#like seriously what did he write about renarin

[usedtobestormwvr]

does anyone wonder what dalinar wrote about his sons in oathbringer (memoir)? like do y'all think it was like the flashbacks and he mentions the moment he held adolin in his arms he found a reason to live and to change and he loved him deeply

and then how he wasn't even there for renarin's birth and fucking hated the name evi gave him and basically forgot he existed until like 6 years ago?

plot twist: that's the real reason adolin is pissed at him

#like seriously what did he write about renarin #hey boy... i love you now (kinda) i just always liked your brother more #oathbringer spoilers #the stormlight archive #dalinar kholin #adolin kholin #renarin kholin #oathbringer #rhythm of war #stormlight

[cosmerelists]

Why I DON'T think Dalinar will be homophobic

[Stormlight spoilers if you don't know who in Stormlight is canonically gay! Both in book and per WOB]

Now...it's possible that the many posts I see floating around predicting that Dalinar will be homophobic when Renarin comes out are, like, jokes. In which case, I look the fool to take them seriously and argue the other side. But oh well. Here's why I genuinely do not think Dalinar will be anything but supportive of his gay son.

1. Gay marriage is legal in Alethkar

No, wait, don't get mad! I'm gay married in real life, and trust me, I know that the existence of gay marriage does not mean homophobia is over. But I do think that the point of the scene with Drehy being married to a man was to suggest that gay Alethi men can be openly gay. They aren't expected to hide it and it isn't assumed to be shameful. It must be less common, since Kaladin did his whole "You know how it is to be different, being married to a man" speech, but it's not presented as something shameful or illegal and the other bridgemen react as though Kaladin is the weird one for bringing it up like that.

2. WOB is that Vorinism supports gay marriage

Sanderson has said, "Vorin culture is concerned with oaths. Extra-marital sexuality is strictly forbidden, but homosexuality is regarded the same by most as heterosexual relationships. If the proper oaths are spoken, then the Almighty approves."

So to me, that means that Brandon wants Vorin society to be heteronormative but not homophobic. We can argue about whether he's successful (Kaladin's speech is still weird), but I don't think he'll have his specialist boy Dalinar be homophobic if society at large isn't. If anything, Dalinar is gonna say something like "Well okay but no mateform before marriage, right?"

3. Dalinar reads now

Also, Dalinar is honestly doing a lot to break down some of the heteronormative barriers himself. He reads and writes now, something so out of the ordinary that there didn't even exist a first-person male "I" form--Navani has to lowkey invent one for him. So Dalinar is pretty okay with nonstandard expressions of masculinity.

4. Dalinar lets Rlain carry a spear

I bring this up on the assumption that Renarin's first boyfriend will be Rlain--in which case, there is the disturbing possibility that Dalinar would oppose the relationship not because he's homophobic of course but just because it's a human-singer relationship. Which would be hard to pull off, I feel, without it feeling like metaphorical homophobia. But the good news is, I think Dalinar is meant to also to be growing steadily more accepting of singers. I mean, even way back when, he allowed it when Kaladin asked that Rlain be allowed to carry a spear.

5. Dalinar joins the scholars so that Renarin will feel more comfortable

But to me, the number one piece of evidence that Dalinar will support his son is that he's already doing that. When Renarin wanted to hang out with the scholars in Urithiru, an act that could be seen as unmanly, Dalinar came to the scholar meeting too, just to demonstrate that it was perfectly manly and also something that Dalinar himself supported. Therefore, if Renarin does announce his relationship with Rlain and seems to be getting any grief at all, I feel like Dalinar's only response would be to ask Navani later, late at night... "Navani...should I get a boyfriend too?"

Because that's what a supportive dad does.

#cosmere #cosmerelists #Dalinar #Renarin #Rlain

[esseastri]

Megan Reads Oathbringer (part 8)

AAAAANND WE’RE BACK!

Hello, fronds, apologies for the brief hiatus, but I had to pause the reading/liveblogging because I was busy finishing my novel. YEP, I FINISHED WRITING MY BOOK, WHOOO! And then it was December, and there was Christmas, and traveling, and retail job at Christmas, and Star Wars, and what little time I had to myself I spent chilling because I was exhausted, but ANYWAY, I’M BACK, FRONDS, LET’S GET ON WITH THIS.

Part 8 encompasses pages 557-666 (previous parts) 

whooooops where did I leave off, OKAY INTERLUDES

Why...why are we doing anything near Aimia? Listen: Axies the Collector is cool, but two-thousand-cremlings-in-a-trench-coat was waaayyy too far over the horror line for me. I do not want more of this.

So...there’s a third storm? But this one is stationary and around Aimia?

MORE REASON NOT TO GO THERE

Whoa, that sure is a side effect of Soulcasting... #yikes

Or is it not soulcasting? Is it something Radiant?

Oh fuck. Fine. This is fine. You know, the previous Stormlight books didn’t have this much body horror in them.

Ahh, shit, wasn’t there an Oathgate on Akinah? I don’t want a direct line to  two-thousand-cremlings-in-a-trench-coat.

“the creatures that accompanied the spren” So...like......their Cognitive shadows? the versions of them still in the Cognitive Realm even as bits of them manifest visibly in the physical? Or...something else?

I’m sorry, did they just...die?

What the

What even is Aimia, really?

Mmmkay, actually, I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know the secret of Aimia, I am not interested in being EATEN by two-thousand-cremlings-in-a-trench-coat.

Genuis!Taravangian is an asshole. I’m not surprised, I’m just. Stating a fact.

!!!! Are his secretary and the Dustbringer a thing? Are they together? Get it, girls!

I still don’t trust the Dustbringer.

Aslo “the most likely to accept their cause” Why? Is the “cause” like...destroying the world? I don’t remember if we know the Diagram’s endgoals.

...There’s a danger line for the “too smart” end of the sliding scale? Smart.

Also his name is Vargo? Vargo Taravangian? hehehehehe

IT’S NOT ABOUT DESERVE.

I think I hate him.

Dumb question: if Taravangian wants to take over Alethkar--presumably so he can take over the world--then aren’t he and Dalinar working toward the same goal? They both want a unified Roshar. So why kill Dalinar instead of working with him? The logical solution is to work with him, since he’s more charismatic and has a higher chance of actually succeeding, and then kill him off after he’s succeeded in laying the groundwork, and take over from there?

Not that I’m encouraging this, I’m just saying: Taravangian needs to sort out his priorities.

“kill those children” seriously, fuck this asshole, what a douchecanoe.

Also Renarin the wild card HECK YES.

The farming question can be easily answered: Progression.

Not all the Radiants’ powers were battle powers.

“the part of the world that mattered” OH FUCK YOU. That’s not how it works. It’s not about deserve. It’s about having the ability to help, which gives you the responsibility to help. If you can, then you should. No exceptions. No “matters”. Everyone matters. Everything matters. Everyone deserves to be saved.

Except maybe Kylo Ren, but that’s a different story.

Buddy. Odium already made a deal. He wants out of it now. Also he’s not a spren or a god, so why should your pathetic rules hold him?

Oh. Duh. Somehow I didn’t connect Listeners and gemhearts? But of course they do. How else would they bind spren? They infuse their hearts.

Oooohhhhh snap, they done got possessed.

Aw, Venli...things not going your way anymore?

Idk, I should feel bad for her, but I don’t? She brought this on herself. And on her friends. And on her sister, who is still dead. This is her fault.

“The listener gods were not completely sane.” I mean, idk what you expected.

Though, neither are our gods, so I guess we can’t talk.

Seriously, what did Alethkar do to them?

Oh. Wait. Where was Jezrien from? King of the Heralds, right? Prooobably his idea to make the OAthpact? His fault they were bound? That’s probably what Alethkar did to them...

Oooh, the new epigraphs are from the library at Urithiru! Heck ye, Radiant archives!

Though Taln and the Stonewards need to take a chill pill on the self-sacrificing front, apparently.

(Eks would be a Stoneward, pass it on)

Wait, no, hold on--the whole of part three with no Moash pov? But I’m WORRIED about MY BOY.

I’m unnecessarily suspicious of literally every guard that’s not Bridge Four. But particularly of this Rial guy. What is he, Bridge Thirteen? I don’t trust him. At all. He’s too...glib? with Dalinar to be a proper bridgeman. Around other bridgemen, fine, but with Dalinar? I don’t trust it.

I’m with Navani. “The greasy man is...unfitting.”

ooohh, Dalinar...... he “reminds him of friends from the old days.” Tho, bud, how many of those died, betrayed you, or left to become ardents?

Dalinar should know by now to just...not trust people implicitly. Always question.

I really, genuinely can’t imagine how awkward Kaladin and Shallan’s excursion to Theylan City was. Didn’t they fly? Shallan was probably all SCIENCE!! about it and Kaladin was definitely grumpy “let me fly in peace” boy. Nerds.

Sorry, hold on--you’re counting on Kaladin “Impulsive” Stormblessed and Adolin “Disaster Bi” Kholin to make sure Elhokar doesn’t do anything stupid? That’s like asking two kittens to babysit the new puppy.

“I can’t afford to lose you.” AAaaahhh

omg, no, don’t give Kaladin land. What will he do with it? Turn it into the Land of Misfit Bridgecrews?

Five times...so what’s it been, 50 days? Not even? That’s so little time!!

“Or is someone else receiving [the prayers] instead?” ...Isn’t that just the most chilling thought.

There has to be an explanation beyond “The Heralds are nuts” for Shalash to be erasing herself from visual records.

I’m sorry, rockbuds blossom? and have fragrance? Stop and smell the rockbuds?

“I am a diplomat.” Yeah, and I’m a rockbud.

How is Taravangian such a good actor? Or is he really this emotional on days when he’s not a raging asshole of a genius?

Aw yis, non-hereditary monarchy! I love!

“Does it involve punching someone?” It’s Dalinar, so, what do you think?

“Stone-sinew, Herald of Soldiers.” But...Taln’s focus is bone? Ishar is sinew?

I suppose “Stone-bone, Herald of Soldiers” would be a little too ridiculous-sounding...

brb, changing my url to “stone-bone-herald-of-soldiers”

“It was as if Odium had a grudge against this one in particular.” SAD ABOUT TALN FOREVER: THE MEGAN STORY

I s2g Dalinar is the most Extra son of a bitch in all of Roshar.

HOw do I prove I’m not trying to take over your country? I know! I’ll let you stab me through the chest! This is the BEST IDEA.

oooooooo Tension, maybe?

TENSION!! THIS SHIT IS SO COOL OMG

Also his special power--resonance? right?--is listening and that’s delightful. Or...I’m guessing that’s what it is.

Heck ye, Renarin!

“Strength and passion, the Vorin way.” In other words...Honor and Odium....hmm

So it’s Kaladin, Elhokar, Shallan, Adolin, Skar, Drehey, and...who? Some other bridgemen? It’s gonna be a fun roadtrip, tbh.

Buddy, Shallan ignoring her problems IS a problem! Don’t support this impulse! Don’t encourage this!

omg of COURSE Adolin hates flying. Nerd.

“No wisecracks about missing boots?” No, because that wasn’t funny.

“First assess the area for danger, get the lay of the land. Then gawk.” I LOVE MY SON SO MUCH, WHAT A TRAVEL NERD, BUT ALSO #SAME BRO

...we knew that Elhokar had a kid, but every time I’m reminded of it, I get really weirded out. He’s not old enough to be a dad.

PLease meet up with Moash. Please. I’m dying. My crops are failing. My skin is dry. Help me.

the advantage of living through Bridge Four is that you can sleep well anywhere? Well, I mean. I GUESS That’s an advantage. Sort of.

OH of COURSE it’s an Unmade. We do have eight more of those to encounter and deal with.

Whose is this though? Kaladin’s? Or are Elhokar or Adolin finally going to manifest?

(This is assuming that my theory about there being one Unmade for each order of Radiants to defeat is sound.)

Elhokar is trying so hard to be good.

Also Shallan is mean to Kaladin again, news at nine. *rolls eyes*

So, it’s going to be Kaladin’s Unmade then.

Elhokar, you know that the more you tell yourself you’re going to fail, the more likely you will? Stop it. Have confidence.

“Adolin made you want to laugh with him.” Yeah, he doesn’t punch down.

Also, the Kadolin is REAL, and I’m living.

Kaladin really is too good for this world.

I’m sorry, the fancy lighteyes’ gated villas have guards to keep the refugees off their perfectly manicured lawns? Fuck that. Fuck them.

“I needed someone I’d trust with my life, or more. So I brought us to my tailor.” THIS CHILD IS A DISASTER AND I LOVE HIM

Oh snap! we’ve made it halfway through the book!

“Even his voice was adorable.” HONESTLY, people who don’t ship Shadolin: how? It’s so pure and good and supportive and wonderful!

How did Aesudan know the parshmen were voidbringers? And why did she order them killed only to desert the city?

I suppose fabrials do trap and use spren, right? So it makes sense that the yellowgold...voidspren? would be offended by that sort of...I guess, spren enslavement? Sort of? But why are they so concentrated here? Which Unmade is it and what does it do other than corrupt other spren? and influence people.

How To Corrupt Spren and Influence People, a new bestseller by Odium, found in stores near you!

“I am the only one here who has confronted one of the Unmade directly.” Yeah, you, the Kholin bros, and most of Bridge Four who protected you while you did your thing. But sure.

Kaladin, when will you stop seeing your brands as part of yourself and let yourself heal?

Aw, I’m proud of her, admitted Veil is--oh. “They are both equally fake.” Hon, no... please. Talk to someone about this.

Aharietiam, or as I like to call it, “that other stupidly long and impossible-to-pronunce “A”-word.”

Sorry, but the fact that Shallan takes pleasure in pissing Kaladin off-- “he glared at you in the most satisfying of ways” --is really....gross. Uncomfortable. I’m not here for it.

Like, yeah, teasing is fine, but like... if it strays over from teasing into Actively Pushing Someone’s Buttons Just to Make Them Angry, then it’s BAD, okay? It’s really bad. I can say from experience: it’s very bad.

Well, I mean, that explains why no one’s come back from the palace.

“As a connoisseur of things that have killed me...” honestly. what are we up to now? Poison bread. Shipwreck and drowning. Run through with a sword. Dear god, child, you need to be more careful.

Kaladin making bad puns and smiling is giving me life though. Petition for more.

So, the Skybreakers and the Windrunners did not get along? Justice vs. Honor, I suppose...not unexpected. Especially is one is corrupted.

Isn’t Ishar...Bondsmiths? Herald of Luck? Are you sure?

“He is now as mad as the rest. More, perhaps.” Yeah, I got that vibe from Edgedancer.

Shit. Of course he set himself up as a god-king.

(He and the Lord-Ruler should make t-shirts.)

Dangit, Ishar founded the Oathpact, so bang goes that theory about Jezrien and Alethkar and the listeners.

“The Stormfather hated to be misquoted.” Pppfffft.

HECK YE, Bridge Four got a sword!!

Also omg Navani invented alarm clocks. Bless her.

She packed him lunch! BLESS THESE ADORABLE NERDS. God, they are ridiculous.

Dalinar hitching a ride to Azir with Jasnah and her just going, “Byyyeeeeee” and leaving him alone is HILARIOUS to me.

I wonder if the color of the gemstones in the epigraphs correspond to the radiant orders. Like, if the Windruners recorded in sapphire, and the Lightweavers recorded in garnet, etc.

Okay, I went back and checked, and that seems legit. I’m going to guess that’s been #confirmed by people who finished this book earlier than me, but listen.

“covered by a magnificent bronze dome” Lift voice: “boobies” Me: snrk

SPIRITUAL ADHESION!? WTF THIS IS SO COOL

OMG, he brought them an essay, that’s magnificent. Especially because they all had to write essays to apply to be king. Or.. Prime? WHATEVER THAT’S HILARIOUS AND I LOVE AZIR SO MUCH

hello, I love Jasnah, this is news to no one, but girl wrote an essay in rhythmic meter and *melts*

...the Azish parshmen negotiating for pay is...very Azish of them. And the Alethi parshmen gathering for war is very Alethi. And the Theylan parshmen sailing off into the sunset is very Theylan of them.

HA, Dalinar just said the same thing in the next paragraph, go me.

LIFT ATE HIS LUNCH, I LOVE HER, HELLO BBY I’VE MISSED YOU

“The crazy spren who lives in the forest.” 1. I love Lift a lot. 2. uuhhh...we know the Heralds are crazy, and I assumed Odium was crazy, but Cultivation, too?? Is ANYONE here sane anymore?

oh wow they agreed.

didn’t...see that coming. Not with so much book left.

OOOHHH SNAP HE REMEMBERS. HERE WE GO HERE WE GO AAHHHH

Every time I’m reminded that Adolin is only, like, 24yo, I have to tell myself that I was about that old when WoR came out and he’s not actually a child.

Anyway, 12yo Adolin is a gift. “Neat!” this kiddo aahhh

“It was gratifying to see how much one could accomplish in both politics and trade by liberally murdering the other fellow’s soldiers.” PUNK!DALINAR NEEDS TO LOOK AT HIS LIFE AND HIS CHOICES AND RECONSIDER HIS WORD CHOICE AT THE VERY LEAST

hugs are un-Alethi. this is why they have so many issues. they are emotionally constipated from lack of hugs.

“The other son” fuck you, punk!Dalinar

also “she’d never be a great scribe” yeah, that’s ‘cause she’s left-handed, you Vorin jerks

haaaa, he has a point. That even if he and Gavilar know that he wouldn’t ever betray Gavilar for the throne, Gavilar’s advisors aren’t stupid and will find reasons for Dalinar to be...elsewhere.

“Storms, I don’t deserve her, do I?” NO YOU FREAKING DON’T

tbh, I’m not even sure present-day Dalinar deserves her. Like, he’s better now, but he’s still... a soldier. He’s still a strategist. And Evi deserves a soft, gentle person who loves her.

Evi deserves the world, tbh, and I’m Upset because she’s going to die and I’m going to be Sad.

#op #Megan reads OB #Oathbringer spoilers #Stormlight Archive #Oathbringer #Brandon Sanderson #I'm back y'all #hopefully I will finish this book by New Year's...we'll see if I manage it but that's the goal #thanks for your patience everyone!

[astro-bird]

Emily’s Year in Review: Books

I was doing super well on reading a shit ton. Then I went to grad school. Anyway, here’s what I read this year.

Legion Skin Deep by Brandon Sanderson: the sequel to one of his phenomenal short stories. Stephen Leeds uses his hallucinations to his advantage to obtain a corpse. Great read. Sanderson should do more sci fi.

Women and Gaming: Interesting essay on how women use gaming to their advantage creatively. Though it reads like someone didn’t have the required word count for their masters thesis.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2: I know superhero movies are big and what not, but damn they do not do justice to the oddity that is comic books. Seriously.

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch: Second book in the series, arguably the weakest so far, but I really loved it. I mean you can’t go wrong with pirates. And you definately can’t go wrong with single mother pirate captains.

Batman: the Killing Joke: Another thing we can blame isaac for. Finally read it. Just phenomenal.

Arcanum Unbound by Brandon Sanderson: In case all his randomly released short stories weren’t enough for you, here’s a compendium of them. Many never seen before! (I don’t have a problem, I swear.)

Captain Marvel #1: the Carol Danvers version, cause she goes to space. And you all know how I feel about space.

the Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch: Third book in the series and if the first one hadn’t been so great I’d say this one was the best. Let’s be real though, I just adore this entire series. Please Scott Lynch, give us more.

The Search for Wondla by Tony Diterlizzi: I’d actually read this before but needed to reread it so I could finish the series. I’m just a bit too old to have been his target audience when he wrote the Spiderwick Chronicles, but fortunately I have a younger brother. Dude knows how to write children’s literature.

Snapshot by Brandon Sanderson: This one apparently got optioned for movie rights before it ever came out. Fingers crossed something comes of that cause damn. Have I mentioned that Sanderson needs to write more sci fi?

Lock In by John Scalzi: when a strange pandemic leaves a significant portion of the populace trapped, totally conscious, but in bodies that can’t move, a whole new economic system forms...with lots of complications.

A Hero for Wondla by Tony Diterlizzi: Second book in the trilogy, this is where things get serious.

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami: Dude will never fail to amaze me in his weirdness. That being said, I felt absolutely tranquil whenever I opened this one up. Can’t even explain it, but then again, you can’t really explain Murakami’s woks to begin with so never mind.

The Battle for Wondla by Tony Diterlizzi: The final book in the trilogy. Did I mention this books also include amazing drawings with a good chunk of the chapters? By Diterlizzi. Dude’s hogging all the talent.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: had to reread in order to watch the new hulu series, which you all should go watch right this instance. Happy to say it holds damn true to the book.

Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray: Shit’s getting good in 1920s new york. Have I ranted to you personally about how wonderfully diverse the cast of characters is? If not, please remind me next tome we see each other, cause it’s great and sooooo needed.

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson: the big one. Third book in the Stormlight Archives. more than 1200 pages long, in which Melissa and I have decided that Renarin is a precious cinnamon roll and Adolin is too adorable and we’re worried about Shallan, and damn it Moash! and Kaladin is still my favorite.

Twelve Kings of Sharakhai by Bradley P Beaulieu: I actually stopped reading this one cause I just couldn’t care. The world building was great, and was the only thing that kept me going past the halfway point. But I could not give a fuck about any of the charactes. They were so bland and uninteresting. On top of that, I got 2/3 of the way through and still didn’t know what the main plot was supposed to be. Nothing was moving forward.

A Game of Thrones by G.R.R. Martin: After catching up on  the show in 2016, I was desperately craving more. So it was time. I caved and started reading the series. Looking forward to the rest.

Provenance by Ann Lecke: From the author (and world) that created Ancillary Justice, probably the best sci fi novel I’ve ever read. This is just as great. I just wish it was longer after reading 1200 pages of sanderson. But that’s mainly cause I read this way too fast. I think I may have found a new favorite author to add to the mix. At this rate, I’ll only ever be able to read things by favorite authors. I think I’d be okay with that.

#2017 #year in review #books #brandon sanderson #scott lynch #tony diterlizzi #john scalzi #haruki murakami #margaret atwood #libba bray #ann lecke #bradley p beaulieu #g r r martin

[nightblink]

Blink Reads Oathbringer - Chapters 31-32, Interludes I-1 to I-3

Short one this time, but it’s the end of Part One and the Interludes, so I can start the next one off directly at Part Two.

Chapter Thirty-One – Demands of the Storm

Finally we get another Kaladin chapter. I've missed you.

No wonder nobody's heard news out of Revolar for a while now.

[laughs] Again thinking like a soldier, Kaladin. Cities usually aren't so organized as warcamps; they grow in a more organic fashion.

(As ever, Kaladin is proud of the newest of his adoptions.)

There's going to have to be a complete social upheaval one way or another. No more Parshmen, maybe eliminate slavery entirely. That's certainly something you can throw your weight behind, Kal. To take part in a war, though…

I love how Syl is hiding between his collar and hair. Those glorious, thick curls are serving a purpose other than just making him pretty, for once.

A Parshman in warform, and with a strong Rhythm! But not with red eyes – warform isn't one of those associated with Voidspren. Whoop, but there is a red-eyed one, and they're calling that kind/form 'the Fused'. Definitely Odium at work here.

Yep, time to make like the wind and fly.

Syl, let him have the gloryspren! Still, Syl getting jealous-protective of Kaladin omg

Kal, she's not a GPS

Hovering above a city as a storm roars in probably isn't the best place to talk to Syl about ethics, but it definitely needed to be said. For all that she's been with him for quite a while now, she still has a rather limited view of the world, and doesn't always understand the chain of cause-and-effect.

“It's about what you see as right and wrong.” “For once, I'd like my moral code to not come with a list of exceptions at the end.” Thank you Sanderson for giving them time to talk about that part of the bond and Oaths, because that's needed to be discussed for a while now.

Thank goodness he saw the people and got down to help them. It was hinting from the start that they were out in the open and vulnerable to the storm.

OOP, ONE OF THE FUSED

Dark stormlight? Dark stormlight? Will that be fueled by normal highstorm Investiture, or only the Everstorm?

Aaaaand they can fly. Of course they can.

...are you seriously going to argue with the Stormfather to stop the storm itself. I- of course you are. The Kholin Extra(TM) has been rubbing off on you, hasn't it.

Well, that didn't work. You being you, though, you're still going to try and save the ones down below.

!!!! Did. Did you just airbend. This must be one of the unique combination feats of Gravitation+Adhesion – unless it's something that can be accomplished via Gravitation alone. Whatever it was, you managed so save people. Not all of them, but some.

“Just listen to the piece of nature incarnate, okay?” Syl you are a delight.

Chapter Thirty-Two – Company

Tea and shock blankets – at least Palona knows what this girl needs right now.

Oooo, so that's where Renarin knew the name from – possibly in combination with Truthwatcher abilities, but it's good to know that Re-Shephir is part of their actual mythology.

Imagining a human eventually getting warped into that is terrifying. If the Unmade were Splinters of Odium, perhaps they once hosted in humans and eventually changed them like the holders of the Shards.

If the rest of the Unmade are creepy body-horror things, then I'd suspect the cremling-guy from Edgedancer, no matter what he said. That was nightmare fuel.

Let everyone shower you with compliments, Shallan, you deserve it. Bravery is in standing up to things that terrify you.

Wait, is that…?

It is.

Jasnah: [waltzes into Urithiru half a year late with Starbucks] What'd I miss.

Jaaaassssssnaaaaaaaah~

End of Part One

Interlude One – Puuli

Excited for the new storm? You mean the Everstorm? Well, to each their own….

[squints] Are you killing all of this lady's husbands? You are the lighthouse-keeper. Then again, sailing on Rosharan seas is a dangerous business. Especially on the stormlands-end of the continent.

Ooo, this must be in the New Natanatan area. But blue skin was an Aimian trait if I remember correctly, and nothings been noted about your shadow

….”hidden island of the Origin”. Say what now. Mythology or forgotten history, I wonder…

'They'll arrive when the night is darkest.' - And they come to destroy. Could be Voidbringers, could be the rest of the Unmade. Either way, I doubt they're allies.

Interlude Two – Ellista

A monastery! Oh man, please give us a scene of Vorin ardents flipping their shit over the return of the Knights Radiant.

Okay, so it's not about the Radiants, but we've got Arguing Ardents. However, they're arguing in a library. She should have knocked them upside the heads for that.

This poor woman cannot get any peace to simply read!

When in doubt, abandon the populated places entirely. Good choice.

….are you reading a bodice-ripper romance. You are. And you're having the time of your life.

This thing is all overblown purple prose and it's amazing. Good to know that Roshar has a flourishing trade in scandalicious romance novels.

Are ardents even supposed to be allowed stuff this raunchy?

“Important works.” Terribly important. Essential to the future of all Roshar, this reading.

[snorts] Opaque politics? My dear Ellista, perhaps that might be true of Navani, and formerly of Gavilar, but the rest of them? Hah.

These translations the ardents are working on could be the key to information later on, now that we know the libraries of Urithiru are ruined (hopefully not beyond repair, but not holding out hope for that).

HE READ THE ROMANCE TOO. AND THE SEQUEL

“has to choose between a strapping naval officer, a Thaylen banker, and the King's Wit.” ….did Hoid write this. Did Hoid write this dirty romance novel just for the sheer glee of it.

“Sequels always have to be bigger.” Taking a potshot at yourself in your own book, Sanderson? At least you have a good sense of humor about it.

Interlude Three – The Rhythm of the Lost

Venli?! Oh I have a bone to pick with you over how you treated Eshonai last book-

Rhythm of Craving? Oh that's not good. Command Rhythm being related to Appreciation… I'm not sure what to think about that, because on one hand it goes towards emotional manipulation, but on the other it's more of the Kholin “show honor to your men and they shall return it” vibe. It's treading a very, very fine line.

New Voidspren, one that looks like “rolling lightning”. Possibly the same type of spren that transforms them into stormform.

Oooo, Venli is not happy about not being the one giving orders. Did you think that because you spearheaded the plan for the Parshendi change to stormform and the summoning of the Everstom that you'd be elevated to a position of greatness?

[winces] You just wanted to save your people. Terrible choices with terrible consequences, but you felt backed into a corner. Decisions or extinction.

Ah, so 'lesser spren' are used for the form-changes, got is. Perhaps not even sentient ones.

Oh. Oh no. That's Eshonai, but the blade is materialized. That can only mean…

Fuck. Fuck. I really, really wanted you to be alive. Fuck. I'm really distraught over this, give me a moment.

….

[flings open second-story window] ESHONAI DESERVED BETTER!

I'm going to have to write an Eshonai+exile!Adolin swordbros AU myself to rectify this goddamn tragedy on some level.

[deep breath] Okay. Okay. Back to the continuation of canon. Eshonai's dead, Odium-spren Ulim just wanted to find her for the Plate, but Venli… Venli's singing a Rhythm of mourning – an old Rhythm.

Shiiiit, no wonder the Parshendi hate people touching their dead. Mutilating the bodies to look for gemhearts? That's fucking sickening.

YEAH, GO VENLI. SNAP BACK AT THAT ASSHOLE

“the spren of redemption” aaahahahahaha bullshit

Wait, can Voidspren – even just spren in general – sense Shardic influence? How else would Ulim know that the Alethi “stink of Honor”? And would he recognise, say, a Scadrian by the feel of Ruin and Preservation permeating them? Or, better question, the influence of a Shard on human-types transplanted from Yolen, as opposed to humans created by Shards in the image of the Yolenese, like Scadrians? (My theory that Rosharan-humans were created rather than transplanted grows.)

[hums] He didn't deny that “your ancestors” were dead, only said they were in charge. It's not a spren in charge then, but some kind of ancient Voidbringer(s) – perhaps not actually alive, but returned (hah) somehow? Or maybe both, if the Voidbringer(s) is/are bonded to a Voidspren.

Oh, Venli

….you're attracting a spren. A true spren. Ohhhhh……

#oathbringer spoilers #blink reads oathbringer #end of part one: is fabulous #interludes: confusion and hilarity and also fury

[sterisladrian]

Raoden, Vin, Shallan, Elend!

Raoden: what was the first book you read in the cosmere?

Mistborn! The beginning of my long descent into fandom.

Vin: what is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?

So I’m not sure that this is THE absolute funniest moment of my life. But it was the funniest thing I could think of.

Also I’m pretty sure I’ve told this story in some form on Tumblr before, so bear with me here if I have.

When I was in high school, I was cast as Audrey (the person, not the evil plant) in the musical Little Shop of Horrors. Now, if you’re not familiar with the show, basically there’s a dentist who’s a pretty terrible guy, and at one point during the show, he slaps Audrey. It’s a very shocking scene, and very pivotal to the show, so we had to get the stage slap exactly right. Consequently, we practiced it quite a bit. 

So, one day, we’re standing backstage during rehearsal (this was about a month before opening) and we’re practicing the slap. There’s a different scene happening on the stage, so our director and most of the rest of the cast was elsewhere, aside from a few members of our tech crew, who were also backstage.

Now, in this particular production, the role of the dentist was played by the biggest sweetheart in the drama program, who for the purposes of my story I’ll call A. A wouldn’t hurt a fly. He didn’t have a malicious bone in his body.

A and I have practiced the slap multiple times at this point, but for some reason, that day just wasn’t going well. We couldn’t seem to get in sync. (Quick ref for non-theater folks - stage slap involves two things: slapper has to move the hand convincingly toward the face, but not actually make contact; the victim has to produce the noise of the slap and react accordingly in time with the person doing the slapping.) On about the fourth try, A pulls his hand back, gets ready to do the slap as we’ve staged it… and then manages to move his arm a little farther than he meant to and glancingly hits me across the bridge of the nose. 

It was NOT a full-on slap to the face. In fact, it really didn’t hurt that badly, mostly stung, but because he hit my nose, it made my eyes water. So it looked like I was crying. This and the sound of the slap immediately brought a couple of the techs running. 

The minute A’s hand made contact with my face, he freaked out. Being the wonderfully sweet person he was, he was absolutely mortified at having actually hit me.

So he’s freaking out, the techs are freaking out, and I’m standing there trying to reassure everyone “No, really, I’m fine!” while I look like I’m crying buckets, and all the while there’s a scene happening on stage. Until, after a moment, it gets quiet. Too quiet. 

And then I hear a shout from the back of the theatre.

“A DID WHAT TO LEAH?!”

Unbeknownst to me, as I had been unable to see through the tears, one of the techies backstage had disappeared to go find our director and tell her what had happened. So, because she’s a drama teacher, she halts the action on stage, storms backstage, and demands to know what has happened. Meanwhile, poor A is almost in tears himself because he’s so sorry about having hurt me and he’s trying to explain to our furious drama teacher what happened and I’m trying to defend him and insist that I’m fine all while STILL CRYING. And meanwhile, the techies are circling, trying to figure out the extent of my injury. 

And the actors on stage, who have no idea what’s going on, eventually get drawn back there too because of course they do. 

Long story short, it took me probably a good ten minutes to make the rounds and convince everyone that I was REALLY FINE and no, I did not need medical attention, and that it didn’t even seem like it was going to bruise (it didn’t) and convince A that it was all going to be okay. He still regularly apologized to me every week or so for the rest of the production, and it became a running joke amongst the cast. 

Basically, high school theater is a circus, and some interesting things happen.

Shallan: who do you admire/ who’s your role model? 

It depends on the context, because I have different role models for different things. For writing? I admire Ursula Le Guin hugely. Her versatility and the depth of her writing, just… man. My role model for when I’m just trying to get through the day? Peggy Carter. And there are many, many other awesome people, both fictional and real, from whom I draw inspiration as well.

Elend: what’s the one question you would ask Brandon Sanderson if he would straight up tell you the answer. 

IS RENARIN GOING TO SURVIVE?! but actually, guys, I’m seriously worried about Branderson’s track record with brothers. 

Gosh, I’m sure there’s something, but also I’m kind of just along for the ride. I wouldn’t want to spoil the experience for myself. 

#ask memes #fundamental truths about my life #I feel like I'll think of a funnier story later #blueboxinthecosmere #thank you!! !

[mistralrunner]

Running Reads Oathbringer: Part III.II

So many awesome things going on as well as terribly concerning things I love this book so much.

Spoilers for pages 606-685 below.

Aaaaa there's a map!

A map

Sure The Stormlight Archive has had plenty of excellent maps but I think this is the first time they've had a detailed city map like this?

I'm so excited

I’m just going to stare at this map with joy for a while don’t mind me

Hmm what was Szeth's route through the palace during the prologue now that we have an actual map

Ooh they have a theater square

I feel like I should remember who Lanacin is given there's a monument

I'm intrigued by the Impossible Falls. Do they fall upward?

Well someone's being snarky about the gem time capsule

Huh the burdening the city with refugees strategy helps with sneaking in at least

Ah Unmade is a pretty good explanation for the wrongness

Wonder which one we'll get this time

Shallan's drawings are an Unmade detector?

So Shallan made Elhokar look somewhat reminiscent to his sister

Have we ever seen Jasnah and Elhokar interact cause they are siblings

How much do they interact?

Again Tarah is mentioned, when will we get this backstory

Well I suspected they'd spend time gathering intelligence. Can't waste that beautiful city map

Yes let Adolin and Kaladin be friends

Ah of course it would have been too easy to walk into the city

Yeah, there really isn’t a command structure it's this weird awkward place between a strike team and a DnD party

Heh Kaladin empathizing with the guard dealing with Elhokar

Ah Voidbringers of course we need yet another complication in getting through the door or rather a way to get in

Aaaa the conflict between staying incognito and wanting to protect

Battlefield tactics versus war tactics and Kaladin's knowledge vs Adolin's is kind of nice

This city is unsettling to say the least

Eerie spren parade and the spren are wrong

Pfft the person Adolin trusts with his life or more is his tailor that is perfect

Also is this why Sanderson said Adolin is going to wear something other than his uniform this book

Why did the Radiants abandon Urithiru? Was this before or part of the Recreance?

Shallan are you okay there. I mean I know you're not in general but punching oneself in the face doesn't feel like a healthy reaction

Oh she's trying to experiment with attracting spren

Elhokar I'm pretty sure it didn't take a dark spren for Aesudan to execute an ardent who insulted her

Shallan no not the scissors self harm isn't good even for scholarship

I wonder where the other Unmade were deposited

I'm guessing Purelake which has a plague, Horneater Peaks cause Song mentioned there was something wrong there, and maybe Shinovar just cause that'd be interesting. And maybe one’s chilling on Aimia.

Yeah I'd say something's wrong if you don't notice your own city is rioting

Oh Elhokar you sweet summer child your wife is a horrible person

Shallan don't you dare do something embarrassing to your party members.

The palace is going to be fun with all these people not returning classic

Like I'm amused at Shallan's dedication to science but also really concerned for her

The Cult of Moments? Oh lovely we have cultists too

Well that alarm spren explains the lack of communication and is more interesting than just Voidbringers magically block the signal.

Yikes though fabrials in general not working anymore

I'm really scared about anyone going into the palace

Pattern I agree Shallan telling her group about Veil is progress and frankly saves a lot of trouble since the illusions already would have hinted at it

I'm glad these records are candid. Also Aimia has hidden undersea caverns too I want to know more of that place as

What is it that makes fabrials different enough that they both have side effects in the case of soulcasters and attract these yellow spren. For the latter is it because of the spren captive since it seems the city's spren are wrong

Shallan's demonstrating increasing Identity concerns as her disguise is wearing a disguise 

I feel mildly offended at Shallan taking Lyn's appearance

Oh lovely the cult is guarding the palace of course they are

Oh no a love triangle complicated by multiple personalities whyyy

Hey that is a bad line of thinking too Adolin isn't bland and it isn't right to tease Kaladin like she does

Well two pairs of eyes who pay attention to different things is useful

Those soldiers also creepy

Yeah you definitely needed to set a plot arc like this after the world had been firmly introduced so this unusualness would be jarring and disturbing

Shallan you and Veil are the same person

So much for Kaladin joining you

...That escalated quickly

Taking a leaf from Jasnah's book I see

Oh lovely eerie mirror with shadow that probably is now aware of Shallan's presence

Ah Pattern I love you getting excited over discoveries of human nature at a time like this

Yeah that was rather traumatizing

Oh god the puns

Shallan your denial isn't great long term

Not surprised the Windrunners and Skybreakers were in opposition

Binder of Gods though that is a concerning title

Which Herald is Kelek again and why would he be associated with the storms sometimes

Ishar founded the orders? And is the Herald of luck and mysteries and priests and possibly more mad than the rest I am concerned

So Dalinar has a permanent mental compass because of his Stormfather/Origin sense? That’s cool.

"Stormfather!" Yes? "Oh. Uh, that was a curse." Ah, the downsides of being bonded to the Stormfather

Heh I suspected that god priest of Tukar a moment before Dalinar mentioned him

Oh Ishar is the Bondsmith Herald that's concerning.

That's why Taln called Shallan one of Ishar's Knights cause it didn’t feel like he was the Lightweaver Herald

And he founded the Oathpact

Oh dear Connection is powerful and dangerous although at least there's the tradeoff of little battle application

Binder of Gods is just such a concerning name

I wonder if we'll get the other two Bondsmiths

Three-one for each Shard? Or other powerful Honor spren?

Aaaa answers about Stormlight?

Power piercing united across all three Realms spiritual energy got it

"The Stormfather hated to be misquoted" and will correct Dalinar's recollection of explanations that's great

I mean training with an Honorblade is a way to practice skills but I'm concerned cause there might be other risks attached cause we might not know all that they do

So if you held different Honorblades would your eyes bleed different colors

The clock fabrial dings now that's great

Ooh Azir we might finally see Lift in person

Everyone wants to drink the Stormlight XP

But yeah mentality is key not staring at Stormlight and wanting to chug it

Oh hey conflict looks like Bondsmith time

Heh Adhesion-induced time out

Yay Jasnah I missed you

"Odd how natural it looked to see Jasnah with a sword"

Yes Lift and Jasnah two of my favorite ladies unlocking an Oathgate

Wow a lot of people got sick of Urithiru. What were the rules?

Heh I forgot the Azish Oathgate was in a shopping district

Incovenient Oathgate locations are fun

The Blackthorn enters your city with some magical pens and a bagged lunch

Ooh Spiritual Adhesion and languages

What did Lift do with the street urchin dialect then is it an Edgedancer or a being partially in the Cognitive Realm thing

Are there Physical Cognitive and Spiritual levels of all the Surges

Magical diplomacy powers activate

I feel like Dalinar’s thought processes feel different with Connection activated

I love the Azish where an essay is the weapon of choice

And a backup essay with valuable schematics

Applause to Navani and Fen

I swear if there's a third essay by Jasnah

YES THERE IS

I love them nerding out over Jasnah's writing it's delightful

and also just the fact that Jasnah is using her awesome scholarly prowess

Oh right the fact that there are things on the platforms makes movement tricky

Well Dalinar the Alethi do have slaves and deny some darkeyes the right of travel and treat darkeyes in general like garbage so this logic protest is pretty sweet

Ah yes the economic disaster

That’s cool that the Azish Parshmen immediately started acting super logical and petitioning. Shame they got dragged into the Voidbringer army cause successful negotiations and redress would have been cool

Where are the Worldsingers for understanding

I hope Lift shows up

The pen is mightier than the sword Dalinar

I do feel like this is yet another downside of Alethi not allowing half the population to read or engage in arts that would help with diplomacy. Of course war is going to seem more appealing.

Yes Lift stole Dalinar's lunch excellent

"And your order?"

"More food."

Did I mention how much I love Lift

Hey they’re Nightwatcher buddies

Although She leaves a trace that can be sensed? Or sensed by Lift at least

I'm proud of both Jasnah and Navani for their essays

It's happening we're going to have a council yessss

Oooh big tragic flashback time

Shame that it ruined the moment of telling Navani her essay saved the day

Aww little Adolin

It's nice to see the character growth with Dalinar, still bloodthirsty, but planning, strategizing, thinking, explaining

But where is Renarin

It is lame that giving one’s parent a hug in public isn’t Alethi

Dalinar why must you neglect Renarin cause he's "unfit for battle"

Evi. Deserves. Better.

Also Renarin.

Helplessss

Obligatory Hamilton reference there

Yeah the whole contest mentality of the Alethi is messed up

Evi you don't need the Old Magic you're a wonderful person

You go Evi

Even if she's not a game of wits person she thinks and is right

Wonder if Toh is still in Herdaz

Sunken forests? Those sound cool

Seriously Dalinar remember you have a second son

Thank you Evi for defending Renarin

Evi deserves better

Evi. Deserves. Better.

Okay that Fused does have an aesthetic with the absurdly sized tassels and polearm

Mishim I know that name ugh why am I forgetting

"I believe that Honor himself is changing" I am concerned

Elhokar can draw. Further evidence that the shadows once lurking around him were Cryptics

Wait Elhokar makes the awesome city map?

Aww Elhokar making a decent plan and getting praise and glory spren just for that small thing

Thank you Adolin for addressing the elephant in the room of the ardent’s Theses

Shallan's infiltrating yet another sketchy group great

Ugh they're not letting the poor and children get grain and it's just going to lighteyes

I don't know how to feel about Shallan/Veil going "Storming lighteyes" she is one of them and hasn't done any self reflection so it just feels like putting on a mask than anything actually genuine

Odium trying to replace all spren with his own?

WIT

But the chapter header doesn’t include that jester guy. Will I ever understand the pattern.

He's wearing Sadeas colors really

Ha it's the story Sigzil tried to tell

Storytime with Wit!

Two storytelling scenes in a book I feel blessed

Huh smoke storytelling somewhat like what he did in Warbreaker?

Always interesting when Wit noticeably starts. He did that once before because of Shallan. What is it about her.

Heh well at least one person can see through Lightweaving. Of course it's Wit.

Oh is Tsa using Mishim's tactic against her

Oh Tsa was the trickster all along nice

Wonder how much is true and what is also a metaphor

Seriously Kaladin why did you lose the flute

Ohhh he can sandbend. Sand master. Whatever. Cause that's Taldain sand

Ah now we have the proper Wit header

Full Wit on the header

Hey Shallan and Wit are finally getting a talk this could be good for Shallan

Wait Hoid's lingering for a chapter rather than just jumping in for a story or cryptic lines what

"The Sibling has withdrawn from men"?

Chouta is everywhere

It's okay Shallan don't feel embarrassed at getting pickpocketed by an ancient trickster

Of course Wit would give tips on disguises

Oh

Looking back at the chapter the Veil persona did flee although it was the moment she heard Wit's voice

Good job Wit

Dalinar: Are you a Radiant?

Wit: Nope

Shallan: Are you a Herald?

Wit: Nope

"I'm not stupid enough to get mixed up in religion again. The last seven times I tried it were all disasters. I believe there's at least one god still worshipping me by accident."

Do tell

...

That's the most we've ever gotten of Wit

I'm reeling

Just even that thin sliver

I mean it makes sense, he’s more engaged in this world and thus showing he is more than he seems and thus author has to make clear that he’s not a Radiant or Herald but still

Heh me too re: applauding Sadeas being offed. I just fear the consequences for people I care about

“Aim for the sun” is a fun variant on shoot for the moon

Are we getting a Wit character moment he's actually be disparaging about himself

So many good lines in this chapter

"Be wary of anyone who claims to be able to see the future, Shallan."

*looks to Renarin with concern*

Ooh what group does the cult remind Wit of

The Heart of the Revel. Quite a name

I like that take on hedonism not being actual enjoyment

Yay Wit is going to get Shallan in

Why is Wit here then cause pep talking Shallan seems rather important

Pattern: He feels like...mmm...one of us

hmmmmm

#running liveblogs #oathbringer spoilers #running reads oathbringer

[esseastri]

Megan Reads Oathbringer (part 1)

Me: okay but I don’t remember the back half of WoR, I should really, really finish the reread before starting... Also me: okay, buuuuuuuuuuut................what if I just..............start

[insert evilkermit.jpeg here]

There are a few relevant points of information:

Tags: Megan reads OB and Oathbringer spoilers. (I’ll also have housekeepers on there, like Brandon Sanderson, Stormlight Archive, and Oathbringer, but those first two are the important ones.)

Everything will be under a readmore.

Above the readmore will be the page numbers covered in that liveblog, so you’ll know how far I’ve gotten (and that way, if you’ve read that far you’ll be okay to read the lb).

There's…going to be a lot of swearing? I have learned that I have no control over my language when I get overly emotional and I feel like I’m going to spend a lot of this book overly emotional. I would like to apologize in advance, and while I promise to try to keep my swearing to a minimum, there might be more than a few bad words.

Shameless self-promotion for the previous two liveblogs: WoK and WoR.

I’m pretty sure that’s all the important bits. Enjoy!!

Part One encompasses pages 1-90 (subsequent parts)

*screams quietly into the ether forever*

PROLOGUE

hoooolly shiiiiiiiittt: Eshonai

Please tell me this means we’ll finally learn why the Parshendi killed Gavilar.......

SHE’S SO EXCITED I’M SO SAD I hate knowing what’s happened to her

...the Parshendi...didn’t know about the parshmen? what? the heck?

I’m....baby Esh is so excitable and curious and I.. love her. and I’m so. so sad. that she loses this.

“an indoor privy with running water, a concept she still didn’t understand.” Who does, babe. Who does.

me, every time amaram appears: “fucking asshole. fuck off fckkkk” I just.... hiss like a cat every time his name appears on a page. I hate him. ARGH.

I spelled his name as “aramaram” and had to go correct it I was so upset he was HERE that I forgot how to spell.

“Traitors who had abandoned their gods to be free.” And they FEARED the return of their gods, before stormform and the Everstorm. They feared it--because they were not free... But...stormform isn’t freedom, and their gods are back and....history repeating itself?

Also, the fact that Gavilar took the time to learn her name is very endearing and like... Gavilar was A Good, guys. He tried so hard.

NOOPE NEVERMIND, BAD, ACTUALLY. THAT’S SO SELFISH WHAT THE HECK

“Bring back your evil, destructive, enslaving gods so that we can have our nice, honorable, fighty ones back please.” NO, THAT’S SO DISGUSTING THAT’S SO SELFISH WTH

GAVIILAARRRR. I BELIEVED IN YOU! I WAS ROOTING FOR YOU!! WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU

WAIT, so he was getting the visions before Dalinar? Did we know this already? That makes sense... it’s very Boromir/Faramir, tbh, but like... what, one died, and Honor was like “welp. guess we’ll try his bro”

wait, okay, so ...the black sphere that he gives Szeth...........what. Esh knows what it is--so it’s some kind of spren. But it’s not the angerspren/hatespren that they bond with for stormform--those are red. So what’s...this one? Voidspren? Are there voidspren? Voidspren to create voidbringers...presumably more powerful than stormform.

I AM CONCERNED.

PART ONE

okay, that map tho; after reading Edgedancer, I’m VERY CONCERNED that there’s an Oathgate to Aimia... I don’t need any more 200-cremlings-in-a-trenchcoat popping up out of nowhere, but thanks anyway

it makes sense that this book stats with Dalinar, but HOW! IS! MY! BOY! WHERE! IS! KALADIN!

Dalinar is so polite tho. saying ‘thank you’ to the Stormfather

Also ONLY SIX DAYS???? AAHH

“It had been a hardy, stubborn lot who had grown in this place.” This is Kholinar: it highstorms nine months of the year, and weeps the other three. Any food that grows here is tough and tasteless. The people that grow here are even more so. The only upsides are the pets. While other places have...cats or chickens, we have...cremlings.

(Though Lisa made a good point--are there actually cremlings?? or are all cremlings just...bits of Aimians scuttling about like spy bugs?)

“The queen had gone silent.” I...genuinely don’t trust her, and I’m more inclined to believe she’s radio silence out of a need to save her own damn skin than any other reason.

......somehow I never really thought that Odium would be light...

THE WOMAN HE LOVED

YAASS.

(I have priorities)

They’re being cute. It’s been, like, half a page and I’m just over here making big, cooing noises at them being cute. help.

OH SHIT THAT WAS QUICK

THEY FOUND SADEAS ALREADY AND I AM CONCERN

(tho, I mean...it took them six days to find the body, that’s....actually not really quick. but still.)

OH WAIT NO, OKAY, IT TOOK THEM  ONE DAY WELL SHIT

oh god

Adolin, bby. pls. don’t.... LISTEN, THE FIC I WROTE ABOUT GUILTSPREN WAS A FIC

HI TEFT I HAVE MISSED YOU BUT ALSO PLS CALM DOWN AAAHHHH

this is page frikkin 37 and I’m already dying

I’M SO SCARED OF WHAT IALAI WILL DO. SHE’S GONNA PIN THIS ON BRIDGE 4 I KNOW IT. SHE’S GONNA TRY AND I’M GONNA SCREAM

WHY IS ADOLIN HERE. KIDDO PLS. DOn’T COME BACK TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME I’M

unrelated, but I can’t stop thinking about baby Eshonai basically damning her people to war and revenge to stop their gods from returning and Venli just like...whipping a godling out her pocket like “nvmd, we’re doing this anyway” and like. fuck Venli, tbh.

Back to current events and:

I love Palona.

“steady Adolin and impenetrable Renarin” HE LOVES HIS SONS SO MUCH I’M CRY

“certainly wouldn’t have gone so far as to kill Sadeas themselves” ABOUT THAT

I love that Urithuru has safety railings. like... throwing shade at every big space opera ever.

I still don’t know how I feel about Lopen growing his arm back...

“Our ultimate goal is the preservation of Roshar” Sorry, bud, Preservation is dead...

and also on a different planet.

AAAWWW SNAP! THIRTY-FOUR YEARS AGO! HERE WE GO!!!!

“He didn’t need Shards to intimidate.” Nah, but I bet they help.

tbqh, it’s really, really weird to think of Dalinar fighting not in Shards.

excuse you, that horse did nothing to deserve that.

heheheheh, so much for your nose, bucko

Gooooddddd, Brandon writes battle so cinematically. I want to film this. Gaaaahhh

of...of course punk!Dalinar’s horse is named Fullnight. How deliciously extra of him.

“I tried to kill you!” “from a distance! Which shows remarkably good judgement!” DALINAR, PLEASE. 

Enthusiastic ultra-Gryffindor rambo Dalinar is hilarious

It’s been 50 pages, where’s Kaladin

Sadeas in YELLOW shardplate?? who is he?

Also, ngl, I’m a lil pissed that I still have to deal with Sadeas--even if it’s young, not-quite-so-vile Sadeas. Like......he’s dead! I shouldn’t have to put up with his slimy face anymore!

“What would we do without you?” “Lose.” What an asshole. What a dudebro. I hate how much I love him.

the Thrill concerns me, tbh.

I know that we know it is of Odium, but like. It Concerns me.

THAT WAS QUICK

THE EVERSTORM TURNAROUND??? THAT WAS DISTRESSINGLY QUICK?

I’m sad Dalinar doesn’t get a little spren buddy wandering around with him at all times, because, like. Stormfather. But like. spren buddy.

Now I’m trying to picture the vast and infinite Stormfather just flitting around Dalinar’s head in meetings and making faces at Syl across the table and laughing my ass off.

oh NO not her SAFEHAND

seriously, they. are. so. cute.

“Your stubborn refusal to get seduced is making me question my feminine wiles.” HAAAAHAHA OMG, DARLINGS PLEASE

also, Dalinar, omg, give it up already, bro.

I realize there are like...ecological and climatology implications of the Weepings stopping before they are supposed to, but I can’t help but be glad that Kaladin won’t be suffering for as long as he normally would with the seasonal depression...

WHAT! WAS! THE! BOON! ...unless this is the boon. Unless Dalinar asked for the Nightwatcher to take away the pain of losing his wife and instead she took away his wife... and his punishment is something else.

in which case WHAT! WAS! THE! PUNISHMENT!

“I’d let a confused dishwasher marry us.” I realized belatedly that she meant, like...a person who washes dishes. And not a machine that washes dishes that most people on earth have in their kitchens.

Also, Dalinar and Navani really need to please stop being so adorable, I’m SO HAPPY THEY’RE GETTIN MARRIED AND THE FRIKKIN STORMFATHER IS GONNA OFFICIATE THAT’S HILARIOUS I LOVE THEM

I LOVE THAT THE WEDDING IS LIKE... HIM AND NAVANI AND THE BOYS AND SHALLAN AND A FEW OTHER MINIONS. THIS IS DELIGHTFUL. I LOVE THIS

THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THIS I DISLIKE

Bridge Four is too important for guard duty! They’re so important! They’ve come so far!!!! I LOVE THEM!!??

she just had a wedding dress just... lying around.

god I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!

...poor Elhokar. “if only we could keep up.” boy has no confidence and no chance to learn it.

NAVANI’S FRIKKIN GLORYSPREN OMG

“What does he remember that I cannot?” Uh...your other wife, my dude. I’m sure this has something to do with how your wife died.

AAHH. HERE HE IS!!!! THE BOY!!!!! MY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nooooo. no, kaladin please. you didn’t fail. oh god, no, come on. don’t think like that.

I’m

aaahhhhh

“It felt wrong not to bear the symbol of Bridge Four.” AAAHHHHHHH

I’M

!!!!!!!!!

I’m JUST NOT OKAY

aahh, at least he was properly concerned about the Everstorm filling his spheres with...bad stuff? of some kind? I’m super glad that it didn’t, that it doesn’t, but like. At least he was concerned about it!

hello fronds, I love Syl a LOT

also: covered safehand, that’s hilarious. She’s a real grown up, now!

nooooooooooo

it can’t be all dead

they have to have

someone has to have been smart enough to get a large part of the town into shelter

Kaladin, your dad isn’t stupid, he would have. he would have tried.

(this would be way, way more distressing if I hadn’t been spoiled for the fact that Lirin and Hesina are alive...like...I’d probably be crying right now.)

“How often are you going to make me apologize for that?” Pfffft I mean.

HE GREW UP AND THEY DON’T RECOGNIZE HIM AND I’M

AAAHHH

“Are there wounded” and he just GOES because that’s where his dad would be and he just . goes. to his dad.

I’m crying?

THEY’RE CRYING I’M CRYING EVERYONE IS CRYING

THEY THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD AMARAM FUCKING TOLD THEM HE WAS DEAD AND I’M

THEY’RE

“MY SON IS ALIVE” YEAH HE IS AND HE’S AMAZING AND YOU’RE GONNA BE PROUD OF HIM OH

I’M

AAHHHHHH

I really hate Amaram. A lot.

his mom is a good. and she just keeps her hand on his shoulder like protectiveness and like reassurance that he’s still there and I’m. aaaAAAHH

“For now, he just wanted to be here with them.” GOOD. LET THE BOY REST. LET HIM EAT SOUP AND REST.

“The wrong-way highstorm” I mean...not wrong

“They never got to meet Captain Kaladin” aaAAHHH

I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONS ABOUT INCARNATIONS OF HUMANS AND I’M

this is a lot

LIRIN OFFERING TO BUY THE WRIT OF SLAVERY IS A LOT I’M JUST

crying

“Perhaps it was time to stop letting the rain dictate his mood. He couldn’t banish the seed of darkness inside him, but Stormfather, he didn’t need to let it rule him either.”

I...have a lot of feelings about Kaladin.

And I have a lot of feelings about how Kaladin and his depression interact and about how he deals with it. And how he’s seen the worst in himself and promised to never let it get that bad again. And how he’s seen that even though it’s a part of himself that he has to keep fighting, keep dealing with, keep understanding, it doesn’t have to be the only thing in him, the only thing in his life, the only part of him that matters. He can have other parts, other important bits of him and his personality. He might always have bad days, but that doesn’t have to be the majority of them. Not if he chooses to be stronger, to try to get better. There’s always going to be depression, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be other things.

It took me a longass time to come to that same realization and I just...am really, really... proud of him? and of myself? and of anyone who has depression who thinks the same way we do? and though I’ve found it to be a smidge disconcerting to have your own personal thought processes spelled out on paper by someone who isn’t you, there’s a comfort in that...I’m not the only one who feels like this, who has these ideas, who makes these decisions about my depression.

Anyway, I really, really love Kaladin and I’m. emotional . and I’m. “He didn’t need to let it rule him either.” No. We don’t. We can deal.

ANYWAY I’M EMOTIONAL ABOUT KALADIN AND IN OTHER NEWS WATER IS WET, FIRE IS HOT, AND THE WORLD IS ROUND.

WAIT. Did Syl.....was she aiming for someone else? “distant yet demanding”. Who else...was she gonna bond with. before Kaladin? My first instinct is Tien, but that...doesn’t fit. One of his men? in his squad? Or before that, Hesina maybe? I’m? ...surely not Lirin...... he’s not. enough.

god, his first thought is that Adolin would be disappointed in fashion heheheheh I love these boys. becoming friends. maybe. hopefully.

KAL PUNCHING ROSHONE IS A++ 100% GRADE A GOOD SHIT

GOD BLESS

AAAAAAHHHHHHH

“That was for my friend Moash” I’M!!!!!!!!!!!! EMOTIONAL!!!! ABOUT MY BOYS!!! AND THEIR FRIENDSHIP!!!!! PERSISTING EVEN THOUGH BAD DECISIONS!!!!

Kaladin’s stubborn refusal to give up on people is. A Lot. EVeRYTHING IS A LOT. THIS IS A LOT

“and for the first time in a long, long while, he was happy with that person.” THAT’S CAUSE YOU’RE A GOOD PERSON THE BEST PERSON AAAHHH

SUMMONING SYL AND “ANY QUESTIONS” AND OHHH MY GOD. that shit’s hot. I’m. hhnnnggggggg

“until he had enough stormlight to fly home.” home. I mean, we knew that “home” wasn’t Hearthstone anymore, but. Dalinar is home. The warcamps, Urithuru. Bridge Four. I...I am so proud of how far Kaladin has come.

“I don’t like the idea of swinging you around, smashing you into things.” “Firstly, I don’t smash into things. I am an elegant and graceful weapon.” HI, I LOVE SYL A LOT

GET IT, LARAL

HECK YE

“That’s a girl I was never going to marry, no matter what happened.” “I like her.” “You would.” I LIKE HER TOO SHE’S STRONG AND CAPABEL AND DON’T NEED NO MAN. GET IT, GIIIRRLL!!!!

I love that Roshar has a Hippocratic oath equivalent. I also have mixed feelings on Lirin’s incredibly strict adherence to his Hippocratic oath equivalent. like..yeah, Do No Harm is one thing. But being self-righteous about it to the point of not wanting your son to fight evil monsters from the void? Take a chill pill, my dude.

NAVANI SPANREEDING HIM PERSONALLY IS A LOT

also, I really have strong feelings about Dalinar generally addressing Kaladin as “soldier” and the responding “Sir.” I know they had a long talk about chain of command, but it’s just. so satisfying that it’s still going.

“Send us a glyph each evening to know you are safe.” GOOD DAD IS WORRIED ABOUT HIS SON AND I’M EMOTIONAL

AAAHHHHH HIS VERY FIRST INSTINCT IS TO HOLD HIS BABY BROTHER I’M!!! KALADIN IS SO GOOD AND LOVING AND WONDERFUL!!!

guys, I don’t know if you know this about me, but I really love Kaladin.

guys, I don’t know if you know this about me, bUT I REALLY LOVE KALADIN.

#op #Megan reads OB #Oathbringer spoilers #Stormlight Archive #Oathbringer #Brandon Sanderson #ladyknightliveblogs #I knoooow I should probs put it on the liveblog blog bUT! All the other Sanderson liveblogs are on this blog and also I'm lazy #so they're going here #and I'll reblog them to the liveblog blog for organization later #it's fine

[nightblink]

Blink Reads Oathbringer - Chapters 46-49

Chapter Forty-Six – When the Dream Dies

I did expect that whoever is important enough to have conversations like this with Hoid would indeed be interested in removing the threat of Odium from the Cosmere. Your indifference surprises me, and the stupidity of it is frankly astonishing.

More bridgeman chapters! This time with Skar, yay. I hope you get the hang of breathing stormlight soon; I don't want to see you left behind.

Now there's a high-altitude training regimen. [whistles] And an impressive time indeed when you're not breathing stomlight. That's not a comfort though, and rather mean – though unintentionally so – of Sigzil to rub it in like that.

Interesting that they know the exact amount of force they're using in a Lashing instinctually. I wonder if it works that way for some of the other Radiant Orders' abilities as well?

HORNEATER DANCE OF VICTORY. All of Bridge Four should be doing this dance. They've earned it. What a glorious sight it would be!

Skar: *I'm just going to lie here. the floor loves me more than you assholes do*

At least Teft has some love left for you, or at least chouta. Ahhhh, Teft, I'm really worried about you and those bags under your eyes don't exactly make me any less so.

Bridge Four has come so far, from never even telling the other men their names to a full support group for each other. They all needed it, not just Kaladin; those bridge runs left them all broken, bitter people, cracking a little more with each run, each day they were treated like they only had lives for the sake of expending them under Parshendi arrows.

Wait, what's keeping Kaladin? Teft, is this you displacing anger at yourself onto Kaladin. A handful of spheres says it is. But no, Skar is agreeing… Kal, what's going on here, where your own bridgemates think you're keeping aloof?

I'm still wondering how they hope this whole recruitment thing is going to work out – if they want to try to make true Radiants of some of these men, of if they simply hope for more squires that osmose their ability from Kala-Syl? To be a Radiant, one must be broken, down to one's soul, and that may hold true for the bridgemen, but recruits…? [hums]

What does Rlain think of the humans essentially occupying what used to be the last bastion of his people? He may be Bridge Four, but talk about divisive feelings. Sanderson, we'd better get a Rlain POV in one of these Bridge Four chapters, or I will have another bone to pick with you.

Highprince Reference: red and light blue are Ruthar's colours

Ooof, yeah, that'd do it, Skar. Ingenuity, yes, but also willingness to steal. That's generally frowned upon (unless it's other people's stuff, which is often the point of war, as young!Dalinar so helpfully pointed out a while ago).

Mmm, Syl can sense the soul-cracked ones.

Getting snarky there, Skar. Can't blame him for this one though, as he does have a point at the very least since they let lighteyed Renarin in, waaaay before Kaladin's eyes started showing even a flicker of blue.

Speaking of good points, Sigzil makes one about squires perhaps not necessarily being a step towards being a full Radiant. Good to know that someone is at least considering the routes and levels of Investiture-use here.

[winces] Oh, Skar

(bless u Rock for lightening the mood)

Lyn again! Good good good I want to see more of them (I think I'm going to use 'them' for Lyn for the time being, because while their initial conversation with Shallan was pretty blatant, I don't know if that's something Sanderson intended or if it was another 'oops I accidentally did a thing didn't I'. Still. The agony of being closeted trans in the world of strict Alethi gender roles would easily be enough to break a person, and that could make them a possible future Radiant...)

Ooooo, Skar saw even before the highstorm incident! Damn, he must have thought he was hallucinating, seeing light and all the arrows curving towards it.

Heh, all the thinking in the world isn't going to help you two with this. But focusing on the Ideals that makes the Windrunners what they are…. Yeah. That might do it. Skar, you really do have a knack for teaching.

YES YES YES

YOU'RE GLOWING TOO

FINALLY

Chapter Forty-Seven – So Much is Lost

Wait, admire… admire Rayse's initiative? Odium's? Dude. Seriously. What the everloving fuck.

!!!! Taln's own writings! Or at least what he said while they all thought he was crazy – and he was definitely more than a little loopy, not able to see how far human civilization advanced even when he looked around him.

Finally getting to a Jasnah chapter! WHY DID YOU HOLD OFF ON THIS FOR SO LONG SANDERSON

Ivory's at his full size while in the Physical Realm? Whaaaat. Is this something he can do because of the Oaths that Jasnah has sworn, or is it because the Elsecallers are so entwined with the Cognitive Realm via their abilities?

I'd say “paranoid much, Jasnah?” but considering all of the assassination attempts that have already been made, 'it's not paranoia if they're actually out to get you'.

[winces] Her life's work, all that time and effort and pain, now all so much common knowledge. That's…. painful. It's a good thing that they know it, but at the same time, it leaves a hollowness for Jasnah in its wake.

Shallan is definitely a topic that needs to be discussed.

Ahhh, Ivory – bonded to Jasnah and yet you still don't understand how humans can fortify themselves without that solidity running all the way through.

Oh shit, oh shit, hints of Jasnah's breaking? And it was back when she was a child? Oh no, ohhhh, that's. That's a lot earlier than I thought she'd broken. Considering how distant Gavilar seems in the flashbacks, I'll bet broams he at least peripherally had something to do with it.

“Considering what the ancient fathers are.” IVORY. IVORY YOU CAN'T JUST SAY THAT AND LEAVE US HERE HANGING. IV O R Y- oh. You just mean the spren lost in the Recreance. Well that was anticlimactic.

The idea of spren wars, though, now that is an interesting tidbit of dropped information.

I like Ivory. What a little rebel. You're very much like your bonded in that way, aren't you?

[winces again] Jasnah, you're going to have to confront Shallan about things sooner or later – and probably sooner. When that happens, best to have all the information you can on hand… but also keep an open mind.

All ten orders but the Skybreakers. Speaking of which, when are Nale and Szeth going to show up again?

Fuck, Jasnah knows the secret – the secret that the Stormfather said would break Dalinar and the others. Ivory believes they'd break, he knows the precedent for that…

Jasnah does not.

Chapter Forty-Eight – Rhythm of Work

The hell do you mean, 'we stand in the sea'. Is this in reference to whatever is out in the Ocean of Origins that the lighthouse-keeper mentioned in the Interludes? Maybe, maybe not, but it stinks of coincidence.

Admittedly, while I like the insight that Moash's chapters bring, I just don't care about him as much as I do our other protagonists. He's a good character, but I'm not really emotionally attached to him.

'Better than bridge duty' is not a metric by which anything should be judged, Moash, and you know this.

So. Hauling things, but where are you taking them…?

[winces] He can try all he likes to convince himself that his decisions and actions weren't his fault, but Kaladin gave you chance upon chance upon chance to drop Graves and his crew and stay with Bridge Four. At this point, you're just deluding yourself.

Shiiiiiit, they're going to Kholinar. Of course they are. As if I didn't worry about that city enough already.

Well, he's not wrong about the 'false gods' and 'ruling class whose eyes reminded them of the Knights Radiant', at least. We still need confirmation on whether lighteyes are actual descendants of the Radiants or not, though.

….you're more religious than I'd realized, Moash.

YES YOU CAN BE BLAMED, AND WE BLAME YOU. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

!!! Are… are those Kaladin's group of Parshmen? Is his involvement with them the reason they're being treated poorly?

YEP

Oh man, oh man, are you going to go help them, Moash? YES-

-but blanket-condemning humans as you do. Not just in your head this time, but as an argument point. Hoo boy.

Chapter Forty-Nine – Born Unto Light

FLASHBACK CHAPTER YEEEAAAAAAHHHH plz give us more Evi this time Branderson

….Dalinar why are you doing moss-drugs. Are you constantly discontent since you're not getting battles and the Thrill. Also that is a disturbing comparison.

This is perhaps the most opposite of your current self that we've seen you when you weren't Thrill-murdering.

...listening to your wife is good but I don't think she meant 'you should totally do drugs'

However, you getting into a fighting ring is very likely among the things she expected you to get into when she suggested 'live in the moment', considering what you're like at this time, whether you're fighting in them or just betting on them. It's the violence inherent in them.

Yessss, you're caring about Evi, FINALLY, even if you might not love her yet. We still haven't seen evidence of that from your end of the relationship.

Gavilar might not be able to politic his way past a rebellion, but the last flashback indicated that he's certainly going to try, come Damnation or stormwaters. Dalinar, though… he's too apathetic to even care at this point. It's extremely disconcerting.

Oohhhhh, you're trying to use the drunkenness to stave off the Thrill, really…? Well, apparently you're going to fight anyway. But will the Thrill come, and do you even want it to…?

dark bar atmosphere, laced with smoke that curls, grey, melding with and making its own shadows as the raucous noise silences completely, predator's eyes glinting bright blue across the ring

“Hurting you? Storms, that's not what I'm afraid of.”

You have a reputation, Dalinar. It's not a good one.

Yeaaah, he's essentially not feeling anything nowadays. One fight he can barely remember is the last time that brought him emotion – that's not natural; something has to be damping it.

Toh! You're still hanging around! Damn, we haven't seen anything of you save for that single chapter with the highstorm. Has Dalinar simply been too emotionally-dead to notice you the entire time? But he notes 'familiar face', so you must have spent a fair amount of time together…

OH OH IT'S TIME IT'S TIME IT'S TI-  ….it's early and they're not surprised. Why. Why. I demand answers.

You ran all the way there at a sprint, didn't you.

She pretty much did fight a battle, Dal. Just not the kind you're used to.

Still with the left-handed-ness – and it may not be the same sign of intimacy to her as it is to you, Dal, but still.

Dropping to his knees at her bedside! Holding hands! Overcome with emotion! Ohhh, you have come to love her by this point, haven't you?

“many men are apprehensive at first when-” NOPE. SWOOPS HIM INTO HIS HANDS INTO THE AIR AND DANCES AMIDST THE GOLDEN GLORYSPREN

ahhhhh, with thick blond-and-black streaking even as a newborn! AND DALINAR'S PROUD OF IT, PROUD THAT HIS SON SHOWS HIS MIXED HERITAGE EVEN THOUGH THAT'S A THING SCOFFED AT IN ALETHKAR AND SOME PEOPLE EVEN DYE THEIR HAIR TRUE BLACK TO HIDE THAT THEY'RE MIXED. Good on you, Dal, good on you

'May you have your father's strength… and at least some of your mother's compassion, little one.' excuse me while I go sob in the corner

this is the first true spark of Dadlinar – of the Dalinar we see in the future

'BORN UNTO LIGHT' AS A NAME MEANING I'VE BEEN CALLING HIM 'SUN SON' ALL THIS TIME AND THAT'S SO DAMN CLOSE ARE YOU KIDDING ME it's such a good name what a good name my boy my boy

please run through the city whooping for joy and proclaiming you're a dad, Dalinar, I need that image in my head

For once, Dalinar rolls a decent Insight check. What are you gonna do or say to fuck this up, Gavilar.

!!!! 'Lunacy'? Was… was Jasnah already broken by this point? With sixteen more years to go before she bonded with Ivory?

Ooooo, so crowns are mostly a Western-Rosharan thing – Gavilar compromises with a circlet, but probably not an entirely plain one, a simple band of metal. Ten-pointed, perhaps, subtle and tasteful.

Failing? The rebellion is that bad? Aaaaand you're going to send Dalinar in to crush it and that's when shit's going to go down. Ooof.

….this is that Sons of Honor organization cropping up, isn't it, or at least their overarching goals. Were you just part of them, or did you found them, Gavilar?

Oh no, oh no, Dalinar had a flash of hope, of emotion, of a different future than just battle, and now that's going to clash with his old bloodthirst and this is going to end terribly; none of this bodes well

“I… might have something that will help.” ……….I do not trust you, Gavilar. Dalinar's still the unstable barbarian here, but even he sounds more trustworthy than you right now.

This does not sound good this does not sound good this does not sound good-

“I can't help feeling words would be enough, if only I knew the right ones to say.” Okay so you're probably being tested as a proto-Bondsmith, but dude. Dude. This is not the way to go about it.

#blink reads oathbringer #oathbringer spoilers #MY STRIPEY SON HAS SUCH A GOOD NAME YOU GUYS #still not enough evi in this flashback though