IndigoAjah

So Sanderson has confirmed that, after accidentally starting it, he's gonna continue the palindromic shape of naming his books. Given the O of Oathbringer, this probably means Books 1-5 and 6-10 are separate Palindromes. Meaning Book 5, named after a book in universe, will be KoW(t). What do we think the name might be? Seen a lot of "Knowledge of Worlds" on Facebook but, though that's a safe bet, let's try and be a bit more imaginative

I think everything unusual NB does can be explained by his Awakening rather than what he is made of.

I think this makes sense, especially given similarities to ideas in Wheel of Time, and the discovery of how key sounds/songs are in Roshar. I like the idea as it's very different and would I think have to manifest either purely on the singer or to the general area rather than a target. So the Song of Flight would make everyone hearing it resist Gravity (or maybe the opposite?), The Song of Growth heals and makes everything that hears it grow etc I like this idea because it fits with Cultivation as a concept and is a foil to both other magic systems, where Honor's seems targeted and Odium's Fused powers self-directed (and Radiants generally can be either, as their surgebinding, I think, has ties to both Honor and Odium)

I mean, timeline wise he will be going into action soon after Bands of Mourning

Personally I think Mraize is not long for this world, I expect Iyatil to off him early next book either on her own or Thaidakar's orders

Sorry I was responding to Karger rather than yourself

MB1 Kel thought nothing of assassinating people, even innocents, on the enemy side. He was a professional con man that lied to everyone even when he was doing good. His gang and own brother were amazed when he decided to actually try and do good, an act motivated by revenge. He would do anything for Vin, his morality pet, but she's not around anymore. I think people are massively underestimating how amoral Kelsier, for all his loyalty to his friends and his people, can be. The GB methods are exactly Kel's methods, at every level. He is pure GB. And the Avatar thing has nothing to do with cross systems: Kel on Scadrial in his physical form is an avatar, by definition. There's no reason to believe even that avatar is crossing systems at all. Thaidakar is Kel. Even what we've heard about Mistborn and Brandon's timeline issues screams that. The only surer confirmation would be if we got a WoB and where's the fun in that.

I think their codes are too hard to fully combine. Much of the time your two Spren and two approaches to Honor and morality will line up but sometimes they won't and you'll end up killing a Spren

T's intention was to save and be seen as a saviour. But I think Odium's Intent will corrupt how he interprets that. We know, and it's key as a foil to the Honorable characters like Kal and Dalinar and the overall take on ethics of Radiants, that T's take on ethics is very End justify the Means. And SA at its heart has to be an evaluation of that ideal vs the ideal that Journey comes over Destination. That's why it fit so nicely that T became Odium because whereas we don't know what ethics Rayse followed or even know whether Rayse had any ethics, we know T has a strong ethical code, and it's exactly against the Radiant one. I'm intrigued as to whether Sanderson fully commits to one ideology or not, or shows that both can be valid. I'm also scared for Jasnah as her ethics, whilst not utterly clear, have hinted at Ends Justify Means before (although in not killing Renarin she went against that). Maybe she'll be "logical deontology", Kant's Categorical Imperative, in the end?

I think realistically in the back 5 we have to see either: the action taken to Braize or Ashyn Or Odium escapes the system and we swing from Fantasy with a SF touch to SF with a Fantasy touch. I think more likely this option, because it allows for more possibilities to Splinter or neutralise Odium (Shards like Mercy could do the latter, Dawnshards that could sort Odium out exist but need a Shard and its Intent to do that, we think). Also I'm sure Cultivation is trying to find a way to get Odium off her system. However, locking Odium to Roshar, a sacrifice made by other players like Wit, would fit some themes and be interesting to see how Sanderson finds a solution. As for the next book, we will see the Duel either happen or more likely be sabotaged by Todium by the end of Part 2. We will see Shinovar, hopefully see some more of the Radiant Spren civilisations in Shadesmar. We will see a confrontation with the GBs and learn more about them and Thaidakar but Shallan won't meet him until the back 5 for obvious reasons (another reason to expect the series to leave Roshar). The book will end up in a giant, all pieces we have seen so far, pitched battle, and it will end with a huge twist of either Odium appearing dead, escaping or the battle and Radiants locked back on Braize or Ashyn, possibly with Roshar wrecked like Ashyn was.

Given Adhesion is apparently an Honor-unique power, this is possible. Or if a highly invested individual who could Connect things could mend Honor. Either way, I'm certain Honor had a plan other than just "I guess I'll die then". Maybe I've read too much Sandman, but I'm not entirely convinced Honor didn't choose to die, in a sacrifice. It would fit a growing theme of SA and certainly RoW, with Tien, Maya, the Recreance etc.

I don't think it does

The trouble with this is whilst when it was personally important to him, Kel did fight evil, he IS a douche, and it's noted by Sanderson and in Mistborn that in another world he would basically be the villain. Miles is used a parallel to that regard. The GB MO IS exactly his MO. And I think we know already that he has an avatar, from Bands of Mourning where it's heavily implied that he uses haematurgy and metal minds to imprint himself on a physical body, exactly what an avatar is. I think these are both strong points FOR Thaidakar being Kelsier not against it. As for the "a leader" line, I think it's more that Thaidakar, like Mraize, is a title Except we know Shards CAN act against their Intent. It just weakens them. I don't think Harmony could intervene easily or safely, not when he knows he's under assault. But he can intervene.

I also don't think Syl and Kal's closeness is purely because of the Nahel bond. They are MUCH more intimate and love each other more than any other Radiant pairing we have seen and I think we have made assumptions about the Nahel bond based on Kal and Syl rather than vice versa

I like where Syl and Kal are at (and pretty much don't think Kal is in the right place for any romance at this point) but I don't agree any relationship would be a step down. It would be as well as their current bond. And could be interesting to explore. Their close intimate interaction doesn't necessitate a romantic relationship but neither does it preclude it. Both could work

So, where do we stand in terms of factions and "free pieces" of note? Things are deliciously complex at the moment. Factions: Davilar's alliance (a few factions within but currently working together) Odium's forces (with a few factions especially across the Fused) Mr T's people in Kharbranth The surviving Listeners and rebel Fused Ishar and his forces The Shin The Ghostbloods What's left of the Sons of Honour The 17th Shard Possibly the Set? Or some other offworlders Each of the clans of Great Spren Nan's Skybreakers Harmony and his forces, potentially Cultivation and The Nightwalker (I wonder who will bond that one?) The Sleepless Pieces: Every Herald is basically a wild card Shallan Vasher Wit Azure (who I am desperate to see more of) Szeth and NB Moash (I think is gonna be increasingly out of Odium's control alla Fain) Rysn Who else am I missing?

Just imagine Gavilar with Odium... Or Odium and Cultivation...

This is my actual favourite though

‘Deal with your own stupid planet, you idiot. Don’t make me come over there and slap you around again.’

El is a very short name for a Fused/Singer. I can't help but think the full version might be the 10th name of the Almighty, Elithanathile

I'm not sure Kaladin is the best source on what Kaladin wants. That's not sarcasm. That's just how messed up he is regarding anything he could possibly want or need.

1) The way he treated Navani, which is actively and aggressively abusive in a truly horrific way, IS enough to judge him, frankly. He went out of his way to do things purely to hurt her, and the way he speaks to her is a way no person should ever get away with speaking to any other person, frankly, nevermind one you are supposed to care for. 2) I don't think this is actually what she said at all. For one, though she admits to also hurting him, ln a section that I've seen resonate with multiple abused women, the idea that it's as bad as what we know he's done to her is simply not there. She reports him mistreating, at best neglecting, his children too, and we see his approach to Jasnah and Amaram, a man we know for sure, and it frankly seems bloody obvious to Jasnah at least as well, is an utter PoS On top of that, every bad thing that Dalinar regrets in himself was a thing he was used for, knowingly, by Gavilar. Gavilar follows the same "ends justify the means" approach as Amaram, and used it to justify brutal conquest. He might think he's righteous but the more we learn about him the crappier he gets

I think, even if you knew it could happen and were playing him, the actual realization and then sensation that someone was messing with your memories would be terrifying. Not something you can emotionally prepare for

Whether he had outright evil plans or not (I assume not, that he's had a decent plan at least that was either sabotaged by baddies or by mistaken goodies or because he had arrogantly missed how badly his plan would go), I'm confident, based on how he treats people, on saying he's a pretty crappy person.

Regarding Syl and Kal, I agree (well I agree with it all but have something to add on this point!) They are soul mates. At first I assumed, much like Pullman's Daemons, this was just par for the course for Spren with their Radiants but we've not seen any Spren Radiant relationship as deep as theirs, even as we get several Radiants explored in some depth. They care for each other deeply and personally and are almost a part of one another