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The world is trying to come to an end...The Everstorm has arrived, and is transforming the world's Parshmen into Stormform Voidbringers. Taravangian seeks to unite the world under his own rule, and it appears he believes the new Knights Radiant to be an obstacle to that path. The Ghostbloods have already attempted assassination against one of them, and seeks to corrupt another. The Sons of Honor have taken the man who refers to himself as Taln, and will soon be a part of Urithiru. Riots in Kholinar, a plague in the Purelake, the Skybreakers executing proto radiants. There's certainly a lot of problems that the new Knights Radiant have to reconcile, but what is the biggest challenge facing them? I believe it to be themselves. The Knights Radiant, as they are forming now, may shatter before they can become a cohesive unit. Internal politics and squabbling could be their undoing long before they need to face any of those challenges. Let's take a brief look at each Radiant to see what problems we can expect in the next book. The Windrunner-Kaladin At the end of WoR, Kaladin seems to have a much tighter grip on his own problems, but that isn't to say that he lacks for conflict. First, Kaladin is heading back to Hearthstone, which could stir up feelings about Roshone, who is one of the only sources of unresolved feelings for Kaladin. Assuming that he maintains his self-control, and doesn't decide Roshone would function better as a punching bag, It could still cause problems-with Dalinar. During the prison visit, it is revealed that Dalinar is the reason that Roshone came to Hearthstone. It wouldn't take much of a leap to place all the blame at Dalinar's feet. The reason Kaladin isn't a surgeon. The reason Tien was conscripted and died. The reason Kaladin ended up killing Helaran. The reason Amaram killed Kaladin's men. The reason that Amaram is still alive and plotting. The reason Kaladin became a slave. The list goes on. Notable quote: "Though it seems that such mercy often ends up serving the cousins of powerful lighteyes, and rarely someone lowly." The Lightweaver-Shallan Shallan is something of a Wild Card for the new Knights Radiant. Unlike Kaladin and Dalinar, she has no official position in the Alethi government, nor will she accept one IMO. So at the end of the book, Shallan is left with a choice of how to handle the Ghostbloods, who is going to deliver her brothers to her safely, and is owed a debt by her family. She also got quite a bit chummy with Iyatil. How is Jasnah going to react when she returns and discovers that Shallan is involved with the Ghostbloods. Will Jasnah even stop to listen if Shallan is only doing it to infiltrate them and learn what they know? Will Jasnah even care? This is an organization that has sent assassins after her, and Shallan has already deceived Jasnah once. Then there's her budding friendship with Kaladin. Shallan is going to find out that Kaladin killed Helaran. Kaladin even notices the amount of anger in her voice in the midst of a Highstorm. He then continues to hide the truth from her. That will certainly form a schism between the two. Notable quote: "Let Shallan Davar be a Radiant, conformist and noble. Let Veil come to us." . . ."And let her find truth." The Bondsmith-Dalinar Dalinar is going to have his hands full dealing with the aftermath of Adolin's actions, which will be quite a problem in itself, along with Kaladin's problem with him, but what about Dalinar's problems with Kaladin? Kaladin conspired to kill the king, Dalinar's nephew. He never came forward with the information, and then gave one of his co-conspirators s full set of Shards that was given to him by the Kholin family. Those Shards then leave Kholinar's control when Moash defects to Taravangian. Kaladin is mouthy, disrespectful, ruined their chance to take Sadeas out in a legal fashion, which makes him indirectly responsible for Adolin's actions. Also, how is Jasnah going to respond when she finds out Dalinar is dating her mother? It's hinted that Jasnah was closer to Gavilar than she was to Navani, and while she's close to Dalinar as well, it could form a rift between Navani and Jasnah, which in turn would hurt their relationship. Once they both get over the whole "you're supposed to be dead" thing. Add in the fact that his bonded spren directly forbid Syl to bond to Kaladin, along with the fact the Stormfather harbors a deep hatrid for humanity. Notable quote- "I gave you a position no darkeyes has ever held in this army. I let you into conferences with the king, and I listened when you spoke. Do not make me regret those decisions soldier." The Truthwatcher-Renarin I think Renarin's troubles all will stem from Adolin. Firstly, there is Adolin's actions with Sadeas. Renarin will most likely hold Dalinar and Elhokar directly responsible for whatever happens to Adolin. After everything Sadeas has done to their family, I think Renarin, as has been demonstrated by their relationship, will stand directly by Adolin. If Adolin is executed, Renarin will never forgive them. If Adolin is exiled, Renarin will go with him. Whatever rift forms between Dalinar and Adolin because of Sadea's death, it will also form between Dalinar and Renarin. Then there's Shallan-Adolin's girlfriend. She doesn't seem to be very fond of Renarin, and mistreats him during the final battle. If that kind of treatment of Renarin continues, it will form a rift between Adolin and Shallan as well, which will distance her from the Kholin family. Notable quote- "Someone shut him up." Shallan snapped. "Gag him if you have to." The Elsecaller-Jasnah First of all, there's the whole 'presumed dead' thing. Awkward. But the real problems that Jasnah is going to have is when her family finds out about her assassins. Dalinar surely will not approve of that sort of behavior, and how will Elhokar react when he finds out that the target Jasnah was considering having assassinated is his wife? There's also the matter of her heresy? The fact that Jasnah is a heretic will not endear the world to the new Knights Radiant, especially considering their already tarnished reputation. This could distance the ardentia from the Knights Radiant, which would provide a huge blow to public opinion. Notable quote- "An odd night, Brightness, to be engaging in treason." The Skybreaker-Szeth-Son-Naturo-Son-Vallano Do I even need to go into this one? How will Dalinar react when he finds out one of his new Radiants is the man who killed his brother, and tried to kill him? Kaladin will probably have the "stab first ask questions later" mentality. For that matter, will Szeth even be joining the other Radiants? It seems unlikely that Nalan would continue to kill Surgebinders with the Desloation already started, but who's to know for sure? If he does join, and Dalinar and the other do reconcile his past, this is probably the most devastating public relations event that could happen to the Radiants. The famous Assassin in White a member of the Radiants. The accusations wouldn't be far behind. They use their powers to destabilize nations. Dalinar killed his brother to seize control through the puppet of his nephew. And that's just being mild with rumor. Notable quote- "But I'm not here for him, Highprince," ... "I'm here for you." The Edgedancer-Lift Lift probably is the least tumultuous of the bunch, but getting her alliance is also going to be the most difficult. Lift probably won't even care to join them, given the hints we have about the temperament of the Edgedancers. So besides having to worry about finding her, they'll have to convince her to join them as well. Sounds starvin' difficult to me. Notable quote- "It is unfortunate they were always so concerned with small-minded things, while ignoring those of greater import. It appears you share their temperament. You have become one of them."