This is my reaction blog for Wind and Truth. Beware of spoilers! Index post here.

Title: Passionspren
That’s not a type of spren I would have thought existed until now. As used on Roshar, Passions is primarily a broad term to encompass all strong emotions and desires, and therefore there should be no “passion spren” since we already have dedicated spren for anger, fear, awe, glory, joy, et cetera. Theoretically there could be passionspren in the sense of romantic ardor, assuming the words are used that way in their languages, but I find it much more likely that this is a reference to Odium’s association with emotions and the Passions. In that case, passionspren would be the umbrella term to replace “voidspren” as we’ve used it so far. 

Icon: Vedel
I still can’t figure out why Vedel was in the header for the previous chapter, so I can’t make much sense of her placement here, either. There were no edgedancers, no numerology related to four, and no prominent instances of listening, of loving, or of healing. The Flowing Ones and the Magnified Ones who share surges with the edgedancers didn’t appear. The associated essence is light, so maybe Navani’s ruminations on Towerlight qualified? I think I’m missing something, and it’s the same something that will make Vedel the appropriate herald to head this chapter.

Epigraph: This is going to be one of those epigraph sets where I get frustrated by the slow pace of revealing things line by line. 

Adolin discovers the joy of a warm shower, which is the pinnacle of comforts in the revived tower. Shallan is impressed as well. Recall, of course, that the tower has been dead for a thousand years. The lost secrets of the ancients being rediscovered is truly a wondrous thing. Showers, people! Spread the word!

Quote

“Heat is life. It reminds me that I’m alive.”
“You … forget that?”
“Once in a while. <pause> You’re warm too.”

D’aww, these two. That’s so sweet and genuine. (But also, I can totally see where that seon Ala was coming from if she had to be around this kind of love all the time and didn’t ship it.)

Quote

“Hakindar brought me six different soaps, and a rough sand mix from Marat to exfoliate!”

Of course Adolin already has a bevy of shower products available and is ready for a spa day. I hope it’s not offensive that he’s using Thaylen eyebrow shampoo on his hair, but honestly I would too. Those eyebrows are amazing, and whatever keeps them stylish has got to be good for your long locks as well. I really want to get all the details on this hair care regimen.

This scene is full of joyspren, mentioned over and over. Maybe passionspren of the title is an umbrella term for various emotions after all, and each scene will feature a different one? Not my top prediction at the moment, but it would make sense.

I love how clearly Shallan and Adolin understand one another’s subtext and root motivations. They really are good for each other. 
Adolin still feels like he’s falling so short of his father’s expectations, but that’s only the surface. He’s also still horrified by the reveal that Dalinar killed Evi, and wants to nurture that anger rather than forgive. 

Oh, I was wrong. Passionspren are in fact associated with romantic ardor. They look like crystalline snowflakes, and are plenty at home in a steamy shower.

Shallan is pretty confident about being able to track down the ghostbloods. She’s got to try, of course, but I would be much less certain that she’ll even get a chance at a preemptive strike on Mraize.

Quote

She moved to slip away, without even conditioning her hair.

Adolin’s got the right priorities here. Notices what’s important.

They kissed, “water falling around them like applause.” I mean, they’re royalty so some degree of narcissism comes with living in the spotlight, but it seems a bit much to have your own shower applaud at your attractive bodies and passionate kisses.

Another new name–Colot, 2IC of the Cobalt Guard.

Dalinar’s got this angry stomp thing down, the “get out of my way” energy of a man almost ready to be the Blackthorn.
Third offensive confirmed, this one heading for the Shattered Plains. Estimate of 1000 Fused, accompanied by a thunderclast or two. (Apparently there are only two total, right now? I assumed there’d be more showing up since Thaylen Fields.)

Gavinor? What’s he doing out and about? It could be normal toddler wakefulness, or it could be foul play in the middle of the enemy offensive. 

Quote

“I’m taking him up to the garden room. It comforts him.”

The garden room, as in the place with growing plants and lots of lifespren and cultivationspren? Is Baby Gav a proto edgedancer? Seems ridiculously young to start that process, but that’s what this feels like is being hinted.

And who is this? Wait, Cultivation just manifested herself to speak to Dalinar? That’s probably a reason the monarchs will accept for being late to the meeting, but dang. That’s one way to bring focus to the moment. 

I suppose that also explains Vev’s appearance in the chapter icons, being associated with cultivationspren, and thus the goddess herself.