How do you feel about the Books scheduled Flashbacks?

[Guest]

Alright. We have a few more tip nips about the flashback characters.

 

We already know about the first half of SA.

 

3 = Szeth

4 = Eshonai

5 = Dalinar

 

Now apparently, Brandon has decided for the following for the second half:

 

6 = Taln

7 = Shalash

8 = Lift

9 = Jasnah

10 = Renarin

 

Please this not fixed, the order is not decided and I guess some characters as well. I just put it up for discussion. This is a first draft, but I think this is the first time we have a clean line-up of 10.

 

How do you feel about this line-up? Are you excited, depressed, shocked, bored, uninterested?

 

Szeth, I have stated many times how unexcited I was about him. However, in the light of more recent discussion, I must admit I am starting to warm-up to him. So, I am thinking book 3 may be great after all even is Szeth turns out being a major character in it.

 

Eshonai, I have always been happy about that choice. I do want to hear about her back story.

 

Dalinar, he is the one I have been hoping to read from the beginning, so needless to say, I am ecstatic about it.

 

So for the first half, I am relatively happy even if Szeth is in there. I think this will be great.

 

The second half however fails to bring out many passion from me.

 

Taln and Shalash do not interest me. They are barely fleshed out as characters so knowing they will be does not appeal to be overly. At this point in time, I would rather have any other character here then they. I would rather not have flashbacks from the Heralds.

 

LIft, I am happy. She was an interesting character and she will be a grown woman then. I believe she has potential to be a truly great character, so I am willing to let her grow some more.

 

Jasnah is a no brainer. She still has a long story to tell so we needed this. I wished it would come earlier in the time frame though.

 

Renarin, I am not interested in him greatly. I failed to see what is so interesting in his backstory. Sickly child who couldn't learn how to fight and thus develop low self-estime, but oh surprised it enabled him to acquire some great Radiant powers which will turn him into one of the world most renown man? I have had issues with Renarin character since WoR and well I cannot muster any positive emotion towards this up-coming flashback book.

 

So what about you? Feelings? Positive or negative?

 

Edit: I added precision about the uncertainty on the second half line-up.

Edited August 7, 2014 by maxal

[Argent he/him]

I think it's too early to feel anything about the second half. All of the characters have a way long to go, and I am certain they will become both more fleshed out and more interesting. Plus, Shalash's slot is probably the least solid one - she replaced Navani, whose position wasn't certain either. So while Lift, Jasnah, Taln, and Renarin seem certain, Ash could still get replaced (and I would be okay with that, because otherwise we'll end up with two "Lightweaver" books).

[Moogle]

I was really hoping for Taravangian. Szeth'll be interesting, Dalinar meh, Lift please no unless she's aged ten years, and the rest sound fine.

[Guest]

I think it's too early to feel anything about the second half. All of the characters have a way long to go, and I am certain they will become both more fleshed out and more interesting. Plus, Shalash's slot is probably the least solid one - she replaced Navani, whose position wasn't certain either. So while Lift, Jasnah, Taln, and Renarin seem certain, Ash could still get replaced (and I would be okay with that, because otherwise we'll end up with two "Lightweaver" books).

 

I'd just come to my mind... With this line-up, we have two Lightweavers flashbacks and no Dustbringer (I am assuming Eshonai's book is about Willshapers)........... There is supposed to be one book per order, so which one is the book about them?

[Argent he/him]

Well, technically we don't have to feature each book's order in the flashback chapters. The focus character could still be Shalash, but the plot might, for example, focus on restoring the Dustbringers' order.

[kari-no-sugata]

Now apparently, Brandon has decided for the following for the second half:

 

6 = Taln

7 = Shalash

8 = Lift

9 = Jasnah

10 = Renarin

 

Where did you get this from? If you're referring to my post on the events/signing forum then I clearly stated that the order was not settled,  though Taln was "probably" book 10.

[Guest]

Where did you get this from? If you're referring to my post on the events/signing forum then I clearly stated that the order was not settled,  though Taln was "probably" book 10.

 

The order does not really matter so much as who is featured. If Taln is 10 or 6 doesn't change much to the discussion now does it?

 

Edit: I added a comment in my original post to mention it was not fixed yet and that the order may change.

Edited August 7, 2014 by maxal

[Left he/him]

At the moment I'm really not that satisfied with the back half(With the exception of Taln I guess) or Eshonai. Most of the characters bore me or I don't like and I feel like there are more interesting people to put in there. But we still have a while left to go so and originally I wasn't pleased with Shallan being a flashback either but I really liked that so.....................

[Guest]

At the moment I'm really not that satisfied with the back half(With the exception of Taln I guess) or Eshonai. Most of the characters bore me or I don't like and I feel like there are more interesting people to put in there. But we still have a while left to go so and originally I wasn't pleased with Shallan being a flashback either but I really liked that so.....................

 

Funny, Taln is one of those I am least excited about and I am quite happy about Eshonai    We so have all our preferences, it's fun to hear about others. So who would you line-up if it were up to you? I guess I should have asked the question in the original post. People, make your own alignment

[Moogle]

Choosing your own? Don't mind if I do:

 

3: Szeth

4: Jasnah

5: Taravangian (or Gavilar, I'm not greedy)

6: Amaram (he can cover a lot of Dalinar's backstory)

7: Mraize

8: Nalan/Shalash/Taln, pick one, any one

9: Hoid

10: Wouldn't say no to another Kaladin book

[WeiryWriter he/him]

I'm liking the line up.  Jasnah and Renarin are both awesome characters that I want to know more about.  Lift is just fun.  Taln and Shalash will be nice for getting the real history of Roshar (because books never get it entirely right).  I am a little surpised that the second herald is Shalash, since we already have a lightweaver.  I would have expected Kalak or Chanarach (depending on which order Eshonai will represent).  Shalash kind of makes sense though since we do believe we've already met her in WoK (with a vauge aside in Wor).

 

My line up?

 

3. Szeth

4. Eshonai

5. Dalianr

6. Kalak

7. Jasnah

8. Lift

9. Renarin

10. Taln

[Argent he/him]

Oh, also.

 

Even if a character is boring to you now, it doesn't mean they were boring a few years ago. You can still enjoy flashbacks of characters you don't like at the moment.

[Guest]

I am still toying with mine and I sort of dropped the idea each flashback character represents one order (anyway since Brandon obviously does not intend on putting one Dustbringer as a flashback character, the idea is more or less dead). These are just the ones I would be more interested in reading in approximately this order:

 

3. Dalinar

4. Eshonai (I like her, but a whole book? I feel her story would work nicely if told in parallel with Amaram, so double flashback here ) & Amaram (glad I am not the only one who would like to have this one )

5. Adolin (He can cover Renarin's flashback. He is a much more interesting character and his childhood is certainly more interesting than Renarin. Renarin could have a flashback or two in this one to wrap-up how he got his spren)

6. Nalan (yeah he is the only Herald I am interested in, it would also cover Helaran's time with the Skybreaker and I wanted to read about that)

7. Jasnah

8. Lift

9. Navani or Galivar

10. I am not sure here. I guess it could be Renarin providing he turns out being interesting, but I more or less included him on book 5. Kaladin, I would not mind so much. Or maybe Taravangian would fit nicely as last. I am not greedy here.

 

Book 9 and 7 could be swapped.

[Guest]

Oh, also.

 

Even if a character is boring to you now, it doesn't mean they were boring a few years ago. You can still enjoy flashbacks of characters you don't like at the moment.

 

Sure. But this is how I feel about them now. That was the whole idea of the post. How we feel about the line-up and which one would we prefer to see. It's just for fun

 

 

Well, technically we don't have to feature each book's order in the flashback chapters. The focus character could still be Shalash, but the plot might, for example, focus on restoring the Dustbringers' order.

 

Yeah but it would be the only book structured this way... Kinda strange no?

Edited August 7, 2014 by maxal

[Edgedancer he/him]

I like the line-up for the first half. In the second half I´m still kinda meh. The Heralds do promise a lot of backstory on the oathpact ect. but one would be enough for that and we don´t really know enough about them to anticipate them as characters.

As for Lift and Renarin, my only complaint could be that the books are to late down the line. Renarin´s because, even if I like him, I could only imagine his flashbacks to be worth it, if they cover the time-skip and keeping that from us until the last book seems cheap. (or he disapears and only resurfaces in the last book )

Lift´s because I want more Lift and Edgedancer action as soon as possible.

 

Yeah but it would be the only book structured this way... Kinda strange no?

Assuming that both Szeth and Eshonai become KR, which doesn´t have to be the case, even if it is likely.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Edgedancer

[Guest]

Assuming that both Szeth and Eshonai become KR, which doesn´t have to be the case, even if it is likely.

 

True. But book 3 has been confirmed to be about Skybreakers and Szeth sorta is involved with Nalan, so hum does make sense. Eshonai, nothing is confirmed, true again, but it has been so strongly hinted I would sincerely be surprised by a different outcome. Plans for a Ash book just comes out of nowhere for me and if that books ends up being about Dustbringers, kinda of strange to have flashbacks about the Lightweaver's Herald no? Unless I am mistaken and book 4 is about Dustbringer, which would leave the Ash book to be about Willshaper, just as strange.

[Edgedancer he/him]

True. But book 3 has been confirmed to be about Skybreakers and Szeth sorta is involved with Nalan, so hum does make sense. Eshonai, nothing is confirmed, true again, but it has been so strongly hinted I would sincerely be surprised by a different outcome. Plans for a Ash book just comes out of nowhere for me and if that books ends up being about Dustbringers, kinda of strange to have flashbacks about the Lightweaver's Herald no? Unless I am mistaken and book 4 is about Dustbringer, which would leave the Ash book to be about Willshaper, just as strange.

Things would get even stranger if book three is about Skybreakers but Szeth turns out to be a Dustbringer or something.

[Guest]

Things would get even stranger if book three is about Skybreakers but Szeth turns out to be a Dustbringer or something.

 

Oups Would be funny though

[Left he/him]

Here's what I would like

1. Kaladin

2. Shallan

3.Szeth

4. Rlain

5.Gavilar

6.Lift

7.Taravangian

8.Taln

9. A not yet introduced character

10. Dalinar

 

Obviously a lot of this isn't happening. Rlain is pretty much guaranteed to not get a spot, Brandon says that we've met all the characters for flashbacks, and I doubt that he's moving Dalinar to the end or not doing Eshonai. But, this is what I would like

[hoser he/him]

Alright. ...

Edit: I added precision about the uncertainty on the second half line-up.

Snap-upvote for "precision about the uncertainty."

[Savanorn he/him]

Eh, could be better could be worse. 

 

I'm surprised about the twoish Heralds, and I'm excited to see a bit of them as well. 

 

I guess Renarin might make sense to be last if he's too spoiler-heavy, given his order. I'm a little annoyed we don't have a Dustbringer. But, then again, although Shallan was the main char in WoR I enjoyed Dally and Kally, so yeah, I suppose it's worth waiting for. 

 

I'm going to assume that Lift will be older when she is a PoV, or...at least I hope she will be. 

 

I don't really care for Eshonai, but the Parshendi are the closest to characters I don't like. So that's to be expected, I fully expect to be surprised. 

[kaladamSB he/him]

Im really excited about Szeths flashback sequences. Hopefully we will learn more about the Honorblades, and im actually pumped to learn more about the Shin in general.

Eshonai I could take or leave, but the Listeners will also be alright to learn more about.

Dalinar. Who doesn't want to see his flashbacks?

My order for the last 5 would be:

6. Taln

7. Lift

8. Jezrien

9. Mraize

10. Tanavast

[Chrono she/her]

I used to really not like Szeth, but now that I've struggled a little more to get into his head, I feel really sad for him. I'm excited for his book. 

 

Eshonai sounds cool. I was very intrigued by the Parshendi culture, so it'd be great to learn more about the Listeners. Heck, we could even have her flashback to when she first meets Dalinar, the night of Gavilar's assassination, and the events leading up to it. Intrigue! The plot thickens!

 

Dalinar? Yes please. I'd really love to see the Blackthorn, just to compare him to Dalinar the Radiant.

 

Also, no love for Renarin? I actually have the exact opposite opinion on their backstory, maxal. Renarin sounds way more interesting to me than Adolin, considering we know so little about him. 

[Guest]

Eshonai sounds cool. I was very intrigued by the Parshendi culture, so it'd be great to learn more about the Listeners. Heck, we could even have her flashback to when she first meets Dalinar, the night of Gavilar's assassination, and the events leading up to it. Intrigue! The plot thickens!

 

I was not initially thrilled about Eshonai, but after giving this more thoughts I came to the conclusion her flashbacks may be very interesting: her years as the Explorer drawing her maps, her meeting with Galivar, her plot to have him assassinated, the turmoil that followed, the losing of the war..... All this sounds very interesting, at least, to me. She also is a badass warrior woman and that, by itseld, is a story worth telling.

 

 

Dalinar? Yes please. I'd really love to see the Blackthorn, just to compare him to Dalinar the Radiant.

 

I think we could fill three flashback books with Dalinar's past   And I would avidly read each one of them One of the reasons I want to use Adolin as a flashback character is to help cover some more of Dalinar's past and I think those years would be more interesting to read from his elder son's perspective. I also added a Navani/Galivar book to also help cover some more ground in Dalinar's past. I mean, the guy is fifty: he's got a lot of things to tell

 

 

Also, no love for Renarin? I actually have the exact opposite opinion on their backstory, maxal. Renarin sounds way more interesting to me than Adolin, considering we know so little about him. 

 

I think just the opposite...

 

Renarin's childhood was that of a little sick little boy who couldn't learn how to fight like all the other boys. He probably spent a lot of time in bed being sick (my take here), bored, useless and self-depreciated. It is sad, but not very interesting as a whole. His life was probably very event less. He probably did not do much as child other than what he was told to do. His life on the Shattered Plain appears to have been one of a delivery boy, getting and making reports across camp. There is Glys and his internal turmoil, but do we really need half a book on these to get an idea of what happened? A few chapters here and there would be sufficient to give us closure.

 

Adolin, on the other hand, was an eager boy who grew up in total admiration of his warlord of a father and who was so absurdly talented with the sword he drew the attention of no other than Vasher/Zahel. I would really like to know how Vasher ended up being Adolin's swordmaster and giving Adolin a flashback would also help us find out more about him and his involvement with Dalinar. If the story is told from Renarin's perspective, we are going to lose most of it.

 

All the plot revolving around their mother's death would also be more interesting to read from Adolin's perspective in part because he was older at the time (and thus had a better understanding of things), in other part because Adolin is the one ending up carrying his mother's locket around, not Renarin. Adolin is the one that develops a nerve calming ritual before duels involving his mother, not Renarin.

 

Adolin is also the one who won a (very special ) shardblade, as a teenager, on his very first duel. Knowing many grown men fight for a life time and never manage to win themselves one (Sadeas), it must not have been a small feat. He bounded a Ryshadium shortly after.

 

Adolin was also very troubled by Dalinar's change of mood following Galivar's death. Flashbacks from him would help cover Dalinar's breakdown from the perspective of his son (as I think Dalinar's flashbacks will deal most likely with his years as the Blackthorn and not so much about the last 6). It would also be interesting to learn about the first years of war on the Shattered Plains.

 

Albeit, a few flashbacks here and there, in the same book, from Renarin's POV (as I think we need a few of those, but not a whole book ala Shallan/Kaladin) would help wrapping up the Kohlin kids background. I just happened to think that, by not using Adolin as a flashback character, we are going to miss many many interesting things  

[kadolin]

If we look at what has been done for the first 2 books despite each book being linked to one KR order and one main POV character, we can see that there will possibly be more secondary/minor POV characters. And unfortunately, the first 2 books doesn't quite focus on their associated KR orders imo.

About half of WoK(bk1) reveals Kaladin's story in which only the latter parts reveals more about him being a KR, not much has been revealed about Windrunners per say till WoR(bk2) where Kaladin says the oath and becomes a Windrunner. (We can see despite Kaladin being the focus of bk1, he only develops into a Windrunner KR in bk 2.)

In WoR, Shallan's story is revealed as well as her abilities, although not much about her order is explained. Her POV focus on her past story but I still feel there is more to it. Why would her mother want to kill Shallan, why was Shallan able to manifest a shardblade by then. So despite her being the focus, much of her story still awaits developing in other books, as well as what she will be contributing as a KR.

1 Kaladin (Windrunners)
2 Shallan (Lightweavers)
3 Szeth (Skybreakers)
4 Eshonai (Willshapers/Dustbringers?)
5 Dalinar (Bondsmiths)
6 Taln (Stonewards)
7 Shalash (Dustbringers/Willshapers?)
8 Lift (Edgedancers)
9 Jasnah (Elsecallers)
10 Renarin (Truthwatchers)

I am actually looking forward to Renarin, Taln and Lift more than the rest. But I believe all their story will develop significantly regardless of the book orders.

Renarin's background story might seem uninteresting now but I suspect more will revealed together with Adolin's and perhaps their mother(kinda hoping it would be one of the heralds, shalash perhaps?). I am looking forward to Renarin's growth and contribution as a truthwatcher mostly.

Taln (which I speculate to be the actual herald in a broken state after Damnation, possibly on behalf of his herald brethen, making his suffering bad enough to break him), the only herald who didnt break his oathpact like the rest. I am keen to know the cause and implications, as well as seeing him recover to his former self and shedding more light on KR matters and the true desolation.

Lift I was hoping to be more mature by the time but I wonder if the Everstorm and the true desolation will actually drag for that long. She is mentioned as very important and I hope to see her mature even as a child. I secretly want her to heal the sprens and heal Taln.

Well, technically we don't have to feature each book's order in the flashback chapters. The focus character could still be Shalash, but the plot might, for example, focus on restoring the Dustbringers' order.

Exactly. And it makes it harder to speculate the order associated with the major POV focus characters. Also speculating that our heralds will be more involved with the KR rookies, hopefully on their side and not fighting them, maybe some of both, but interesting to find out.

Assuming that both Szeth and Eshonai become KR, which doesn´t have to be the case, even if it is likely.
..
Things would get even stranger if book three is about Skybreakers but Szeth turns out to be a Dustbringer or something.

I am more inclined to think those two might not end up as KR. And perhaps there are more KRs than just one from each order. Szeth, Eshonai and the heralds could just be POV worthy characters to reveal the different sides of the true desolation. They could be associated with the KR orders without having to be one.

Edited August 9, 2014 by kadolin