#shallan's mom probably

[querade]

[moghedien]

Love that Word of Radiance literally opens like:

Shallan: Jasnah hates me now because I robbed her and is just taking me along with her forever because of some unknowable reason probably she definitely thinks I’m bad now 😞

Jasnah: *wrote to her mom to tell her about Shallan, came up with a plan to help Shallan’s family even though it would help her enemies, talked up Shallan to her mom to a point where her mom thought it would be a good idea to have Shallan marry into the family and started the betrothal process (but left enough room to back out in case Shallan doesn’t want to get married), got worried because hasn’t seen Shallan in five minutes and decided to sit on deck with her even though she clearly wants to be inside, told Shallan that she thinks the magical beings have brought the two of them together and they need to be together now because fate or whatever (she’s the worlds most prominent atheist btw)*

[cosmerelists]

Ranking Cosmere Families Based Whether I'd Want to Attend Their Thanksgiving Dinner

If they, you know, actually celebrated Thanksgiving or if I existed in their universe and could attend. But anyway.

[Last Thanksgiving special: How They'd Cook a Turkey]

1. Kholin Family Dinner: No Thank You

Let the various eras of the Kholin family spread out before you: is there ANY iteration of that family whose Thanksgiving Dinner you'd want to attend? We have the Blackthorn Era, where Dalinar is getting drunk and trying not to make eyes at his brother's wife and also Sadeas is probably there. We have Way of Kings era where Dalinar thinks he might be going crazy and is always in a lowkey fight with Adolin. We have post-Oathbringer where you sit at that table knowing that Dalinar killed his kids' mother. Is there any moment when a Kholin family dinner wouldn't be awkward for a guest? Even Shallan being there isn't enough to win me over. I'm staying home.

2. Kelsier's Crew: Sure!

I think a holiday dinner with Kelsier's crew would actually be delightful. I think that whatever else they had going on at the time, they'd make an effort to put that aside and have a good time.

3. Kiin's Family Dinner: Hell yeah

Kiin (Sarene's uncle in Elantris) is canonically an amazing cook. Like, I'd LOVE to be at their family dinner. Plus, Sarene seems to have a nice time hanging out with them. Sure their kids squabble a bit, but nothing major.

4. Stormblessed Family Dinner: M-Maybe?

I feel like this is strongly era-dependent. Join them when Kaladin and Tien are kids? Yeah, I think that would be all right. There might be tension between Lirin and Kaladin, but Hesina and Tien are there to defuse it. After the two kids are taken to war? I-I'm leaving that couple alone to grieve, I think. Post-Kaladin-Radiant time? That's REALLY book-dependent. Got weird between Kaladin & Lirin for a while there. I don't want to be there for their yearly argument about whether it's ever okay to kill someone. Maybe I'll just help Hesina in the kitchen.

5. Tress Family Dinner: Definitely!

Yeah! Tress is a great cook, her parents are AWESOME, and if Charlie is there too, all the better. Like, this one is a no-brainer yes please.

6. Bridge 4 Dinner: Yeah!

Especially if it's post-Radiants, so that (a) we're not all enslaved in Sadeas' war camp and (b) there are women too. I bet Rock's Thanksgiving stew would be delicious. Kaladin would be late, but you know what, it's okay. He's very busy.

7. Court of the Gods Thanksgiving Dinner: Maybe If I Were Younger...

Listen, I'm sure it's a raucous good time. There's lots of food, it's really good, everyone looks hot, and everyone is very drunk. Not REALLY my scene, though. I might go if I were invited, but if Tress's family had already offered, I mean...

8. Idrian Royal Family Dinner: I'll Pass

For one thing, I feel like the food would not be very good since my impression of Idris is that everything is...gray. But even beyond that, the family dynamics do not sound fun. I mean, their dad sold his least favorite daughter into what he thought was deadly sex slavery. Their mom doesn't even have a name. It just feels so awkward.

9. Noodle Shop Thanksgiving Dinner: Yeah!

Going out to eat is a great way to not have to cook for Thanksgiving dinner. And Design's Noodle shop--or even later under the new owners--feels like a great place to get some food. Depending on why I'm there, I might even get some free sympathy noodles if I have nowhere else to go! Y-Yay!

10. Lopen Family Dinner: Yes!

I definitely would say yes if invited to eat with Lopen and his many cousins. Remember when Elhokar was there for a minute, and Lopen's mother kept making him eat more? I am going to be SO STUFFED and it is going to be SO worth it.

11. Ladrian Family Dinner: Totally

I'd love to have dinner with Wax and Steris and presumably Wayne and Marasi and possibly MeLaan! I bet the place settings will be fancy and that I'll have to bone up on my etiquette rules--but then, Wayne will be there so surely my using the wrong fork will go largely unnoticed. Anyway, these people seem pretty fun to hang out with, and I bet the food and whiskey are both good.

12. Montane Family Dinner: S-Sorry, Can't Make It...

As much as I love Threnody as a concept, I don't want to hang out in a small circle of silver-ringed "safety" while knowing that murderous ghosts await any mistake outside. I just don't feel like it would be a relaxing time. Plus, you know, Silence's grandmother is literally a ghost in a locked room like right over there. That's a family dynamic I don't care to experience.

[transfemkaladin]

final thoughts on wind and truth:

it was kind of mid. like it was Fine but it felt a lot weaker than the others yaknow

i like adolin, okay? i like shallan as well. i like them a LOT. but their povs (also jasnah’s and dalinar’s) just kind of. dragged a little for me?

kaladins therapist arc was fun (he gave therapy to a talking sword. on ACCIDENT. that’s fucking hilarious) but felt a little unsatisfying. the whole time he was talking with szeth i felt frustrated bc like. idk

and don’t even get me STARTED on the “‘no,’ kaladin said. ‘im his therapist’” line. that bit was ASS. it broke the tone and tension of the scene unnecessarily, in a way that hindered rather than enhanced the storytelling, and for what. an unfunny joke.

by the way. for a book that was theoretically supposed to focus on szeth i really wish it had done more of that. yeah he got more pov chapters and stuff but also i came away. not knowing nearly as much about shinovar as i would’ve liked. which is a personal preference thing (maybe i just liked elid a lot tbh. i do think she should’ve gotten at least one pov chapter)

oh THATS what it was. the only outside perspective we really got of szeth was kaladin’s. i think seeing how szeth was perceived by others while living in shinovar would’ve been a good addition.

ishar’s plotlines felt unsatisfying as well. like all that shit with torturing spren and putting them into physical bodies, and then it was just written off as “oh yeah that was just part of his insanity 👍”. like yeah it was but i wish it had gone somewhere

GAVINOR. the loose end of all time to me. what the fuck happened to him after the duel. does he remember his secret handshake with lift.

i miss navaniel. toxic yuri please come back to me. with sadalinar and navaniel and kalmoash all gone and kaladin and shallan healing there’s no one to be toxic and insane anymore. it’s just taravangian. we need more interpersonal problems we need more people sabotaging and fucking shit up for no reason

im also sad abt the venli povs bc she was one of my favorite povs in past books. but then in this one she was just There. where is her conflict. she didn’t even swear an ideal or anything.

tbh i think that’s probably my main problem with the book. the plotlines were all interesting and i liked getting to know more about shinovar (and i never really cared about szeth before so im glad we got to know him more!) but it all just felt like it was kind of There. maybe it was bc of the short timeframe but everything just kinda Dragged a little and everyone was kind of There. there’s only so far you can stretch the tension on that contest of champions, and when you spend over 1300 pages covering ten days? everything starts to feel a little like a filler episode.

also a lot of things just felt kind of underwhelming. the truth behind the recreance? eh. the stormfather being tanavast? eh. chana being shallan’s mom? eh. this was probably bc of the tension problem at least a little though

to be clear, i didn’t hate it. there was a lot i enjoyed- it’s just that the parts i enjoyed weren’t really given as much narrative emphasis, and the short timeframe of the story made my sense of pacing weird.

[awindandtruthliveblog]

[Wind and Truth: Chapter 9]

Yeah he's the best, mysterious author

"woman in her fifties" taking up the spear makes me think of non-combat Windrunners. Like, they probably exist. Thinking of firefighters or social workers. Doctors (Lirin?). Possibly nature conservationists, if non-people protection counts. All protectors, though they may lean to helping, more of an Edgedancer situation. I'm thinking a case can be made for most Orders having nontraditional paths for normal oaths.

Skar's hilarious actually. Worried for him and Drehy, being separated. Cliche says splitting a duo up is bad.

Solemnityspren means Kal can't get counters :(

Skar's right. He's Stormblessed. He'll be fine. I'll stop worrying until the next death flag.

Shadesmar is tied to Shallan killing her mom? Simply by being able to see into it, or a deeper connection?

Uhhh that's her Fourth I think? She's armoring up, possibly just made of Light? As in, anything she wants, just there. Cool! Getting real powerful here with our protagonists.

[aphroditesmoon]

thinking about how last night my mom asked me what my favourite book is and it escelated to me explaining the whole stormlight lore and shallan's backstory to her for 2 hours, and in the end she's like, "you know when you were younger i thought you probably had autism."

[bobomcfoe]

Just finished day 6 and the following interludes and i think it's time for me to go to bed now 😴 I'll probably finish the book tomorrow lmao

But..... thoughts so far -

I've been waiting impatiently for the Szeth chapters since the beginning of time and i am NOT disappointed!! I love him and i love getting to learn about the Shin

Dalinar's adventures in the spiritual realm are stressing me OUT dude! He looks at his watch and is like "oh there's another day..." dude the contest of champions is coming!!! The contest!!! The one that the cosmere hinges upon!!!!!!!

Adolin and Yanagawn are a favorite duo of mine right now. Very fun dynamic to explore

Shallannnn my darling dear Shallan... I've loved reading about her and Testament especially, what a crazy history to get bits and pieces of. And them plus Pattern and Renarin and Glys and Rlain and Tumi!!! Their chapters are mostly not lighthearted but they feel like a relief to me because they're not all 100% stressful 100% of the time

Speaking of Shallan... Chana is her mom right. I felt like it was a pretty probable theory before but like. It's GOTTA be true. Right????

And Kaladin and Syl!! Syl has been so delightful this entire book, I'm really enjoying her. And Kal's whole thing with coming to understand Szeth not through himself but through Tien... my god dude. My god

I'm stressed for Sigzil and bridge four. What is all going on there

Venli's chapters! Oh my word!!!! Hearing the songs of the chasmfiends!!!! That was crazy and i need to know more

ALSOOOO interlude 7!!! Moash!!!! GOD what a gut punch! I feel like between his emotions about Teft and Dalinar being a listener named Moash earlier, we could be pointed towards some sort of redemption?? I'm not sure but I am hopeful. Justice for my best friend Moash. He did all that but i still love him very much

I need to know what Maya is up to. Give me a Maya POV Mr. Sanderson, i am begging you

I've got a feeling that I'm going to reread this book very soon. I need to read it again to properly process all of this, because right now I'm just frantic

Okay okay okay. That's all for now. I am sure that there are countless things that I had strong feelings and thoughts on that simply aren't springing to mind right now (THERE IS MUCH TO CONSIDER) but i need to sleep ☝️

Goodnight and good luck to me tomorrow as I read the rest of this book. Amen

[randomseacucumber]

Wind and Truth reactions: Day 7

I accidentally published a blank version of this post earlier. Sorry about that. This is the actual post.

Chapter 78

Wow, that arch is really crumbling

"I'm sorry." Well, that's an ominous start

No offense to Sigzil, because I do like him a lot, but his POV in this book feels boring and irrelevant. Though I am guessing it was deemed necessary because he'll probably be turned into a Dawnshard closer to the end

We're definitely building towards some big things happening soon; I'm excited

Chapter 79

Potentially, these new prescripts are Hoid's response to Endowment?

Shallan's backstory always fucks me up

Shallan's mom is not beating the Chana allegations

Chapter 80

Sigh...no thoughts on this chapter. I guess the looks at the past are still interesting

Chapter 81

Yeah...methinks that it is indeed Hoid writing

Whenever Brando Sando starts writing from the POV of a random character, it's a good bet that they're gonna die

Chapter 82

I'm definitely excited to see how some of these historical mysteries unravel!

Adolin :(

Chapter 83

Damn

Chapter 84

Yay?

Renarin's visions are always so fascinating

Renarin! I'm proud of you! Go for it!

They're holding hands! Good for them!

Really, I am quite happy that we finally got to see more explicit queerness from Sanderson

Chapter 85

If Adolin dies I will riot, okay? He doesn't deserve to die! He deserves to live a nice, long life with his wife and his swords and his fashion and maybe even some kids!

Ooh, the Recreance!

What

Chapter 86

I love Kaladin. He's genuinely so important to me

Even though I'm studying to be a lawyer...I could not be a Skybreaker. I think Skybreaker was my second-ranked Order when I took the quiz (first was Elsecaller), but I could not

Chapter 87

Well, THAT'S ominous (so many things in this book are)

Hmm, interesting

I love it when human characters see too much! It's so fun! (Yeah, I like cosmic horror)

Oh shit

Wait, Day 7 is done already???

Interlude 13

Lift! My girl!

Disguising Lift as Navani was certainly...a choice

Oh, that's what happened to Vasher

I frankly cannot imagine reaching this point in the series without having touched a single other Cosmere book. The web is webbing

Interlude 14

This man just keeps getting worse and worse

Maybe the climax of the book should be Kaladin giving him therapy

This was a really interesting section! It went by quickly, and I'm hopeful that things will get even crazier as I near the end of the book!

[everywaythatmatters]

I’m about 2/3 of the way through WaT and I’m stuck at work without my book so. Rambling stream of consciousness bullet point thoughts and theories below the cut lmao

Chana has to be shallan’s mom, I’m so excited that theory is turning out to be true (I mean. I’m assuming. Based on everything) bc it makes so much sense. Poor shallan though oh my god. There was that one death rattle about an evil twin that I feel like has to be about her too

Renarin and rlain are so cute I adore them. Shallan squealing with delight when renarin finally confessed his feelings was wonderful lmao me too girl

Adolin bonding with his plate spren is so 🥹 I love this guy so much. Him losing his leg is so rough but maybe that means he won’t die?? Is that delusional?? Either way I kinda hope that’s permanent, branderson stop healing all your disabled characters challenge

Ash and taln died?? Did not see that coming, okay so they go back to braize now I guess. That was an awesome scene though - we haven’t gotten to see any of the heralds besides nale be the skilled immortal fighters they are, and DAMN. And the wind told kal that the heralds’ connections would be important, and those are the only two with pov books later, so my guess is that all the others will lose herald status by the end of the book. Maybe them too but they’re gonna live and all of the others could possibly die after getting removed from the oathpact (?). And they’ll be spared bc they weren’t on roshar… idk I’m spitballing here

Kal is apparently gonna be a champion for the spren but I have no clue what that means. I feel like something bad might happen to the spren at the end of this book (wasn’t that foreshadowed in sunlit man? Can’t remember). We haven’t gone back to ishar’s fucked up spren experiments yet so that’s probably involved. Syl I love you please be okay at the end of this book

Kal’s so much happier this book :)))

Szeth being the first patient in kal’s therapy sessions is wonderful. His highspren too I love this

Gav keeps hearing a voice that imo is definitely not elhokar. Maybe he could still end up being odiums champion? I just like that theory. Odium hasn’t been thinking about the actual contest or his champion at all which is weird, so it would make sense if there’s some kind of reveal like that later.

The stormfather is up to no good but I don’t quite understand how yet. He was keeping quiet the fact that Honor caused the recreance. WAIT what if the stormfather killed honor holy shit

What exactly is mraize’s plan? I guess just to have control over BAM, but to what end? I wonder if he and shallan will come to an understanding

Moash is ah. Still pretty evil. Holding out hope for a final act redemption arc (or at least for the narrative to stop treating him like his hatred for the system and outrage at his injustice is inherently bad). Rip to leyten though

Still don’t know what’s up with venli’s plotline but I love it!!! The chasmfiends being their allies now is amazing. Still dying to learn more about the fourth moon. And the well of Control thing too. Dawnshard? I feel like another shard from the past doesn’t really make sense for a couple reasons. Maybe there was a fourth old god (Wind, Night, Stone, another one (Rain? Water? Crabs? Idk man)), which is why the chasmfiend sing four notes. I’m assuming the moon had to have fallen before humans got to roshar

Wait wait wait what if there is a dawnshard at the shattered plains and that’s the one that sig takes up!! If that death rattle was right then moash will kill him but maybe he gets brought back by the dawnshard somehow

Back to the stormfather killed honor theory. Ok so. The stormfather wanted a bondsmith specifically (choosing gavilar and then dalinar) so that someone could challenge odium. But why? Does he want to lose intentionally so odium leaves roshar? Does he want to kill odium (how?)? I’m definitely still missing some info

The stormfather also worked against kal a few times (not wanting syl to stay with him in wor, not saving him in row). We know he’s been plotting so that feels very intentional in hindsight

Gonna stop there lmao. So close to getting to go home and read more :)

[lillytalons]

Something I love about Adolin specifically in regards to his relationship with Shallan is how different he is from her whole family. Like he thinks she’s the coolest thing since fashion when they meet, and when he figures out she’s a radiant?? All bets are off, no one will ever be as cool as her. He doesn’t even seem jealous (so far, I’m still reading), unlike her mom who tried to kill her for what she is.

Unlike her father, he places the blame on the right people and doesn’t punish people for someone else. Like even at the height of his exasperation with Kaladin, he didn’t punish bridge 4 or other dark eyes, heck he doesn’t even punish Kaladin he just gets really sassy. He has such a strong sense of self that he doesn’t take his demons out on anyone else. Like the only issue I’ve seen so far is his playboy tendencies, and part of that is that he’s a powerful guy in his early 20s that has women falling over themselves for him, many of whom probably care more for his wealth and reputation than who he actually is.

Unlike Helaran he doesn’t leave or run away, and while Helaran was justified and I don’t blame him for leaving, Adolin faces most of his problems head on. They’re both Shardbearers but Shallan is able to see Adolin use his for good while she never knew Helaran as such.

Unlike Jushu, he takes direction and course corrects. Heck, even when he hated every moment, he did withdraw from the plateau when Kaladin told him to. When he figures out the best person to listen to, he listens to them, regardless of station. When he’s told not to do something, even something he loves and craves like dueling, he listens as long as you can give him solid reasons.

Unlike Wikim he’s not stuck in a cycle of depression, and I’m not blaming wikim in any way, but Shallan had to mother all of her older brothers in a way and when you grow up picking up slack for someone else, it’s often a relief to find someone who is the opposite from that. Adolin can stand as an independent person that can rely on Shallan as a partner, not as a parent or babysitter.

And what made me really think about this, is how different he is from Balat. He likes dueling but hates battle. He’s incredible at fighting and killing but will only do so if he must to protect people or serve his duty. Balat at least doesn’t hurt people at this point but he does destroy creatures weaker than him because he needs an ‘outlet’. He gets better admittedly, but the fact that Shallan knew about it when she was really young was obviously impactful.

Her siblings and father want her to fit a specific mold and even though she is good at drawing they want to limit her to appropriate subjects or just think it’s not that significant, but Adolin loves how much she cares about things, understands that she is brilliant, and is always impressed by even her casual drawings. Whatever insane direction she wants to go in, he’s there to support her not hinder her.

All the siblings give themselves the excuse of their terrible childhood and parents for their actions and attitudes. Shallan is growing out of that and was never as bad as her older brothers and Adolin’s family is perfect for her because they are also good at taking responsibility or learning to.

[longroadstonowhere]

okay, i have slept and done other things all day, so i've given myself twelve hours to think about wind and truth

it was somewhere around the day eight section or so that i realized this story was going to have a lot of sad ending energy to it - like, sure the situations were rough all over, but the end of rhythm of war looks very bleak up until navani makes her oath, so there was a possibility for things to turn around and they... didn't, not quite

i'm not saying it was bad or inappropriate for this story to end this way, and i'm not even saying that the end of this book is actually a downer, but, well, it's got some downer energy - but it's very in-line with the themes of the stormlight archive, so it makes sense

just gonna do a quick run-through of characters and where they end up and how i feel about their situations i think

kaladin - i wonder how people will feel about him becoming a herald and also divine therapist, ahahaha; no but for reals this was probably the best way his story could go, because he can't not protect people, everything within him will always push him to protect others, but that last ideal is so important and perfect for him to internalize and i truly think this is the best way for him to duck back from the story for a bit (and i gotta say, the scene early on in the book where he does a kata/dances with syl? absolutely gorgeous and also something i looked at and went 'ah, kal's not gonna have time for things like this again, is he?)

shallan - kinda glad i was primed for the mom reveal through word of brandons, but also dunno how i would've felt about it if i hadn't been primed, like was it foreshadowed enough within the books for those who weren't hunting down every last tiny hint of a clue about anything? i'm not sure - i will say that the reveal of chana being the one who broke the seal and caused the last desolation did surprise me, but in a way where i went 'oh of course she did that', so that was solid, and i liked seeing shallan's journey through the cognitive realm and how she kept searching and hunting and thinking until she came to the best understanding of herself; now i just hope she does okay living in shadesmar for like ten years (with phone calls to her husband because she deserves those so bad)

adolin - what an extraordinary and fascinating character arc he's gone on, and i'm so so glad he didn't become a radiant because he really shouldn't, and he managed to figure out something new and weird to be instead (the unoathed is such a fascinating little group, can't wait to see what goes on there); i really truly wish he'd gotten a chance to speak with dalinar properly before the end but, well, sometimes you don't get closure the way that you want, and sometimes you just gotta deal with it anyway

dalinar and navani - hoo boy........ i understand why dalinar had to die, in some ways, because like... in-universe he was putting himself in these crucial positions without the self-preservation instincts to get him out the other end properly, and out-universe he is such a forceful character that to keep him alive means to deal with his influence on the narrative at all times (he is not a man who will gracefully back out of having power, for better or worse), but gods does it suck that he had to go because he was becoming better every day, and ain't that just the way of things? and navani, man, that's such a chekhov's gun that i expect to get shot in like book seven or something, like you've got a bondsmith on ice here and whatever the world looks like in ten years, she's gotta be un-iced at some point, so that's gonna be fascinating to see happen (and i am so sorry for her too, because she finally had a partner and she only got a couple years together, really, but at least they were good ones)

renarin and rlain - the boys!!!! honestly what a great pair of guys, i'm rooting for them and i'm so excited for them to take center stage for the second half of the series, that's basically all i have to say on that front ahahahahahaha (no but seriously it's kinda nice to just have these two be like... mostly okay, you know? the world is falling apart but they've got plans and they're ready to put their shoulders to the load and push)

jasnah - ah, poor jasnah... i'm sure she would absolutely hate being pitied, but like... compassion's got a little pity in it and there's no way around that; this is definitely one of her lowest points, and it'll be interesting to see how she rebuilds in the timeskip years and what she ends up doing with her life from this point forward - the sequence with queen fen was functionally her rift (obviously less violent, but no less personally devastating), and i wonder if she'll be turning to dalinar's words when we see her again because there's always been a certain similarity between her and dalinar and i'm interested to see if that'll be explored further

szeth - szeth had such a fucked-up life from the beginning and i really hope he spends the second half of this series just being married and retired in shinovar and that no one asks him to do anything ever again, boy deserves a break to figure himself out and to be a person for the first time in his life since he was eleven (but like also if he wants to be a renewed and less fucked up skybreaker i support him in that decision)

taravangian - what an absolutely terrifying man, and dalinar knowing him at his core and just thinking 'as much as he says he doesn't want or need power, he will take what is offered' and using that to trap him into becoming retribution is so delicious (also thanks for becoming retribution so that my earlier prediction of odium not being the villain for the second half is accurate ahahahaha) - of course now i guess i should reread the wax and wayne books because we know exactly where that is in the timeline now, but, well, best left for another day i suppose

i think that's all the big character beats i wanted to digest, otherwise i'm just... it's gonna be a while before we return to this world, and when we do obviously a lot is going to be very different - like obviously no stormlight, so most radiants won't work anymore, but i wonder if lift will be able to do her stuff? cultivation is gone as well, but i'm not sure how that'll affect lift's ability to do anything, plus when we return she's gonna be in her early twenties, which will be a fascinating place to see her

oh, yeah, i forgot about gavinor... i mean, poor kid is all i gotta say about him - got sucked into a magic portal by accident, kidnapped by the big bad, and raised for twenty years on the worst kind of propaganda (the kind that's true, but shown in the worst light)

other than that, it's obviously gonna be a bit before i reread this one, but i'm glad i read it at the pace i did because it's meant to be a whole lot of events coming one right after the other - oh! wait! i loved how the interludes gave us the chance to revisit random perspectives from previous books' interludes, like the granddaughter of ym who was killed by nale, or that guy who was hired by ash to destroy some art of herself and decided to go to see the nightwatcher after all, and like... just seeing the little pieces of the world that had been built up and still connected and how the world keeps moving even when we're not there to see it

truly epic fantasy at its core

[jochi-the-veristithaylen-baker]

(RoW spoilers)

I'm of two minds regarding Shallan's mom (heh). On one hand I don't think the timeline fits, if her death and subsequent breaking caused the return. Ulim was already on Roshar and either in the hands of Gavilar or manipulating Venli when she died. And the everstorm slowly growing in shadesmar is probably what warned the spren that conflict was imminent. So the odds of a Herald breaking at the same time the everstorm was summoned is very, very slim.

But I don't have all the facts, so there could be a lot happening behind the scenes.

Fun detail: Ulim was delivered to Gavilar by a Kandra (I misremembered) Terrisborn. That Terrisborn might have been part of the ghostbloods. They're reckless enough to try to manipulate others to release Odium, and knowledgeable enough to be able to find a loophole in the oathpact. Then they steal whatever power they can for their own goals.

(sorry that went off a tangent)

Okay but, when Shallan hands Kaladin the shardblade in the chasms

(spoilers for Rhythm of War under the cut)

Which blade does she give him?

Its not screaming but that doesn't mean it's not Testament, because Syl was gone at that point so it would not have screamed for Kaladin.

Remember how we all thought getting a blade early was a Lightweaver thing? At what point did she get Pattern as a blade? Was it the end of Words of Radiance? She's the one to open the Oathgate, right? And a truth goes along with it?

So before that, she's not using Pattern as a blade. She's using Testament. And she can hear the screams every time she does.

(This post has not been fact checked. And it's been awhile since I read them all.)

[mycosmere]

A very loose idea for an AU: Something Bad Happens when Shallan is a child, but she gets saved by Hoid, who because Reasons cannot simply do the Resonable Thing and leave her back with her family or drop her with someone he semi-trusts, thus he takes her along.

So basically “I watched too much Witcher and Mandalorian lately and it gave me IDEAS”AU

[cosmerelists]

Interviewing My Wife about the Cosmere

My wife has not read any Sanderson. However, she DOES listen to me babble about it at all hours, and she does follow this blog. So I thought I’d see what she’s picked up via osmosis about the Cosmere.

Question 1: “What are five things you are sure are true about the Cosmere?”

“Kaladin is very hot and invented therapy!”

“Jasnah is hot.”

“Dalinar is very smoofy and I like him and Navani.”

“Steris is you: she likes lists and is organized and awesome and my favorite.”

“Kaladin’s dad is a jerk and I hate him.”

Question 2: “What is the difference between men & women on Roshar?”

“Men don’t read and women are cooler.”

Question 3: “What is Rlain?”

“That’s the crab guy.”

Question 4: “What is Renarin?”

“He’s the one who leaps off of walls and has a crush on the crab guy.”

Question 5: “Who is Kelsier?”

“He’s the evil guy who is wishy-washy about being evil.”

Question 6: “Who is Vin?”

“The bad-ass lady. I don’t remember what she does but only that she is bad ass about it.”

Question 7: “Can you tell me the plot of any book?”

“The first one: Kaladin is with a bridge company that pushes bridges somehow and they all die apparently.”

Question 8: “Can you tell me about any magic system?”

“They eat metal because it gives them power but they can only use certain ones unless they are the avatar ones but that is rare. There are also ones that have spikes and get taken over by a god. Even though a spike is like having metal inside you so it seems like those are the same.”

Question 9: “Who is Hoid?”

“Hoid is the one who wears Hawaiian shirts and is kinda a dingy but he is always there. Does he even do anything cool? And somehow he got with Jasnah which boggles me.”

Question 10: “Which character is in Fortnite?”

“Uh.....Kelsier?”

Question 11: “What are spren?”

“Spren are like sword fairies and sometimes they get sad and scream.”

Question 12: “Who is Szeth?”

“I got nothing. Is he from Mistborn?”

Question 13: “How did Dalinar’s brother die?”

“I don’t remember. Killed by a lady probably? One of the badass ones. Did Navani kill him?”

Question 14: “How did Kaladin get out of the bridge crews?”

“He saved Adolin and everyone else died.”

Question 15: “Has Shallan ever killed anyone?”

“Yes. Killed her mom and dad.”

Question 16: “Has Adolin ever killed anyone?”

“Probably! He’s a duelist! (off my expression) They aren’t duels to the death?”

Question 17: “Has Navani killed anyone?”

“She  killed the crab lady that she was making logic-sex-brain looks at.”

Question 18: “Has Renarin killed anyone?”

“Probably not. He just likes to fall off buildings.”

Question 19: “Why is there a war between the ‘crabs’ and the humans?”

“The crabs don’t like the magic thing. Like when Navani and the crab lady were trying to figure it out.”

Question 20: “How did Dalinar’s wife die?”

“He set them all on fire.” 

[awindandtruthliveblog]

[Wind and Truth: Day Seven]

Ooh, there's a lot here, especially for under 100 pages.

Sigzil and Adolin have a lot in common. Battles going bad. Sigzil, though, is going to be so traumatized he's going to leave or something. I'm not sure. I guess he lives, but does anyone else?

Venli? Was here? She's got pretty chapters, but it's not much to talk about.

Jasnah too, actually. She just got one. Thaylenah really was skipped.

Our Spiritual Realm group was so fun. Shallan is so happy for our boys. As is correct. Renarin's really been shining here, fantastic work by him. Good to see Rlain's story too, though I don't know if we're getting more ever. Also Shallan, look at your mom.

Adolin :( how could they do this to you :( i mean i guess getting a stone creature larger than buildings dumped on you means you should be dead, so you got off pretty easy but :(

I prefer Navani over Dalinar, seeing these things. She gets to details and history, while Dalinar gets what he needs. He might be effective, but I'm reading a book where I like things Navani notes.

Kaladin and Szeth! Both growing as people. Love to see it for both of them. Hope they hug again.

And maybe forgiveness is in the plans for Nale. He does try to do the right thing. He does suck at it though.

Moash, on the other hand, isn't even trying. He just sucks. I get the ship, but not after book 4. Even in Oathbringer he could come back.

Maybe that's also commentary on how much I consider a person redeemable. Probably wrong to condemn anyone. But, he is actively trying to kill good guys, and siding with Odium on purpose. At least Nale isn't doing it with malice.

Oh I don't want to forget Ash and Taln, though. Wow, they're cool. Can't wait for them each to have their own book.

[youngmasterwisdomperson]

Oh yeah absolutely. Kaladin looks scarier than Vin but he’s bound by his oaths to protect those who can’t protect themselves, to protect even those he hates so long as it is right, but Vin, she has no such restrictions on what she can and cannot do, and she won’t hesitate, bitch! Yes, Kaladin is really hard to take down but Vin is a personified cross between an army and a Rosharan Highstorm who can take out the prior singlehandedly with a belt buckle as her only weapon.

Kaladin is about 6'4" compared to Roshar's standards, but he is probably several inches taller because everything on Roshar is bigger due to gravity.

- Brandon confirmed Kaladin’s in-world height