Soccorro

It happened because Dalinar broke all his oaths including that one about contest of champions. So his soul was free from fusedfication

I don’t know for sure but I’d guess Taravangian is one of BS’s favourite characters. I think he has said that Taravangian is the character he’s most proud of. In terms of writing quality, I mean. I personally don’t understand what’s so interesting and complex about character who only wins because all other characters lose their brain cells and act like utter morons. It’s not that Taravangian is smart, everyone around him is stupid and the plot itself bends around Taravangian to let him succeed. Poor Dalinar was character assassinated to let T win. Jasnah too

Way of Kings > Words of Radiance > Oathbringer > Rhythm of War > Wind and Truth

What did change in the end? Dalinar bullied Elhokar and Highlrinces (I disagree that it was a bad thing but the book does portray those actions as something bad) into submission and ended book 5 bulling Shards to force them to do what he wants. Dalinar has zero character development in the books But BS tells readers that billing Elhokar and princes was Blackthorn-ish and bulling Shards is new-and-better-Dalinar-ish while those actions are absolutely the same

Still, that wasn’t a fight, she didn’t defeat Raboniel in physical combat. Raboniel is a scientist, not that much of a fighter. Blackthorn is different type of villain, he’s nothing but fighter. Make him pathetic fighter that even Navani can beat in a fight and there’s nothing left. In ideal world, Blackthorn shouldn’t exist and I’d love it if BS changed his mind and cut this travesty from second edition of book 5. Unfortunately, Blackthorn already exists so at least make him scary and dangerous! There’s already no stakes and no sense of threat to the protagonists.

And where did I say that he needs to remain alive? I said that turning Blackthorn into another cringe cartoonish incompetent villain that can’t do anything is bad writing. Sorry I don’t want to read power fantasy where almighty Navani on two peg legs defeats prime Blackthorn with extra Odium powers Because she caught them off guard using her new device? That’s not fighting. Also, sure three literally who = Unmade Blackthorn ? Navani finished dying Rabiniel. She didn’t defeat her and didn’t fight her. Idk what are talking about

I don’t think so. In the end of the book Dalinar realised that shards aren’t Gods but stupid mortals who gained power that didn’t deserve and now so many people suffer because of their irresponsibility. I guess that’s what BS wanted to show with Cultivation. She made stupid plan and failed. That’s it. Don’t try to play God

The hero Roshar needed I will never stop slandering Dalibum (for 10 years at least)

Honestly, that would be horrible. Adolin already has the thickest plot armour in the entire series and beating prime Blackthorn spren empowered by Odium would be the last nail in the coffin of coherent narrative. Though after peg leg vs Fused cringe I won’t be surprised And this is even worse. She can’t even fight. I hope Blackthorn kills her because someone needs to broke the cycle of incompetent cartoonish villains like Lezian, Abidi and Moash that can’t do anything and destroy plot convenient protagonist plot armour. Why should I worry for good guys if Odium hires only incompetent clown squad?

The worst this is: this is exactly what Odium asked Dalinar to do in book 4. He literally ask Dalinar to free him and let the rest of the cosmere to deal with him, but Dalinar refused because it’s supposedly bad and irresponsible to burden others with your problems. It took 1500 pages for Dalinar to make full 180. All events of the last to books are now pointless and everyone who died in those books died in vain

Sanderson always recycles character arcs again and again. It’s his bread and butter

I made a post about it Short answer: it’s Gavinor

Seems that you found another plot hole. I didn’t notice it. Nice I don’t even want to open this “whether or not Dalinar’s decision was stupid” can of warms because it was discussed a lot and no one will change their minds. For me, Dalinar’s decision screams “BS wants to write 5 more books hence we need a conflict and a villain”. Literally every other solution is better than what Dalinar has done but he was forced do something stupid because it will change status quo to set up another arc. Holding Honor, having spren and alive Stormfather and full power Radiant Knights on his side and having years to think about better solution? Pffff winning useless moral debate with old man is more important than fate of this poor planet. Not to mention that BS either forgot or retconned what he wrote in previous book. In previous book it was clearly stated that shards ignore Odium because he’s trapped on Roshar and can’t be a threat for them. But now shards will ignore free Odium and pay attention only on double shard. In book 4 Odium asked Dalinar to free him and Dalinar refused because “I can’t make you everyone else’s problem that’s irresponsible”. Well in this book Dalinar made Odium everyone else’s problem and fleed. How Dalinar knows that shards indeed will fly on Roshar and kicks Odium’s ass? Did he read outline for second arc? Or he is just irresponsible dude who doomed everyone because there’s one little chance that big mighty shards will solve all his problems? I also don’t like the moral of this story. “You can’t win so sit down and pray that deus ex machinas from space will save you” And that’s only half of the problem. As I said, others might find Dalinar’s decision to be genius and beautiful. I disagree but to each their own. But Dalinar’s death itself was so poorly done. He died offscreen. Rock kicked him in the head and he died. Offscreen. One of the main character is offscreened by the rock. There’s no emotional powerful scene of Dalinar’s last standing against the storm. His family and those who were fond of him like Kaladin and Syl show from little to no reaction to his death. Just compare it to Teft’s death that was more impactful and emotional than Dalinar’s I mean that’s not Dalinar that’s mindless evil spren. In best case scenario we will disappear when Hoid tells people of Roshar about Dalinar’s sacrifice, in worse case scenario we will get another cringe fest where Adolin on 2 peg legs will easily defeat the blackthorn. Chances that BS does something interesting with evil Dalinar twin isn’t zero but after cartoonish villains like Abidi (Gayat!), Lezian and Moash my hopes aren’t very high

I spent last two weeks rethinking my entire life and finally came to conclusion: Dalinar’s death was anticlimactic and lame

Gavinor is in Urithiru with Renarin and Jasnah in the end of the book and both of them know who he is and also somehow know that he’s Odium champion «Renarin emerged into the top room of the tower, and from there, took the steps to the roof. Together, he, Rlain, and Jasnah joined a small, solemn group at the railing. Gavinor, somehow fully grown, sat by it with Oathbringer across his lap, his eyes red. It was so much to take in. Gavinor had been Odium’s champion? Add that to Navani being comatose, and … storms, Renarin had barely explained about Ba-Ado-Mishram. It was too much to deal with at the moment. Now … now he needed to deal with what was ahead of him. A few others had come to see the body, and they parted for Renarin.»

I didn’t put them in quotation marks in order to mock, I added quotation marks to show that these are quotes from the book itself, not my own words. I agree with you I’d also add one more disadvantage: Dalinar was human general, but Taravangian wants to use him for space cosmere wars which might be a different thing and it’s unknown whether or not spren or unmade or fused or whatever this thing is is capable of learning

Gotcha! I read your last sentence but I didn’t understand what you mean xD

What you are describing (brainless mad dog who attacks even his allies) is young Dalinar in his 20s. Aliexpress Dalinar is middle age Dalinar. He changed after he met Evi and became more chill and thoughtful (until he lost his mind after Rift dude betrayed him) Here’s Gavilar’s letter for Dalinar: “‘Brother,’ ” the letter began, “ ‘the treaty is sealed. Your efforts in Jah Keved are to be commended, and this should be a time of celebration and congratulations. Indeed, on a personal note, I wish to express my pride in you. The word from our best generals is that your tactical instincts have matured to full-fledged strategic genius. I never counted myself among their ranks, but to a man, they commend you as their equal. “ ‘As I have grown to become a king, it seems you have found your place as our general. I’m most interested to hear your own reports of the small mobile team tactics you’ve been employing. I would like to speak in person at length about all of this—indeed, I have important revelations of my own I would like to share. It would be best if we could meet in person. Once, I enjoyed your company every day. Now I believe it has been three years since we last spoke face to face.’ ” So he’s supposed to be “their best general” and “strategic genius”. Off we didn’t see much of it because it happened offscreen

Betray those who trust you like Dalinar betrayed Honour Avoid responsibility, next generations and mighty Shards will clear your mess in the future. Maybe You are useless and can’t fight Gods. Only other Gods can beat God, so go away and pray that all mighty deus ex machina from space will fly and solve your problems. You are worthless anyway That’s why Dalinar wasn’t be able to overcome his rigid morality and failed to kill one dude, ruined the planet, ruined knight radiants, ruined spren and failed everyone because he didn’t want to lose useless moral debate with old fart The funniest thing: Dalinar won’t deal with consequences. He won’t live on this doomed planet. He’s chilling somewhere in Beyond with Evi after giving up responsibility while everyone else who trusted him will suffer the consequences But hey! Don’t complain that you are living on dead planet now. Old fart was proven to be morally wrong! Great success!

O matter how you like/dislike the book his is a huge cap IMO. There will never be next LoTR mainly because it was published 70 years ago and was unique back then. This feeling is now lost because there’re tons of different fantasy series for everyone. Even series that are more popular than Stormlight archive aren’t even close to LoTR popularity. SA is pretty niche series, fantasy readers who are interested in specific literature know who BS is, but most of casual readers have no idea these books exist, meanwhile everyone at least heard about LoTR

If you don’t mind spoilers…Someone else kills Stormfather. Not Dalinar, though you may argue that it happened because of Dalinar’s idiotic decisions but Stormfather agreed with those idiotic decisions and gave his permission being fully aware that he might die

So. In 2022 BS has said that he had planned the ending of Stormlight 5 for more than 2 decades and it’s based on D&D campaign he run in college “Don't tell this one because I'm actually going to use this in a book. I've been waiting for years to use this in a book so don't say anything. After I use it in a book you can tell the story. You guys are going to love this. It is involved in the ending of Stormlight 5. Let's just say I came up with one of the best endings for a story that I have ever come up with and because it's roleplaying the PCs did not play along. Ruined it completely. And I'm like, "I'm going to use that someday." And I actually put it right in the outline of Stormlight a week or two later, and it's been waiting all this time to be used.” Full discussion: https://wob.coppermind.net/events/484-miscellaneous-2022/#e15963 Spoilers for length If anyone is interested, watch this video TIME CODE 3:01:41 too long don’t watch version (but you should watch!!!): The best ending Brandon has ever written and that we all gonna love is Gavinor champion. In college Brandon run RPG campaign and there was a contest between 2 Gods and Gods chose 2 champions that will fight for them and evil God chose a little child. Brandon thought it would be great moral dilemma but the player killed a child without hesitation and, as Brandon said, ruined everything. Apparently Brandon was so upset that he decided to use this plot line in his future book and that’s how we got ending of Stormlight 5

Taravangian has Lobotomy Shard. It drains brain cells of everyone around Taravangian so he can look like a genius in comparison

Nah. Adolin’s variation or Honour will become the Shard of Plot Armor. People on Roshar will stop dying