Introducing My Sister to the Cosmere

[Celairiel]

I bought my sister the Warbreaker audio book for Christmas. She's now listened to Mistborn (both eras), most of Arcanum Unbounded, and is starting on Stormlight. I documented her Mistborn journey here. Now she'll be reacting to the overlaps between the worlds as she explores Roshar (and eventually Sel with Elantris). I want to keep showing her reactions below since it's always fun to watch someone discover the Cosmere for the first time. She's also really excited to come and see people's reactions and thoughts about her journey once she's caught up.  Thanks to everyone who followed along with the prior thread and I hope you enjoy this as well.

So far, her favorite character is Shallan. My sister is an anthropologist, so she loves seeing an in-world scholar. She gave some reactions on a video call with me, highlights include "And his fairy brought him leaves and was trying to help!" and her utter and completely appropriate level of awe regarding Jasnah. She isn't loving Kaladin. When he's being epic, she likes him but she finds him a bit boring overall. But she holds out hope because she was quite impressed with his speech to Gaz about "I am already dead, there is nothing you can do to me."

[Frustration]

Ah yes, why would priest be studing odly phrophetic words that dying people speak.

You know better question.

Why wouldn't people be studing it?

[Celairiel]

On 5/20/2021 at 5:47 PM, Frustration said:

Ah yes, why would priest be studing odly phrophetic words that dying people speak.

You know better question.

Why wouldn't people be studing it?

That's my thought - she isn't quite there yet and goodness it's bothering her.

Context for this next reaction: not only is my sister an art historian/anthropologist with a master's degree and a nerdy streak a mile wide. She has ridden horses since she was 10. So her geeky research brain is making her as paranoid as Elhokar.

[Frustration]

6 minutes ago, Celairiel said:

Are you being intentionally misleading or just trying not to spoil?

Also nice 4:20

[AquaRegia]

I'll assume @Celairiel is going for "lack of spoilers" rather than "red herring".

Honestly, tWoK is SO chock full of worldbuilding, and there is SO MUCH weird new stuff to learn, that anyone with any curiosity should spend most of it being confused.  I know I sure did.

[Celairiel]

Hi @AquaRegia and @Frustration, yes. Avoiding spoilers. I thought I responded to your question saying that. But apparently not.... I'm now confused about this thread and what is happening. Apologies.

Previously, I was able to correct her spelling of in-world names (she's on audio book) if she said something I couldn't really respond to without spoilers. But she's just been avoiding using names to try to provoke a response from me. She even admitted it.

Sadly, her reaction to discovering the girth was indeed cut happened in a video chat. Her vindication was delightful. I told her how pleased Elhokar would be and she volunteered herself to be his "excellent spymaster."

She is also happily looking for worldhoppers. She knows from prior books who the major worldhoppers are and is especially looking for Nightblood, since I promised her every worldhopper she knows will show up in this series. Basically every sword that is mentioned she asked if it's him. It took her a bit to recognize Hoid. She gets him and Vasher confused. Not just names, but personality and character. So I hope this series can make them more distinct. 

She's also asking really good questions about investiture. One question that I tried to explain but is frankly just confusing was god-Shards vs shard blades and plate. Then when she was clarifying how spheres worked, it got her paying attention to on Bridge Boy's unusual appetite for the light.

 

***** Edit to add the end of the book. I'll do a new post for the start of WoR. Sorry for the double post in advance. And for the delay. She visited again, so reactions for part of this were all in person. And then she took a well-earned break between books. They may be slightly out of order, but this is the rest of her reactions to Way of Kings.

She's looking for Nightblood everywhere. I cannot wait for her to find him next.  

I forget how disconnected the different plot lines seem this early in the story. The Jasnah/Dalinar connection surprising her reminded me.

I like the theories she's coming up with for how inter-Cosmere travel could work. I'm trying to strike a balance between steering her in the correct direction and letting her enjoy uncovering it herself. 

It's really fun watching her discover how radiant powers work. And seeing how much she connects with Shallan. 

Moments like this are why she needed a break between books.

So for a bit of context, my sister studied Anthropology and Art History. Shalash's destruction was upsetting to her. 

This all happened on her 2 1/2 hour flight home. Pretty exciting flight if you ask me. 

I think it's interesting that she's started calling the soul caster the "soul stone." She has read Emperor's Soul, and she's subconsciously connecting the two concepts. 

 

And some "bonus" reactions from my Dad completing Era 2: 

Edited June 26, 2021 by Celairiel

[Celairiel]

My sister is so much smarter than I am. She has figured out that spren become shardblades. Jasnah's ship just sank. Shallan is stranded. And she's decided that not only is Jasnah not really dead because the scene was too short, she's also figured out that spren become blades. She has also developed the theory that the Stormfather was Kaladin's father, but she's debating that with herself because she thinks that all Radiants are kids of gods. She compares it to Heracles. Which of course makes me think of the ongoing discussion about "Son of Tanavast." Seriously, I think she can't be following along that well because she's listening and I don't get as much detail when I listen instead of read, but she just soaks it all up. It's insane.

Apologies again for the double-post, but I wanted to start fresh for the new book. Here's my screenshots so far:

She told me she thinks Shallan and Adolin will either be totally perfect for each other, or they will be absolutely explosive in the worst possible way. Nothing in between. Though she's also excited for our two baby Radiants to meet and start discovering their shared stories. I can't wait for her to read the chasm scene!!!

She's thinking the right way. But I really don't doubt that anymore.

I remember feeling that way about Elhokar. I wonder if her feelings will shift like mine did eventually. Also, this is where she started wondering about spren-blades, I believe. 

After this we got on a video call together to do some work and instead spent the first 30 minutes talking about her theories and I had to just sit there and try really hard not to give anything away by my face. Because she was spot on or on the same track as the rest of us the whole time.

ETA: Oh, and I forgot her other theory. That the place Jasnah was looking for (Urithiru) is the shattered plains. Because how better to hide a landmark than smash it to oblivion? This one isn't as big of a leap, but that's where she's at on theories.

Edit 2 - more reactions!

I had to edit her opinion of Amaram for forum rules.  She's a good judge of character.

In addition to her anthropology/art history background, she's also an equestrian. She asked if Brandon has ever read a horse because she found that scene pretty cringe-worthy, aside from the rock throwing at Adolin.

Her figuring out the shard blades is pretty interesting watching her now. I don't remember when I put it together. When did you guys figure it out?

And I'm really amused that even though every time she suspects someone is a world hopper, she asks if it's Vasher, she still hasn't noticed that Zahel is familiar. I know it took me a while to realize he was Vasher, but even though it had been a long time since I'd read Warbreaker, I knew something about his pattern of speech was familiar.

Edited July 3, 2021 by Celairiel
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