Toaster Retribution

Chana mentions that she got killed once more after returning to Roshar following Shallan killing her. Any theories about happened? If it was Voidbringers, wouldn’t they have tried to capture her similarly to what they did with Jezrien? So did she just slip in the Urithiru showers or something?

Dalinar is dead. Passing into the Beyond is Brandons way of confirming that a character is truly gone and beyond resurrection. And I think it is important to keep it that way: death has to mean something, after all. Furthermore, Dalinars death is a ”passing the torch” moment to the next generation of Radiants who has to deal with a new version of Roshar. There is no narrative reason to bring him back, and Brandon used an established narrative tool to confirm that he is genuinely dead.

I do think that he works in that regard as well, although it might fall in the ”fun writing” category rather than ”great writing”. I don’t think Moash needs to be sympathetic anymore (he arguably was in WoR/OB were he at least fought for some kind of justice in an unjust system) and since then he has fallen into pure evil due to letting himself be ruled by hate and anger. That is fine. But I do think it would be interesting to do something more with him, I’d have loved a scene with him and El for example, especially since El used to be Vyre before Moash came around, and also due to Els interest in humans.

One of my main complaints with Wind & Truth is how little time we spent with many of the villains. Disregarding Odium and Nale (who turned good by the end) and arguably maybe Mraize we didn’t really get to spend much time with any villain. They showed up for confrontations or an Interlude and were then barely seen again. I for one would have loved to see what El got up to with the Black Fisher and how he led his army, more about Moashs current state (he seriously just shows up to gleefully kill characters at this point), maybe a scene or two with Mraize and Iyatil. Heck, just having Odium interact more with his minions (like Battar, or even Nale whose Skybreakers serve him) would have been interesting. I get why a lot of this wasn’t included, the book is BIG as is, but still… anyone else who’d have liked more villain screen-time?

So, in WaT, we learn that Mraize has never been to other planets. He says so himself, and there is no reason for him to lie, nor to hold anything back from us readers since he is now dead as dodo. However, there are WoBs that clearly state that Mraize has visited other planets. So, did Brandon forget about this, or change his mind or is he actually hiding something?

I doubt that, especially since Taravangian in essence kept the city (or at least it’s people) around. I suspect it is something more personal, and with greater ramifications for Taravangian and his powers.

Dalinar Kholin is dead and gone. That is what going Beyond means, that is kind of the border Brandon has set up for when people are dead and won’t come back. However, the Blackthorn is alive and well, unfortunately.

I’m going to toss in that Ishar bribed Battar to rejoin the Oathpact, as no one seems to have suggested that highly entertaining angle. On a more serious note, the most interesting thing narratively would be if she is a double agent and still works for Retrivangian. The specific mention of her reaction to the reforging implies that something is still up with her, while the other Heralds are more ”normal” again.

Okay, so I’m finally done. Overall loved the book, defenitely better than both Rhythm of War and The Lost Metal. I liked the pacing, and felt very invested in most storylines. Highlights for me: *Roshar history! If RoW was the ”magic system”-book, this was the history-book, and I really dug it. The Heralds have always fascinated me, and so getting to meet more if them, including Ishar, Chana and the ”real” versions of Jezrien and Nale, was really cool. *Adolin. He stole the book, which I did not expect. But he and his defense of Azir was IMO, the standout storyline. Really love how he has gone from being one of the most powerful men on Roshar in WoK and then becomes a crippled pikeman during the climax here, which is where he finds true strenght. Inspiring stuff. *Szeth and Kaladin worked very well together, and Kaladin didn’t really steal Szeths thunder until the climax, and then it was very motivated by both their arcs. *The philosophical aspects. Really adds depth to the whole story. *The very bold ending. Incredibly excited for book 6-10 now that Roshar is dramatically changed. *Jasnah losing hard to Odium. Finally. Unpopular opinion, I believe, but I always felt like she needed to be knocked down a peg or two. And the debate between them managed to be one of the most thrilling parts of the book. Criticisms: *Some modernisms in the language takes me out of the story, such as Navani worrying that Lift mooned people, or Kaladin referring to himself as Szeths therapist. *Brandons tendency to neglect interesting villains. Moash barely got any screen-time, and defenitely no resolution. El was built up to be incredibly stormin’ cool, but also barely appeared. Ishar, Neturo and Mraize could have used more screen-time as well (although I’m glad Mraize got a POV and his scene at the dead crustacean). *Venli (and all Singers) are still boring to me. Not a flaw in Brandon or the book though, more my subjective feeling of not really finding them interesting.

I thought El was an incredibly cool character in his one appearance in RoW, and this second scene of his does not disappoint. RIP Jezrien (again). He seems like he is going to be a great villain - I hope he makes it out of this book and into the back five alive somehow. Also The Black Fisher, finally! I suspect that the important thing about the Shattered Plains has something to with Honor and his remains. That has to explain the shattering of said plains, and also the amount of investiture which allows connection. Might even have something to do with the insane size of the Chasmfiends. Cultivation breaking Taravangians mind into what is essentially two different psyches and then giving him Odium is an insane plan. Won't at all backfire on her I'm sure.

My bad, haven’t read the first four books in a while (should probably reread WoR at least tbh). Thanks!

Stormfather likely killed Tanavast somehow. He is ashamed, he lies, and he doesn't want the power to be picked up. I wonder if this was something the spren did along with the Radiants, or even alongside Cultivation. Either way, his shame alongside Hoids "I actually missed his death, bummer" makes me think that there is a twist to Tanavasts death, and this is the obvious one. Question is why they did it. Shallan confronting Mraize is really exciting. Hopefully we finally get to see exactly what Mraize can do, I've been looking forward to him doing something other than playing dress-up and acting like a shady RPG-quest-giver. Also, I wonder if the Minks Herdaz-adventure is going to be another plotline, or just something that screws things up for our heroes.

I think so as well - either just the Stormfather or, perhaps more likely the Stormfather along with his Bondsmith (Melishi) and possibly the other Radiants, as part of the Recreance. He said "our shame" after all, not "my shame". Another possible aide in the murder is Cultivation, whose suggestion that Dalinar pick up Honor was something Stormfather referred to as a "betrayal". I think it's very likely that Stormfather killed Tanavast somehow.

Fair point, although a lot will be going down in these ten days. But hey, crackpot idea - what if it's Ishar? He is scholarly and will be present for the Shinovar-stuff. Granted, the "Heralds-are-gone"-thing is a problem, but maybe he gets off on a technicality by renouncing his Herald-ness or something?