Jump to content

Ashspren

Members
  • Posts

    1201
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    10

Everything posted by Ashspren

  1. Just popped back in for the first time in a while and completely forgot about this meme lol, crying over the inevitable death of my husband honored to have the gift of prophecy.
  2. Does anyone have examples of books/series that have never been completed? This could include examples such as Game of Thrones, The Name of the Wind, etc. Also, if anyone knows stats on how many books get cancelled before the series is finished, or any other relevant information on this topic, that would be great. Working on a research project about writing and the publishing world. Thank you so much!
  3. Oooh, this reminds me of the book Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. Essentially, the magic system boils down to colloquialisms and common phrases. (For example, if you wanted to clean something, you would use "clean as a whistle" or "spick and span." My personal favorite is probably "these are not the droids you're looking for" to hide something.) I've been wanting one of the Cosmere books to tackle something similar to this for a while now––I think it would play into a lot of really cool themes regarding Intent, too. Maybe something will happen with one of the Shards we don't know that well yet, like Whimsy, which sort of implies a lack of Intent. Something like that could be super interesting...
  4. Kaladin has basically been the protagonist of the entire first arc. That said, it’s improbable that he’ll have as much of the spotlight in the second arc as well. I’m going to do my best to explain my theories for all of the viable paths I see moving forward... [Open the spoilers to see my ideas and details about how each one of these scenarios could go down. The pros/cons are super general and just my surface-level opinions.] Option 1: Swearing the Fifth Ideal in Book 5 Pros: It makes a lot of sense! Kaladin is alive and happy, we have a main character who's made it to the Fifth Ideal, and the future Radiants have an example to follow and a person to advise them. Cons: It's predictable, for the most part, and lacks some spice. Option 2: Swearing the Fifth Ideal and Dying Right After Pros: It’s fun and quirky and different. Also, we wouldn’t have to worry about his level of involvement being too high or too low in the second arc. Cons: It just doesn’t seem likely. If swearing the 5th is the indicator that his character arc is over, it kinda seems weird to kill him off immediately after. Option 3: Stuck in the Fourth Ideal Pros: Kaladin gets a major wrench thrown in his plans, which would allow us to know him better outside of the fight. There’s also the added bonus of a sort of parallel character development to that which we’ve seen so far. Further, it’s just a nice change of pace from Kaladin’s current progression, and it’s also something we haven’t seen before in the series. Everything is so fast-paced. Kaladin could be the first to face stagnation. Cons: As much as I love the idea, I’m not sure if it’s entirely likely. From the what we’ve seen in the first 4 books, it looks like Kaladin is progressing pretty steadily toward finishing his character development in the first arc. (There are probably more cons to this, but I’m self-aware enough to admit my own bias.) Option 4: Kaladin Dies Before He Can Swear the Fifth Ideal Pros: It’s new, it’s different, and it has shock value. It also makes the transition of protagonists pretty seamless. Cons: It’s unlikely, given that every character is given a satisfying end to their arc. Also, it’s sad. If you stuck it through to the end, then let me know what you think! If I got any canon information wrong, feel free to correct me––it’s been a while since I’ve reread any of the books, and I wrote this all in a sleep-deprived haze, lol. Definitely looking forward to reading any debate/discussion on this.
  5. I know everyone on here has a bunch of ideas about the important details: the inner workings of the Cosmere, Realmatic Theory, critical uses of Investiture, and more. But I'm curious... What theories/headcanons do you have that are largely unimportant to the overall storyline, or that are just for fun?
  6. @Ishar and I were discussing who the third Bondsmith might be, and he presented an interesting idea: What if there is no Bondsmith? With the anti-light, what if Odium's first move is to kill the Nightwatcher, eliminating the third Bondsmith spren? Whether or not this will actually happen is worth discussing, but this also poses another question. We know that lots of people have boons from the Nightwatcher, including Lift, Dalinar, and Taravangian. What would happen to these people––and to Roshar in general––if Odium kills the Nightwatcher? Just curious to see what everyone thinks!
  7. The one @Chinkoln linked is also good, but I used https://perchance.org/incorrect-quote-generator. Have fun
  8. I'm using an "Incorrect Quotes Generator" for Spensa and Jorgen, and I'm not disappointed... these are gold.
  9. I'll keep this one short: has anyone else noticed the similarities between the names Jorgen Weight and Jason Write? I feel like there's probably a connection in there somewhere, but it could just be a coincidence. Also, I haven't had the chance to reread "Defending Elysium," and do a full character study on Jason yet, so I could totally be grasping at straws.
  10. She's confirmed asexual, but not aromantic. From a WoB:
  11. I was thinking of Greek mythology while writing my initial post. There’s a really weird dynamic there—a power differential where Jasnah relies on Hoid more than the reverse, or some variation in how much the relationship means to each person. Hoid gives me the vibes of a trickster god of some sort—like Norse mythology’s Loki. I think the Norse pantheon is actually a pretty good comparison for Hoid in general—powerful and immortal in terms of age, but they can still die (like Baldr). Either way, I’m going off-topic. Moral of the story: differences in mortality or lack thereof aren’t great for a relationship. Oh, I really like this idea. Have we ever seen either of them genuinely upset and angry? I think that could bring some sort of passion out of both characters. Regardless, I would be very excited to see this as a scene in an upcoming book.
  12. Hi all, a quick question for everyone. As we know, Hoid and Jasnah are now romantically involved. I'm not going to lie––I was definitely a bit surprised here. My personal theories had been that Hoid was carrying a torch for someone from his past and that Jasnah didn't want a romantic interest, but here we are. I would usually never complain about a well-balanced intellectual relationship between some of the most beloved characters in the series, but I'm a bit concerned for these two. First of all, Hoid and Jasnah are both incredibly ambitious individuals. They both have their own agendas and, while they may line up at the moment, I'm not sure how much longer that will last. We know Hoid has to have some sort of end goal, but is it even something that we would consider "good" and not "evil"? We can't tell. He's been working to achieve something for thousands of years, so I think it's unlikely that he would stop for a single romantic interest, unless his relationship with Jasnah develops pretty seriously over the course of the series. Also, Jasnah has a very strong set of convictions and morals. She probably wouldn't change her entire mindset around just to accommodate any sort of emotional intimacy with Hoid, even if she enjoys it. In my opinion, while they both like being in a romantic relationship, they're both using each other for something. Hoid requires a social standing and access to resources (and an incentive not to kill him, even when he's being... himself), which Jasnah can provide him. Jasnah, on the other hand, is a scholar at heart. She wants knowledge about the Cosmere and its workings, and who better to aid her than the worldhopping, quick-witted menace himself? Another point of concern for me stems from the language that they use. Hoid tells Jasnah that he loves her for her paranoia, out of all of her qualities. I thought this was a little bit suspicious. It definitely doesn't seem romantic; if anything, it seems like he's seeking protection from something. Jasnah's paranoia could be keeping them both alive, sure, but a constant state of stress is not something that someone wishes on a partner. This seems especially unbalanced when we take into account the fact that his presence seems to put Jasnah at ease. At the very least, they seem to have some... minor communication issues. A third thing could be Jasnah's asexuality. Hoid doesn't seem to be completely considerate of that, hoping that his kisses and touch can spark something in her, when that's just not how it works. Jasnah does participate in physical intimacy for his pleasure, but I still think he should be more understanding about her preferences. To be honest, I'm kind of rooting for them. Hoid and Jasnah would make an unstoppable power couple, and I genuinely believe that they like one another and that they could actually fall in love. They just need to have a serious talk about what they want from each other, how far their relationship will go (unofficial lovers? marriage? plenty of possibilities), and their personal plans for both the near and far future. And if they decide that they can't speak about those things, well... that kind of speaks for itself. For future Stormlight books, I would love to see one's reaction when the other is in serious danger (it might be a bit difficult to find a circumstance that could kill Hoid, but Nightblood's on Roshar, so anything is possible). With any strong relationship––especially romantic ones––a reaction in that situation says a lot about the personalities of and dynamic between the two characters. And, I know between now and the next Stormlight book, I'm definitely going to be looking through everything Cosmere with a fine-toothed comb for mentions of Hoid and his end goals. Hoid and Jasnah are both already so interesting as individuals, so there's obviously a lot to analyze when considering them together. Thoughts? Opinions? P.S. I almost considered doing an astrology-esque analysis of Radiant order compatibility. Are a Lightweaver and an Elsecaller as meant to be as an Aries and a Libra? Or are they completely doomed, like a Taurus and a Leo? (I'm sorry if these relate to your life in any way––just picked the first ones off of Google. ) If anyone has actually done a zodiac-style analysis of the Radiants, I would love to see it. If not... well then. I guess I have a new project on my hands?
  13. This is really interesting to me—it would also provide a deeper layer to Pattern communicating with Hoid through the seon. If Pattern is using Chana’s soul to communicate, does this imply that the Cryptics still have an interest in the Davar family, beyond just Shallan’s Radiant status? Also, if Chana’s soul is serving a similar function to a seon, I’m wondering how much of their Intents must line up. Is there something about Chana’s character or her Radiant order (the Dustbringers) that makes her particularly linked to Devotion?
  14. Just wanted to pop in and say hi! It's been a hot second since I've come back to the Shard, so how's everyone doing? Any interesting things happening on here or IRL? 

    Also, as an update, I don't foresee myself coming back here pretty often, especially not with the same level of engagement as I had earlier. I might peruse the theories now and then and add little nuggets of Signature Ashspren Chaos™, but that's just how it is for right now. 

    It's been great to check the site again, though, and I hope all of you are having a great summer! :D 

    1. AonEne

      AonEne

      Ayy, hi again! I hope you are as well :lol: 

  15. Of course! Even though I’m not as active anymore, it’s nice to lurk and keep tabs on this. I’m glad it’s still continuing!
  16. So excited to read and upvote all of the posts this round! Looks like there’s a great line up.
  17. I don’t remember, unfortunately. It might have just been a popular fan theory.
  18. I’m so sorry, but I haven’t been active on the Shard that much recently, and I really don’t want to let anyone down. Good luck to everyone, though! And happy almost-two-year anniversary to this thread.
  19. ONE MORE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK. For Shallan/Kaladin/Adolin, I really don’t think Shallan and Kaladin are at a place in their lives where they could manage a relationship without sacrificing their personal health. Part of figuring out your own issues is doing that by yourself, and both of them have a lot to unpack before forming any sort of attachment. Adolin has a lot less to sort out, and—even though I absolutely love him—he’s a little oblivious at times. Sure, Kaladin wears everything on his sleeve, so you can tell that he’s having some life problems at the moment. Shallan is a little more nuanced, and I’m not sure Adolin sees the multiple personalities thing as an issue or trauma. TLDR, my addition to the S/K/A discourse is “none of the above.” At least, for now. We’ll see how things pan out in the future. Also in the world of Stormlight, I’ve seen people ship Vivenna/Azure and Jasnah. Not gonna lie, I kinda see it, even if it does have a huge lack of evidence. A good number of us noticed the romantic tension between Vivenna and Vasher during Warbreaker but, obviously, something happened between the two of them between Warbreaker and Oathbringer. After reading Oathbringer, I can’t imagine any sort of scenario in which Vivenna/Azure and Vasher/Zahel are a good fit for one another. Meanwhile, Jasnah and Azure are both women who have defied Alethi societal standards by taking on roles in male-dominated spaces. They both use Investiture, and they’ve both been raised as royalty—not to mention, both of their fathers tried to arrange marriages for them. Of course, there is literally no evidence that this could be a thing. Jasnah and Vivenna/Azure haven’t had any screen time together, so there’s really nothing to base this on. It’s just wild fan speculation that I happen to like. Click spoiler tag for non-Stormlight ships... I just started writing and didn’t realize this was under the Stormlight Archive topic: I’m going to cut myself off here because there’s so much more I could get into. In short, I have opinions, we all do, Zutara sucks, and hopefully we’ll find out more in Stormlight 4.
  20. WHAT ENE WHAT YOU’VE READ IT?! I can’t believe we haven’t talked about this yet! It’s incredible, and I had sooo much fun reading it! PM or @ mention me when you’re done, and I’d love to talk about it.
  21. Happy Pride Month, everyone! I’m straight and cis, but 100% an ally. Love is love, and just seeing other people happy makes me happy. I think it’s so incredibly bigoted and stupid to see other people spread hate, especially when supporting one another makes the world a better place. Make other people feel loved, because at the core, we’re all human beings. If you’re looking for queer characters in fantasy books, here are a few suggestions... The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima. It’s preceded by The Shattered Realms series, which does not have much LGBTQ+ representation (as far as I can remember), but there’s a prominent queer relationship in the second series. The Shades of Magic series, by V.E. Schwab. There’s a queer relationship between two main characters with a great plot and conflict. Also, the whole premise is just super compelling, so it keeps you hooked the entire time. Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell. It’s the queer-and-improved Harry Potter, and I adore it with my entire being. The magic system is incredible and unique, so definitely give this one a try! The Six of Crows series by Leigh Bardugo. At least three out of the six main characters are queer, and there’s lots of queer representation in the whole universe of books, called the Grishaverse. In addition, there are multiple (both implied and canon) female/female relationships. Some of my friends have told me that they find lesbians to be underrepresented in fantasy books, which I’ve found to be true, so I’m glad that Bardugo writes about them. This isn’t completely fantasy, but The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is an incredible book that never fails to make me emotionally break down. It’s a retelling of the Iliad from the viewpoint of Patroclus, who is popularly thought to have been Achilles’s lover. 10/10, completely recommend... I’ve reread it hundreds of times. I also have plenty of suggestions that aren’t fantasy novels, so just PM me or something if you want to take a break from magic and worldbuilding for a while!
  22. Given that I based Ash off of myself, too true... *checks nervously for hidden cameras*
  23. Thanks for tagging me, Ene! Unfortunately, doing something timed would probably not be the best option for me right now, but best of luck (not that you’ll need it, Shipping Queen ).
  24. Hi everyone, 

    Please take some time to check out this post. I’m trying to raise awareness about the lack of funding for food banks due to the recent situation regarding COVID-19. 

     

  25. In these unprecedented times, it is absolutely vital that we come together to support those in need. Among some of the hardest hit are those with food insecurity. As a result of COVID-19, food banks around the world have been struggling to help those who require their services. These essential services would greatly benefit from financial donations. The 17th Shard has such a huge influence, with thousands of people interacting daily. Let's use this platform to spread awareness and give back to the institutions that aid so many people. For more information and ideas on how to give back, see this document. I have put together a few challenges, encouraging people to donate. (They're just ideas, so please feel free to challenge yourself in any way you want to!) For further questions, DM me or email [email protected]. We have the power to make a difference in the world. Let's start making a change together. (For U.S. Sharders, click on this link to donate to Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund.)
×
×
  • Create New...