PleatherDuster

Ah so she DID hold them in Warbreaker. Apparently I retained nothing from that book. I sure hope this eventually comes to fruition. Just think of all the hilarious shenanigans (evil killing) the 3 of them could get up to, before the inevitable falling out. Totally diverging, but it sure would have been great to have gotten a glimpse into whatever Azure has gotten herself into. She should have had an interlude!

Maybe I'm misremembering, but didn't Vivenna supposedly have Nightblood at some point? I can't remember that happening in Warbreaker, but doesn't NB mention that she once held them?

I had to google "The God is Not Willing" cause I didn't know what it was. Very exciting that he's planning a trilogy set after the original 10. I've forgotten a lot of the characters and plots, but Karsa is one that has stay with me more than most. (Probably only remember Fiddler and Toc's stories more... Well and Whiskyjack. I remember that plotline). I always thought if I ever got a kitten (one of my life goals XD) I would name it Karsa Orlong. Well, after reading the first chapter of Tad William's Dragonbone Chair (which I enjoyed and will read someday), and checking out a half-dozen ebooks from the library...I ultimately started re-reading Gardens of the Moon yesterday. It was inevitable and absolutely the right decision. Just finished Part I, and I don't even have words for how much I've enjoyed it. I just love the characters and love the intertwined plots. I made myself a badass and super-nerdy timeline of the Malazan Empire, updating it as I go along, so I don't miss anything this time around. Also! Caladan Brood! OMG I love it so much. He's not it it yet, but just hearing his name being dropped made me LOL. I'm telling myself that Brando absolutely named Kaladin after him!

My dad had these books when I was a kid, and I remember gazing in wonder and their nerdy amazing cover art I actually have ebooks of them, and they sound really good. I'll definitely be giving them a read. I'm pretty sure I read the first Bauchelain and Korbal Broach story while waiting for Crippled God, but it is gone from my brain like everything I read back then. Do you think if I read them before my full series re-read, I'd be missing out on anything? Are they fairly self contained? I'm pretty sure black comedy novellas are exactly what I need in my life right now. Thanks again btw. I feel like I finally have enough reading material (even if I'm indecisive about order to read it all) to hunker down until spring.

I’m sure you’re right. One would surely need a LOT of investiture, although that’s sort of a vague term. Did all the original Fused have tons of investiture when they died (the first time) and that how they stuck around? (I really asking, do we know the history on this?). I don’t quite understand your comment about them not getting a “Heightening-like” boost? I sort of thought that they did (each time they say new oaths), but I might have misunderstood.

Thanks for sharing your view of the series--great stuff! I can't wait to start in again on Gardens of the Moon. Might even try the audio version, assuming the library has it, so I can "read" in faster. Do you have any other favorite book series (fantasy or otherwise). I can tell you have good taste in books I've received some good books suggestion lately...but mostly YA, and while that can be fun sometimes, I tend to enjoy darker/grittier stories.

Sure, if there's a room where all the Soulcast Radiants are all gathered together already, I agree it's easy and makes sense to lock it on the way out. But still seems weird to have them gathered in a presumably out-of-the-way location (I'm presuming that since no one has found it yet...though it IS a tricky tower). Makes more sense (to me anyways) to gather and lock them up if they would be valuable to the enemy in some way (nothing I can't think of), or if they're intended to lie in wait for the True Desolation. Thanks for sharing that. That's interesting...the statues retain their spiritual connection. If there were a cognitive shadow in need of a body, and the statue/body could be awakened (or just soulcast into flesh even), could the shadow inhabit the body? Would there be conflicting spiritual connections? (Mabye it's possible but you end up with "mindless" soldier?) What if it was the cognitive shadow belonging to that specific statue (lets assume it's Teft for the sake for fun)? You get a badass returned Radiant. Also, the Fused can return into ANY body, basically destroying the spiritual connection of the body they steal, right? So the Radiants are/were at a huge disadvantage because the Fused can keep on coming back to life. But it seems like a Radiant with sufficient investiture should be able to do something similar, but they wouldn't want to destroy innocent an innocent person's spirit. So instead, why not just "save" the body until you need to return (i.e. the True Desolation). Oh and by the way, your old spren is kickin it as a dead-eye awaiting your return.

Oh no worries, my bubble is far from burst! But yes, I think you make a good point. I could see that possibly being true... But in my mind, if the tower is being abandoned for military reasons (e.g. an invading Fused army), are Radiants really going to take the time to gather dozens (hundreds?) of heavy stone statues into a single hidden location (must be quite out-of-the way) so the Fused don't vandalize them? Seem like the fact that they were gathered together in the first place suggest they hold a value beyond that of simple statues.

Oh wow, you've RE-read the entire 10 book series? I've reread Gardens of the Moon--maybe 5 years ago--but all the rest just once. I just put a hold at the library for Gardens, and VERY excited to read it again. Can't wait to re-meet Fidler, Whiskey Jack, Crocus, Sorry, Toc, ectx20. lol. So many great characters! Glancing at the Dramatis Personae (sp?) at the beginning of Bone Hunters (which is for some reason the only book I can find at home), I'm just blown away by the depth of the story in terms of characters and plot lines. So... by "Novels of the Malazan Empire" do you mean the Esslemont books? I read Night of Knives shortly after finishing the 10th book (Crippled God), and...I didn't love it. Is Kyle the main guy in that one? Do they get better? Instead of re-reading Book of the Fallen, I had considered reading the Esslemont books or the Kharkanas (sp?) trilogy. But, since I can't remember much of what happens in those 10 books, I figure it would be more enjoyable to start over from the beginning. So I can properly connect those dots!

I don't agree that Sanderson isn't (sometimes) funny, but I'm also fine with less humor. I don't feel that there needs to bee TOO many comedic moments. It's a dark book, and I'm ok with that. I agree that Navani bonding the Sibling seems off. But, I don't think Rlain should have bonded them. It should have been Dabbid!!! I completely agree with this "unpopular opinion" lol. Not happy with Teft's story line in this one. But his ultimate arch will be redeemed when his soulcast body is awakened in the next book and we get Zombie Teft shenanigans.

I was reading though the Entertainment forum hoping for help deciding what I should read next. Need something good to get me over my RoW withdrawal. Then I stumbled up this thread, and now I'm thinking: maybe I should just re-read the whole Malazan series? I always thought I'd read it all again someday, after I'd forgotten it all so I could enjoy it like the first time (since it's the the Absolute Best non-cosmere series ). Well I cracked open Bonehunters and flipped through the prologue and chapter 1, and sure enough I remember next to nothing! I bet by the time I finished a full series re-read Lost Metal would be out...

I can't stop thinking about this one. Chapter 114: "They gave Teft a king's funeral, Soulcasting him to stone. A sculptor would be commissioned to create a depiction of Phendorana to erect next to him. The Sibling said there was a room, locked away, where the ancient Radiants stood forever as stone sentries. It would feel good to see Teft among them..." Oh really? A "secret" room filled with statues of old Radiants? Why are they hidden? Why were they gathered together in the first place? If they were originally meant to memorialize dead comrades, wouldn't they be dispersed around the tower or with the families of loved ones? When the Tower was abandoned all those years ago, why go to the effort to gather them together in one hidden, locked room? And are they really "sentries" if they are, you know, made of stone and locked in a hidden room? But anyways, anyone think we might get an undead Radiant army at some point? Not sure how exactly it would work, but I could see it happening. There's precedent with the Lifeless, although I think in that case the "soldiers" began as corpses? But...If you can Soucast a body into stone, could you also Soulcast stone into flesh? Sounds tricky unless the stone has a memory of being a body? I have some other thoughts on why this might be an exciting and plausible twist (and it's not just that Zombie Teft would be badass) but I need to let them marinate a bit more. But I would love to hear y'alls' thoughts on this. Anyone think this could happen?

I feel the same. I'm suspicious, but I also find it hard to believe he'd be doing anything overtly traitorous. Just like when Shallan thought Pattern was the spy. That's just didn't seem plausible to me based on all their previous interactions (though I suppose we never have had a Pattern POV section). How about this: everyone is working for Hoid! Even Mraize--that's why they share a seon (joking). But back to the tattoo. I can't remember if this is true, but don't Radiant bodies remove tattoos as a form of healing? Maybe I'm getting mixed up with the slave brands...

They definitely had their motive. Better than the (as of yet) non-existent motive of Wit's. It's just really hard for me to image Sigzil as a Ghostblood, though it would be a great twist. He'd have to have the tattoo, right?

Oh man! That had never occurred to me. I don't know how I feel about that... Mostly bad, but maybe a little excited?

It's one of those things that would be despicable in real life, but reading Sanderson I suddenly find myself a fan of back-ally murder. These books aren't healthy for me lol.

This is such a fun theory. I would love so much for it to be true. Quick question: how was Shallan similar to a child of a Returned?

I personally LOVE taking deep dives into the inner workings of Adolin storming Kholin. The more nuanced the better! I can't speak for everyone, but like you, I enjoy him even more because he ISN'T perfect. I love the contrast of him being (or trying to be) outwardly perfect (oh that perfect hair, even Kal love's it), but inwardly never able to meet his own or other's (Dalinar's) expectations. The daddy agnst, the feelings of being stupid and useless, they all make me enjoy him even more. But it's mostly the clothes. Yes, this. It wasn't a crime of passion. He was exhausted, overwhelmed, and pushed to the edge by a man that betrayed him, caused the deaths of thousands of his men, and was verbally assaulting him. It's honestly one of my favorite scenes, and I generally don't like the violent bits. So....this is a +1 in the Adolin column for me.

Did anyone else think it was strange when Sigzil suggested to the Coalition (at the big meeting in Chapter 19) that they send an envoy to the Honorspren? Every one else with any insight into the situation (or at least Syl, Notum, Kalak, everyone in Lasting Integrity) seemed to immediately recognize it as a Really Bad Idea. Those Honorspren (at least the ones in charge) were not about to listen to reason. But Sig's spren thought it was a great plan. I don't get it. I guess maybe she's one of the "newer generation"? But...seems fishy to me that she'd be that out of touch with the others. Plus it was already established (to the reader) that Shallan wanted to get back to Shadesmar (and maybe also Adolin too, though I can't remember why), all she needed was a good excuse...and then two days later, Sig gives her the perfect opening. Seems connected to me. What do you think? Did Sigzil's spren really come up with the idea to send a team into Shadesmar to appeal the the honor of the Honorspren? Or maybe...could Wit have put him up to it, and if so why? Why would Wit what them in Shadesmar? We know why Mraize wanted Shallan there, but could Wit have had something to gain? We know he was keeping tabs on them (to some degree anyways) through Patterns spying. Sort of related: We have this juicy bit of knowledge that Sig used to work closely with Wit as a Worldsinger. That by itself would make me a teensy bit suspicious of him, but the fact that we got that info all the way back in... WoK (I think?), and 3 books later we STILL know barely anything about the circumstances of that relationship...well that makes me think that maybe their "partnership" (in crime? lol) continues to some degree. There's gotta be a secret there!

I just don't enjoy reading about how fabrials work. I'm interested in character ramifications of, say Navani capturing unwilling spren and the Sibling thinking she's a monster because of that. But I find the inner working/mechanics of fabrials rather dull. I'm all onboard with the weirdness of Jasnah+Wit! I completely agree with this. While I love (nearly) all the characters, I want more from each of them! If I had to vote someone off the island, it would probably be Venli. Sorry.

Could Demoux be 16? The number suggests a connection to Scadrial. And, it’s been a while, but I seem to recall Demoux was balding (which is how 16 was described).

I completely agree with this sentiment. I think, for me anyway, her calm demeanor makes it easy to forget how ruthless she is. Which probably makes her even more dangerous. As much as I turn to these books to avoid real life, I think this is apt analogy. Maybe someone has already made this comparison, but her willingness to sacrifice thousands (even her own people) to achieve the "greater good" (in her mind) of ending the war, (i.e, an ends-justifies-the-means mentality) really reminds me of Taravangian.

I was just about to comment along the same lines: I think we can all agree (and Adolin knows) that those mistborn cloaks are too drab. Breath or tie dye. Both get the job done.

This is all I've ever wanted out of SLA! But I'll definitely need illustrations! Maybe full cover art for the rainbow pirate Misborn?

Generally, when someone tries to commit murder and fails, that makes them less effective, not less evil That was my point. She wasn't terribly effective. I don't get why Leshwi and others seemed so terrified of her in particular. I mean...Odium is their god, you expect evil. She was evil, Lezian was evil, Moash is evil, Dalinar is was evil. She seemed normal Fused/Stormlight evil. I guess I expected more evil-doing (and wish granting) from her? Less thoughtful scholarly discourse.