War_Breaker

Woah, long time since I've posted on the forum, but damn I have to get these emotions out. So, RoW. What a different book to the rest of the SA! I can see why it gets some of the bad reviews/people don't like it, and I don't think it's the best SA book (for me that goes to WoR or Oathbringer). However, boy have I never been through such emotions whilst reading a book. Very well done and congratulations Mr Sanderson for those feelings. The Dabbid and Teft chapters were, sublime. I wanted to weep. I think for me, whilst different to his other works, RoW is still a great book. I identify most strongly with Kaladin (the PTSD and depression) and while his chapters are sometimes a drag to read through, this very much echos being in the headspace Kaladin is in and reminding my self of this lessens the frustration. I was glad he managed to overcome them and say the 4th Ideal and I think it added to the joy, struggle and theme of the ideal that it wasn't a big, world-saving event like his previous ideals. I felt for most of the book this overhanging ''the good guys aren't going to win this one, it's going to end on a loss'', rather like 'The Empire Strikes Back'. Whilst we did have Navani and Kaladin triumph (much needed I think, otherwise it would have been a real frustration and downer to have to wait 3years for the next book and a win), I feel overall, it was a fairly neutral outcome. As for Dalinar's contest, given the terms, Dalinar has to lose. I can't see how the remainder of the Cosmere would play out with interesting stakes if Dalinar wins. The Lasting Integrity arc was great and Maya's revelation and development was brilliant. I'm absolutely not a fan of Shallan and don't like her as a person - she's not honourable and thinks she's more clever than she is. I was absolutely horrified by what Ishar is doing with the Spren. It would be nice to see more Nightblood & Szeth, and what happened to Zahel during the Tower occupation? (Out of Vasher and Kaladin, I cannot decide who is my absolute favourite Cosmere character). Kelsier being the head of the Ghostbloods makes sense, there always seemed to me to be something off about Kelsier in Mistborn and I was never much of a fan (favourite character in that series was Elend or TenSoon). It'll be interesting to see whether this faction are for good or being set up as antagonists. All of the science/mechanics made sense to me and I very much enjoyed reading them (I can't stand the 'soft' magic systems), however I do see they took up a lot of space and this can bog down the pace of the story. The Navani/Raboniel relationship was great. Raboniel with her daughter and killing her, chilling and again I wanted to weep. Whilst the Eshoni/Venli flashbacks were a nice story, they mainly confirmed things we already knew and I feel this was definitely Navani's book. I'm still processing this book, if I think of anything else I'll add it!

Interesting theory, although I think the reason the Shin Shamans worship stone is because the only Herald remaining in Braize is Talenel, Stonesinew, Herald of Stone (or something, I don't have the book on me now, this is in one of the scribbles from the diagram). He is the one keeping the desolations at bay - it is upon his will that Roshar has been in relative peace for 4500 years.

I like the idea that Greatshells live off of stormlight. It explains the gemhearts and pupation, although I think this has to do with changing forms also, similar to chulls from one of the drawings. As a side, doesn't Axies say something along the lines of "they must have some spren to keep them growing this large..." when the trader (can't remember her name) is on the islands in WoR interludes?

This is exactly how I saw it. Upvote.

Ah, yes I highly doubt a Ryshadium would bond a man like Dalinar in this scene. I meant that in an unrelated manner, I guess I just always assumed Dalinar was born with Gallant much as I underestimated his bloodlust! Hmm this could be true - Gavilar was recently given Shards and Dalinar is jealous, trying to convince himself he doesn't want them..

What an amazing chapter, such insight into the man Dalinar was when he was younger. Such a chulling beast! I'm glad we see the man Dalinar is now before being introduced to him as a young man, he's despicable. This highlights just how much Dalinar has grown and matured over his lifetime (possibly only since Gavilars death?). I would say Dalinar is on the lower side of his age, maybe 19/20,he's very childish in manner. He also does seem to live his life by "momentum" and as others have said, I think one would often find him at the bottom of a bottle outside the battlefield. I wonder if Dalinar has been offered plate, but wants to earn it? Or something is going on. He says "I don't need Shards.." I kind of got the impression he has Shards but feels he doesn't need them? Also surprised he hasn't bonded Gallant yet, can't wait for that flashback.

Stoneward 75% SkyBreaker 66% Windrunner 53% Willshaper 50% Bondsmith 41% Edgedancer 25% Dustbringer 18% 0% Lightweaver Elsecaller Truthwatcher I wanted to be a Stoneward or a Windrunner but feel I'm more aligned with Windrunner... Storming pleased!

As the WoB above states there are several reasons Odium doesn't/can't change text on Roshar. As for how he intervenes, we have the Thrill, futuresight and I seem to remember a WoB that said Shallans father was under heavy influence from Odium... Just thought, also the violet tint to Venlis eyes, heavy Odium influence?

In all honesty i'm not in the market for individual Herald spotting, more of a history/overarching Cosmere theory game so I hadn't thought about it that much. The evidence for him being a Herald is miniscule, I more thought it would be a nice curveball for Brandon to throw ''hey, look, there's been one in your face all the time''. Also, ''cheating'' the.. agreement, shall we say, with Odium is not Honourable at all. Although Preservation wasn't about preserving its self its actions did lead to the Preservation of life in the grand scheme of things. If there was foul play on Honours/Cultivations part, maybe it had more to do with trapping Odium in the Rosharan system to mitigate his shard-shattering activities and came from the Shard holders not the Shard.

Fair enough if people don't buy the 'Teft as a Herald' bit, it was just a passing thought. I am aware of characters telling themselves lies to ''fit in'' Vasher didn't really give much away in Warbreaker and he had only been at it for a few hundred years. The Heralds have been incognito for several thousand... I'm sure there's a WOB saying that the Oathpact was between Honour and the Heralds i.e. not Odium. However Odium is trapped somehow and I can't imagine that happening without some communication between Honour and Odium, given Odium is invested in Roshar to the point he cannot leave...

Hello everyone, I've been Reading Brandon Sanderson for quite some time now. I have also been aware of this forum for a similar amount of time and decided it was time to sign up and partake of the discussion. Glad to finally be here! So, a couple of musings as I make my way through WoR for about the 10th time - Could Honour have ''cheated'' in the deal he made with Odium - we know there are Spren of both shards, was the original gambit that the he who gets the listners/humans etc to attract the most Spren essentially win. However Honour ''cheated'' and gave humans the Honourblades thus tipping the favour of the War in Honours favour? Could Kaladin be being unknowingly prophetic when he says ''I can't hold back the might of 10 armies...'' potential climax of the first 5 books? Finally, Teft is awfully knowledgeable, is Brandon going to throw a slight curveball and Teft is a Herald? I wanted to write these down before I forgot. Apologies if this is in the wrong area!

Unsure if this has been asked already, but - As I understand it, Returned Return as they see something wrong/bad (for want of a better phrase) in the future and take the chance offered by Endowment to change it. Therefore, Has Vasher accomplished the reason he Retruned? Does he know why he Returned?

I'm currently working my way through WoR again (it must be around 10 times now) and thought about this the other day - What if it is a similar phenomenon to the Royal Locks on Nalthis?