably started to act like savages. But thankfully, Shalan is there to trick I mean guide them and under the guidance of a novel lighteyes woman of means, they of course want to return to war and die for her, or some other lighteyes lord, which as everyone knows, is a noble cause.

Writing this down, I realized I was completely justified in disliking her. She sucks. And unlike the other two she doesn’t actually take any steps to improve.

And that's all I can remember for now without wanting to buy a copy of words of radiance just to stab it.

[awkwardgtace]

Kaladin Tries Something

Experiment! I want with a stormlight archives fic cause ofc i'm still obsessed with this series.

After a good bridge run, Kaladin decides to try something. Just a small experiment.

Kaladin Tries Something

Kaladin set down his vest by his spot in the tents. Another bridge run survived. The others were loudly starting the nightly ritual. He could already smell the hints of Rock’s stew. They were all relieved. Today almost no one was injured; the few that were had scrapes that bandages could solve.

Kaladin wasn’t as weighed down as usual. He almost felt light. His past didn’t scream in his mind as loudly. It made him want to try something out. Use this moment of calm for someone who had helped him reach this point.

It only took a few minutes for the few bridgemen wandering around the tent to leave. Well, the bridgemen excluding Shen. The Parshmen looked like he was waiting for Kaladin so they could go together. 

“Go ahead, Shen,” he said. Shen nodded and left. The respect the Parshmen showed still left Kaladin stunned. With what it took to come out alive on the bridge runs Kaladin half expected a knife in the back. Although slaves couldn’t have weapons, let alone a Parshmen.

Kaladin shook off the thought. He waited a few more minutes, just in case Shen stuck around. Once he was sure that Rock had everyone’s attention, he slipped out. Kaladin walked along the edge of the chasm down to where the others couldn’t see or hear him. He didn’t stop until the voices were whispers in the air.

“Syl, Syl are you around?” he called out. His spren had been notably absent today. Part of why he wanted to try this. Her familiar blue glow showed up almost instantly.

“Kal! I wondered when you would notice I wasn’t around,” she huffed. She took on what had become her most common form. A young woman, nearly the height of his hand. Her long hair and white dress fading into mist. All the color he could see of her pale blues and whites.

“It was on purpose?” 

“Of course, you were ignoring me this morning when you woke up.”

“When the others were still in the tent?”

“Yes.”

“Syl, I’ve told you we can’t talk around all of them.”

“You didn’t even look at me.”

Syl walked along the air. Kaladin sighed, the idea of his started to feel like a mistake. He watched her in silence for a bit. She made her way to the ground. Everything interested her. Right now her attention had been taken by the plants his approach caused to hide. They slowly unfurled, giving her something to investigate. 

“I’m sorry I ignored you Syl,” he said. Syl walked up the air, treating it like stairs, to face him. She got close enough to poke his cheek.

“Good, you should be. I bet that bridge run was boring without me,” she huffed and crossed her arms. 

“It was a boring run. No casualties and minor wounds. Nothing that needed more than a bandage or salve.”

Syl sat down in front of him. The way she treated the air like solid ground always interested him. “I know.”

“You were watching.”

“Of course I was. The camp is boring when you all go off on those runs.”

Kaladin tried to hide his smirk from her. She never stayed far from him. It was nice. The only constant in his life he could count on. It didn’t take long for her to get bored and start zipping around his head. The only sign of her old life as an average wind spren.

“Syl,” he said as put his palm out in the air. “Can you land in my hand for a second?”

“Why?” she wound up in front of his face. Upside down so her feet stayed above his forehead; her dress defied gravity, something that he was admittedly thankful for. 

“I have an experiment.”

“Oh?” Syl turned herself rightside up and landed on his palm. She stood for a second.

Once she sat down, he hesitated. Syl was a barely present weight. If she wasn’t a spren she could be hurt so easily. A few inches tall, lithe, and far too curious. She tilted her head to the side. 

“Kal, is something wrong?” she asked.

“No. Close your eyes,” he muttered. 

“Are you playing a prank on me?”

“No, it’s just an idea I want to try.”

“Promise?”

He sighed. “Yes, I promise it’s not a prank Syl.”

She narrowed her eyes, but finally relented. Kaladin was starting to doubt this idea. Syl didn’t know most human customs. It could be what made her finally leave. She’d stayed through a lot though. More than one slave camp, escape attempts, the bridge runs. A wind spren didn’t keep interest like Syl did. He had to follow through now that he was this far.

He curled his fingers around her slightly. Syl didn’t even react. Blind trust in his hand. Of course it probably helped that she could easily zip out of his grasp at any time. Kaladin moved his hand closer to himself. Watched Syl’s face for every minor change, shocked at her calm expression. 

Every possible interruption ran through his mind. Someone from bridge four was bound to show up. If not them, Gaz would see him and punish him for some made up reason. Another bridge run. A Parshendi attack. Maybe even a high storm would come and disrupt them. A punishment from the Stormfather himself for Kaladin’s actions. 

None of the terrible disruptions came. Kaladin managed to bring his hand a crem’s length from his chest. With a small sigh, he pressed Syl against him. Flattened her currently solid form against his chest, right by his heart. She didn’t squirm or scream, she was eerily still. It was the best outcome he could have expected.

Slowly, he added his other hand on top of the one that pressed Syl against him. Added a bit more pressure. Curled in on himself just enough no one watching would think he was in pain. He let out any air he’d kept in his lungs before closing his own eyes too. Silence sat between them that both terrified and reassured him.

One minute passed.

Then two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Syl started to squirm. Five minutes was how long she could handle this. He wasn’t exactly ready to let go yet. Kaladin ignored the squirming and kept his hands pressed against his chest.

“Kal, what exactly are you doing?” Syl asked. No fear or anger in her voice. She sounded confused.

“It’s… a hug, Syl,” Kaladin said. Despite his knowledge that she couldn’t see him, he turned away. A bit embarrassed at the fact he said it out loud.

“You’re hugging me? Why?”

“I…” 

Kaladin hadn’t come up with his why yet. He had reasons of course, but none he was able to say. She helped me find something to live for, he thought, that’s the biggest reason.

“I was…” he tried again. I was hoping to show that I’m glad you’re here. 

“Kal?” she prodded.

Just to thank you. Be glad you’re here with me. That I can trust you.

“I thought… you’d… like to try one,” he finally said. He could picture the face she made. Full of doubt and judgment. She wanted the real reasons. None of those were things he could voice. Things could still go wrong. Syl could still leave. I can’t make her feel tied to me.

“Oh…” she said. Kaladin stiffened. He swore she sounded disappointed.

“Guess I was wrong.”

“No!” Her shout made him relax, not the reaction he would usually expect. Syl made him do that sometimes. “I might even make you do it again. I think each time you ignore me this is how you’ll have to apologize.”

“As long as it’s in private I might be willing to Syl, but only might.”

“Well we’ll see how I feel about that, Kaladin Stormblessed.”

He started to pull his hand away, but she set one of her small palms on the side of his skin. It stopped him from moving. Kaladin didn’t mind. Rock would save him some stew, they’d stay like this until they were both ready to go back to normal.

[generallemarc]

The Sunlit Man broke me and I'm not even done yet

I just finished Chapter 37. I don't know what the deal with this planet is, I haven't seen the Night Brigade in person yet, and Nomad's whole deal is yet to be resolved. But when I see a man who has undoubtedly been alive for many decades, if not centuries, MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW

do the mother-storming Bridge Four salute, my brain just stops working. I literally tried to verbalize what he did and couldn't, stuttering off into nothingness. The fact that I went under today for an endoscopy probably contributed to that, but I'm choosing to believe that's of minimal importance as I was already wide awake, and yet I physically could not form the words for what has to be true. What Cosmere books happen when has always been a fun game of piecing together lines and interviews, but it's never hit me like this before. When this story takes place, every human and non-Fused parshendi we know is dead, save maybe for little kids like Gavilar if they live to be very old and Nomad has been doing this for only decades instead of centuries. I knew Wind and Truth would be the end of part one of Stormlight Archives, but this...for any other author it'd be a serious blunder, but now I'm just wondering what they'll do. What marks Kaladin, Adolin, Shallan and the others will leave on their world, and maybe on the cosmere itself. I don't see any of them becoming the next Hero of Ages, as it were, but they need to put enough hurt on Taravangiodium(is there a name for this new entity, or is it still just Taravangian) to stop him from trying to pave a galaxy-sized road to hell across the entire cosmere out of his good intentions. And then yell at Cultivation for being shit at her job and nearly dooming all life everywhere by not only creating Smart Taravangian, but then schemeing to give him a Shard's power.

Tl;dr-I hope Adolin and Shallan have kids. For vastly different reasons, they both deserve the chance to use what they've learned that parents need to be. Also please no WaT spoilers.

EDIT: SIGZIL NO!!! THIS is what happened when he apprenticed himself to Wit? I remembered that line in Rhythm of War but I'd been holding out hope it wasn't someone we knew, that the Bridge Four salute had just become a part of the alliance's military culture, probably because I'm a moron. Hoid, you fucking bastard.

[notarobot1006]

Just finished The Way of Kings. It was really good! I loved the slow buildup with each main POV character discovering something new about themself and using it to try and improve their situations. I also loved the reveal about the Parshmen/Parshendi. I was sure something else was going on with them given how often they show up but how the book never gave us even an interlude POV from one.

That's vague as hell, so spoilers below:

The Parshmen being what's left of the Voidbringers had me audibly blown away. The book does a great job of making you think they were just another species of fuckhuge kaiju crustaceans so I didn't remotely see the reveal coming. And Parshendi do have the crustaceany trait of growing their own shell-armor.

But it makes so much sense! We never learn where the Parshmen come from or why they've been slaves for so long that it's unusual in-universe to see them living on their own as Parshendi.

When I first learned about the Parshendi being 'thinking Parshmen', I started to think something had been done to the Parshmen to make them so docile, with the Parshendi being their more natural state. I changed my stance a bit after the reveal.

Parshendi fight really well, but they can still be defeated in battle. This makes me think that they're also victims of whatever happened to the OG Voidbringers but to a lesser degree.

Onto the other fun parts:

Shallan managing to go over her own near-death experience and seeing past the stress from both that and getting caught stealing to realize Jasnah can soulcast without her fabrial was a really fun reveal. I especially love how brazenly Shallan immediately weaponizes that knowledge. After all, what's she got left to lose? And it works! She proves herself a worthy scholar for putting the pieces together and gives Jasnah several reasons to keep her around despite the fabrial theft. She's going to be really fun for more worldbuilding in future books, both about soulcasting and how the Voidbringers became Parshmen/Parshendi.

Speaking of nothing to lose, Kaladin's constant cycle of gaining and losing things to lose got a little dull after a while. But that paid off when he finally broke that cycle. I also love that the book emphasizes Stormlight refines what's already there to make it clear Kaladin's incredibly competent on his own. The Light just brings him from 'really damn good with the spear' to 'superhumanly good with the spear.' I also liked Syl achieving sapience, but am existentially horrified by the idea a spren can lose that sapience if their bonded human dies. If Kaladin lives long enough to die of old age, is that still going to happen? Is Syl doomed to lose the ability to think no matter what? I hope they find a way to fix that issue.

I like the way Navani uses her research skills to prove Dalinar's visions are in fact of things that actually happened. I also like her assurance that having them isn't blasphemy, because only seeing into the future is frowned on. It was a relief seeing that confirmed because it also meant the Adolin POV chapters were less angsty about his dad. It's going to be great fun seeing what he and Kaladin do with the army.

Szeth's the one recurring guy whose main deal has yet to pay off. I like the reveal that the pre-chapter last words have been harvested by the kindly hospital-building king this whole time, and Szeth is great as a vehicle for that worldbuilding and reacting with the proper horror. But we're missing the big reveal for Szeth himself. He has to kill for whoever's got his special rock because...well, why exactly? I'm not sure the book ever established what happens if he refuses or if he even physically can refuse. Putting him on a collision course with Dalinar might help demonstrate that, though.

Conclusion: Read book, book good.

[kinsey3furry300]

Controversial take: Hoid is a tumblr sexyman.

I like Brandon Sanderson, I think he's a good writer, but I never thought he was a great writer until the 'dog and the dragon' chapter of the Rythem of War at which point I realised that 1, Sanderson really knows how to use the story within a story device to communicate both to characters and the reader different information at the same time, and 2, Hoid is the ultimate tumblr sexyman: it's not the fact he's a super powered badass normal OP, it's not the fact he's sarcastic as hell, or the fact you need to peice his backstory togeather from a rabbit hole of internet lore and snippets of about 20 different books, and it's not the fact you could read him as Neurodivergant or bi, or the fact that his canonical appearance is a white haired pretty boy with cheekbones aka he looks like Jack Frost from that Guardans film that made us all wet back in the day. It's this: his in universe plan for defeating a litteral god of evil is shitposting. In universe shitposting. Whenever one of the heros is at their breaking point, Kaladin or Shallan or Lift, rather than actually act directly, he sits them down and tells them a long, rambling, often funny story that directly connects in no way with thier current situation, but speaks to their personality strongly enough to inspire them to keep going through their own darkest moments, and I think that is beautiful. It's the power of story itself to make the world a better place... just canonically delivered in the most annoying way possible by a massive and unapologetic troll (hell he beat up Kesler as much to teach him as anything), and i think that makes him more tumblr than any other recent litteraly character: his commitment to, in the face of Armagedon, be a silly little dude till the last.

[tenebris-lux]

(SPOILERS for The Way of Kings. I’m gushing and rambling, here.)

- pgs 160-161, The Way of Kings

Syl just cares about Kaladin, and that was something he needed when he was looking down at Honor Chasm. She showed up, not knowing how to help, but hauling a leaf she searched hard for, risking her sentience and awareness, the thing weighing so much more than her … and she doesn’t know if it’ll do any good, but it’s the best she can think of, the closest connection she could make to Kaladin’s shift in melancholy, him losing the leaves.

And it helped. Her coming back, showing she cared and wanted to help in some way … he needed that. He was living in Hell that had no end in sight, surrounded by people feeling the same, trying to shut out the harsh, horrible world they live in. But she’s witnessing his pain, is aware of it, and shows so much empathy for him.

And that made a change.

It relit hope in him, which he felt had died. It pushed back the depression enough to give him vitality and willpower. He could see a little clearer then.

Kaladin opened his eyes. He was cold and wet, but he felt a tiny, warm candle flame of determination come alight inside him.

I feel this part so hard. Physically, I’ve not been through anything like what Kaladin has been through, and I haven’t come as close as Kaladin had to Honor Chasm. But Damn, if that mental state isn’t familiar. Particularly when it finally clears up some. It’s never completely gone, but it can recede a ways, and it’s surprising the things that were in your immediate surroundings that you hadn’t noticed before.

If I was to give an image to that feeling, this picture is the first thing that comes to my mind. Over time and enough repetitions, I’ve come to feel this way about it.

Also, this is only slightly off-topic, but…

- pg 162

More foreshadowing of a later event.

[lillytalons]

TWOK part 4

(Covering last part, epilogue, and lots of spoilers for the other books)

Old friend, ugh Sadeas is the worst

Fashion and culture makes alethkar the best - sure Jan

Prayer to the wind, yet another mention of the wind

Second mention that the heralds don’t care about bridgemen, that’s some long term foreshadowing sort of

I feel so bad for the listeners

It’s crazy how after listening to stormlight for a while 6 hours doesn’t feel enough to end it, like that’s a whole book normally

Kaladin always knew the words, his lessons, lessons he learned from his dad and his trainers. It was 5 books of Kaladin learning how to apply those lessons, so freaking good

Dalinar already saving the bridgemen, before he even bought them 🫡

Poor rlain

The king, Moash wants to kill the king

Kaladin danced with the wind

Bridge 4 trying to help 🎉

His dads voice 😭 Kaladin and Lirin have a rough time but Kaladin wouldn’t be who he is without him

Retribution mention ✨

It’s impressive what kaladin can do, but it’s almost more impressive what the bridgemen can do, they don’t have a spren and stormlight to help them, like they keep up and mostly don’t die

They wouldn’t leave Adolin 😭🫡 those kholin troops are pretty good

Kaladin ordering Adolin around is freaking hilarious, adolin is so mad but that’s your future best friend my guy

Dalinar is always talking about momentum, and that’s something Kaladin understands almost instinctively, running straight at Dalinar, fighting pair matched in heaven

Dalinar totally saw him glowing, good things he’s crazy concussed, also the spear is so iconic

Kaladin 2 shardbearers 0

(Imagine aang beating sokka at airball, that’s how I feel whenever Kaladin fights a shardbearer)

How many concussions has Dalinar had at this point?

‘Oh your horse light eyes’ kaladin is hilarious , just command everyone as you do, he’ll literally never stop

‘you’re supposed to be the honorable one’ get him Kaladin

Kaladin is actually a real surgeon, not just a field medic lol, people like underestimating him all the time

No duh Sadeas had nothing to do with it

He saw peace in eternity 💛 good for you Dalinar

They should have killed Kaladin better lol

Patterns are really good at freaking out their radiants, I would say they should learn better but they’re young so I’ll give them a pass for now

lol go Dalinar, treat these idiots like kids, they deserve it

lol even Dalinar used his moniker, everyone knows he’s Stormblessed

I forgot how much Jasnah doesn’t know and how much her insistence on athism has affected her. Like she knows about radiants obviously, but the idea of real voidbringers and other creatures of odium is just completely out of her worldview, that she’s not really ready for it

Stone sinew is the coolest name

Also his sword is like a pike, and his eyes are dark brown, him and Kaladin are gonna be besties

Are all the honor blades actually swords or are they just traditionally called that because of vorinism? Though I don’t mind Kaladin being the special one.

He’s confused cause before when they came back, people knew who they were, they came back pretty frequently and society didn’t progress much, plus they always knew to watch for the heralds again, but it’s a very good and sad sign of progress.

Ok this was the final part! Thanks for reading :)

[scienter]

WE GOT LIFT AND RENARIN POVS!

CHAPTER 29

“I don’t stare at him,” Lift said, watching the Azish Windrunner give orders to subordinates. So confident, yet so studious. Not a brute, like so many of the Alethi. He had thoughts. He was smart. Not so tall as to be intimidating, but tall enough to be striking. “Pardon,” Wyndle said, “but you’re staring right now.” “Do you think,” Lift said, “he likes poetry?”

Poetry? Lift has a crush on Sigzil. Fantastic. 😂

Nobody had seen him since the attack on the tower though. Probably off sleeping somewhere. He was smart, that one. Always seemed to know when someone was gonna make him do something, so he got out of there quick.

For real though – where the hell is Zahel?

“He’s married, you know.” “Yeah,” she said, leaning farther to the side. “His husband’s hot too. Seems unfair. You’re hot, you can fly, and you have a hot husband? Windrunners, Wyndle, I’m tellin’ ya. Something’s up with them. You know, I ain’t never seen one o’ them run into a wall? Not even a small wall.”

Lift has a crush on Drehy too? lmao It was only a matter of time before Lift started thirsting over the Windrunners.

Gav nodded, knees drawn up against his chest, staring at the ground. “My mother gave me to Voidbringers,” he said softly, “to be tormented and killed.”

JFC. This poor kid is so traumatized.  No wonder he worries Navani and Dalinar don’t want him. ��Good thing Lift made an effort to befriend him.

“I’m gonna learn,” Gav said, a small angerspren pooling beneath him, like bubbling blood. “How to use a Shardblade. How to fight. Then I’m gonna find everyone who hurt my father, and I’m going to kill them. I’m gonna make their eyes burn out and then, when they’re dead, I’ll chop them to pieces.”

😬 WTF. That's a little intense for a 5-year-old.

If Moash & Gav survive this book then there’s a good chance for a Gav gets revenge sub-plot in the second half of Stormlight.

“Gram,” Gav said on the way, “what’s ‘shit’ mean?” Lift winced. Maybe… maybe teaching the crown prince to cuss hadn’t been her smartest move. Secretly deep down, she was a bit of a druff, wasn’t she.

😂 Is this the first scene Brandon has ever used the word ‘shit’ in a Cosmere book?

I loved this scene so much. From Lift thirsting over Windrunners to befriending Gav to letting Wyndle into her secret handshake. TI adore Lift.

Wyndle nodded, satisfied. He glanced at her. Then he frowned. “You’re… going to follow them, aren’t you?” “Storming right I am,” Lift said, hopping down. “I mean, I need more snacks, so I was planning to get up anyway…”

I hope Lift sneaks into the Spiritual realm with Dalinar. I loved their scenes in Oathbringer and I’ve been hoping to see them paired up again.

CHAPTER 30

WE GOT A RENARIN POV! FINALLY!

Of course she’d send a report. She still hoped, as Dalinar did, that Renarin would change his mind and agree to be king of Urithiru should his father fall. Barring that, they wanted him to be Jasnah’s heir until Gav was of age. Though Jasnah would ensure an elected official took her place, they thought Alethkar should have a monarch, even if they didn’t have absolute power.

Although we knew Dalinar originally wanted one of his sons to inherit Uritihru, I think it’s significant that Brandon chose to show us Dalinar’s conversation with Kaladin and not Renarin. He didn’t throw that in there without reason, right?  Is this focus on succession simply world-building or is it significant to the plot?

 “The way you look at Rlain,” Drehy said in response to Renarin’s apparent confusion. “Oh, that,” Renarin said, relaxing. It was an embarrassing topic, but at least now he knew what the topic was. “Is it… um… obvious?”

Oh, the Rlainarin shippers have waited so long for this day. It's good to see this ship finally take off.

“What do you want, Renarin?” Drehy asked. “Not what your aunt, or your father, or anyone else wants. What do you want?” “Maybe what I want,” he said, “is for my aunt, and my father, and everyone else to be happy.”

Oh, Renarin, your happiness is important too. 🥺

It’s great that Drehy is making an effort to help Renarin. I enjoy character interactions like this more than action or worldbuilding tbh.

“Those aren’t books full of facts or learning,” Renarin admitted. “They’re adventure stories, the kind written for young women. I had a whole collection, much to Father’s embarrassment.” “Renarin,” Rlain said, “I have seen how your father treats you. He’s not embarrassed of you.” “He was when I was young,” Renarin said. “But he was wrong back then, wasn’t he?”

Interesting. So in Alethkar men don’t have novels read to them? Only women enjoy fiction? Huh.

I’m fascinated with the reversal in Dalinar’s relationships with his sons within the story. Before the current story, Dalinar and Renarin had a strained relationship because Renarin was sickly and too “feminine” for Alethi culture. Dalinar no longer cares about traditional gender roles, and he is supportive of Renarin’s interests regardless of whether they conform to Alethi gender or class expectations. In contrast, Dalinar and Aldolin had a solid relationship in the past when Dalinar was the Blackthorn. But now Adolin resents his father and there’s tension between them because Dalinar killed Evi. Dalianr has yet to figure out how to connect with both of his sons at the same time.

Okay, so to summarize Renarin’s visions:

Renarin on a throne wearing singer clothing

There's a storm

Dalinar & a glowing figure stand on a clifftop as a city collapses into a pit

12 figures peacefully standing in Shinovar, including a Horneater, a Makabaki, Natans, and a blue woman with a blue skirt and white hair.

A femalen face with swirling black & red patterns

Renarian's future involves the singers (or at least Rlain).

Dalinar standing with the glowing figure (Taravangian?) is probably the aftermath of the contest of champions.

Pretty sure the blue woman is Syl. So . . . Syl in Shinovar with 11 other figures = Syl + Kaladin + Szeth + the Heralds? Don't know who the Horneater is though . . .

I think the angry femalan face with swirling black & red patterns is Ba-Ado-Mishram because she's pretty pissed about being locked up.

I really liked these chapters. The Lift and Renarian POVs were overdue and a welcome change. Hope we get Dalinar, Kaladin, and Szeth next week. Or Adolin. We haven't had an Adolin POV in a while.