ljósmóður

Thank you for your reply, sorry that I didn't spot it sooner - I went AWOL from the forum whilst revising for an exam! I did manage to get the first two second hand (but in really nice condition) in the end but he's loving them and wants to use his Christmas money to buy more! So, we're searching for 3,4 and 5 at reasonable prices now. Proving a bit fruitless currently. I wonder why they are now so expensive in our regions?

So, my youngest is developed the Sanderfan gene that his mother, father and two elder siblings already have! But, he's a lot younger than my others were when they got into Mistborn so he's not ready for that or Reckoners yet (he's 8!) But, he was really interested in reading the Alcatraz books which are the one set of Sanderson books that we don't have. Great, thought I, Christmas books sorted ... except, none of the UK booksellers that I've checked stock them anymore (and they aren't available to order) whilst they are hugely, hugely expensive from the main online sellers (and it's not even clear that they're new!). We want actual paper copies rather than e-books. Anyone know if there's a reason why these books have become a bit of a rarity in the UK?

Nalthis - I reckon I could be a Tarachin superstar in a couple of years. Plus, I like art and, although, I don't have royal locks my hair has been many and varied interesting shades in my lifetime so I'd fit right in! Otherwise, Shadesmar. I pretty much envy Khriss her job and could intern for her (plus, Nazh seems like a laugh).

Urithiru's Dental Service advise against the consumption of Horneater stew and/or ale. We, currently, only have one dentist trained in the surge of regrowth and don't want you all to have gaps in those 'radiant' smiles!

Whilst it is laudable that so many of our new Radiants are eager to destroy some evil, Szeth requests that everyone thinks *very* carefully before trying to borrow his sword-nimi.

Adolin: 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion' by The Kinks https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TQAR-nx4w88

My kids binge watched the whole season yesterday. Not sure what was going on but it seemed like they liked it judging by the whoops and shouts coming from the living room! I have really loved Timeless and I'm gutted that Season 2 isn't on UK Netflix but I've been enjoying the original Spanish version, El Ministerio del Tiempo.

We only see Tien filtered through Kaladin's perceptions of him, in Kaladin's flashbacks. He isn't fully realised as a character independent of Kaladin's filter and we don't have much backstory to go off, so working out his truths is likely to be speculation. However, one thing that strikes me is that Kaladin appears to assume that Tien's efforts to cheer him up are wholly unconscious - that Tien just makes Kaladin brighter because that's Tien's personality. My recollection from reading WoK is an unspoken assumption that Tien doesn't know about Kaladin's depression because it rarely manifests fully around him. Perhaps, Tien's truth might be that he is entirely aware of his big brother's struggles and his efforts to cheer Kaladin up are deliberate acts on his part. Perhaps, he's not as light-hearted and sunny as Kaladin perceives him to be and it's a mask for the benefit of Kaladin. I don't know if that makes him too similar to Shallan and the way she reveals that her bright, lightness is all a front when she and Kaladin are in the chasms or whether it's plausible mirroring of the two lightweavers, since Kaladin is pretty explicit that Shallan reminds him of Tien.

I voted other for Ta-ra-vange-ian! My preference for flat, not long, A again. But, I also tend to call him Mr T. because I'm old enough to giggle to myself at the unwitting homage I'm paying to the original A-Team (especially when Mr. T's catchphrase was, "I pity the fool" - which is apposite for Stormlight's Mr T on his compassionate days (though I'm significantly less pitying since he became Odium's stooge)). Otherwise, I'm with the majority consensus on these ones s-zeth and KO-lin, (hard K).

I voted Alloy of Law but they're all brilliant. I think I just love the fact that AoL got written by accident! Yet, it establishes a whole new era and set of characters but there's such fun nods back to the original crew and events. I (sometimes, occasionally) find the humour in series like Stormlight to be a bit corny but, here, with the deliberate pulp fiction style it works fantastically.

Nale already is. Jezrien won't be, sadly, and I think the others who abandoned the oathpact (the ones we've seen this far) probably aren't good candidates. But, I could see Taln bonding a spren, maybe? When Dalinor was noting the orders represented at Thaylinah, he counted 9 (because he's unaware of Venli as a Willshaper). That means, he was counting Taln as the current representative of the Stonewards and I could see an outcome in future books where Taln, like Nale, is both patron and member of his order.

I wasn't thinking about those aspects of her being touched by Cultivation when I wrote my post. I was, as has been mentioned, thinking about the fact that she expects not to change after her visit to the Nightwatcher but it appears that she is. I wasn't really phrasing it as a theory, more just musing on whether Radiance affects what the Nightwatcher does and what that might mean for Taravangian, were he to bond a spren. However, I do acknowledge that - since we don't know Lift's boon/bane - it's mere speculation on my part. For what it's worth, I like the theory that Lift is A LOT older than she appears and Cultivation's comment about how long it has been since she last intervened directly may have a direct bearing here! In which case, maybe neither Dalinor or Lift could be said to have a true boon/bane from the Nightwear her so maybe it wouldn't be an issue for Mr. T. after all. To stick with the OP though, I still think he's an unlikely candidate for Radiance though!

I, also, thought it was significant that Rlain didn't become a Windrunner Squire. I like your idea and could see the value in having a Bondsmith from amongst the Listener population. I agree with @Fatikis though; the Nightwatcher would be the more likely Spren in this case. I really don't have much of clue about the Sibling to be honest - except that I could see it being of Odium. The two lovers, Honour and Cultivation, having two of the godspren and their 'sibling' shard having another one. I also like the idea that the three Bondsmith spren embody Roshar in someway. The land is characterised by the storms (Stormfather), it's distinctive flora/fauna (Nightwatcher) and it's stone landscape (honourable exception, Shinovar) So, maybe the Sibling spren is some sort or representation of the land. (And the two could be related - an embodiment of Roshar, which is of Odium). This is not a coherent theory, just my musings about the Sibling. My own thinking about Rlain was that he believes himself to be the only Narak listener left, as does Venli. Their reunion could be interesting, due to it being Venli who returned the forms of power and Rlain who chose to throw in his lot with the humans. I was wondering if Rlain would become a Willshaper too - he seems to fit quite well.

I say Kaladin to rhyme with Paladin and Jasnah, as YAZZ-nah. Shallan - I say it with two flat 'a's (as said earlier, like the name Allan). I assumed this might have to do with my own dialect. I'm from the North of England (Geordie, if anyone has a clue what one of them is!) and we say most words with 'a' in them like that, compared to American English which seems to extend vowel sounds far more often than we do. I suspect Adolin will crop up in a later poll so I'll not add much about that, except to repeat that I almost always use the 'a for apple' sound in names.

I'm guessing Taravangian is probably low on most spren's list of 'people I might like to bond with' - although the Diagram do have their Radiant so, who knows? I wonder what it would do to his Nightwatcher Boon/Bane. Both Dalinor and Lift seem to have some pretty funky disjunction between their NIghtwatcher gifts and their Radiance - although, of course, Dalinor's wasn't a true one anyway. Boons/Banes are meant to be permanent but Lift's doesn't appear to be; a product of her healing abilities as a KR perhaps? What would becoming Radiant do to Mr. T's impaired cognitive functioning, his compassion or his 'capacity'? I don't think he's a candidate for Radiance but it would be interesting to see how that unfolded. And Moash - since he's now a sort of anti-Radiant anyway.

I knew that I had heard it elsewhere but couldn't remember, off hand, which other Cosmere books had it as an oath so thanks for clarifying that. I've just (like, just this week) read SSFH for the first time so it was fresh in my mind. It was the frequency of it as an expression which struck me there. Spoilers for SSFH and some attendant theories: And thanks for the info about God Beyond and Gnosticism. I suppose we don't yet know whether Adonalsium is going to turn out to be a person or a force of creation as that might give us a clue to whether the God Beyond is something/someone different again - I tend to think that it is, but that's a hunch rather than anything quantifiable. @Jasonioan I think we don't know enough about Yolen to speculate on what they would use. Adonalsium or God Beyond both seem plausible or maybe, even, "Dragonsteel"?

121. If they've brought a cave troll - just run. Don't look back. Just run. 122. Before venturing on your quest, ensure you have availed yourself of a handy, encyclopedic guide to the universe. If it is emblazoned with the words "Don't Panic", so much the better. And you'll need peanuts too. 123. If you do accidentally summon a demon of darkness, dress it in pastel colours and play Twister with it. Forging such a deep bond will preempt any murderous tendencies or evil plans.

I'm waiting for the moment when someone in SA accidently crosses into JK territory and swears by Ishar's Y-fronts or Nale's saggy left testicle. But, to be serious, "Shadows" and "God Beyond" from Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell. (I wonder if "God Beyond" might turn to be Yolen-related in some way?)

I have listened to it A LOT It's such a soundtrack to my life now that, despite how 'large' the music is, it's become very much a background sound when I'm doing other things. It helps that I'm old school and have the CD which has lyrics in it so I'm not distracted by wondering what they're singing because I can just look it up, minimising that particular distraction!

I'm a bit in love with "The Greatest Showman" soundtrack. And, was listening to it a lot whilst reading OB. I think a movie (and its attendant soundtrack) about a charismatic but flawed man pulling together a group who are considered misfits and outsiders by the rest of the world, but who are in fact powerful, special and amazing in their own right, fits SA pretty well (even if you're not a fan of musical theatre!)

Of the choices available, my favourite Colon is definitely Jam sauce (as long as it hasn't be soulcast, of course). I can't even begin to figure how Adolin gets autocorrected to Semicolon!!

I found these WoB on Arcanum - seems as though she was likely to have been a friend or romantically involved with Leras prior to the shattering but it's RAFO-ed if she ended up as another Vessel. I lean towards she and Leras having had a romantic relationship, based on the way he calls on her as if seeking some comfort from the name:

Finally got a break from life in general to read it. I definitely need to re-read it as, like all Sanderson's books, it sucked me in and I couldn't put it down so I read it quickly - knowing that I would probably miss some significant foreshadowing / Cosmere stuff (although that's what this forum is for, isn't it!? ) For me, I'm pretty sure its a book that I will love more when I re-read it. That's not to say that I didn't really enjoy it first time through but, having glanced through this thread, I don't seem unique in the things I found dissatisfying. However, firstly, the things I really liked about the book: I did love a LOT. The set pieces, as always. Those moments that make you air punch as you read - there were plenty of those. Kaladin returning home and Dalinor's awesome third oath bookended several others for me. Loved Lift and Szeth/Nightblood (especially when they were together at the end). Loved Lift with Dalinor too! And Taln - I'm really looking forward to seeing more of him in future books. I didn't mind the 'Avengers Assemble' feel to the final battle because I'd been looking forward to seeing all the main characters get their Radiant on together - and I wasn't disappointed at all by that. It was touch and go as to whether following so many characters would become unfathomable but I think, overall, the constant shifting of between muliple POV during the battle worked as it echoed the utter chaos being experienced by the characters. I didn't love the Shadesmar section but I didn't hate it either. I enjoyed it as a stand-alone piece of world building around the Cognitive Realm - and a chance to get some back story on Syl (and Maya, sort of) - but wasn't sure that it advanced the plot much? It felt like there needed to be some tension about whether Shallan, Kaladin and Adolin would make it to the final KR jamboree and they couldn't be left in Fused occupied Kholinar so popping them into Shadesmar was a handy thing to do for plot expediency. I wasn't especially bothered by the love triangle - I just sort of got on with the book, despite it rally! I've always thought that writing romantic entanglements is probably one of Brandon's weaker areas - I don't generally find the romances in any of his novels to be wholly convincing although I think SA has, overall, been more mature in its approach. I like the way he writes Dalinor and Navani, for example. I like Kaladin, I like Adolin, I blow hot and cold on Shallan as a character. I didn't like her in tWoK, she grew on me in WoR and I couldn't quite decide what I made of her (or her, or her) in OB - I suspect that's something I'll decide on re-reading but it meant that I wasn't especially invested in who she ended up with. Overall, I think the reason I would probably place WoR over OB in my current assessment, based on one reading, is that OB felt less cohesive as a reading experience. It did feel, at times, that the material lost crispness so that threads which should have had more prominence (Sadeas' murder, the Everstorm, more actual nitty-gritty about the Radiant orders) didn't get it - I'm sure they will in future books but I felt those things should have been in *this* book. Some of the material felt extraneous and I felt that some of the political machinations could have been edited to make space for things which were set up in WoR. However, I did enjoy reading it and will, I'm sure, enjoy re-reading it and spotting loads more stuff I missed on the first pass.

Buy Dalinor stops being radiant to be Roshar's new JK Rowling ('Yer a wizard, Wit') so Shallan, Radiant and Veil become the new Bondsmiths.