The US Row cover

[bdoble97]

2 minutes ago, doomrat said:

OK, so if we ignore for a minute that we know Shallan and Adolin are supposed to be going to Lasting Integrity, and just consider who owns a giant black obelisk in Shades Mar, its clearly the cryptics, no?

I like that idea. 

[Elsecaller_17.5]

On 8/17/2020 at 0:01 PM, Innovation said:

@SteelShaper I think Adolin gains Breath from a Worldhopper for whatever reason. What we see bellow Adolin is a Breath aura. The two known Awakened Swords have either no aura (Azure’s blade) or deepen colors (Nightblood). Adolin’s aura is neither of those. 

But that isn't what breath auras do either. They brighten colors not give off a prismatic spray.

I think the most likely answer is that the cover isn't entirely canonical and the rainbow is just a hint towards Nalthis investure. As far as breaths vs awakened sword I'd much rather see a sword, it would fit his character quite nicely. 

Edit: oops, just saw the debunk

Edited August 18, 2020 by Elsecaller_17.5

[Innovation]

10 minutes ago, Elsecaller_17.5 said:

But that isn't what breath auras do either. They brighten colors not give off a prismatic spray.

I know, but that is somewhat hard to tell on dark obsidian. It seemed like an artistic rendition of a Breath aura to me. Regardless Adolin doesn’t have any Breath. It would be an interesting plot device if he did though. 

[Ansalem]

3 hours ago, Elsecaller_17.5 said:

But that isn't what breath auras do either. They brighten colors not give off a prismatic spray.

Well, that's not entirely true. The God King's aura separates white into a prismatic spray. But it's only white and only someone of the 10th heightening which is such a huge amount of Breath that they started a religion and government just to keep it safe. So we probably won't be seeing that again any time soon.

[GoWibble]

On 8/17/2020 at 1:04 PM, Eluvianii said:

Aren't drabs actually normal people everywhere else, but since they're so used to having Breath, they feel so different?

 

Also, about the cover, call me crazy but that doesn't look like a sword to me.

I noticed that too. I thought that it was a walking stick (a fancy (Shard-?) walking stick) until looking through this thread. 

On 8/17/2020 at 3:16 PM, bdoble97 said:

 That's what I was thinking also. You worded it better than I could have. I think she is soulcast the beads of the ocean into rock bc the rocks they are standing on look live waves. 

Can you Soulcast beads? Because I'm thinking no because of interfering Investiture. She could be manifesting something (and maybe Soulcast that, but would that run into the same problem?)

12 hours ago, rjl said:

In response to the nightblood speculation etc. We have an answer and it's NO. See attached quote from Michael Whelan's assistant

source: https://www.tor.com/2020/08/17/behold-the-cover-to-rhythm-of-war-the-fourth-book-in-brandon-sandersons-stormlight-archive/comment-page-2/#comment-878270

I just want to point out that it says "another blade." Which raises the question, does he mean another from Adolin's Shardblade? He didn't capitalize "blade," so I'm thinking not another Shardblade, so maybe Adolin gets a regular blade, albeit an embellished one, for Shadesmar?

[Ansalem]

12 minutes ago, GoWibble said:

I just want to point out that it says "another blade." Which raises the question, does he mean another from Adolin's Shardblade? He didn't capitalize "blade," so I'm thinking not another Shardblade, so maybe Adolin gets a regular blade, albeit an embellished one, for Shadesmar?

Shardblades are the only type of blade it can't be. Shardblades in Shadesmar are just spren.

[bdoble97]

@GoWibble I guess you can not soulcast beads but don't those rocks look like waves 

[GoWibble]

18 minutes ago, bdoble97 said:

@GoWibble I guess you can not soulcast beads but don't those rocks look like waves 

so, yes, the landscape kind of looks supernatural, but there are plants and other stuff very close nearby. I don't think that 'underwater' in Shadesmar is described as having flora

[bdoble97]

10 minutes ago, GoWibble said:

so, yes, the landscape kind of looks supernatural, but there are plants and other stuff very close nearby. I don't think that 'underwater' in Shadesmar is described as having flora

I was think that they where just at the shore line. But who knows 

[Zelly]

OMG I looooove this cover.

I'm guessing the ground is like waves because in the physical realm it's actual water.  

The orange diamonds look like fairly normal cubic crystal formations?

Could the strange tower be:

Quote

"He must pick it up, the fallen title! The tower, the crown, and the spear!"

(Or was that in relation to the big plateau on the Shattered Plains? I think it was called "the tower?")

I've got nothing as to why Adolin's hair is like that.  Unless we're reading too much into it?  Is it suppose to be white, or it is just a trick of the light?

Also.....Shallan is holding a gem of some sort........mmmmmmmm strange gems.....black sphere?

Edited August 20, 2020 by Zelly

[Kaladin's Girl]

I don't like the cover.  Should have included Kalidan on the cover.

[bdoble97]

1 hour ago, Kaladin's Girl said:

I don't like the cover.  Should have included Kalidan on the cover.

He has already been on a cover. I love this cover. Mabye we could get a inside the cover like of him like we have gotten for the past 2 books 

[rjl]

10 hours ago, bdoble97 said:

He has already been on a cover. I love this cover. Mabye we could get a inside the cover like of him like we have gotten for the past 2 books 

I can't remember when but I think we've been told somewhere that the inside covers will be pictures of Heralds like they were for Oathbringer.

[bdoble97]

1 hour ago, rjl said:

I can't remember when but I think we've been told somewhere that the inside covers will be pictures of Heralds like they were for Oathbringer.

I hope Howard Lyion will be painting o e he is an amazing artist 

[+Child of Hodor]

On 8/20/2020 at 7:19 AM, bdoble97 said:

I hope Howard Lyion will be painting o e he is an amazing artist 

On 8/20/2020 at 5:45 AM, rjl said:

I can't remember when but I think we've been told somewhere that the inside covers will be pictures of Heralds like they were for Oathbringer.

Brandon showed us the one for Taln earlier this year. 

[bdoble97]

@Child of Hodor Oh yes I remember seeing this now. Is it %100 the inside cover if so I hope Howard does both front and back inside cover. He had a live stream lastnight on Instagram I whish I could have watch but I was at work. He is truly an amazing artist.

[Erklitt]

On 8/17/2020 at 7:30 PM, bdoble97 said:

Those Orange diamonds just pop out so much to me. What are they 

I have no idea what they are, however I would guess they inspired the Ghostbloods' symbol. My first thought on seeing them was: 'this symbolizes that Shallan is on a Ghostblood mission' - until I realized it was unlikely the cover showed any 'symbolic comment' like that.

[bdoble97]

Is this a skull. 

[Vambram]

2 hours ago, bdoble97 said:

Is this a skull. 

Good catch there. It certainly looks like it could be a skull. But, what in Shadesmar has a skull looking like this? 

Very good eye. What is that?

[Kingsdaughter613]

On 8/17/2020 at 9:16 AM, Chiberty said:

https://www.tor.com/2020/08/17/behold-the-cover-to-rhythm-of-war-the-fourth-book-in-brandon-sandersons-stormlight-archive/

This is very similar to the other covers, bit a few interesting things are different. What can we glean from it?

Adolin’s hair is WHITE and black. So blond = white? Interesting... Are we ever told his shade of blond prior to this? (I actually knew someone with that shade, but usually authors make a point if it is.)

Edited August 30, 2020 by Kingsdaughter613

[NysemePtem]

Hang on... white hair, and possible investiture from another world? Could that be Hoid?