Coriniroc

A very enjoyable story overall that I'd put on somewhat equal footing to Tress and the Emerald Sea. It took a few chapters to get into it, as the dichotomy between the two "worlds" was a bit daunting at first, but it didn't take too long to be sucked in. Thoughts feelings and likes overall include: I think this is Brandon's most successful developed and written relationship that I have experienced in his novels. As he mentions in the postscript, he doesn't do romance much and I'd argue it's not exactly his strength. However, the connection between Yumi & Painter is really well done. I felt really invested in their journey together as a couple. The relationship felt very tender, real, and intimate, showing the softer side of Brandon in a nice way. The fact that this is a gift to his wife showed through very clearly. It's just very sweet! The worldbuilding of the two environments was very rich, starkly in contrast and well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed Kilahito, probably the most directly correlative world to our own that we've seen thus far. I think that's why the twist hit so hard in that I truly believed Yumi's environment was in fact real. That threw me for a loop! The artwork was beautiful and complimented the cultural analogs and source work. I will say I wish there was MORE NEON! Like I said, I loved Kilahito, but the depictions of it could have been more pronounced maybe? Design was very enjoyable and I was happy to see what could be possible for spren in the future. Cosmere, Cosmere and more Cosmere. Lots of nice tidbits! Dislikes: I like Cosmere references but the realmatics of all these books are starting to grate on me. It's just very hard to follow sometimes and I have to reread explanations several times. Sometimes even then I don't get it. Goofy characters. This will be my complaint with every book, and it won't go away. But goofy/childish/silly characters just irk me to no end. Lift, Wayne, Lopen, Frugal Wizard guy and especially Hoid are not enjoyable for me. But, Hoid is a very important and special person, so I shall trudge on and not let it bother me too much. That's it for the most part. An enjoyable book!

My feeling is that the Harmony who meets Kelsier at the end of the book is already Discord at this point. Kelsier mentions the sometimes usual dark shady version of Harmony is not present at this meeting. For me, I think I'm most interested in what a shard that is now going by the Intent "Discord" would mean and what they would do. The Intent behind Harmony is theoretically the balancing of Ruin and Preservation's power, which as we know is already in conflict due to the very slight imbalance between the two. Thus far from his inception as Harmony all the way to Era 2, Harmony's actions have been thumbing the scale in the "preserving" direction pretty heavily. He's been foiling nefarious plots and mass devastation for a while now, but using intermediaries (kandra & Wax and Co.) to act as passively as possible about it. I'd imagine a proper representation of Harmony would be even more backseat than he already is, allowing these ruinous events to occur without influence. Things live, things die, all part of the cycle. So that brings me to the question of what would Discord actually do? Would his actions be in the direct promotion of Ruin, sort of overcorrecting the swinging of the pendulum in the opposing direction? Or would it be as simple as letting bad things happen, perhaps allowing a war with the Southern Scardrians to happen without influence? Just let humanity eradicate itself as it naturally does. At this point, I think I'm leaning toward Discord actually being a net positive for the survival of Scadrial as well as the Ghostbloods (Kelsier) at a cost to the people in-world. It's been stated by Harmony that his ability to influence the Cosmere is minimal at best due to his conflicting nature. I think becoming Discord will accelerate the growth of technology and subsequently that impact will help him extend beyond into the Cosmere. Perhaps Discord can be the Shard, maybe with Honor's and others help, to combat the spread of baddies like Odium and Autonomy? Just many rambling thoughts I have! haha

Based on the second tenet of the Ghostbloods which is consistent for both planets, they ONLY share information with full members, so it's possible no one knows about tenet 1 until they are a full member. We've only seen two recruitments and largely they are appealing to people with otherworldly knowledge who will be hungry and motivated to get more knowledge. So it's possible that everyone from Mraize to Codenames just want to be in the know and then subsequently find out about why they're doing what they do. This could probably lead the differing groups like Roshar to 'freelance' if you will. A group of people, who have no tethers to the planet they are protecting, and therefore are manipulating the mission a bit for their own or own planets benefit? On Roshar, they largely seem most concerned with preventing the return of the Radiants by trying to kill Jasnah and working against the Sons of Honor. I suppose not allowing Odium to escape does serve well to protect Scadrial, although they don't seem too upset that their mission largely fails. They also move to understand how to get investiture off world but that seems largely to be serving Kelsier's main purpose of escaping the planet with some bonus benefits like facilitating trade. Getting Kelsier off world maybe can be spun to be in service of "protecting Scadrial' too. It's also possible that maybe protecting Scadrial is not necessarily just a mission to promote it's continued existence, but is an action that will protect the Cosmere, or their vision of what that means?

The question that keeps popping up in my mind as I read and think about the differences of Ghostblood factions we've seen is whether the Rosharan Ghostbloods have the same three tenets as the Scadrians outlined by Kelsier, specifically the first one about protecting Scadrial? You're all discussing the obvious and noticeable differences between the two groups and I like the angle of how it fits into the timeline and how there are some contradictions and inconsistencies based on what we know. For me, I guess I'm just most interested in is whether the goals and actions of the Rosharan group during the Stormlight Archive are in some way "to protect Scadrial" or has that intent been corrupted or is different by planet? Is the first rule of the Roshar Ghostbloods to protect Roshar and likewise for other worlds? It also appears there is a specific sub goal, unknown by most in the organization, to free Kelsier from being tethered and stuck on Scadrial. I guess you can skew or spin any action to somehow protecting Scadrial while doing it to accomplish other goals.

This conversation is getting super in the weeds on mechanics and that's where I struggle with the Mistborn novels specifically, my brain hurts when I think of all the technical mumbo jumbo dealing with connection, identity, etc. I will say that I still don't buy that he's a full feruchemist and has some innate blocked abilities to tap all the different metals, BUT, there clearly is something weird going on with identity and fortune as you all have cleverly pointed out. Since he clearly has some extraordinary abilities as it relates to impersonating people and now apparently making sound and random business decisions, could he be gaining these powers more narrowly with or without his knowledge? Has he somehow had some form of medallion granting him some bonus luck or identity? We didn't know medallions existed until the last book, but perhaps there is some explanation in Wayne's past where he is given one and is using it wittingly or unwittingly? Or does he have a hemalurgic spike(s) helping give him these abilities and is not aware of it, a la Vin? I don't like this explanation myself, but I'm musing out loud. I do agree something is up, but a full feruchemist seems too broad a reason he could have access to these abilities and I'm searching or thinking of other explanations.

How about Kel-seer? Not overly French and Kel-see-ur feels clunky to me a bit? I'm in agreement that leaning hard into the french accents would be ill advised, or any accent for that matter. I will say that I popped on Shadow & Bone last night and got a lot of Mistborn vibes from it. Not necessarily copy it to a T, but I think it's a good representation of the appropriate level of darkness/grunginess that should exist in a world teetering on extinction and frankly, pretty gross (at least in Luthadel). No british accents, but it felt very Sherlock Holmesy which I wouldn't mind aesthetically incorporated into the city of Luthadel at least.

I was trying to find a weird and interesting one to choose with some possible upside and am landing on a Chromium compounder. Who knows what having a ridiculously amplified amount of Fortune would mean. Would I see so far into the future I explode or go crazy? Would I be the luckiest person alive and need no other skills? Would you be the luckiest person alive because you can see the future so far, or would it just be Mat Cauthon style luck? I dunno, but let's roll the dice!

I've posted a topic or two over the last few years but have decided to be more active and engaged with the coming of the Lost Metal in a couple months. I've been lurking for a long time and following along to all the podcasts (I love them all!). Happy to be here with like-minded people! Cheers!

I've been lurking a long time on this forum but felt compelled to post about this particular topic which is near and dear to me. I thought I'd throw in my two cents and feelings. Apologies if it's been mentioned/thoerized before. As I think about it more and more, aided by some of your illuminating conversations above, I really am starting to subscribe more enthusiastically to the popular prediction along the lines of, "I cannot save everyone," or its other subtle variations in wordplay. I was struck by the above explanation for the inherent contradiction of speaking the fourth oath and how we've witnessed Kaladin say his oaths previously. Time and time again when we witness him speak a new oath, he utilizes his powers in a blaze of glory and dramatically saves or protects someone of importance. I think this version of the words, "I will let go of those I cannot protect," is exactly why this plot turn, no longer being a soldier and resigning himself to completing his surgeon training with his father, is absolutely necessary to fulfilling the fourth oath. I don't have any exact quotes, but if I remember correctly, part of Kaladin's flashbacks include Lirin teaching or him experiencing the necessity for a surgeon to not be attached, to try to save the person but know when you have exhausted all possible avenues. Kaladin understands this, as we see him perform his field medicine at times, but it eats at him to the bone. My theory is that there will be a moment during or after his surgeon training (attack on Urithiru?), where someone of importance or someone he exceptionally cares about (mom, dad, baby brother, bridge four member) will be on his operating table and he will speak the necessary words as he lets that person succumb to their eventual death. "I will let go of those I cannot protect." "I cannot save everyone" What will happen after? Will he then in typical fashion blaze with stormlight and save the day? Will he become a soldier again with new clarity, having overcome his darkness? I am unsure. But I think an important part of his development, to overcome his darkness, is to speak his words in a situation that is passive and not active, one that does not require an act of heroism.