Dawnshard Live Reading Blog

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

Hello. So, I’m starting to read Dawnshard now. I read the prologue when it was spoiled in Brandon’s newsletter, but I am otherwise unspoiled.

I’m planning to post my thoughts on the book chapter by chapter here, so if you’re interested you can follow along. 

My predictions for the book:

Spoiler

 

Dawnshards somehow allow people to access super-powered versions of the surges, maybe they are fabrials?

One of the Dawnshards on Amia (or the Dawnshard if there’s only one) is either an adhesion or a transformation shard, and it is how they made soulcasters.

 

Chapter 1 thoughts (spoilers for Dawnshard):

Spoiler

First off, that Rysn art is AMAZING. Second, this explains why Rysn goes to Amia.
I wonder what’s going on with Chiri-Chiri? I have a hunch he’s going to molt into something. The question is what? And why does he have to go to Amia? Does a Dawnshard there fuel the Larkin somehow? Was it the void light that made him “sick”?
Finally, it seems like the Reshi Greatshells are more sentient than I thought? I want to know more about them. They seem to have some influence on animal life and on spren. I feel like there’s maybe some cultivation influence there.

Chapter 2 thoughts (spoilers:)

Spoiler

 

Crossing my fingers for Rushu to come with Rysn. 
Apparently Navani’s title is queen, now? Is it because Dalinar is the ruler of Urithiru?

Rysn is going to just be Professor X with her hover chair 

 

Chapter 3 thoughts (more spoilers):

Spoiler

 

Rushu!

I’m liking the Lopen more than I thought I would, so that’s good.

Sounds like some discontent is brewing with the Dustbringers. Malata would probably have a lot of sway over the order, as she was the first, so it would make sense she’s trying to arouse some sedition.

I’m hoping this means we get to see some more of the Dustbringers’ powers and oaths!

 

Chapter 4 (many spoilers):

Spoiler

Not too much here. Rysn’s point of view is really interesting. I like her even more than in her interludes. I’m interested to see how the crew dynamic develops, and see some more of Cord.

Chapter 5 (spoilers, spoilers, and more spoilers):

Spoiler

 

Am I the only one who wants to hear about the interactions between flamespren and logicspren? It’s cute how Rysn calls Lopen “the Lopen” when everyone else just calls him “Lopen”.

Dark soulcasting?

 

Chapter 6 (spoilers abound):

Spoiler

 

First swarm on Roshar. So the sleepless are definitely worldhoppers. Does this mean the First was the first created/born on Roshar, or the first who set “foot” on Roshar? 
The Bondsmith will destroy us!? Wasn’t there something about this on the back of a book cover? Also, sleepless future sight, somehow. Dalinar isn’t Odium’s champion, so what does this mean? Is it destruction as in how Ashyn was destroyed, or some other meaning? That would fit with Dawnshards. 
“the decision of Honor is life.” And “he has made the decision of Honor.” Dalinar is the person in the deathrattle about killing a baby?! Appearantly, though, making the choice of Honor will not “destroy us”? But the deathrattle says that “all who live want me to let the blade slip... but I will not because the choice of honor is life” (heavily paraphrased, obviously). WHAT?! I’m writing this as I read, and I need to get to the next sentence!

OK, so “that is why he will destroy us”? This “culling” reminds me of Cultivation “pruning” the thorns. Capital S Separated? What does that mean?

Arclo! Is he a rebel sleepless? He’s not a traitor, but there are traitor sleepless? That’s terrifying.

Killing radiants? I NEED to see this fight, but I’m guessing Nikli is going to be more subtle.

BRANDON YOU CANNOT JUST DROP A SLEEPLESS POV AND EXPECT ME TO BE OKAY RIGHT NOW.

Chapter 7(spoilers multiplied by a hundred):

Spoiler

 

So, up until chapter 6 I was waiting until the end of the chapter record my thoughts. Now, though, I think I need to write these as I read.

I’m surprised aluminum can be soulcast, and horn eaters trade with spren? Maybe it’s just during the desolation? Cord also refers to her peak as a “he”. Interesting that the horn eater accent is like the parshendi, in that it is rhythmic. 
Different colored gemstones taste different? Maybe an allusion to how soulcasters prefer different gems?

I’m glad an actual Santhid didn’t die. That would be sad.

 

Chapters 8-9 (spoilers to the power of spoilers):

Spoiler

 

We have good confirmation of the general period of the scouring, yay! Also, gloom dancer and sea hags? This seems like foreshadowing. Maybe not for this book, but for RoW?

Creature’s who can stop shardplate? I’m guessing that’s just the greatshells. I still wonder if the Aimians had some part in the scouring. I’m also guessing the fabrials Nikli is talking about are Dawnshards, or made using Dawnshards. I wonder where the sleepless name comes from.

Cord knows about Lopen’s crush. So cute! 
I continue to be fascinated by how fabrials work. I need more! Also, “in case something happens to this expedition”... that’s not foreboding at all .

 

Chapter 10 (so many spoilers):

Spoiler

Poor Nikli.  He was just doing his job. Rysn in her hover chair is just the kind of wholesome I need right now.

Chapter 11 (spoiler overload):

Spoiler

 

I love hearing about the fabrials in the ship. It’s so interesting.

I wonder how the aquatic creature who can drain Stormlight work. Are they another species of Larkin? What does it mean when Lopen says they’re more “blobby”?

 

Chapter 12 (drowning in spoilers):

Spoiler

 

Eel’s nest instead of crow’s nest. I like it.
Did all the greatshells just die instantly during the scouring, or did they die of starvation because the island couldn’t grow food?

OK, Larkin theory. Larkins are baby greatshells, but they can’t grow up because they would be to heavy, like chasmfiends. They need luckspren to keep them lighter. So, Chiri-Chiri has been conserving Stormlight for a while by being lazy, not using much energy. She’s hibernating until she can find some luckspren. However, the one problem with this is that luckspren seem pretty common. Why would she have to go to Aimia to get them? Maybe one of the Dawnshards facilitates bonding a Larkin with luckspren. We know that appearantly, one dawnshard was “known to bind any creature, voidish or mortal”, so it would definit fit. And, manufacturing spren bonds is something that is definitely powerful enough to be a Dawnshard. It would also fit with soulcasters, as they seem to have a spren bonded to them and were made in Aimia. Of there is a Dawnshard for each surge, this theory would strongly imply that the one in Aimia is based on adhesion.

Also, if this is true, how do the chasmfiends and reshi greatshells get their spren?

 

Chapter 13 (spoilers):

Spoiler

 

So, Stormlight efficiency does go up as you reach higher oaths. Good to know.

OK, so greatshells can get here. So chasmfiends could many get their spren here. Also, something that can repel Highstorms? That’s scary. Huio invented Morse code confirmed. 

 

Chapters 14 and 15 (spoilers):

Spoiler

 

Is the Dawnshard in the UNDERSEA CAVERNS OF AIMIA. The meme has become a reality.

Lopen’s arm go eaten by a chasmfiend? He says it as a joke, but it could be true.

I think the oathgate is underwater!

I’m sorry, what? The VERY COSMERE is at stake!?

 

Chapter 16 (spoilers):

Spoiler

 

Well, now we know how Rock drew the greatbow, but what is the Bow of Hours?

Interesting murals. The pools of light are probably perpendicularities, but what are the hands going through them? Also, the shattering sun is probably Adonalsium. I wonder what the Sleepless’ relationship with Adonalsium was, did they worship him? Also, Dawnshards, sun mural, there seems to be a relationship here. Guardians of ancient sins? The dawnshards could be the “ancient sins”, or, rather them being used to destroy Ashyn was the ancient sin. Or, the ancient sin was SHATTERING ADONALSIUM, and the dawnshards are the weapon that shattered him. Four of the shards are shattered, explaining why four of the pieces of the mural are shattered. That lends credence to the dawnshard shattering Adonalsium, or being used in the shattering. Maybe breaking a dawnshard shatters Adonalsium similarly? 
Also, crazy baseless theory, the guardians of ancient sins are dragons.

Brandon has said fabrials were impossible during the time when Adonalsium was alive. If fabrials have some connection to dawnshards, and the shattering heavily effected the dawnshards, maybe that explains this?

Also, can I just say that it’s appropriate that we get to see this in chapter 16, specifically. I’m willing to bet Brandon planned that.

 

Chapter 17 (spoilers):

Spoiler

 

So it seems like Sleepless can breed cremlings to feed on Stormlight.

Wait... why is Command capitalized!?

 

Chapter 18 (spoilers):

Spoiler

 

Ahh, let the avalanche begin. 
Sleepless have seen the end of worlds. And, “a force that could destroy the Cosmere”, that makes me think actually destroy and not just allow Odium to take over, or something. The “dawn” at the start of words like “dawnsinger” and “dawncity” so far has meant pre-desolation, but maybe in “dawnshard” it means dawn of the Cosmere? Also, “ancient forces hunting for this place” makes me think it’s not just Odium looking for the Dawnshards.

Does Huio swearing the third ideal protecting Lopen mean he secretly hates Lopen?

 

Chapter 19 (spoilers):

Spoiler

 

Another crazy theory: Dawnshards are somehow the things that generate Connection, and that’s why they can destroy the Cosmere and why they are “known to bind any creature, voidish or mortal”.

Chiri-Chiri is an ancient guardian! I wonder if Adonalsium created the Larkin for this purpose?

Also, my Chiri-Chiri mandra bonding theory is confirmed, somewhat.

This Command sounds suspiciously similar to a Shard’s intent. Rysn keeps saying the dawnshard is bound to her mind, not her soul. What if it is somehow a cognitive shard. All the other shards are in the spiritual realm, what if the dawnshards are remands of Adonalsium’s cognitive aspect? Congnitive shadows?

Sleepless maybe can’t use soulcasters? Or, at least, they’re useless to them? How does this play into the theory of sleepless radiants?

Four dawnshards, and they DID kill Adonalsium! Probably not cognitive shadows, then. Why can’t Rysn bond a spren? Would it allow her to use the dawnshard? The dawnshard is apparently the power to change? Also, capitalized Remade? Could this have something to do with the unmade?

 

Epilogue (still spoilers):

Spoiler

 

I wonder if there’s maybe a dawnshard on Nalthis. That’s really the only other place we see “Commands” mentioned.

It seems like, with Lopen’s oath, Windrunner oaths can be pretty different from each other.

Wait a minute... tea is extra tasty, bright colors... is THIS what the tears of Edgli do in a tea!?

Or... wait... are breaths just chunks of Dawnshards!? That would make sense with commands. What dawnshard would they be made of, then? The ability to create life?

 

Final Thoughts (spoilers):

Spoiler

 

Well, all I can say is, with the dawnshards, undersea caverns of Aimia, two new Capital words (Remade and Command), a sleepless POV, and Rysn appearantly achieving some heightening? It’s a good thing Brandon didn’t namedrop Vax, again, because I think I would have exploded.

I look forward to the Shardcast on this.

 

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by JesterLavorre