The Count

Assuming this theory holds true: Could this be the origin of the afterlife mythos on Roshar? That those who serve with distinction (i.e. the KR) are sent to the Tranqualine Halls (i.e. Braize) to help retake it from the Voidbringers.

Maybe we can convince Hayao Miyazaki to spend his retirement animating the whole thing.... In fact, just get Studio Ghibli to do it full stop! I would definitely watch that.

Personally I think, 3 - Sadeas 4 - Elhokar 5 - Gavilar Although I agree that one of the Parshendi would be an interetsing perspective.

Anyone else think it is significant that the Everstorm didn't recharge Kaladin's gems?

Will not be in London, but fortunately he will also be at Waterstones in Liverpool on the 5th and I am definitely going to that! Should be super awesome!

This might mot be such a problem as you think. The war camps are located in circular depressions / craters at the shattered plains so may be moderately protected from the west just as much as from the east. Plus all the cultivated plants have built in highstorm defences naturally. I think Sebarial will be fine.

I should be ok for the 19th (so long as my wife will sign the day release paperwork that is ) Can get the morning train down on Sat and back on Sun. As for location, anywhere that we can drink and dine is cool with me.

But lifeless do not really communicate and Returned have no memory of their previous life. Therefore I doubt Szeth is any kind of Nathian entity. I think Nalan is probably telling the truth. He brought Szeth back from the brink of death with the use of a fabrial, probably similar to that used n the Starfalls vision.

I think what I would most like to see is a scenario which puts Jansah completely and hopelessly out of her depth and comfort zone in some way, forcing her to place reliance on the judgement, promises and actions of someone else (preferably a man). I think that would be an excellent exploration of her character and give opportunity for growth. In fact if she does any kind of significant travel with Wit and encounters some of the people after him, that may well be what she gets. I agree that relationships do not have to be romantic to be meaningful, though.

I think in some ways, a main character without a relationship of some sort is a weaker character (unkess the point is to explore why they have no close relationships). Humans are social creatures and we all, to some extent define ourselves by our relationships with others. Since Jasnah is pretty much a fully formed Radiant in terms of power and knowledge there are only a few areas her character can develop. The most obvious and ,I think, interesting one is her clear lack of expertise in forming relationships with others. I always got the impression that Jasnah was totally brilliant and determined but lonely. She feels that she cannot trust or open up to anyone (even her mother) and has a very suspicious streak similar to her brother. There are also obvious hints that she has some issues with men which seem to stem from some form of abuse in her childhood (although this is purely speculative based on the thug scene from tWoK). I think developing a close relationship (although not necessarily romantic) is the only real way Jasnah can develop as a character in the coming books. I can certainly imagine a scenario where things almost fall apart because she refuses to trust and open up to someone. In fact, the implication from the epilogue of WoR is that in her search for knowledge and over reliance on herself has led to her missing key events in the world and is now playing catch up.

An interesting analysis although I, like other, think you are ascribing too much separation between Syl and Kaladin. It seems to me that Syl is, for al intents and purposes, Kaladin's conscience and so articulates herself as such. I disagree almost entirely that her concern for Kaladin is gone, just that his conflicts are much more internal, human and complicated and she is only capable of limited understanding. She basically tells Kaladin to 'Buck up' and 'get over it' because she does not understand the mental illness that Kaladin is experiencing. I think it is a bit like apparent who can see their teenage child making bad decisions but feeling unable to adequately intervene without making the problem somehow worse.

I am uk and think a meet up would be great! I live in the north west and am quite old by the standards of other posters it seems (32). when the collevtive decide date and venue I will let you know if I can make it.

BOOOOOOOO! YAAAAAAAY!

Also, I Szeth was somehow compelled magically by his oathstone, I do think not Nalan / Darkness / Nin would be anywhere near as interested in him. So no spren for Szeth...yet. That is not to say that he will not get one in the future. Dalinar has murdered far more people in his life that Szeth has (probably) and stiull managed to bond the Stormfather himself. If Szeth truly embraces his new life in the pursuit of Justice then I think he has every chance of becoming a Skybreaker in truth.

I think a broader question is how is Szeth going to use Nightblood anyway since his ability to infuse himself with Stormlight was granted by the Honorblade, which he no longer possesses. Presumably Szeth can no longer Surgebind or infuse himself with Stormlight. I can only suppose that Nightblood must be able to suck Stormlight into itself directly from gems (and possibly other surgebinders) bypassing that requirement. This would mean that the fights between Szeth and the other Shin honorblade holders will be reduced to just swordfights.

Again my theory on this is a little out there: Basically I think that following death, Szeth will become a lot more honourable and actually will follow along with the concept of justice. My pet theory is that he will end up attracting a spren becoming a true Skybreaker radiant and will eventually lead to the fall of Nalan and his organisation.

Agreed! Peter (the big tease that he is) makes it seem like it is staring us in the face! LOL!

So how would Thunderclasts and Midnight essence fall into this? It has never been explicitly stated that Thunderclasts are a type of voidbringer but most, I think, assume that they are. They clearly are not a Listener form though. Similarly the midnight essence are not Voidbringers (according to the KR in Dalinar's Starfalls vision from tWoK). Could both of these monsters be created by one of the Voidforms you mention above?

Don't misunderstand me. I loved the book and Kaladin's arc because they evoked such a powerful reaction (quiet rare for me). I have always felt that there is a tendency in Fantasy novels for characters to achieve growth through revelation which I find quite unbelievable sometimes. Kaladin development had a bit of this, but the road to his epiphany was so well explored that it felt truly believable. I believe the narrative arc was meant to evoke some frustration in Kaladin and display the trouble of being a young adult still struggling with grief and betrayal.

Kaladin's arc was simultaneously excellent and frustrating to read. I agree with all the points above, Kaladin's actions are really understandable given that he is probably suffering from some form of PTSD. It is easy to forget that Kaladin is in his early 20s (in earth years) so is still very young and immature is some ways, still struggling to find his place in the world and deciding what he wants to do with his life. That said, I found his scenes in the second half of the book infuriating! I kept reading bits and thinking / hoping that he would have moment of revelation or epiphany that would snap him out of his despondency. I think I actually shouted "Oh for **** sake Kaladin! GET OVER YOURSELF!" at the book at one point. His character development is realistic and excellently written while being less fun (for want of a better word) to read. I kept rooting for him and believing in him, but did also want to slap him upside the head.

For me it was the scene just before Kaladin falls into the chasms when Syl is clearly regressing and behaving like a windspren again. Heart-breaking.

Edgedancers (the order) do not use food to create Stormlight. Lift is unique in this respect, which is why Darkness / Nalan was caught out by her. He spent a lot of time and effort to keep Lift away from spheres to prevent her sucking in the Stormlight (as, presumable, conventional edgedancers do). Lift got her unique ability from the Old Magic / Nightwatcher. I think Darkness = Nalan is pretty much certain at this point given his knowledge and proclivities. EDIT: NINJA'd !!

I have also wondered this. Normally, Spren get consciousness in the physical realm in exchange for surgebinding. However, the Stormfather seems to have physical manifestation in the form of highstorms as well as a well established consciousness already. I this maybe Dalinar's bond will cause the Stormfather to align more closely with Dalinar's sense of honor rather that the slightly more corrupted version caused by the collective consciousness of humans. In that way I think the Stormfather will heal from being the broken individual he is currently. Maybe this will also lead to him trusting men again and allowing the spren to bond. My guess is that Dalinar's interaction / Bond with the Stormfather will be crucial when whatever the secret that caused the Recreance comes to light (I assume from the code epigraph translation that Mr. T knows what it is and will use it to try to destroy the new Radiants in future books).

I think it more likely that Nightblood would want to have conversation with the spren if they ever came into contact. If Nightblood can just touch a living shardblade and kill / absorb the spren instantly then it would be completely OP and story breaking IMO. I think Nightblood would be intrigued by meeting another sentient blade. On the other hand, Nightblood relies on the opinion of it's holder to judge the nature of evil so the question really is: how will Szeth decide what is evil and what is not. There is no denying that he could be a very potent weapon against the voidbringers.

My theory on this is a little out there but here goes: I think plate is like a second skim that develops at the highest level of the bond. We see Kaladin getting better at holding stormlight and his healing capacity seems much stronger that Szeths. In the fight with Gavilar, Szeths face takes a good few minutes to heal (he still can't speak properly when Gavilar is dead). However, in the arena duel, Kaladin heals two broken legs and two broken feet in a matter of seconds. My theory is that the strengthening and healing effects of stormilight get stronger and stronger as the bond / oaths progress until eventually a critical mass is reached and the stormlight crystallises into shardplate. From that moment on, the sharplade appears whenever the Radiant holds any stormlight and glows when they use the surges. As I said, a bit out there. But it would explain how plate can be a consequence of the bond without involving any spren.