Unpopular Brandon Sanderson Opinions

[Ishar]

On 7/18/2024 at 2:15 PM, Treamayne said:

I have a theory. I think many people that dislike Adolin do so because he suffers from Raoden Syndrome. From the Elantris Annotations:

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Annotations to Ch 3:

Annotations to Ch 13:

Annotations to Ch 53:

Well, in Adolin's case, a brilliant swordsman who is also a good person and emotionally competent. . . 

So, in a Roshar filled with Character-driven arcs and lots of personal growth, we have Adolin with a Plot-driven arc (First he thinks his Father is going mad, then the Dueling plots, then the Kholinar trip and the Trial). Sure, Adolin gets minimal character progression (Killing Sadeas;  fiding his own way as Highprince, rather than being mini-Dalinar; etc.) but he does not need Character Growth as much (Maya does though). As Brandon points out, the mostly-stable hero with a Plot driven arc is rarely a fan favorite. 

This seems accurate enough (although I actually really like Raoden, so there's something different with him). I guess I just don't find Adolin's plot driven arc to be particularly compelling. I think that might be because he doesn't really (or at least hasn't yet) had a plot arc that's distinct from the plot arcs of other characters. i.e. he's always doing stuff with or for someone else. Raoden's plot arc (fixing up Elantris) was pretty independent from other characters. He was the one driving it.

 

On 7/19/2024 at 8:51 AM, Pineap-spider said:

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Spoiler tag for space^
I can understand that you don’t care for Adolin because, paraphrasing from the two people I quoted, he’s got more of a plot driven arc and he doesn’t have as much emotional development as the others surrounding him, more supporting others development than developing himself. I personally like Adolin because of his function as this supporter. He’s a character who is there to just be a good person, a buddy for kaladin, an anchor for Shallan, a right hand man for his father, and functions well like that. Granted, he definitely he isn’t very good until Oathbringer, but I love him and Maya in RoW, and the trial chapters are lovely. His arc can be flat, but he only improves the arc of others.

To your point about him being a supporter, I fully agree. The problem is that he isn't treated like that. He's treated like an independent main character, which simply doesn't match. I am hopeful for improvement with Maya, but I don't think RoW was sufficient to actually show that will happen.

[Mags she/they]

Am I the only one who just strongly disliked Raboniel? I feel like people really liked and her I don't get it.

[Lord Stormer]

1. Chapter 67 in The Way of Kings - while impressive - is not my best 5 in the book.

2. Relatedly, somehow I tolerate what Amaram did in Ch. 51, but Roshone's retaliation in 44 is outright irredeemable.

Edited April 24, 2025 by Lord Stormer

[Treamayne]

On 9/13/2024 at 9:47 AM, J. Magi said:

Am I the only one who just strongly disliked Raboniel? I feel like people really liked and her I don't get it.

Depends on what you mean by "liked" I'd guess:

• If you mean "thought she was a wall-written villian," then I "liked" Raboniel
• If you mean "thought she was a good research partner for Navani" then no
  • There is the barest edge of sympathy in seeing what drove her to the position she is in, but like all Extremists she has gone way too far to be a truly sympathetic villain, IMO

[Mags she/they]

13 hours ago, Treamayne said:

Depends on what you mean by "liked" I'd guess:

• If you mean "thought she was a wall-written villian," then I "liked" Raboniel
• If you mean "thought she was a good research partner for Navani" then no
  • There is the barest edge of sympathy in seeing what drove her to the position she is in, but like all Extremists she has gone way too far to be a truly sympathetic villain, IMO

Hmmm, mostly the second point I think. I don't she was poorly written at all, I really liked how she shaped RoW's plot, and some of the stuff she did. I think she could have been more unique, but I always feel that way about characters who lean more into their trope then others. I certainly don't think the story would be better without her.

I'm speaking more on the surface level of 'liking' or having an emotional attachment to her character. It feels like a lot of people in fandom really enjoyed her character, and liked her (the way you can like a character who is objectively evil), but I just didn't see it. I certainly don't see why people ship her with Navani . . . It's not that I have a hard time liking villainous characters (my favorite book is the Silmarillion for heavens sake), I just don't think Rabonial is compelling or interesting.

She's just an archetypal mad scientist character, perfect for furthering the plot and Navani's scientific discoveries, but nothing more. I never really related or felt for her during the book.

[reisleK she/her]

On 8/14/2024 at 5:17 PM, Ishar said:

actually really like Raoden, so there's something different with him

I adore Raoden, he's the main reason why I like Elantris as much as I do

[theSuda]

On 2/25/2021 at 3:52 AM, Hoiditthroughthegrapevine said:

2) I agree, the Kholin are a tad too radiant as a family. Though this might provide a solution to the dearth of Knights Radiant, Dalinar and Navani can just start adopting people, until all the humans are part of the Kholin family. Might work.

Have you started bragging about this comment yet?

On 9/13/2024 at 9:47 AM, J. Magi said:

Am I the only one who just strongly disliked Raboniel? I feel like people really liked and her I don't get it.

I really like Raboniel. I am re-listening to Graphic Audio version of ROH (for 4th time maybe) and I keep skipping stuff to get to Raboniel+Navani interactions. I really love this character who is an evil genius immortal ancient mastermind trying to do something for her little one. I will admit I wasn't sure about her the first time reading this book until the end where she tries to save Navani (one of my favorite characters).

[reisleK she/her]

I haven't fully read all 28 pages, still on page 15. Here are some of my takes.

1. I REALLY liked Elantris, maybe more than Warbreaker
2. I didn't like Hrathen
3. Tindwyl is in my top 10 favorite cosmere characters. I don't know if that's a hot take, I just don't really see people talking about her. 
4. Kaladin's depression is necessary. I mean in the scenes where he does seemingly nothing. I'm happy that he still struggles in ROW, it bothers me when there's the "the world is ending so I guess I'm not depressed anymore"
5. Lopen's arm shouldn't have grown back--I don't love the concept of stormlight healing physical disabilities, it's not healing mental ones so that's pretty inconsistent.  
6. Lift is kind of overrated
7. White Sand was mid--is that unpopular?

 

 

[Treamayne]

9 hours ago, reisleK said:

I haven't fully read all 28 pages, still on page 15. Here are some of my takes.

1. I REALLY liked Elantris, maybe more than Warbreaker
2. I didn't like Hrathen
3. Tindwyl is in my top 10 favorite cosmere characters. I don't know if that's a hot take, I just don't really see people talking about her. 
4. Kaladin's depression is necessary. I mean in the scenes where he does seemingly nothing. I'm happy that he still struggles in ROW, it bothers me when there's the "the world is ending so I guess I'm not depressed anymore"
5. Lopen's arm shouldn't have grown back--I don't love the concept of stormlight healing physical disabilities, it's not healing mental ones so that's pretty inconsistent.  
6. Lift is kind of overrated
7. White Sand was mid--is that unpopular?

Hope you enjoy reading through the rest of the thread (IMO - there are a few long threads that are still worth reading all of the pages - if you find the topic interesting) - such as Stormlight Translation (16 very interesting pages).

1. I do too - especially with the Annotations.
2. Sorry - not sure if you hit the part of this thread where this gets dicussed yet. If not, you will.
3. She does not get much discussion - sounds like time for a Tindwyl thread in Mistborn (use the Support tag to help lay out all of the reasons you like her)
4. Concur. I also find that "limitations" that disappear just because of a climax are awkward.
5. I think this had more to do with providing direct evidence as to how and why Healing works (Miles makes it a bit awkward, while the Lopen/Rysn scenes add context)
6. And more than a bit annoying
7. May I ask which version?
   • For me, the Omnibus elevated it from "meh" to one of my favorites.

Thanks for the post.

Edited October 16, 2024 by Treamayne
SPAG

[PiousMongoose Depressed]

Moash isn’t actually that bad.

[Unhurried he/him]

On 10/16/2024 at 1:46 PM, PiousMongoose said:

Moash isn’t actually that bad.

I would disagree, but do think he's worth saving. Brandon's pulled those sort of arcs off well before.

[reisleK she/her]

On 10/16/2024 at 6:40 AM, Treamayne said:

Hope you enjoy reading through the rest of the thread (IMO - there are a few long threads that are still worth reading all of the pages - if you find the topic interesting) - such as Stormlight Translation (16 very interesting pages).

1. I do too - especially with the Annotations.
2. Sorry - not sure if you hit the part of this thread where this gets dicussed yet. If not, you will.
3. She does not get much discussion - sounds like time for a Tindwyl thread in Mistborn (use the Support tag to help lay out all of the reasons you like her)
4. Concur. I also find that "limitations" that disappear just because of a climax are awkward.
5. I think this had more to do with providing direct evidence as to how and why Healing works (Miles makes it a bit awkward, while the Lopen/Rysn scenes add context)
6. And more than a bit annoying
7. May I ask which version?
   • For me, the Omnibus elevated it from "meh" to one of my favorites.

Thanks for the post.

2. I think so?
5. Yeah, I get it, the whole if they accept it or not thing makes enough sense
7. Omnibus. Mid comapared to other cosmere books, I didn't love the way that it was written, like tense wise (I think, I haven't read it in a few months and my brain is not braining)