Wind and Truth Full Book Reactions (Cosmere Edition)

[AonSoo he/him]

6 hours ago, Anttix said:

What I mean is that I'd really like to see a wilder range of utterances, expressions like "dun sphere of a man" "chull lover" "son of an axehound" or even "desolations" are just waiting to be used.

Or cremling brain, Blackbane breath or even Braize as a curse.

[Schneeente]

Some time has passed since I read WaT, so with a calmer mind and a bit of distance, I am ready to share my reactions as well:

Kaladin + Szeth (9/10 points)

Positive:

• Learning about Szeth's past was super interesting. Seeing how this poor boy has been on a journey to find someone—anyone—who knows what's going on and what's right or wrong was deeply engaging. It's such a profound question that everyone struggles with, especially nowadays with our easy access to an overwhelming amount of information. Figuring out what is true or false and what action is right or wrong really resonated with me. People, especially in the United States, cannot even agree on the facts anymore; they basically live in two separate worlds. For me, Szeth's quest/past/struggle felt personal and believable.

• Kaladin trying to "heal" Szeth—and later the Heralds— was amusing to watch. Because Kaladin is such a caring person, it worked better than even he himself expected. Especially when he bonded with Szeth over realizing that Szeth wasn’t like Kaladin but rather like his younger brother. That was a beautiful moment.

• I also liked that Kaladin was outmatched by Nale by a lot. It would have been frustrating and hard to believe if Kaladin, with only 5–10 years of training, had already surpassed a demi-god with eons of experience (not literally billions of years, but you get what I mean).

• The linear, “quest-like” pace of Kaladin and Szeth’s trip was a nice counterpoint to the unforeseeable path Dalinar and his wife took. Kaladin and Szeth’s path seemed straightforward from the start: visit all the monasteries, defeat the bosses, and advance to the final boss. Simple. Dalinar and Navani didn’t even know where to begin, nor did they know where to go, what their destination was, or what they were even looking for in the first place.

• Sylphrena was amazing as usual, which isn’t surprising given she’s basically a little goddess. She’s funny, witty, and quite smart, as we’ve seen, and far more autonomous than she gives herself credit for. You go, little spren!

• Until the very end, I had no idea how their journey would conclude. That’s why it never felt boring or dragged out. I kept looking forward to them finding more clues. At one point, I was convinced (when they started carrying 3+ Honorblades) that they would reforge the Oathpact with ten “new” people. Since I wasn’t sure when Book 6 would take place (in the Cosmere timeline), I thought maybe a thousand or two thousand years would pass, and then we’d read legends of these characters we already know, smirking at how exaggerated their deeds had become.

• Ishar sharing the Heralds’ accumulated mental pain/depression with Kaladin was perfect. Cultivation couldn’t have planned it better. Kaladin was at the right place at the right time—likely the only Radiant who could take that burden without being permanently crushed. Kaladin’s entire life had prepared him for that moment, and I like to believe that him standing back up after experiencing it gave Ishar hope and the ability to see clearly again.

• Szeth renouncing his oaths after reaching the Fifth Ideal was amazing—so logical and satisfying. Finally… “I AM THE LAW.” When he took that power for himself, his first decision was to remove his own restraints and destructive potential. He wants to be peaceful. At his core, he wants to be a simple farmer; he never wanted to kill in the first place, and he sure as heck never wants to do it again. The more we learn about his past, the clearer this becomes. I loved it. The guy desperately wants to sit on his porch, watch his children play, and not turn hundreds or thousands of people to dust with his new abilities. Ironically, that’s exactly the kind of leader a nation needs... and I’m pretty sure people will look to him for leadership, regardless of how he feels.

• Listening to Nightblood was interesting and humorous, as usual. I liked that it became a bit more sentient by the end, and I loved its struggle to understand its purpose. “To destroy evil” sounds straightforward, but it’s actually quite difficult to define—especially for a sword without its own value system. And good luck finding an objective way to judge what’s evil. I still enjoy its enthusiasm, dedication, and growth.

Negative/Neutral:

• Nale’s behavior didn’t make much sense; it was full of contradictions. While I see that it was written that way intentionally, it rubbed me the wrong way. Compared to other stories where you defeat someone and they suddenly realize they’ve been wrong the whole time, this solution was definitely better, but… hmm… Nale’s “conversion” was just okay. I’m not sure how Sanderson could have done it better, though.

• All the other Heralds suddenly appearing and being willing to go back? How does that make sense? I think they were even willing before Ishar explained he could separate their body and soul so they wouldn’t be tortured. Even if he told them beforehand, it just seemed way too easy. Maybe they felt guilty or the piece of Honor in them had been building for thousands of years, so they jumped at the chance to repent—but from my perspective, it was illogical that they would all agree to renew the Oathpact so quickly.

• Wasn’t there a Herald that Taravangian recruited into his “inner circle”? The woman who became corrupt? Did she also agree to return? Does that mean she changed her loyalty again because she somehow forgot her corruption? I don’t buy that she’s a spy for Taravangian; if she were, she would’ve just said “Nope, not me,” and then they’d have a huge problem because they’d be one member short.

• I don’t understand why Nightblood doesn’t have a handle made from the same material as its sheath. That seems like a simple fix to avoid being drained to death.

 

 

Alright, I wrote way more than I intended about Kaladin and Szeth. I’ll write something about the other arcs another time. ^^

[RedBlue]

1 hour ago, Schneeente said:

Wasn’t there a Herald that Taravangian recruited into his “inner circle”? The woman who became corrupt? Did she also agree to return? Does that mean she changed her loyalty again because she somehow forgot her corruption?

Yes, that was Battar. We think she’s the Herald who agreed to the new Oathpact last, with a ‘curious expression.’

I’m pretty sure there have been some threads about what her deal might be, but to me it looks like she decided to break away from Taravangian after being freed from the Odium evil goop.

[Schneeente]

13 minutes ago, RedBlue said:

Yes, that was Battar. We think she’s the Herald who agreed to the new Oathpact last, with a ‘curious expression.’

I’m pretty sure there have been some threads about what her deal might be, but to me it looks like she decided to break away from Taravangian after being freed from the Odium evil goop.

Yeah, right, that was her name, thank you.

So there are two options:

- Either she has miraculously healed her corrupt mindset (that probably developed over hundreds if not thousands of years) in a couple of seconds (which is admittedly not impossible but I'd have wished to receive an explanation for it) and now she's totally committed and back on board

OR

- she is still looking out only for herself. I guess in that case ... now that I think about it, it would still be best to follow her compatriots because she doesn't need to be afraid of getting tortured even if it doesn't work as promised and secondly when you are as old as she is, it's probably fun to make some new experiences. And not be stuck in the same city forever. Although, she should be in the spiritual realm... or wasn't she in the city when Taravangian summoned that wave for Cultivation to prove his resolve and ruthlessness? But I guess she cannot be killed by that in the first place. Well, anyways, thanks for the clarification. 

 

 

 

[Treamayne]

52 minutes ago, Schneeente said:

So there are two options:

- Either she has miraculously healed her corrupt mindset (that probably developed over hundreds if not thousands of years) in a couple of seconds (which is admittedly not impossible but I'd have wished to receive an explanation for it)

There was an explanation (or, at least part of one) - WaT Ch 140 : 

Spoiler

And Ishar, poor Ishar, was still Connected to him by that Bondsmith’s tether. In the moment the final Words were spoken, power surged through that very tether, along with a wave of Light from Kaladin, which threw Ishar back with a physical force. He slammed against a natural rock pillar, washed in pure light from the Spiritual Realm.

Kaladin felt he could see the power of the Fifth Ideal pushing back the blackness through that tether, like a drain being flooded in the wrong direction, until it reached Ishar and he gasped again. Black smoke exploded out of the Herald, pushed from his pores like Stormlight.

Kaladin distinctly thought he heard, echoing through that failing bond, the gasps of eight other people as an unacknowledged darkness left them. An oppressive cloud that Ishar thought he’d been holding back, but had in reality been infecting every Herald. The blackness he’d absorbed from Odium centuries ago, by finding his pool of power.

The heralds' madness had two components:

1. The weight of their years of living (this trauma remains)
2. The "darkness" that Ishar was pushing on them causing them to exhibit the opposite of their Intent (the Herald of Beauty destroying art, the Herald of Wisdom selling her services (Dova/Battar), etc. )
   • This is the part that was cured when Kaladin used the Fifth Oath to push the corruption out of Ishar (and therefore out of the Heralds he was Infecting throuch Connection)

Hope that helps

[Schneeente]

12 hours ago, Treamayne said:

There was an explanation (or, at least part of one) - WaT Ch 140 : 

  Reveal hidden contents

And Ishar, poor Ishar, was still Connected to him by that Bondsmith’s tether. In the moment the final Words were spoken, power surged through that very tether, along with a wave of Light from Kaladin, which threw Ishar back with a physical force. He slammed against a natural rock pillar, washed in pure light from the Spiritual Realm.

Kaladin felt he could see the power of the Fifth Ideal pushing back the blackness through that tether, like a drain being flooded in the wrong direction, until it reached Ishar and he gasped again. Black smoke exploded out of the Herald, pushed from his pores like Stormlight.

Kaladin distinctly thought he heard, echoing through that failing bond, the gasps of eight other people as an unacknowledged darkness left them. An oppressive cloud that Ishar thought he’d been holding back, but had in reality been infecting every Herald. The blackness he’d absorbed from Odium centuries ago, by finding his pool of power.

The heralds' madness had two components:

1. The weight of their years of living (this trauma remains)
2. The "darkness" that Ishar was pushing on them causing them to exhibit the opposite of their Intent (the Herald of Beauty destroying art, the Herald of Wisdom selling her services (Dova/Battar), etc. )
   • This is the part that was cured when Kaladin used the Fifth Oath to push the corruption out of Ishar (and therefore out of the Heralds he was Infecting throuch Connection)

Hope that helps

Ahhh, true! Yes, it does, totally forgot about that in the few weeks since I have read it.

I guess if you explain it that way, that it was Odium's corruption that made them do the opposite of their initial intent, and that was cured... well, that's fine with me. 

I thought they had become cynical by themselves, having lived as long as they have. Sanderson did explore the effect of a super long lifespan in his previous books, and some of it was that someone's "main belief/attribute/value" gets stronger and more distorted/unbalanced over time. I assumed that's what had happened to the Heralds. 

I still think their willingness to renew the Oathpact was at least "curious" and I wish we would have gotten an explanation for it - because there could totally be an explanation for their willingness, buuut... we never received one. Except I conveniently forgot about that one as well? 

 

[Treamayne]

On 1/18/2025 at 5:38 AM, Schneeente said:

I thought they had become cynical by themselves

They did - that's why I said "two parts" and this one is still a problem - only the magical compulsion to invert their attribute was lifted. We'll have to wait a bit to see how that plays out.

On 1/18/2025 at 5:38 AM, Schneeente said:

I still think their willingness to renew the Oathpact was at least "curious" and I wish we would have gotten an explanation for it

Absolutely agree. Much about that scene was confusing (to me). My only question right now is "was it deliberately confusing (Sanderson hiding clues) or accidentally confusing?" but I decided to back up and reread Oathbringer and RoW before taking a second pass at WaT (for foreshadowing and details) - Maybe some foreshadowing will make that scene more clear on the second pass?

Edited January 20, 2025 by Treamayne
SPAG

[mirahound she/her]

This book.

This gosh-dang book.

I can’t even be mad at the cliff-hanger ending (freaking SHALLAN! ) because this freaking book storming THERAPIZED ME!

I had half-a-dozen breakthroughs reading Kal and Shallan’s stories. I got more therapy in the time it took me to read this book than I’ve had in FIVE YEARS!

HOW?!??

[Blackthorne]

On 1/18/2025 at 5:38 AM, Schneeente said:

I still think their willingness to renew the Oathpact was at least "curious" and I wish we would have gotten an explanation for it - because there could totally be an explanation for their willingness, buuut... we never received one. Except I conveniently forgot about that one as well? 

 

I'm curious what do you find curious about it? To me it seemed like the natural next step for them. Even under Odium's corruption every Herald we saw (except perhaps Battar) had moments of clarity where they expressed their regret over abandoning the Oathpact/Taln. Even their actions, as misdirected as they may be, were oriented towards stopping Odium/the Desolations. The Heralds fought this war for thousands of years, they endured torture for it and even under corruption most (likely all) of them are ashamed of their actions. To me it makes perfect sense that they'd take up the call again now that the corruption is lifted and Odium is stronger than ever. 

 

 

[Schneeente]

6 hours ago, Blackthorne said:

I'm curious what do you find curious about it? To me it seemed like the natural next step for them.

I might remember incorrectly, so please feel free to correct me if I do:

I thought that the Heralds (and their souls) have been "worn thin" over the decades. And that neither of them - except Taln - had the mental fortitude left to go to Braise. 

If that is true, having experienced thousands of years of uninterrupted "non-torture" should make them so so so much more reluctant to go back, since the fear/anxiety of that horrible experience had time to fester. It's not like the Heralds had a couple of relaxing years, some therapy seasons, and are now fully physically and mentally rested, waiting to go back to Braise again. On the contrary, living so long is a burden on the soul as we have seen with the Fused and which Hoid also confirmed (if you cannot store your memories externally).

 

I don't want to make that comparison and it's totally inappropriate and false, but it brings the point across that I want to make or how I see the situation. 

Israel just got 3 hostages free. They were tortured for months. In my mind, if in ten years Israel might need ten volunteers who become Hamas hostages, I would expect those three hostages to be the last ones to volunteer for that job because ... well ... I'd imagine merely picturing that in their minds would trigger an insane panic attack. But well, I am not psychologist or psychiatrist, so I could be totally wrong. But these Heralds have been tortured for so so long and so often, now going back voluntary (or even taking the slightest chance that this might happen, if that separation of body and soul doesn't work) ... it just seems implausible to me that anyone would be willing to do that. Sorry for the crass RL example, I just heard about that peace treaty and hostage/prisoner exchange this morning and... well...  I hope I could make myself clear why it is hard for me to believe that the Heralds are willing to chance it. 

[Master Silver]

If Battar is still a traitor, I could see Jasnah replacing her. Also, other heralds may end up looking for replacements too. 

[Nitpicking]

Battar took the Oath. If she violates it, Retribution must punish her. And she knows it.

[Elegy he/him]

I had to let it sink in for two weeks and I have so, so many thoughts that noone'd want to read, so I'll try to keep it short.

I liked it altogether and mostly enjoyed the wild ride ... but I still have so many frustrations with it that I believe that Stormlight - and I don't say this lightly - is, after 11 years, not my favorite story anymore. I generally think that Brandon has dropped many balls over the last few years, including Lost Metal, another half-baked "ending that is more interested in building up hype for books that are years in the future than in being a satisfying book". After years of Brandon's books being my gold standard in storytelling, I'm losing my patience with him getting more and more lax with (often his own) basic principles of storytelling (for example, the amount of hand-wavy moments where he just breaks established rules in this book is astonishing) that I'm fundamentally losing trust in his willingness to tell the best story that he could.

Which means as a consequence that I'm not really all that excited about either Ghostbloods nor the back half anymore (at least considering the immense Cosmere nerd that I am). I generally can't be bothered to be super hyped about something that's 10 years off. I might as well be an entirely different person when book 6 of Stormlight comes out. I understand that this is supposed to be a middle point, but so much of the ending was so eager to make me excited about something that's just way too far in the future for me to really care. So it mostly had me annoyed because I would have liked more of a tidy cut, not like Mistborn Era 1 to 2, but at least like Final Empire to Well of Ascension. Instead of this, he gave us a book where a half of everything that happens is just build-up for future books (the back half and Sunlit Man) - all that happened in Azimir, Thaylen City and Narak was basically pointless for the Contest itself. Contrast with Oathbringer, where everything that happened in the book (interludes notwithstanding, of course) directly lead to the final battle of the book. It was a coherent whole. This book is a transition to something that I might possibly never read because I maybe won't care anymore in 10 years.

Especially with how he handles things lately. Honestly, regarding Ghostbloos, now I basically expect that Brandon will promise dozens of amazing things in book 1 and 2, just for them to not matter at all for that series (just like the Southeners or the Bands did in W&W, or Mishram in Stormlight), and that he will end it not with an actually satisfying ending with a few sequel hooks (like HOA did, still probably my favorite ending to any story ever), but with a "well, you are all very excited to see where that goes in a decade, right???" Which I just can't get myself to care about.

That on top of his weak prose (how many times did he use "fortunately" and "unfortunately" in this book?? In almost every case, you can cut words like these, and he gives them away like candy. Many cases like this where I feel like the editing is subpar), and despite all the great things about this book (that I'll eventually also write about, I'm sure), I'm feeling myself lose interest in my once-favorite author. I'll definitely hang around here the next few months or so to digest this book, but after that, I'll need some years off from his work and come back one day to see if I've fully grown out of it.

Edited January 26, 2025 by Elegy
(Added two or three sentences for clarification.)

[Treamayne]

5 hours ago, Elegy said:

how many times did he use "fortunately" and "unfortunately" in this book?

62 and 85 respectively (147 total)

[Elegy he/him]

11 hours ago, Treamayne said:

62 and 85 respectively (147 total)

Thank you  So once every nine pages

I should probably stress that I liked almost all of the big ideas that were central to the book, the themes of previous books were handled well and expanded upon, and except for Moash, every character development seems like a logical next step. This book certainly hasn't "ruined" the story (I think I've read that phrase several times) to me. Still, the execution of many (often key) moments felt sloppy, and the overall impact was way weaker than the story deserved as a consequence. It's odd that the books with the highest stakes in SA seem the least vast and epic to me.

Still, man that dance scene. I've wanted to hear these thoughts from Kaladin since 2011! Such a beautiful moment.

[Seana she/her]

I love this book.

It nearly broke me. Oathbringer and Wind and Truth have that in common, but where I hated reading Oathbringer I loved reading Wind and Truth. I will be completely honest; I didn't see Gav being taken by Odium coming. I let myself be too relieved when Navani came back and he was (supposedly) sound asleep. I didn't want it to happen that way. I didn't want to see the clues, so I ignored them. And it came back to crush me.

Some of the therapy-talk bugged me, because it was a bit blatant. But I do love the execution of the character growth.

I loved Dalinar. It was not what I would have done, this ending. But I liked it. He did it! He beat Taravangian and got the rest of the Cosmere to be forced to deal with their problem.

Adolin was so good. I just hope Shallan can somehow get to him rather than spending decades in Shadesmar.

10/10.

[Shadesmar]

WaT has not had enough time to really sink in for me, but my initial response is positive.

One of my favorite bits is Kaladin's 5th oath. From day one, when thinking about which order I would be most interested in, I have been drawn to the Elsecallers. But I convinced myself that I couldn't possibly be an Elsecaller, because at points in my life I have made decisions that prioritize my mental health and happiness over being "the best I could be." I was trying to avoid driving myself to burnout. I couldn't maintain Jasnah levels of competence and perfectionism with everything I do. But Sanderson acknowledged real human limits with Kaladin's 4th and 5th oaths. And with Szeth's 5th oath, I think. So I assume it is the same for all orders. Usually we read fantasy for the escapism, but in this case I appreciate the realism. The characters start as superheroes with extreme views and abilities. Seeing them come full circle and acknowledge limits was cathartic for me.

I really need to reread the debate between Jasnah and Taravangian. I forced myself to keep moving and reading to finish the book, but this is the first time I have ever felt compelled to stop and deeply examine a character's philosophical arguments.

I agree with what some other people said about the presence of Wind, Stone, and Truth being a little jarring and out of left field. Hopefully events in later books make it make sense.

I cannot yet rank WaT amongst the other Stormlight books. I will probably wait a year or two and reread it. But after rereading the rest of the series, this is how I would rank the first 4:

1. WoK (good all the way through)

2. WoR (first half was a slog, but second half was an amazing Sanderlanche that captured my imagination)

3. RoW (odd in a good way; I loved the Navani/Raboniel bits; I enjoyed the reread more than the initial read)

4. OB (the book as a whole was a slog with a few standout amazing moments. I liked the battle of Theylen Field and the character arcs for Elhokar and Szeth, but that was it)

[bdoble97]

Hello I have not been hear for a very long time. I just finshed Wind and Truth this afternoon, and I loved it but also very sad I love the characters. I am really going to miss Dalinar. Shallan is 1000% pregnant I hope with twins or even triplets haha I would love that, I'm not sure about Kaladin I was really afraid he was going to die. But I don't know how feel about him having to live forever but I am happy that Syl is with him. They want them to be together together.  When thwy were dancing together and Syl starting to be full size the while book I thought it was leading gus to them having a romantic relationship some how. Adolin arc was my favorite I for sure thought he was going to die and I realy like Colt dude was awesome. I could go on and on but I'll stop there for now. Just loved this book. Thank you so much Mr. Sanderson 

[smokeesid]

I would like to know one thing. I have the habit of reading the last chapters of novels once I have completed 20-30% of them. That gave me an idea that Sigzil becomes Nomad in the sunlit man which I haven't read yet

 

Could somebody tell me when the events of The Sunlit Man takes place after the ending of Wind and Truth?

[Treamayne]

1 hour ago, smokeesid said:

Could somebody tell me when the events of The Sunlit Man takes place after the ending of Wind and Truth?

The Sunlit Man is significantly in the future of the Cosmere, but we do not have a specific timeline yet. Likely after Stormlight Archive 10, but not a guarantee. 

On a separate note - when you get to TSM, we would be interested in hearing about how Sigzil's events in this book affected your reading of that book, as there has been debate about whether it is better to suggest new readers finish WaT before or after TSM. (TSM has minor spoilers for WaT)

[smokeesid]

4 hours ago, Treamayne said:

The Sunlit Man is significantly in the future of the Cosmere, but we do not have a specific timeline yet. Likely after Stormlight Archive 10, but not a guarantee. 

On a separate note - when you get to TSM, we would be interested in hearing about how Sigzil's events in this book affected your reading of that book, as there has been debate about whether it is better to suggest new readers finish WaT before or after TSM. (TSM has minor spoilers for WaT)

I will tell you but I am a very slow reader reading a very long book.

But I think reading wind and truth before is better. Sigzil is more fleshed out in this book in the 20-30% of it that I have read. You become more familiar with him in the heroic place where kaladin once was when Sigzil is the main character or should I say the hero of the sunlit man.

[bdoble97]

Can book 6-10 get much bigher. I mean Wind and Truth is over 1300 pages. But physically can the books be that much bigger. Wind and Truth is the largest book I have ever read. For me I could read 2000 pg Storm light book. But would the publisher push back on a 1400-1500 page book it must cost them more and more to make each ST book. 

[Nitpicking]

6 hours ago, bdoble97 said:

Can book 6-10 get much bigher. I mean Wind and Truth is over 1300 pages. But physically can the books be that much bigger. Wind and Truth is the largest book I have ever read. For me I could read 2000 pg Storm light book. But would the publisher push back on a 1400-1500 page book it must cost them more and more to make each ST book. 

Brandon says that WaT is physically the largest book Tor could print.

[bdoble97]

5 minutes ago, Nitpicking said:

Brandon says that WaT is physically the largest book Tor could print.

Hmmmm as of right now ha, But mabye 7 years from now they can come up with a way to print bigger. Or they are going to have to make the print smaller or thiner pages like the Bible. 

[ChillPenguin]

On 1/17/2025 at 2:31 PM, Schneeente said:

Some time has passed since I read WaT, so with a calmer mind and a bit of distance, I am ready to share my reactions as well:

Kaladin + Szeth (9/10 points)

Positive:

• Learning about Szeth's past was super interesting. Seeing how this poor boy has been on a journey to find someone—anyone—who knows what's going on and what's right or wrong was deeply engaging. It's such a profound question that everyone struggles with, especially nowadays with our easy access to an overwhelming amount of information. Figuring out what is true or false and what action is right or wrong really resonated with me. People, especially in the United States, cannot even agree on the facts anymore; they basically live in two separate worlds. For me, Szeth's quest/past/struggle felt personal and believable.

• Kaladin trying to "heal" Szeth—and later the Heralds— was amusing to watch. Because Kaladin is such a caring person, it worked better than even he himself expected. Especially when he bonded with Szeth over realizing that Szeth wasn’t like Kaladin but rather like his younger brother. That was a beautiful moment.

• I also liked that Kaladin was outmatched by Nale by a lot. It would have been frustrating and hard to believe if Kaladin, with only 5–10 years of training, had already surpassed a demi-god with eons of experience (not literally billions of years, but you get what I mean).

• The linear, “quest-like” pace of Kaladin and Szeth’s trip was a nice counterpoint to the unforeseeable path Dalinar and his wife took. Kaladin and Szeth’s path seemed straightforward from the start: visit all the monasteries, defeat the bosses, and advance to the final boss. Simple. Dalinar and Navani didn’t even know where to begin, nor did they know where to go, what their destination was, or what they were even looking for in the first place.

• Sylphrena was amazing as usual, which isn’t surprising given she’s basically a little goddess. She’s funny, witty, and quite smart, as we’ve seen, and far more autonomous than she gives herself credit for. You go, little spren!

• Until the very end, I had no idea how their journey would conclude. That’s why it never felt boring or dragged out. I kept looking forward to them finding more clues. At one point, I was convinced (when they started carrying 3+ Honorblades) that they would reforge the Oathpact with ten “new” people. Since I wasn’t sure when Book 6 would take place (in the Cosmere timeline), I thought maybe a thousand or two thousand years would pass, and then we’d read legends of these characters we already know, smirking at how exaggerated their deeds had become.

• Ishar sharing the Heralds’ accumulated mental pain/depression with Kaladin was perfect. Cultivation couldn’t have planned it better. Kaladin was at the right place at the right time—likely the only Radiant who could take that burden without being permanently crushed. Kaladin’s entire life had prepared him for that moment, and I like to believe that him standing back up after experiencing it gave Ishar hope and the ability to see clearly again.

• Szeth renouncing his oaths after reaching the Fifth Ideal was amazing—so logical and satisfying. Finally… “I AM THE LAW.” When he took that power for himself, his first decision was to remove his own restraints and destructive potential. He wants to be peaceful. At his core, he wants to be a simple farmer; he never wanted to kill in the first place, and he sure as heck never wants to do it again. The more we learn about his past, the clearer this becomes. I loved it. The guy desperately wants to sit on his porch, watch his children play, and not turn hundreds or thousands of people to dust with his new abilities. Ironically, that’s exactly the kind of leader a nation needs... and I’m pretty sure people will look to him for leadership, regardless of how he feels.

• Listening to Nightblood was interesting and humorous, as usual. I liked that it became a bit more sentient by the end, and I loved its struggle to understand its purpose. “To destroy evil” sounds straightforward, but it’s actually quite difficult to define—especially for a sword without its own value system. And good luck finding an objective way to judge what’s evil. I still enjoy its enthusiasm, dedication, and growth.

Negative/Neutral:

• Nale’s behavior didn’t make much sense; it was full of contradictions. While I see that it was written that way intentionally, it rubbed me the wrong way. Compared to other stories where you defeat someone and they suddenly realize they’ve been wrong the whole time, this solution was definitely better, but… hmm… Nale’s “conversion” was just okay. I’m not sure how Sanderson could have done it better, though.

• All the other Heralds suddenly appearing and being willing to go back? How does that make sense? I think they were even willing before Ishar explained he could separate their body and soul so they wouldn’t be tortured. Even if he told them beforehand, it just seemed way too easy. Maybe they felt guilty or the piece of Honor in them had been building for thousands of years, so they jumped at the chance to repent—but from my perspective, it was illogical that they would all agree to renew the Oathpact so quickly.

• Wasn’t there a Herald that Taravangian recruited into his “inner circle”? The woman who became corrupt? Did she also agree to return? Does that mean she changed her loyalty again because she somehow forgot her corruption? I don’t buy that she’s a spy for Taravangian; if she were, she would’ve just said “Nope, not me,” and then they’d have a huge problem because they’d be one member short.

• I don’t understand why Nightblood doesn’t have a handle made from the same material as its sheath. That seems like a simple fix to avoid being drained to death.

 

 

Alright, I wrote way more than I intended about Kaladin and Szeth. I’ll write something about the other arcs another time. ^^

I agree with most of what you wrote and really enjoyed the book myself.

One thing I want to add is that Nightblood can take investiture remotely now. Kaladin wasn’t even holding him for the entire fight and neither was Szeth at the end yet Nightblood continued to pull from them. I think there was some discussion about an aluminum suit of armor or something but I bet Nightblood would still get investiture from you between the gaps in the armor.